Laura A. Chappelle

Energy Policy Attorney

Laura focuses on regulatory and legal policy issues involving the state and federal energy sectors. She has more than 25 years of experience in state, wholesale and regional energy issues. Laura previously served as a regulatory policy advisor for both the Michigan House and Senate, assistant counsel for former Speaker of the House Paul Hillegonds, deputy legal counsel for former Governor John Engler, and was appointed by Gov. John Engler as the chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2001, where she served as commissioner from 2003 until 2007. Laura was a key advisor in the drafting and implementation of Michigan's retail electric choice law, as well as Michigan's nationally-recognized "Broadband" telecommunications law that, in part, coordinated and streamlined local and state right-of-way regulations for telecommunications and Internet providers.

Laura previously served as a regulatory policy advisor for both the Michigan House and Senate and was appointed by Gov. John Engler as the chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2001, where she served as commissioner from 2003 until 2007. Laura was a key advisor in the drafting and implementation of Michigan's retail electric choice law, as well as Michigan's nationally-recognized "Broadband" law that, in part, coordinated and streamlined local and state right-of-way regulations for telecommunications and Internet providers.

For more information, please contact Laura Chappelle at 616/336-6920 or lachappelle@varnumlaw.com

Varnum Serves as Michigan Counsel in Sale of Regulated Utility

Varnum Successfully Represents Hydro in Interconnection Rules Dispute with Utility

Best Lawyers in America^®, Energy Regulatory Law, since 2017

Best Lawyers in America^®, Women in the Law Spring Business Edition, Energy Regulatory Law, 2017

Energy Bar Association, 2009 - present

Governor Rick Snyder - Legal Transition Team, 2011

Michigan Public Service Commission: chairman, 2000 - 2003; commissioner, 2003 - 2007

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: Electricity Committee,
vice chair, 2004 - 2007; Broadband over Power Line Task Force, chair

Organization of MISO States (OMS): president, January - June 2007; treasurer, 2003

Organization of PJM States (OPSI),  vice president, 2006 - 2007

State Bar of Illinois

State Bar of Michigan, commissioner-at-large, 2007 - 2010

State Bar of Michigan

Working Group of the Consumer Energy Council of America (CECA), co-chair, 2004 - 2005

Advancing Women in Energy (AWE), co-founder, 2016