John F. Coleman
2022 - Present
2027
2
John F. Coleman is a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Coleman assumed office on October 27, 2022. Coleman's current term ends on April 1, 2027.
Coleman was first appointed to the commission on June 18, 2010, by Governor Ed Rendell (D) and renominated by Governor Tom Corbett (R) for a full five-year term in 2012. He served as vice-chair of the commission from February 24, 2011, until December 31, 2015. In June 2017, Governor Tom Wolf (D) renominated Coleman for another five-year term on the commission. Coleman's reappointment was confirmed by the state senate.[1]
Biography
As of this writing, Coleman was a certified economic development professional. He was a founding investor and corporate treasurer of SilcoTek, a performance coating company. Coleman has served as a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committees on Gas and Pipeline Safety. He was appointed to the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) for a two-year term on September 1, 2011.
Before joining the commission, Coleman served 12 years as the president/chief executive officer of the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, based in State College, Pennsylvania. In this role he was the president and chief executive officer of the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation.[1]
Education
- B.S., in business management, Saint Francis University
- Graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organizational Management at Notre Dame[1]
Political career
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (2010-2022)
Coleman was first appointed to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on June 18, 2010, by Governor Ed Rendell (D). He was renominated for a full five-year term by Governor Tom Corbett (R) in 2012. He served as vice-chair of the commission from February 24, 2011, until December 31, 2015. On June 19, 2017, Governor Tom Wolf (D) renominated Coleman for another five-year term on the commission, and the Pennsylvania State Senate confirmed his appointment on July 8, 2017.[1]
Fines levied against ride-sharing companies operating illegally
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.[2] 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.[3] 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."[3][2][4]
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."[3]
Appointments
2011
Coleman was renominated to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission by Gov. Tom Corbett (R) on February 17, 2012, and unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on April 2, 2012.[1]
2010
Coleman was nominated to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission by Gov. Ed Rendell (D) on June 2, 2010, and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on June 15, 2010.[1]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
As of this writing, Coleman and his wife, Julie, lived in Port Matilda. They had two children, Allie and Tyler.[1]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, " John F. Coleman Jr.," accessed January 18, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Reuters, "Uber hit with record $11.4 million fine in Pennsylvania," April 21, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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
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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission 2022-Present |
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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission 2010-2022 |
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