Eckert Seamans welcomes Norman Kennard, former commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
December 2, 2019
Eckert Seamans is pleased to welcome new member Norman Kennard to the firm’s Harrisburg office. He will focus his practice in the firm’s Utilities, Telecommunications, and Environmental groups.
“I am very excited to be joining the premier Utilities Group at Eckert and look forward to helping continue building the practice,” Kennard said.
Immediately prior to joining the firm, Kennard served as commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, serving the remaining term of Commissioner Robert Powelson, who resigned upon his confirmation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in August 2017. Prior to Kennard’s appointment to the Commission, Kennard served as counsel to Commissioner Powelson, providing legal and policy advice on electric, natural gas, water, telecommunications, and transportation issues. During that time, he played a role with the licensure of Transportation Network Companies, such as Uber and Lyft; the Commission’s response to the 2014 Polar Vortex, natural gas pipeline construction and infrastructure improvements, deregulation of local telephone service, the PUC’s assertion of jurisdiction over pole attachments and the acquisition of municipal water and wastewater companies.
He began his career in public service, litigating public utility issues on behalf of consumers at the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate. Kennard earned his J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College. He is co-author of the PA PUC’s Guide to Utility Ratemaking and a frequent public speaker.