davis appoints cpuc commissioner gov davis announced today appointment mike peevey commissioner cpuc replace com bilas resigned last week mr peevey former president southern california edison advocated deregulation consumer group advocates concerned past record oppose nomination subject state senate approval article sacramento bee gh davis names ex edison chief puc action stirs anger worst nightmare says consumer lawyer stuart leavenworth bee staff writer published 5 30 pst wednesday march 6 2002 gov gray davis appointed former president southern california edison state panel charged regulating edison public utilities davis said michael r peevey would bring three decades experience public utilities commission experience immediately came fire state consumer groups mike florio lawyer utility reform network said peevey record government business pushing higher rates small businesses residential consumers worst nightmare florio said like putting dr kevorkian charge nursing home others supportive j smith lobbyist represents large industrial energy users lauded peevey someone understands sides energy business fair sides think objective edison owe edison anything said smith noting peevey left southern california utility nine years ago husband assemblywoman carol liu south pasadena peevey replaces puc commissioner richard bilas resigned last week bilas appointed gov pete wilson confirmed state senate peevey solidify davis control puc five member board includes three governor appointees also comes time commission fighting state large utility pacific gas electric co terms pg e reorganization federal bankruptcy court pg e spokesman ron low declined comment appointment tuesday last year peevey involved handshake deal might helped pg e avoid bankruptcy hired davis negotiate utility peevey reportedly struck deal pg e chairman bob glynn would let pg e charge ratepayers costs buying wholesale electricity davis advisers objected deal negotiations ultimately fell apart three years peevey president edison international southern california edison leaving 1993 reported power struggle company chairman john bryson peevey became public affairs consultant president newenergy inc energy service provider sold 1999 aes corp working adviser davis ceo truepricing inc also served board excelergy corp energy software company new six year puc job peevey regulate electric utilities telecommunications giants water companies natural gas supplies industries review puc lawyers peevey divest holdings resign positions could cause conflict davis spokesman steve maviglio said peevy appointment one two davis made tuesday also appointed john l geesman board independent system operator manages state power grid since 1985 geesman managing director fixed income banking rbc dain rauscher inc san francisco served turn board consumer groups pressed meeting davis past week said may timed election day appointment peevey minimize negative media coverage maviglio called claim ludicrous today papers said best read year