PSC’s Colette Honorable One Hurdle Away From FERC Appointment

by Roby Brock ([email protected]) 105 views 

In the last week-and-a-half, Public Service Commission Chair Colette Honorable has cleared three hurdles and has only one final obstacle to overcome to be named to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Honorable passed with flying colors her confirmation hearing before the Senate Natural Resources Committee more than a week ago. That panel formally approved her nomination last week and she earned bipartisan praise along the way.

Over the weekend, a procedural hurdle was cleared paving the way for the full U.S. Senate to vote on her confirmation as early as Monday (Dec. 15). With Senate approval, Honorable will serve on the powerful energy regulatory panel through June 2017.

Outgoing Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, whose office has conducted business before the PSC, said Honorable’s appointment, when it comes, will be historic for the state.

“This is exciting for the entire American Energy sector, and a great honor for Arkansas,” McDaniel said. “Colette is a strong leader with bipartisan support. All she needs is a vote.”

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.

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.

Talk Business & Politics will update this story later today.