Senate confirms new FERC commissioners

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 14 -- US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher reported the US Senate's confirmation of three new commissioners—Philip D. Moeller, Jon Wellinghoff, and Marc Spitzer—to serve on the energy panel.

Moeller, prior to his appointment, served as the Washington representative for Alliant Energy Corp. Previously, he served as energy policy advisor to former US Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington and, for nearly 10 years, also served as the staff coordinator for the Washington State Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications. He will serve on the panel for 4 years, ending June 30, 2010.

Wellinghoff, an attorney, was Nevada's first Consumer Advocate and served as staff counsel to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission. He will serve a 2-year term, expiring June 30, 2008.

Spitzer, an attorney specializing in tax law, was elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2000 and prior to that served in the Arizona State Senate. He will serve a 5-year term, expiring June 30, 2011. Spitzer succeeds Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell, whose term expired June 30.

The three newly appointed commissioners join Chairman Kelliher and Commissioner Suedeen G. Kelly to fill the five-member energy panel.