Lawmakers launch another push to establish public advocacy office at FERC

摘要

Legislation reintroduced in the House and Senate would again try to set up an office of public participation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that would help represent interests of residential and small commercial interests in rates, service and infrastructure siting. During a House Energy and Commerce hearing Wednesday, several lawmakers flagged concerns about consumers’ or residents’ frustrations about having their interests heard at FERC or in regional transmission organizations and independent system operators. Representative Ann McLane Kuster, Democrat-New Hampshire, noted that she, along with Jan Schakowsky, Democrat-Illinois, and Joseph Kennedy, Democrat-New Hampshire, were introducing legislation that day to establish an office of public participation and consumer advocacy. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate by Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat-New Hampshire, and others in May. The intent is to support public engagement and “advocate on behalf of residential and small commercial energy consumers,” according to a bill summary.