By Michael Brooks
WASHINGTON — FERC Chairman Kevin McIntyre was absent from the commission’s monthly open meeting Thursday, citing his recovery following surgery for a brain tumor and a fall.
Commissioner Neil Chatterjee, who chaired the meeting, opened by reading a statement in which McIntyre apologized for his absence.
“I had fully intended to be present. However, my ongoing recovery prevents me from being here in person today,” McIntyre said.
“While my health situation has impacted my mobility, it has not impacted my ability to get the commission’s work done,” he added, citing 151 orders since the July open meeting, an agreement with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration over LNG terminal permitting and the appointment of Administrative Law Judge Stephanie Nagel.
McIntyre also expressed gratitude “for everyone’s concern regarding my ongoing recovery.”
Chatterjee ended McIntyre’s statement with his own comment, saying “I know I speak for my fellow commissioners when I say that we wish the chairman the best in his continued recovery.”
McIntyre revealed in March that he had had surgery for a brain tumor and was undergoing treatment. Shortly before July’s meeting, the chairman disclosed that he had compression fractures in two of his vertebrae, causing severe back pain, and that he had fallen and injured his arm on July 4.
At the July 19 open meeting, McIntyre remained seated throughout, and it was apparent that he was in pain. (See “McIntyre Toughs it out,” FERC Says Farewell to Powelson.) The commission does not meet in August.
McIntyre also was absent at the commission’s annual reliability technical conference July 31.
On Sept. 11, FERC posted an episode of its “Open Access” podcast, in which McIntyre said he was “well on the mend, and I’m feeling better every day.”
“I also am happy to report that I have continued to work full steam ahead with my colleagues, my personal staff and the commission’s professional staff to ensure that the commission’s work continues unabated. In fact, the August break wasn’t much of a break.”
However, sources have told RTO Insider that the chairman is often absent from FERC headquarters and that meetings with him have been frequently rescheduled as a result.
When asked how often McIntyre has been coming into headquarters for work, FERC spokeswoman Mary O’Driscoll said Thursday, “I can’t answer that; I don’t know.” She was incredulous when asked whether the chairman had considered resigning because of his health issues. “What? Where is that coming from? No. I don’t know. No.”
Another spokesman, Craig Cano, declined to comment.
In another departure from normal proceedings, the commission did not hold a press conference after the meeting. Despite being repeatedly asked, O’Driscoll refused to give reporters a reason for this.
“From time to time we do not have briefings. So it’s not breaking with tradition. I’ve been here 11 years, and I’ve done it at least once with each chairman I’ve served. … I don’t know why you’re making a big deal about this. No briefing. OK?”
