The Senate late Wednesday confirmed FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher and Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff for second terms on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The action came one day after the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted out the nomination of Wellinghoff, which some correctly believed would prompt the full Senate to act at the last minute on both his appointment and Kelliher’s nomination, which had been stalled in the chamber since summer, before leaving for the Christmas holiday (see Daily GPI, Dec. 20).

The speculation was based on the fact that Wellinghoff is a Democrat and a “favorite pick” of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Kelliher is a Republican.

At FERC’s meeting Thursday, Kelliher said he was “so elated by being confirmed.” He acknowledged that he came down the aisle with Wellinghoff, but he wasn’t sure who was the bride and who was the groom.

Kelliher said it was a “rare event” for an incumbent Commissioner to be reconfirmed by the Senate.

Wellinghoff, a former attorney from Nevada, was initially sworn in at FERC on July 31, 2006 to serve the remainder of the term of former Commissioner William Massey, which expires on June 30, 2008. His second term will end on June 30, 2013.

The Senate energy committee voted out Kelliher’s nomination for a second term at FERC to the full Senate in late May, where it had been pending ever since (see Daily GPI, May 24). His current term expired on June 30, but he had been allowed to continue to serve while awaiting Senate action on his nomination. His second term will expire on June 30, 2012.

The White House in March nominated Kelliher for the post and to continue as chairman of the agency (see Daily GPI, March 7). Kelliher has been chairman of FERC since July 2005.

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