[BETA] Fortnightly

President Clinton appointed James J. Hoecker chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Hoecker, former commissioner of the FERC, replaces Elizabeth Moler who was appointed deputy energy secretary at the Department of Energy.

Walter Massey, president of Morehouse College, was selected by Secretary of Energy Federico F. Peña to replace Robert Hanfling as chair of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. Also at SEAB, Skila Harris was elected executive director. Prior to her election, Harris was special assistant to Vice President Al Gore.

Enron Corp. promoted Cynthia C. Sandherr to federal legislative v.p. Sandherr chairs the Electricity Restructuring Task Force of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.

Julia L. Johnson, Florida Public Service Commission chair, replaced Kenneth McClure as chair of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Services.

The Texas Public Utility Commission promoted Bill Magness to consumer affairs director. Magness joined the PUC in 1996 as its chief counsel.

Jim Cypher, formerly of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, was hired by Peregine Energy Group as office manager.

Boston Edison Co. elected EMC Corp. Chair Richard Egan as a member of its personnel and nuclear committees.

Thaine J. Michie, g.m. of Platte River Power Authority, was elected president of the board of American Public Power Association.

Edison Source hired former president/CEO of Accessline Technologies, Thomas Handell, to head its company. As president, Handell will oversee all field operations including retail energy operations and wholesale trading.

Pete Kelly was hired by Utility General Inc. as its group marketing v.p. Previously, Kelly was market manager at Public Service Electric & Gas.

The executive board of Washington Public Power Supply System elected Louis Winnard chair, replacing Don Richland. Winnard, former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power g.m., has served on the board since 1995 as vice chair. Rudolph Bertschi, Economic & Technology Analysis Group v.p., will replace Winnard as vice chair.

Ohio Edison's Bulk Power Supply Group v.p., Robert J. McWhorter, has retired. McWhorter, who joined Ohio Edison in 1977, participated on several executive committees and advisory boards including those of the Electric Power Research Institute and Edison Electric Institute.

James M. Sepanski, a former partner at Arthur Andersen L.L.P., joined Yankee Energy Systems as its CFO. Sepanski replaced Michael Bielonko, who was promoted to Yankee Energy Service Co. unit president.

Peabody COALTRADE Inc. promoted Jerry L. Franklin to sales v.p. Prior to the promotion, Franklin held procurement and sales positions within Peabody Development and COALSALES. Stephen J. Doyle joined Peabody as the company's coal trading v.p. from Integrity International Corp.

Denise Bode, former president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, replaced Cody Graves, as one of three members of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

AllEnergy Marketing Company L.L.C., a joint venture of the New England Electric System and Eastern Enterprises, hired Richard J. Oldach as marketing v.p. and Frank L. Peraino as sales v.p. Prior to joining AllEnergy, Oldach was marketing director of Ameritech Communications. Peraino was marketing v.p. at U.S. Energy Partners.

Ken Beckman, Con Edison Megawatt-Hour Store founder, was hired by ProMark Energy Inc. as its wholesale power director.