Federal Energy Regulator Maintains Independence Is ‘Safeguarded’

Laura Swett spent part of her first press conference as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Thursday reaffirming the agency’s independence, saying FERC is “explicitly carved out of DOE’s jurisdiction.”

Swett’s comments on FERC’s independence come after the Energy Department asked the regulator to look into a possible rulemaking regarding the interconnection of large loads—such as data centers—to the grid.

DOE Secretary Chris Wright sent a letter to the commission in October with the request, and FERC initiated a rulemaking shortly afterward, prompting questions about the relationship between the two agencies.

“That issue is my biggest priority, ...