Former FERC officials weigh in on Supreme Court ruling expanding president’s power to fire regulators

The Supreme Court ruled June 29 that presidents can fire regulators at will, in a case called Trump v. Slaughter. Former officials of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency that oversees wholesale electricity and transmission rates, say the decision could reach their commission too, ending the tradition of commissioners serving fixed terms without fear of being removed for political reasons.

Former commissioners from both parties told reporters this could make FERC less stable. If commissioners can be dismissed at will, the agency could lose the minimum number of members needed to issue binding decisions, or could swing sharply in policy direction every time a new president takes office. They compared this to how the EPA has shifted under different administrations. Qualified people might also be less willing to take the job, especially late in a presidential term, since a Senate confirmation process would carry more risk with less job security.

For homeowners, this is a policy and legal story about how federal energy regulation works, not something that changes rebates, rates, or upgrade programs right now. Former officials said no immediate FERC decisions are affected, since recent orders, including ones on connecting large power users to the grid, have been unanimous. But the long-term worry is that added uncertainty at FERC could ripple into electricity markets and infrastructure investment decisions over time.