Press Release

PUC Commissioner Coleman’s Renomination Unanimously Confirmed

Published on 7/10/2017

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

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today thanked the state Senate for unanimously confirming the nomination of Commissioner John F. Coleman, Jr. to his second full five-year term as a PUC Commissioner. The Commission also thanked Gov. Tom Wolf, who nominated Coleman to continue his service on the Commission. Coleman’s nomination was confirmed on July 8 by a 49-0 vote.

“We congratulate Commissioner Coleman on his appointment to another term on the Commission and look forward to continuing to work with him to address key issues that impact all Pennsylvanians,” said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown.  “His knowledge and strong advocacy for utility safety, infrastructure development and competitive markets will continue to add to our ongoing public discussion on these important topics.”

During his hearing before the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee, Commissioner Coleman underscored his commitment to ensuring safe and reliable utility service, along with the need to strike a balance in Commission actions.

“Safety is the single most important thing we do as regulators, and the PUC has been a strong voice for enhancing and replacing aging and at-risk pipelines, protecting our underground infrastructure and promoting the safe operation of our electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications and transportation utilities,” said Commissioner Coleman. “Additionally, it is imperative that we continue working together to strike a proper balance between the needs of consumers, utilities and our communities, to encourage innovation and progress, while also ensuring that safety is not compromised.”

Commissioner Coleman cited ongoing work by the Commission in several key areas, including proposed enhancements to the Pennsylvania One Call Law; infrastructure build out for the state’s natural gas industry and enhanced cyber and physical security for vital infrastructure; exploration of new energy technologies; and addressing the growing need for the next generation of highly skilled utility workers. He also underscored the importance of the Commission’s customer-education program related to energy choice, including in-person events across the state; collaborative outreach with legislators and community groups; and the PUC’s  highly-regarded shopping websites – www.PAPowerSwitch.com and www.PAGasSwitch.com – which provide consumers with the tools they need to make informed decisions about choosing electric generation suppliers and natural gas suppliers.

Commissioner Coleman was first nominated to serve as a PUC Commissioner by Gov. Edward G. Rendell in 2010.  He was re-nominated in 2012 by Gov. Tom Corbett, and again this year by Gov. Wolf. Commissioner Coleman served as Vice Chairman of the Commission from Feb. 24, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2015.  Commissioner Coleman’s term will expire on March 31, 2022.

Commissioner Coleman serves as co-chair of the Natural Gas Access and Expansion Task Force established by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He is also a member of NARUC's Pipeline Safety Committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners. He serves as a board member for the Organization of PJM States Inc., where he is a member of the Independent Market Monitoring Committee and the Personnel Committee. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority Board of Directors. He serves as a member of the PJM – Independent State Agency Committee as well as a member of the Gas Technology Institute Public Interest Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining the PUC, Commissioner Coleman served 12 years as the President/Chief Executive Officer of the national-accredited Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, the largest member-based business organization in Central Pennsylvania, based in State College. In this capacity, the Commissioner also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation, an entrepreneurial development and business finance corporation. 

A resident of Centre County, Commissioner Coleman graduated from Saint Francis University, with a bachelor’s of science degree in business management. He is a certified Economic Development Professional, and a graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management at Notre Dame.

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.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.

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Contact:

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