Verrill Alumni Bill Harwood Nominated as Public Advocate for the State of Maine

On December 15, 2021, Maine Governor Janet Mills announced the nomination of former Verrill attorney Bill Harwood as Public Advocate for the State of Maine. Harwood has a four decades-long career in energy and utilities law, and he currently serves as Senior Advisor for Regulatory Affairs within the Governor’s Energy Office.

If confirmed, Harwood’s primary responsibility will be to represent the interests of Maine utility consumers. He will be tasked with representing consumers in proceeding before the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission.

In a Maine.gov press release, Harwood states, “I am honored to be nominated as Maine’s Public Advocate. If confirmed, I will work hard every day to defend the interests of Maine people. The bottom-line is that Maine ratepayers deserve reliable service at just and reasonable rates, and I will fight every day to make sure that’s what they are getting.”

A confirmation hearing on Bill Harwood’s nomination before the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee has not yet been scheduled.