The Regulatory Mix, TMI’s daily blog of regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of a TMI Briefing.

TELECOM

US Congress

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology has scheduled a hearing for November 17, 2015, at 10:15 a.m. entitled, “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.” All five FCC Commissioners are scheduled to appear as the subcommittee looks forward to an update on the commission’s work on the upcoming incentive auction, the open Internet order, video reforms, and the status of process reform efforts. 

ENERGY

Maryland

The state’s Attorney General has submitted a "friend of the court" memorandum asking a judge to require the PSC to reconsider its earlier decision approving the Exelon Corp. acquisition of Pepco and Delmarva Power and Light. The Attorney General supports petitions filed in the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County by the Maryland Office of People's Counsel and by the Sierra Club and Chesapeake Climate Action Network. He noted that if the acquisition were to go forward, “Exelon, which already owns Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, would own three of Maryland's four major electric utilities, controlling electric service to 80 percent of Maryland consumers. In addition, Exelon already owns one of the country's largest fleets of power plants.” Click here to read more, including the Attorney General’s amicus memorandum.

Pennsylvania

The PUC announced that Commissioner Robert F. Powelson was sworn in as First Vice President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).   “I am honored to continue my service and leadership on a national level with NARUC, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Commissioner Powelson. “This new post comes as Pennsylvania continues to demonstrate leadership nationally on issues such as electric competition, responsible shale gas development, consumer education, critical infrastructure and transportation.”