FERC
Continuity, Change in Store at FERC
President Obama intends to re-nominate Commissioner Philip Moeller to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and to nominate a former utility executive, Cheryl LaFleur, to fill a vacancy on the panel.
Philip Moeller
The nominations, and Senate confirmations, would return the commission to its full five-member strength.
Moeller, a Republican, is currently serving a five-year term that expires June 30. LaFleur will be nominated to the seat formerly held by Commissioner Suedeen Kelly for the balance of a term expiring June 30, 2014.
Before coming to FERC in July 2006, Moeller served as executive director of Alliant Energy Corporation’s Washington, D.C., office. Before joining the IOU, he was director of federal relations for Calpine Corporation, a merchant generator, and worked as a senior legislative assistant for former Sen. Slade Gorton, a Washington Republican.
According to the White House, LaFleur, a Democrat, has “more than 20 years’ experience as a leader in the electric and gas industry.” She retired in 2007 as executive vice president and acting CEO of National Grid USA, responsible for the delivery of electricity to more than 3.4 million customers in the Northeast.
While at National Grid and its predecessor, New England Electric System, LaFleur helped lead the company through several regulatory and corporate transformations including the deregulation of energy supply, the transition to performance-based ratemaking, and several mergers, the White House noted.
“She has been an active leader in the growth of energy efficiency and demand response programs for customers, the introduction of competitive energy markets and efforts to strengthen service reliability and employee and public safety,” it added.
“We look forward to a continuing good relationship with Commissioner Moeller,” said Rich Meyer, NRECA senior regulatory counsel, following the White House announcements. “We also look forward to getting to know Ms. LaFleur and educating her about co-ops as she proceeds through the confirmation process.”