Contact: Regina Davis, rdavis@naruc.org

WASHINGTON (May 10, 2022) — On May 4, 2022, NARUC lost a well-respected friend and leader with the passing of Commissioner-Emeritus Charles James (Jim) Sullivan III, former head of the Alabama Public Service Commission.

He was elected as NARUC president in 1998 and had a leadership style that was both dynamic and full of integrity. His 25 years of service as a commissioner reflected a tenure that enriched and advanced the mission of utility regulation, having left an indelible mark on a host of committees, councils and boards, such as the Committee on Critical Infrastructure, the Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory and the Advisory Council for the Electric Power Research Institute. Sullivan also served as president of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the NARUC Board of Directors.

His commitment to utility regulation extended internationally, as a founder of the World Forum on Energy Regulation, which convenes regulators, policymakers, researchers and others from around the world to address critical matters of energy through strategic and meaningful conversations.

After he concluded his tenure as a commissioner, he remained a staunch supporter and friend to NARUC through active participation in NARUC events and initiatives. He served for many years as the Vice President of the NARUC Commissioners Emeritus organization and was instrumental in keeping former commissioners connected and engaged.

“Jim Sullivan was a dear friend to many of us — he was thoughtful, intelligent and very approachable,” said NARUC Executive Director Greg White. “Whether you were a new commissioner, a current regulator or a former commissioner, he had the ability to listen, to make a human connection and provide wise counsel.”

“Commissioner Sullivan was a treasure to NARUC, the state of Alabama and to the broader community of regulators,” said NARUC President Judith Williams Jagdmann. “His commitment to service was exemplary — at the state level as a commissioner, in his local community through his volunteerism and philanthropy and also through his ability to build a sense of community with his peers.”

A resolution in honor of his service was passed by the NARUC Board of Directors in 2008. His service was held on May 7 and his obituary is available here. 

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About NARUC

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC’s member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of state public utility commissions before the three branches of the federal government.