Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Vice Chairman John Betkoski III has been named to leadership positions with two organizations focused on utility regulatory issues.

Betkoski was named president of the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners and to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. His new positions were announced in a news release Friday by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, PURA's parent agency.

NECPUC provides regional regulatory assistance on matters of common concern to the six New England States. It addresses issues regarding electric, gas, telecommunications and public drinking water public service companies.

NARUC represents utility regulatory authorities in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC represents the interests of state public utility commissioners before the three branches of the federal government.

Betkoski has served on Connecticut's utility regulatory authority since 1997 when he was named a commissioner of the Department of Public Utility Control. He was elected vice chairman of that body in 2007. When PURA was established on July 1, 2011, as the state's new regulatory authority, Betkoski was appointed a director by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and elected as vice chairman of the new authority.