Nine AGs Filed Comments Outlining Recommendations to Improve Public Engagement at FERC

APRIL 23, 2021

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey led a coalition of nine attorneys general in submitting comments offering recommendations on how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) can “expand and diversify stakeholder participation” as the Commission builds out its new Office of Public Participation. The comments stressed that the Office of Public Participation “should seek to foster a broad change in Commission practice to affirmatively encourage, facilitate, and plan for public participation,” and should draw guidance from successful public participation programs run by state agencies. The comments also encouraged collaboration with state consumer advocates and outlined potential measures to improve accessibility, including appointing public liaisons for high-impact proceedings, offering resources in multiple languages, and improving FERC’s online interfaces.