PD_FERC_Chairman-and-Commissioner

Position Description

chairman/commissioner, federal energy regulatory commission

Overview

Senate Committee

Energy and Natural Resources

Agency Mission

To assist consumers in obtaining reliable, efficient and sustainable energy services at a reasonable cost through appropriate regulatory and market means¹ _{https://www.ferc.gov/about/about.asp}

Position Overview

Commissioners serve as part of a federal agency with jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing and oil pipeline rates. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) also reviews and authorizes liquefied natural gas terminals, interstate natural gas pipelines and non-federal hydropower projects.² _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=152919&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O152919}

Compensation

Chairman: Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)
Commissioner: Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)³ _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

FERC is an independent regulatory agency. Members may be removed by the president only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. (42 U.S.C. § 7171)

Responsibilities

Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the FERC had $304 million in budget outlays and 1,456 employees.⁴ _{Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=152919&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O152919}

Primary Responsibilities

® Meets with the other members to decide issues concerned with:
® The issuance and enforcement of licenses for hydro-electric power projects
® The establishment and enforcement of rates and charges for the wholesale sales and transmission of electric energy and for transmission interconnections
® The establishment and enforcement of rates and charges for the transportation of natural gas and certain wholesale sales of natural gas
® The issuance and enforcement of certificates of public convenience and necessity for construction of natural gas pipeline facilities and abandonment of services or facilities, etc.
® The regulation of mergers and certain securities acquisitions and issuances of securities under the Federal Power Act
® Oversight and enforcement of mandatory reliability standards for the electric transmission grid
® Other matters as required by law
® Considers all proposals by the secretary designated as energy actions by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to increase crude oil price ceilings in excess of the statutory ceiling or to exempt petroleum products from price and/or allocation controls
® Has jurisdiction over matters that are required by statute or by determination of the secretary to be decided “on the record”” after an opportunity for an agency hearing
® Hears appeals from certain denials of requests for adjustments and from remedial orders issued by the secretary
® Chairman:
® Oversees the executive and administrative operation of FERC
® Serves as the chief administrator of FERC and as presiding officer for official meetings of the five member commission
® Oversees the appointment and employment of hearing examiners and the selection and appointment of personnel as he deems necessary