Press Release

New Executive Director Joins PUC

Published on 5/23/2019

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the appointment of Seth A. Mendelsohn of Harrisburg, a senior government leader, business and leadership professor, and former corporate vice president, as Executive Director, effective May 28. 

Mendelsohn replaces Jan H. Freeman, who is stepping down from the position effective May 28 and will serve as an adviser to Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, before leaving the Commission on June 28. Freeman served as Executive Director for nearly eight years.

With more than 20 years of management experience in insurance, government and public utilities, Mendelsohn is concluding his current service as Executive Deputy Insurance Commissioner, the chief operating officer of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. In this position, Mendelsohn established employee retention and recruitment programs, and an employee mentorship program, the first of its kind for a Commonwealth agency under the Governor’s jurisdiction.

Mendelsohn also brings to the PUC his public utility experience as a Vice President and Corporate Counsel for American Water Works Company, with responsibilities in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. While there, Mendelsohn was particularly recognized for solving problems with troubled water companies in Pennsylvania.

He also previously served as a Senior Deputy Attorney General/Attorney-in-Charge for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

He serves as an adjunct instructor of business law, ethical leadership and corporate governance for the Master of Business Administration program at Lebanon Valley College. Mendelsohn also teaches a course on leadership in a multicultural global environment as an adjunct associate professor in the Master of Business Administration program at the University of Maryland University College.

He previously served as an appointee of the Governor on the Citizens Advisory Council of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. 

Mendelsohn received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, his law degree from The Dickinson School of Law and his Master of Business Administration degree from Lebanon Valley College.

As Executive Director of the PUC, Mendelsohn will plan, organize and direct day-to-day operations of the Commission.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov