McCleary nominated by governor to be next DPUC administrator

GOV. GINA M. Raimondo said she plans to nominate Sidney McCleary as director of the state Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.  / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
GOV. GINA M. Raimondo said she plans to nominate Sidney McCleary as director of the state Division of Public Utilities and Carriers. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

PROVIDENCE – Sidney “Macky” McCleary has been nominated by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo to be the state’s new administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers effective Sept. 5.
Raimondo submitted McCleary’s name to the state Senate on Wednesday. Earlier this week, current Administrator Thomas F. Ahern submitted his retirement letter to Raimondo.
McCleary is director of the R.I. Department of Business Regulation, a post he has held since January 2015. According to a press release from Raimondo’s office, under his leadership, the department has focused on making the state more “business friendly.”

DBR oversees the banking and insurance industries, as well as professional licensing, securities and trading, and liquor control.
“As the director of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Macky has a track record of success, making processes more efficient for businesses across the board. I look forward to working with him in this new role,” Raimondo said in a statement.
McCleary said they have been able to successfully implement at DBR the LEAN government initiative, a business process improvement method that helps eliminate waste and creates a culture of continuous improvement. He said they also have been able to “significantly cut the time it takes businesses to acquire the licenses they need,” and encourage reform in Rhode Island’s liquor industry.
“Now, I’m excited to take on new challenges at the DPUC,” McCleary said.

McCleary previously worked as deputy commissioner for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. McCleary holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University.

Ahern has been administrator of the DPUC since May 1997.

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“Tom has given almost two decades of his life to public service,” Raimondo said. “I am thankful for his work on behalf of ratepayers throughout the state, and wish him the very best.”

As DPUC administrator, McCleary will serve a six-year term. At DPUC, McCleary will make $141,259 a year; as DBR director, he made $135,000 a year, a spokeswoman for the governor said.

The DPUC has two main roles:

  • Advocate for administration energy policy before the Public Utilities Commission, in coordination with the Office of Energy Resources and other state agencies; and
  • Directly regulate some utilities and carriers, including drinking water, wastewater, telecom, cable TV, motor carriers, taxicab and ferry services.

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