Former PUC executive is joining trade group

A trade group that represents electric companies in Texas has named the former executive director of the Public Utility Commission as acting chief executive officer.

The Association of Electric Companies of Texas said in a tweet on Dec. 28 that John Paul Urban III would become its acting CEO and senior vice president in January.

Urban resigned Dec. 9 from the PUC, which regulates the state’s electric, telecommunication, water and sewer utilities. He had served as the PUC’s legislative director from 2011 to 2014 before returning two years ago as executive director. Urban served as a board member of the nonprofit association as recently as 2018, according to the group’s most recent tax filing. Urban was on the board when hewas an NRG employee in public affairs, said association spokesman Ben Gaffaney. NRG is one of the state’s largest electricity generators and sellers.

The association doesn’t lobby the PUC, said Gaffaney, instead focusing on the Legislature.

Urban was not immediately available for comment.