Commissioner

FERC Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell has named three top aides to her personal staff: Mary C. Morton, James A. Pederson and Jamie L. Simler.

The White House publicly confirmed yesterday what has been rumored for months — that Commissioner Pat Wood III will be the next chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

FERC Commissioner Pat Wood III said last week that while he doesn’t advocate asking Congress to restore the agency’s authority to regulate gathering, he is concerned about problems that offshore producers may be facing in a de-regulated market.

President Bush yesterday announced his intention to nominateVicky A. Bailey, who served as FERC Commissioner for seven years,to be assistant secretary of energy for international and domesticpolicy. She departed the Commission last February to becomepresident of PSI Energy Inc., Indiana’s largest electric utilityand a subsidiary of Cinergy Corp. Bailey, a Republican, was firstnominated to FERC by President Clinton in 1993 to serve a termthatexpired in 1996 and then was renominated for a five-year term. Sheleft the Commission before her full term was up. An Indiana native,Bailey served on the Indiana Utility Commission from 1986 to 1993.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Charles Matthews yesterday proposedthat the commission look into “all possible solutions” regardingthe high cost of natural gas. Discussions with representatives fromthe exploration and production sector, gas utilities and customergroups had convinced him that the state has to consider long-termsolutions to ensure the gas supply is reliable and affordable.

Commissioner William Massey will take over the reins at FERCwhen Chairman James J. Hoecker steps down this week after more thanseven years at the agency. His term will begin Jan. 19.

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode is waiting forsomeone to be politically incorrect — at least when it comes tosetting up a domestic energy policy. She readily admits, however,that the problems that basically eliminated natural gas drillingfor nearly two years in her state won’t be solved overnight.

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode is waiting forsomeone to be politically incorrect — at least when it comes tosetting up a domestic energy policy. She readily admits, however,that the problems that basically eliminated natural gas drillingfor nearly two years in her state won’t be solved overnight.

Mary Doyle, formerly policy advisor for FERC CommissionerWilliam I. Massey, has been named director of regulatory policy forDynegy Inc. Doyle also served in the gas pipeline rates division atFERC through the gas restructuring process.