On August 30, Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, whose more than decade-long tenure on the Public Utility Commission ended with the confirmation of her replacement on the PUC, offered the following thoughts regarding her experience as a commissioner and chairman, capping an extensive career dedicated to public service--

“As I depart the Public Utility Commission after more than a decade – a time that spans so much change, but also seems extremely brief – I must start by thanking the staff at the PUC for this great experience to serve and for making me shine!

“I am truly grateful to all of you for hard work and dedication. You are what makes the PUC such an outstanding agency. 

“My tenure at the Commission has confirmed what I always knew; that the PUC staff works tirelessly to address problems, docketed cases and implement policies so that the Commission is able to carry forth its mission and make Pennsylvania a better place.

“I also want to thank my immediate staff that has worked with me during my tenure and kept me on the straight and narrow – as I considered not only the cases before us, but also for helping me to delve into areas of utility law that were impacting our state and our country.

“Early in my term, during a program for Women’s History Month, I was asked what advice I would give, and my response was: “Prepare yourself for the opportunity that will come your way!”

“Being open to opportunity encompasses the length and breadth of my professional career with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“That path has never been a straight line from point A to point B. However, it has been a path where I have been challenged to grow professionally.

“And in this growth, have been able to share my professional experience and knowledge in every position that I have served in – from Assistant Counsel with the Bureau of Professional Occupation and Licensure, Law Clerk for Federal Judge, Deputy Chief Counsel for the Senate Democratic Leader’s Office, to PUC Commissioner and then as Chair of the Public Utility Commission.

“Each of these opportunities along the way has prepared me for the next.  Serving as legal counsel in the Senate Democratic Caucus, where I worked with so many great staffers on a plethora of issues, prepared me for my appointment as a Commissioner with the Commission in 2013, and ultimately the role of Chairman.

“And understanding the legislative side of the issues facing the Commission was beneficial but not as much as developing working relationships with the staff of the Commission.

In each opportunity, I have been blessed to meet and work with people who had a commitment to public service and a desire to do what is best for the people of this Commonwealth. 

“In each of these positions, I was mentored by people who wanted me to do my best and I hope that I have been able to “pay it forward” with the staffers I have worked with along the way.

“So, as I close the door on my tenure at the Commission, and open the door to new opportunities – knowing that the PUC is in the good hands of a dedicated team of professionals – I offer my heartfelt thanks for everything you do, challenge you to greet the opportunities that come your way, and wish you all the best of success, good health and happiness.”

Gladys Brown Dutrieuille’s Tenure At PUC

Initially joining the Commission in 2013, Dutrieuille was appointed as PUC chairman in 2015 – making her the longest-serving female commissioner and chair, the longest-serving Black commissioner and chair, and the longest-serving chair in nearly half a century.

Her tenure on the commission also marked two of only three periods in Pennsylvania history when two women have served together on the Public Utility Commission.

Appointed and/or reappointed by three different Pennsylvania governors, Dutrieuille has always drawn strong bipartisan support – reflecting grace, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to consumer issues in her time on the PUC, and constantly championing the commission’s role in safeguarding the public interest and ensuring that all voices are heard in the important discussions about utility service.

She also continued the Pennsylvania PUC’s strong tradition of nationwide leadership in utility matters, serving on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), chairing NARUC’s Committee on Critical Infrastructure, and speaking for Pennsylvania and regional interests on the joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission. 

Additionally, Dutrieuille most recently concluded her term as president of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (MACRUC), a regional organization that works to address a diverse array of utility issues across a dozen states, stretching from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Visit the Public Utility Commission website for more information on its role and responsibilities.

NewsClip:

-- The Derrick: 6 Weeks After Water Supply Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater, Emergency Water Supplies Continue In Village Of Reno, Venango County  [PDF of article]

Related Articles:

-- PUC’s Stephen M. DeFrank Thanks Gov. Shapiro For Appointment As New Chairman  [PaEN] 

-- Gladys Brown Dutrieuille Offers Thoughts On Her PUC Tenure; Thanks Commission Staff, Colleagues For Their Dedication And Commitment As She Departs State Service  [PaEN]

-- PUC Welcomes New Commissioner Kim Barrow, Thanks Senate For Confirmation Votes, Governor For Nomination  [PaEN]

-- PUC Elects Commissioner Kim Barrow As Vice Chair

-- PUC Safety Division Continues Investigation Into Deadly House Explosion In Plum Borough, Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Hears Testimony On Making Electricity Market Reforms To Address Nonperformance Of Natural Gas And Other Generators During Winter Storm Elliot; Transition To Clean Energy  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 30, 2023]

9/4/2023