Congressman Bob Latta, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, delivered an opening statement at a hearing titled "Oversight of FERC: Advancing Affordable and Reliable Energy for All Americans." The session featured all five Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), including first-time appearances by Chairman Swett and Commissioner LaCerte.
Latta began by welcoming the commissioners and emphasizing FERC’s foundational role. “FERC was established in 1970 by Congress as an economic regulator to ensure that electricity, natural gas, and oil is delivered to the American people safely, securely, and reasonably priced,” he said.
He addressed current challenges facing the U.S. energy grid. “It is no secret that our grid is under extreme stress. The head of North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC, called the reliability crisis a ‘five alarm fire.’” Latta noted significant increases in utility bills over recent years and pointed out concerns about rising demand from data centers.
Latta attributed some of these issues to past policy decisions. “Decades of poor policy decisions from federal and state governments steered utilities away from reliability-centric investments and towards one intended to meet renewable energy goals.” He also cited delays in permitting and legal obstacles as barriers to market response.
The congressman highlighted the importance of balancing technological growth with grid stability. “When done properly, research continues to show that the growth of large energy users like data centers and manufacturing facilities can help stabilize the grid and make electricity more affordable.”
Latta outlined actions taken by FERC in 2025: “Throughout 2025, FERC returned to a methodical approach to permitting interstate natural gas pipelines and LNG facilities. They are working to streamline the process for licensing hydropower facilities to maintain and grow vital baseload resources.”
He also mentioned efforts between federal agencies and states regarding cost distribution for data center development: “FERC, along with the Administration and states, are ensuring that costs associated with the development of data centers are not falling on the backs of ratepayers.”
The House Energy and Commerce Committee oversees matters related to energy policy among other areas such as health care, environmental protection, telecommunications, infrastructure, technology innovation, broadband deployment, pharmaceutical pricing, consumer issues, public health policies, and federal agency oversight according to its official website. The committee traces its origins back to 1795 when it formed as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures (source).
Latta concluded his remarks by stating: “While substantial progress has been made to reaffirm American energy dominance, more work remains. Today’s hearing is a pivotal opportunity for the committee to better understand how FERC can best serve the interests of the American people.”
