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Rules Committee delays vote on PUC nominee Anton Moran after questioning on public power and philosophy
Summary
The Rules Committee heard extended testimony from nominee Anton Moran about his utility experience, water-policy work and views on municipalization. Several supervisors and public commenters raised concerns about his commitment to community control of energy; the committee voted to continue the nomination to allow further meetings.
Anton Moran, a longtime San Francisco utility manager, faced detailed questioning and mixed public comment Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee, which voted to continue consideration of his nomination to the Public Utilities Commission’s seat 4 to a later Rules meeting.
Moran, who told the committee he has more than 20 years of utility management experience with the city and served as general manager of Hetch Hetchy, outlined a career that included adopting a “Water First” conservation policy and steering procurement and finance reforms. Moran said he had pushed the PUC during his tenure to expand the scope of municipal load where lawful and to pursue community choice aggregation (CCA) as a first step toward greater local control of power.
Why it matters: The fifth seat on the PUC can affect the pace and scope of San Francisco’s community choice aggregation, municipalization efforts and oversight of large water and seismic projects. Supervisors said they needed more time to weigh Moran’s policy philosophy alongside his technical qualifications.
During his remarks Moran defended his record on procurement and described long-standing sanitation and odor problems at the Southeast Treatment Plant as a priority. He told the committee, “My job was to protect the city’s interest,” and said he had felt no pressure from investor-owned utilities while working at the PUC.
Supervisor David Campos — who said Moran’s qualifications were clear — framed his questions around the nominee’s philosophy. “The issue is whether or not your philosophy and approach to the number of issues that are before the PUC … is something that makes sense for San Francisco at this time,” Campos said, pressing Moran about past actions involving the Presidio and Treasure Island and a memo reported in the Bay Guardian about public-power strategy.
Members of the public offered mixed views. Longtime former commissioner Welton Flynn and former supervisor Nancy Walker urged confirmation, praising Moran’s experience and integrity. Opponents included speakers aligned with the Green Party and environmental activists who said Moran had not demonstrated sufficient commitment to public power. Eric Brooks of the San Francisco Green Party told the committee, “The planet right now … is on the edge of a knife,” urging supervisors to reject the appointment if the commissioner would not vigorously pursue community control of energy.
Moran disclosed two primary consulting clients since leaving the PUC — Delta Wetlands (a water-storage project) and a Bay Area developer (DMB) — and said he had reviewed potential conflicts with the city attorney and would disclose and recuse if necessary.
Outcome and next steps: After public comment and further committee discussion, Supervisor Campos moved to continue Items 3 and 4 to the next Rules Committee meeting to allow additional conversations with Moran and stakeholders; the motion was supported and the committee agreed to continue the matter. The committee did not take a confirmation or rejection vote at this session.
The committee also flagged oversight of large water and seismic projects (WECIP) and staffing diversity at the PUC as standing concerns to revisit if Moran returns for further consideration.
