PSC Chair Colette Honorable Confirmed By U.S. Senate To FERC Panel

BusinessCentral ArkansasNortheast ArkansasNorthwest ArkansasTalk Politics

by Roby Brock ([email protected]) December 16, 2014 7:36 pm 153 views 

Arkansas Public Service Commission chairwoman Colette Honorable cleared her final hurdle to become a member of the powerful five-person Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Honorable, who received bipartisan praise throughout her confirmation process, cleared the full U.S. Senate on a voice vote on Tuesday night (Dec. 16).

In August, President Obama nominated Honorable to the FERC post to replace John Norris, who announced his resignation after serving on the FERC board since 2010.

With Senate approval, Honorable will serve on the FERC board until June 2017.

The FERC is the federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. According to its website, FERC also:

  • Regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce;
  • Reviews certain mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies;
  • Regulates the transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce;
  • Regulates the transportation of oil by pipeline in interstate commerce;
  • Approves the siting and abandonment of interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities;
  • Reviews the siting application for electric transmission projects under limited circumstances;
  • Ensures the safe operation and reliability of proposed and operating LNG terminals;
  • Licenses and inspects private, municipal, and state hydroelectric projects;
  • Protects the reliability of the high voltage interstate transmission system through mandatory reliability standards;
  • Monitors and investigates energy markets;
  • Enforces FERC regulatory requirements through imposition of civil penalties and other means; and
  • Oversees environmental matters related to natural gas and hydroelectricity projects and other matters.

Honorable has served on the PSC since 2007 and has been chair of the three-person panel since 2011.

She also just concluded her term as Chair of the Board and President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.