The Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, today announced the appointment of Jim Oxford as a full-time commissioner of the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (PUB). The appointment is effective September 8, 2009.

"I am very pleased that Mr. Oxford has accepted this position and I wish him well as he takes on his new responsibilities," said Minister Marshall. "The PUB performs an important role as an independent body, and I am confident that Mr. Oxford�s experience and skills will be a valuable asset at the board."

The Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities is an independent, quasi-judicial regulatory body responsible for the regulation of the electric utilities in the province to ensure that the rates charged are just and reasonable, and that the service provided is safe and reliable.

The board is also responsible for ensuring fairness in marketing of petroleum products throughout the province in accordance with the Petroleum Products Act, and for the supervision of rates charged by automobile insurers for the various automobile insurance coverages, limited regulation of the motor carrier industry in relation to certain passenger and ambulance operations, as well as conducting hearings and other required activities under the Expropriation Act.

Mr. Oxford is currently the Operations Manager for the City of Mount Pearl where he has spent the last 33 years developing operating systems for the delivery of a wide variety of services. These include waste management, garbage collection, fleet maintenance, snow clearing, inventory control, street cleaning, disaster planning and others. He was recently appointed the Director of Infrastructure and Public Works in Mount Pearl.

Mr. Oxford has completed numerous trades and business related programs and courses at several institutions including: a four-year Apprenticeship Program at the College of Trades and Technology; Business Finance courses at Providence College; IT courses at Memorial University; and several others in areas such as Occupational, Health and Safety, Small Fleet Management and Emergency Measures.

Mr. Oxford was born on Ramea Island. He has two daughters, one son and is the proud grandfather of six grandchildren.