Gov. Neil Abercrombie will forward the name of his interim appointee to the Public Utilities Commission to the state Senate for confirmation, the governor’s spokeswoman said today.

Michael Champley, a Maui-based energy consultant, was appointed by Abercrombie in September to fill a vacancy. But the governor had not forwarded his name to the Senate for consideration.

Donalyn Dela Cruz, the governor’s spokeswoman, said Abercrombie did not meet personally with Champley as expected because of schedule conflicts. Blake Oshiro, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, did speak with Champley to discuss his energy views.

Sources close to the PUC had said last week that the Abercrombie administration was not happy with some recent PUC decisions.

Environmental and alternative energy groups contacted the Abercrombie administration on Champley’s behalf this week when it appeared his nomination might be in jeopardy.