Press Release

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) installed Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner (PUC) Nora Mead Brownell as President of the Board of Directors during NARUC’s 112^th annual convention in San Diego this week. Brownell will serve as president for a one-year term. Prior to her appointment, she was the First Vice President of NARUC.

"This is the time for all of us to provide leadership to leverage the opportunities that free markets bring to businesses, the community and consumers," Brownell said in accepting the position on Wednesday, Nov. 15. "It is all about economic development, not only in Pennsylvania but across the United States."

Governor Tom Ridge congratulated Brownell on her appointment. "NARUC will be well served with Commissioner Brownell as its new President," he said. "Pennsylvania is widely considered to be the national leader in utility deregulation. It’s only fitting that NARUC’s new President comes from the most competitive electric market in the United States."

During her installation, Brownell stated the importance of NARUC working cooperatively with the new Administration on utility issues and the profound impact energy restructuring will have on the economic development of the country and in the lives of customers.

"We’re operating in an entirely new market than we were just a short generation ago and we’ve got to be willing to evolve with it," she said. "By working together we can take a more proactive and united approach when dealing with Congress on issues that affect customers’ lives."

"As we continue the transformation toward open markets, we must ensure that we’re bringing the best thinking we possibly can to national issues," she added. "We must realize that we’re all driven by the same goal, leveraging the opportunities available to all customers."

While Brownell urged her colleagues to work together, she also warned against over regulating.

"Through it all, we can never lose sight of the fact that the marketplace itself is always going to be a better regulator than any and all of the regulations we could pass in our states," she said.

NARUC is a nonprofit organization that is the national representative body for public utility regulatory commissioners and has a strong voice in utility regulatory issues.

A resident of Montgomery County, Brownell was sworn in as commissioner on May 5, 1997. Prior to joining the PUC, she served as the Executive Director of the Regional Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia. Brownell was also the senior vice president responsible for Meridian Bankcorp’s Corporate Affairs Unit. In this capacity, she oversaw corporate communications, public relations, operations and policy direction for corporate community relations and Community Reinvestment Act activities. She was responsible for the formation of the Meridian Community Partnership Development Corporation, a bank subsidiary designed to foster economic development. Prior to that, she served as deputy executive assistant to Gov. Richard Thornburgh.

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