FERC Member Shakeup Likely to Provoke Ripples Instead of Waves

FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips’ recent resignation marks an impending shift in party majority on the independent agency, but energy insiders say that change may not yield seismic effects.

“His departure now gives the administration the opportunity for the first time in this term to provide a majority of Republicans on the commission,” said Larry Gasteiger, executive director of WIRES who spent almost two decades working at FERC.

“Whether that will have much of an impact on the substance—little up in the air,” he said.

Before Phillips left, the commission was composed of three Democrats and two Republicans. Him leaving ...