A Day at North Carolina UC
James Patterson and Jerry Dockham are commissioners for the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
The PUF team made its way to the North Carolina Utilities Commission in mid-February. They received a warm welcome not only from the Commission but also from the independent and large Public Staff, which intervenes on behalf of the using and consuming public.
PUF: Commissioner Patterson what led you here?
Commissioner Patterson: I was working on some client issues one night, at home, about 10:30 p.m. My cellphone rang, and it was the governor. I'd never had the first discussion with him about coming on this Commission or doing anything. He called me and said, Jim, I want you to do something for me. I said, what, governor? He said, I want you to go on the Utilities Commission.
I said, governor, what does that mean? He said, I would prefer if you took the position that you would consider it a full-time position and move to Raleigh. I said, I don't know about moving, but I'll certainly consider it a full-time position. He said, I want you to do it. I'm going to nominate you for the Commission. I said, I'll do it if you want me to do it, governor. And that's the only conversation I ever had with him about the Commission.