At his first meeting as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, James Hoecker announced that he was assigning responsibility for certain important issues to FERC members.
At the June 25 meeting, Hoecker assigned the key responsibility for reliability issues to Commissioner Vicky Bailey. Bailey will track reliability developments at NERC, DOE and around the nation. Hoecker assigned responsibility for merger policy issues to Commissioner William Massey. Commissioner Donald Santa Jr. and General Counsel Susan Tomasky were assigned the oversight of FERC's complaint procedures. But Hoecker stressed that the assignments are not signals that FERC will change its course on policy matters.
Commissioner Santa, whose term expired June 30, was given a role because he has decided to remain at FERC indefinitely, while his replacement is being chosen.
Both Hoecker and Massey put to rest any rumors of animosity between the two - they both had vied for FERC chair - while Massey referred to their friendship. "I've visited his house, I've swam in his pool, I've drank his wine," Massey said.
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