Contact: Scott Bolden, 202-898-8083, sbolden@naruc.org

Cheryl LaFleur Receives Inaugural Jan Brinch Award for Collaboration in Public Service

WASHINGTON (September 11, 2019) — Outgoing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission commissioner Cheryl LaFleur was awarded the Inaugural Jan Brinch Award for Collaboration in Public Service today during the National Council on Electricity Policy’s Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. The award, initiated by NCEP in memory of Jeanette “Jan” Brinch, honors other public servants who similarly view their positions as opportunities to bring people together to accomplish public interest goals in the electricity sector.

Brinch worked closely with National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Center for Partnerships and Innovation, initially hired as an energy contractor to manage a grant from the Department of Energy before becoming the director of NCEP when it was repurposed and relaunched.  A hallmark of Brinch’s success was her desire to collaborate with others with diverse perspectives, positions and organizations.

Upon receiving the award, LaFleur remarked, “I am very honored to receive the first Jan Brinch Award for Collaboration in Public Service. Jan dedicated her career to bringing together people and organizations with diverse perspectives to tackle tough issues. I believe the ongoing transformations we are experiencing in energy resources and technologies will require even greater collaboration among federal and state public service agencies on behalf of the energy customers they all serve.” Click here to view her award acceptance speech.

“Cheryl LaFleur epitomizes the values that we wanted to honor in creating the Jan Brinch Award,” said Commissioner Sarah Hoffman, Vermont Public Utility Commission. “Jan was a tireless collaborator in seeking what was in the public interest and the same can be said of Cheryl. She was often out among people with diverse perspectives and positions, listening, learning and contributing greatly to the discussions.”

More on Jan Brinch

Jeannette “Jan” Brinch was an energy consultant and expert facilitator with more than 30 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields. She supported multiple clients with the design and facilitation of research agendas, strategic policies and plans and education and outreach programs. Her clients included federal organizations and agencies, the private sector and trade associations and academic and research institutions.

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About NARUC

NARUC is a non-profit organization founded in 1889 whose members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. NARUC's member agencies regulate telecommunications, energy, and water utilities. NARUC represents the interests of State public utility commissions before the three branches of the Federal government.