The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates the interstate transmission and wholesale sale of electricity and natural gas and regulates the prices of interstate transport of petroleum by pipeline. FERC also reviews proposals to build interstate natural gas pipelines, natural gas storage projects, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, in addition to licensing non-federal hydropower projects.
A regional transmission organization (RTO) in the United States is an electric power transmission system operator (TSO) that coordinates, controls, and monitors a multi-state electric grid. The transfer of electricity between states is considered interstate commerce, and electric grids spanning multiple states are therefore regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The voluntary creation of RTOs was initiated by FERC in December 1999. The purpose of the RTO is to promote economic efficiency, reliability, and non-discriminatory practices while reducing government oversight.
Norman C. Bay is an American attorney. He is the former United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. Bay was the first Chinese-American United States Attorney. Bay is the former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He is currently a partner at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., formerly named Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO) is an Independent System Operator (ISO) and Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). It provides open-access transmission service and monitors the high-voltage transmission system in the Midwestern United States, in Manitoba, Canada, and in a southern U.S. region that includes much of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. MISO also operates one of the world's largest real-time energy markets. The 15 states covered by MISO are: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Jon B. Wellinghoff is an American attorney who served as the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from 2009 to 2013. The FERC is a U.S. government agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. The FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines and licenses hydropower projects.
Kathleen Quinn Abernathy is an American telecommunications technology executive and lawyer who served as a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2001 to 2005. Following government service, she joined the board of Frontier Communications while also returning to the practice of law. In 2010, she became a senior executive at Frontier and she served variously as Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Chair, America's Best Communities Prize Competition. In 2012, she joined the board of ISO New England, a regional energy transmission organization. She graduated from Marquette University magna cum laude, and from Catholic University's Columbus School of Law. She also served as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University and Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.
ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) is an independent, non-profit regional transmission organization (RTO), headquartered in Holyoke, Massachusetts, serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM) is a regional transmission organization (RTO) in the United States. It is part of the Eastern Interconnection grid operating an electric transmission system serving all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) is the national association representing the U.S. state public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, including energy, telecommunications, and water. Founded in 1889, the Association is a resource for its members and the regulatory community, providing a venue to set and influence public policy, share best practices, and foster solutions to improve regulation.
Joseph Timothy Kelliher is an American energy executive and former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Nora Mead Brownell is the co-founder of Espy Energy Solutions, LLC, an energy consulting firm and a former Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from 2001–2006 under the administration of President George W. Bush. She is a former President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is a non-profit Independent System Operator (ISO) serving California. It oversees the operation of California's bulk electric power system, transmission lines, and electricity market generated and transmitted by its member utilities. CAISO is one of the largest ISOs in the world, delivering 300 million megawatt-hours of electricity each year and managing about 80% of California's electric flow.
Van Ness Feldman is a law and government relations firm specializing in energy, environment and natural resources law with offices in Washington D.C., Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Houston and Baton Rouge.
Indranil "Neil" Chatterjee is an American lawyer, political advisor, and government official who was a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He was Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from August 10, 2017, to December 7, 2017, and again from October 24, 2018, until he was removed from the position by President Donald Trump on November 5, 2020.
Robert F. Powelson is an American nonprofit executive and former government official who currently serves as president and CEO of the National Association of Water Companies. He was a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2017 until 2018. Powelson previously served as a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission from 2008 until 2017, and he is a past president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
Richard Glick is an American political aide and government official who served as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Bernard L. McNamee is a government official who served as Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2018 to 2020. McNamee was confirmed to the position by the United States Senate on December 6, 2018. He previously served in various state and federal legal and policy positions and practiced energy law in the private sector.
Maria Duaime Robinson is an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 6th Middlesex district from 2019 to 2022. In September 2021, she was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as assistant secretary of energy for electricity delivery and energy reliability, but the White House withdrew her nomination on June 8, 2022.
James Patrick Danly is an American attorney who was a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He was nominated by President Donald Trump in 2019 and took office on March 30, 2020. He formerly served as the agency's general counsel. On November 5, 2020, he was named chairman of FERC. After serving for only 77 days, Danly was demoted on January 21, 2021, when President Biden named Richard Glick Chairman. He stepped down at the end of the 2023-2024 congressional session when his term expired.
Willie L. Phillips is an American attorney who is the incumbent chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
