Joseph T. Kelliher
Encyclopedia
Joseph Timothy Kelliher (born January 17, 1961) is an American
energy
executive and former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
.
Kelliher received his bachelor's degree
from Georgetown University
's School of Foreign Service
in 1983. In 1994 he graduated with a Juris Doctor
, magna cum laude, from Washington College of Law
at American University
. After law school, Kelliher worked in a private law firm and then on the staff of U.S. Representative Joe Barton, a Republican
from Texas. He served briefly as the director of legislative programs for the American Nuclear Energy Council and represented Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSEG) until 1995.
In 1995 he went to work for the U.S. House Committee on Commerce
as Republican
(majority) counsel for oversight over DOE on electricity, nuclear waste, hydropower, and energy conservation matters. After leaving the Hill in 2000, he briefly reenterred the private practice of law, and also served on the Bush/Cheney Presidential Transition Team in late 2000 and early 2001. Kelliher then went to work for the Department of Energy (DOE)
where he served as a senior policy advisor on electricity and other domestic energy issues, including doing staff work for the Energy Task Force
.
Kelliher was appointed to FERC by president George W. Bush
in October 2001, but did not receive his hearing in front of the Senate
committee until 2003. and took office on November 20, 2003. On July 9, 2005 he was appointed chairman, replacing Patrick H. Wood III. During the appointment process there were charges that he enjoyed too cozy a relationship with industry lobbyists and had, as a member of Vice President Richard Cheney's energy task force
, helped write President Bush's National Energy Policy in such a way that would be financially beneficial to energy companies at the expense of consumers. Following the Enron scandal
he worked to reduce market manipulation
and volatility. He created two new divisions at FERC, the Office of Enforcement to investigate violations of FERC requirements, especially as regard to market manipulation, and the Office of Electric Reliability to review and improve the grid's reliability standards. He left FERC in January 2009 to become Executive Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs for NextEra Energy, Inc. (FPL Group)
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
energy
Energy industry
The energy industry is the totality of all of the industries involved in the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining and distribution...
executive and former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the United States federal agency with jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing, and oil pipeline rates...
.
Kelliher received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
's School of Foreign Service
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
in 1983. In 1994 he graduated with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, magna cum laude, from Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. After law school, Kelliher worked in a private law firm and then on the staff of U.S. Representative Joe Barton, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Texas. He served briefly as the director of legislative programs for the American Nuclear Energy Council and represented Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSEG) until 1995.
In 1995 he went to work for the U.S. House Committee on Commerce
United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
as Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
(majority) counsel for oversight over DOE on electricity, nuclear waste, hydropower, and energy conservation matters. After leaving the Hill in 2000, he briefly reenterred the private practice of law, and also served on the Bush/Cheney Presidential Transition Team in late 2000 and early 2001. Kelliher then went to work for the Department of Energy (DOE)
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
where he served as a senior policy advisor on electricity and other domestic energy issues, including doing staff work for the Energy Task Force
Energy Task Force
The Energy Task Force, officially the National Energy Policy Development Group , was a task force created by then-U.S. President George W. Bush in 2001 during his second week in office. Vice President Dick Cheney was named chairman...
.
Kelliher was appointed to FERC by president George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in October 2001, but did not receive his hearing in front of the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
committee until 2003. and took office on November 20, 2003. On July 9, 2005 he was appointed chairman, replacing Patrick H. Wood III. During the appointment process there were charges that he enjoyed too cozy a relationship with industry lobbyists and had, as a member of Vice President Richard Cheney's energy task force
Energy Task Force
The Energy Task Force, officially the National Energy Policy Development Group , was a task force created by then-U.S. President George W. Bush in 2001 during his second week in office. Vice President Dick Cheney was named chairman...
, helped write President Bush's National Energy Policy in such a way that would be financially beneficial to energy companies at the expense of consumers. Following the Enron scandal
Enron scandal
The Enron scandal, revealed in October 2001, eventually led to the bankruptcy of the Enron Corporation, an American energy company based in Houston, Texas, and the dissolution of Arthur Andersen, which was one of the five largest audit and accountancy partnerships in the world...
he worked to reduce market manipulation
Market manipulation
Market manipulation describes a deliberate attempt to interfere with the free and fair operation of the market and create artificial, false or misleading appearances with respect to the price of, or market for, a security, commodity or currency...
and volatility. He created two new divisions at FERC, the Office of Enforcement to investigate violations of FERC requirements, especially as regard to market manipulation, and the Office of Electric Reliability to review and improve the grid's reliability standards. He left FERC in January 2009 to become Executive Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs for NextEra Energy, Inc. (FPL Group)
NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources is an wholesale electricity supplier based in Juno Beach, Florida. It is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. , a Fortune 200 company. Prior to 2009, NextEra Energy Resources was known as FPL Energy....
.