Former Pennsylvania regulator Nora Mead Brownell was sworn in as a FERC commissioner last Tuesday, filling out the ranks of the five-member federal agency. Brownell attended Wednesday’s regular open FERC meeting, but did not vote.

Brownell was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate in late May along with Texas Public Utility Commissioner Pat Wood. Wood has already voted on several measures, but will not be at the meeting today. He is in the process of moving his family to Washington, a FERC spokeswoman said.

Brownell was named for the remainder of a five year term at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, expiring on June 30, 2001 and for an additional five-year term ending June 30, 2006. She was a member of the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania and is president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Previously, she acted as executive director of the Regional Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia, and served as senior vice president of Meridian Bancorp, Inc.’s corporate affairs unit. A native of Erie, PA, she attended Syracuse University (see Daily GPI, May 28).

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