Tim Morstad, policy analyst at Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office

Profile: Tim Morstad: CU's new advocacy voice on utilities (Nov. 2002).

When Tim Morstad was in the thick of a graduate internship at Consumers Union during the 2001 legislative session, he had little foresight that he would be back in the same office two years later working alongside one of the advocates that mentored him. But that's not to say the thought hadn't crossed his mind.

Morstad, in fact, had been planning to pursue a career in public policy since he was an undergraduate at California Polytechnic State University, and he said that the idea was brewing even before that.

"Throughout high school and college, my interest in public affairs was always there, but it was always a question of where to take it," Morstad said. "Austin was a perfect choice."

As a grad student in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Morstad completed internships at CU and Public Citizen, a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. Morstad, who became an environmental policy specialist at PC before returning to CU, said that working with seasoned advocates in two dynamic organizations was key in preparing him for the road ahead.

And, as he recounts some of the more creative endeavors at PC, it's evident that Morstad has covered a lot of ground in two years.

In one episode, Morstad's efforts led him to the shoulder of a busy Spur 408, outside Dallas. Why choose a highway wayside for a press conference? Because a dirty power plant provides a stout backdrop for cameras shooting an energetic Morstad who is showing journalists jars full of soot and a 1,600 pound rental car to drive home his point: Many Texans can now choose clean, renewable electricity for just a few dollars more on an average household bill.

But inventive media antics are only one product of Morstad's undertakings. His ambition, he said, is to also be at the table where policy decisions are dissected, where advocates often can have enormous impact.

At CU, Morstad worked with senior policy analyst Janee Briesemeister analyzing how the then-five year-old Federal Telecommunications Act was affecting consumers. The resulting report, "Local Telephone Competition Still on Hold," documented the lack of competition in Texas' telecommunications market and the absence of basic services from supposed competitors.

"When I was at CU, I looked around and saw that the advocates had been working on their important issues for quite some time, and when I thought about the possibility of working here someday, I thought to myself 'fat chance,'" Morstad said.

But Morstad, now a full-time policy analyst, is back at the SWRO gearing up for a hectic 2003 legislative session and making strides to get up to speed with Briesemeister, who is heading a national project on the impact of deregulated utility markets.

"I'm digging in and trying to get up to speed on all the projects Janee is currently working on," Morstad said. "This staff has vast experience, I know I will learn a lot from every single one of them."

Morstad said his focus will be on the deregulated electricity and telecommunications markets.

"Texas' newly deregulated markets have more than a few kinks that need to be worked out," Morstad said. "As one of just a few states moving forward with electricity deregulation, Texas must learn from the California debacle and strengthen accountability and customer protections."

"Vigorous oversight and engaged, active consumers are vital to properly functioning markets," Morstad said. "It is my goal to make this happen in these uncertain, early days of deregulation."