Redesigning the Future: APX Looks Ahead

Nora Mead Brownell
Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
2001 to 2006

Nora Brownell was nominated by President George W. Bush to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on April 30, 2001. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 25, 2001, for a term that expired June 30, 2006.

Ms. Brownell’s tenure at the FERC reflected her unwavering commitment to fostering competitive markets in the public interest. She championed the development of regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and markets for wholesale power, which represented the electricity market structure serving two- thirds of the U.S. $10 trillion economy.

Ms. Brownell was a leading advocate of responsive and effective independent board governance at RTOs, and a strong proponent of FERC policies that promoted investment in national energy infrastructure development. She traveled throughout Eastern Europe, China, Brazil and other countries to consult with industry and government officials on the restructuring of energy markets and the creation of independent regulatory commissions.

Prior to FERC, Ms. Brownell served as a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) from 1997 to 2001. During her time at the PUC, Ms. Brownell took an active role in the rollout of electric choice in Pennsylvania. In addition to her work in establishing the framework for one of the most successful retail electric markets in the country, Ms. Brownell was a leader in the administration of Pennsylvania’s Electric Choice Consumer Education Program.

Also during Ms. Brownell’s tenure at the PUC, she was one of the leaders in developing public policy to develop a robust competitive telecommunications market in the Commonwealth. She has actively supported Pennsylvania’s pursuit of competition in the local markets for telecommunications, deployment of advanced services, enhancement of services to rural areas, protection of consumers, and advancement of special services. Ms. Brownell has helped craft unique solutions to a number of these industry issues.

Prior to her appointment to the Pennsylvania Commission, she was Executive Director of the Regional Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia, a $200 million arts and economic development initiative.

Commissioner Brownell previously served as the Senior Vice President for Meridian Bancorp, Inc.’s Corporate Affairs Unit. Prior to joining Meridian in 1987, Commissioner Brownell was Deputy Executive Assistant to former Pennsylvania Governor Richard Thornburgh. Commissioner Brownell is the former President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Ms. Brownell served on the Boards of Times Publishing Company, Millennium Bank, Foundation of Architecture, Philadelphia Free Library, Need in Deed, and Philadelphia Regional Performing Arts Center.

Commissioner Brownell is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, and attended Syracuse University.