Just days after Norman Bay was sworn in as FERC’s fifth member, Democrat John Norris announced he will resign his position almost three years early.

Members of FERC last week revealed differences over the impact of the EPA’s proposed carbon emission rule but declined to endorse climate change skeptics’ do-nothing strategy.

After a year of political wrangling, FERC finally has its fifth commissioner. But uncertainty will linger for months at the agency due to Norman Bay’s lack of a policy record and the unprecedented compromise that won his confirmation.

FERC tentatively approved a rule to protect the grid against sabotage threats after ordering changes to allow the commission to overrule transmission operators’ definition of “critical” facilities.

“Clean” energy portfolio standards may be a way for states to provide financial support for ailing nuclear plants, FERC officials told the NRC last week.

Former FERC Chariman Jon Wellinghoff is coming under fire from some of his old colleagues for comments he has made to the media regarding grid safety.

FERC reiterated its 20 MW threshold regarding purchase obligations from qualifying facilities (qf) but the panel’s two Republican members said the commission should rethink its approach.