Federal Position Descriptions
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Chairman and Commissioner

Chairman/Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Responsibility
Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the FERC had $304 million in budget outlays and 1,456 employees.4

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, including an executive director and the procurement of services, experts and consultants5
Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

Board requirements:

  • Composed of five members appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate
  • One of the members shall be designated by the president as chairman
  • Members shall hold office for a term of five years
  • Not more than three members of the commission shall be members of the same political party
  • Any commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term; a commissioner may continue to serve after the expiration of his term until his successor is appointed and has been confirmed and taken the oath of office, except that such commissioner shall not serve beyond the end of the session of the Congress in which such term expires
  • Members of the commission shall not engage in any other business, vocation or employment while serving on the commission (42 U.S.C. § 7171)

Board member requirements:

  • By demonstrated ability, background, training or experience, are specially qualified to assess fairly the needs and concerns of all interests affected by federal energy policy (42 U.S.C. § 7134)

 

Competencies
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to handle sensitive issues
  • Excellent collaboration skills and collegiality
  • Chairman: Strong leadership and public speaking skills
Past Appointments
  • Colette D. Honorable (2014 to 2017): Chair, Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; Member, National Petroleum Council, Department of Energy; Executive Committee Member and Ex Officio Director, Board of Directors, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners6
  • Anthony T. Clark (2012 to 2016): Ex Officio Director, Board of Directors, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners; Chairman, North Dakota Public Service Commission, State of North Dakota; Chairman and President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners7
  • John Wellinghoff (2006 to 2013): Partner, Beckley Singleton; Managing Principal and Regulatory Attorney, Efficient Energy Systems, Inc.; Staff Counsel, Public Utilities Commission, State of Nevada8
AGENCY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Mission: To assist consumers in obtaining reliable, efficient and sustainable energy services at a reasonable cost through appropriate regulatory and market means1

COMPENSATION

Chairman: Level III $165,300 (5 U.S.C. § 5314)
Commissioner: Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)3

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)

SENATE COMMITTEE

Energy and Natural Resources

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Footnote
  1. https://www.ferc.gov/about/about.asp
  2. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=152919&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O152919
  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.
  4. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgDocument.asp?OrgId=-1&LDIBookId=19&LDIOrgId=152919&LDISecId=180&FromRecent=0&Save=1&Position=-1#O152919
  5. OPM
  6. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=681365&Save=1
  7. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=416336&Save=1
  8. Leadership Directories: https://lo.bvdep.com/PeopleDocument.asp?PersonId=-1&LDIPeopleId=662508&Save=1
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