Groups press to set up public participation office, cite 1978 law, more cases affecting prices

摘要

A coalition of 30 consumer and environmentalrngroups have called on FERC to set up anrnOffice of Public Participation, as instructed byrnCongress 38 years ago, to give public interestrngroups an “even footing” with utilitiesrnparticipating in the multiple, highly technicalrndockets before FERC.rnIn a petition filed March 7, the groups ledrnby Public Citizen urged FERC to initiate arnrulemaking to create the office to “coordinaternassistance” to public interest groups thatrnseek to intervene before the commission asrnspecified by Congress in the Public UtilityrnRegulatory Policies Act of 1978. It also calledrnon FERC to fund the work of the office.