Institutional Context
The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) is Michigan’s largest municipally owned utility, providing electric, water, steam, and chilled water services to nearly 100,000 customers across 11 municipalities in the Mid-Michigan region. BWL is an enterprise with $2 billion in assets, $417 million in annual operating revenue, and over 800 employees. BWL is a federally regulated utility subject to oversight from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), alongside the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Role & Governance Mandate
As a Lansing City Council Member At-Large, Brown provided governance oversight of the Lansing Board of Water & Light through appointment confirmation of the Board of Commissioners and review of operating budgets and capital plans presented in public forums. The role included evaluation of proposed rate actions and major policy items through required notice and hearing processes, elevating resident priorities related to reliability, sustainability, and fiscal accountability.
