Wolf elevates lawyer to lead commission

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf is elevating a Harrisburg lawyer to serve as the new chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

The governor appointed Gladys Brown on Thursday to head the five-member regulatory panel.

Wolf, a Democrat, says he’ll work with Brown to ensure there’s stable balance between the interests of utilities and consumers.

She holds a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Brown, who has served on the commission since 2013, succeeds Robert Powelson as chairman. He’ll remain on the commission.

Rule change might bring $210M windfall

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Treasury Department said Thursday it expects revenue from a change in rules for handling unclaimed property to exceed projections by about $210 million — good news for legislative budget writers facing requests for billions of dollars in new spending in the year that starts July 1.

The department’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property “has worked hard to exceed expectations and to do its part to help improve the financial situation of the commonwealth,” said Christopher Craig, the executive deputy state treasurer.

Last year, the Legislature reduced the period in which banks, insurance companies and other entities may keep unclaimed property such as abandoned bank accounts, stocks and safe deposit boxes. The change from five years to three years took effect April 15.