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Gladys Brown
Gladys Brown was a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Brown assumed office on October 2, 2013. Brown left office on August 30, 2023.
Biography
Brown began serving with the Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Caucus in 1991. She was serving as deputy chief counsel when she was named to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in June 2013.[1]
Education
- B.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1985
- J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1988[2]
Political career
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (2013-2023)
Brown was appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on June 13, 2013 by Gov. Tom Corbett (R). She took office on October 2, 2013. [3][2]
Brown served as Chair of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission from 2015 to 2023. [4]
Brown resigned from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on August 30, 2023. She was replaced by her former Chief of Staff Kimberly Barrow. Stephen DeFrank replaced Brown as Chair. [5]
Fines levied against ride-sharing companies operating illegally (2016)
In April 2016, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission levied an $11.4 million dollar fine against ride-sharing company Uber Technologies Inc.—11 times the amount of the highest fine the commission had ever imposed.
Uber and Lyft, another ride-sharing company, were granted temporary licenses to operate within the state in late 2014 but had begun operations prior to receiving them. The commission's bureau of investigations filed formal complaints against the companies for operating without a license and for ignoring cease-and-desist orders in 2014. Lyft ultimately settled with the commission for $250,000 in July 2015.
In November 2015, two judges for the commission recommended a $49.9 million dollar fine for Uber. After consideration, the commission reduced the fine to $11.4 million in April 2016.[6] Uber released a statement saying it was "shocked that the PUC would compound its past mistakes and send the troubling message that Pennsylvania is unwelcoming to technology and innovation" and that they planned to appeal the decision.[7] Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed a letter to the commission in April 2016 saying that the fine "constitute[d] a civil penalty on innovation, threatening the company’s ability to harness new technologies and create the jobs of tomorrow."[7][6][8]
The commission denied the appeal on September 1, 2016, upholding the $11.4 million dollar fine. "We were faced with an unprecedented number of violations by Uber," said commission Chairman Gladys Brown. "When a regulated entity is given notice that it is violating the law and it ignores those notices, it does so to its own detriment."[7]
Appointments
2013
Brown was nominated for a five-year term on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on June 13, 2013, by Gov. Tom Corbett (R).[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Gladys + Brown + Pennsylvania"
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Standard Speaker, "Corbett tabs Holden for LCB commish," June 15, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, "Commissioners," accessed November 12, 2015
- ↑ Republican Herald, "Corbett nominates former congressman Holden for seat on Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board," June 15, 2013
- ↑ ‘’Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, "Gladys Brown Dutrieuille Offers Thoughts on Her PUC Tenure; Thanks Commission Staff and Colleagues for Their Dedication and Commitment as She Departs State Service ," August 30, 2023
- ↑ ‘’Governor Josh Shapiro, "Senate Confirms Governor Shapiro’s Appointee to Serve on Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ," August 30, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Reuters, "Uber hit with record $11.4 million fine in Pennsylvania," April 21, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Pittsburg Post-Gazette, "PUC affirms $11.4M penalty for Uber while rejecting appeal," September 1, 2016
- ↑ Philly Voice, "Two Pennsylvania judges want to fine Uber $50 million," November 17, 2015
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Wayne Gardner |
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission 2013-2023 |
Succeeded by Kimberly Barrow |
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