President Obama last week named Cheryl LaFleur as chairwoman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission effective July 30 and said new Commissioner Norman Bay will succeed her in the top spot on April 15, 2015.

LaFleur has been serving as acting chair since Nov. 25, when former Chair Jon Wellinghoff resigned.

Bay, who has served as director of FERC’s Office of Enforcement since 2009, won confirmation to the commission under an unusual agreement that Obama wouldn’t promote him to the chairmanship for nine months.

The compromise was crucial to winning the votes of some who criticized Obama’s plan to make Bay — who has never been a regulatory commissioner — chair immediately upon his appointment.

The last five FERC chairmen served a median of 30 months before becoming chair. Only one served less than a year on the panel before his promotion.

LaFleur has served on the commission since 2010. (See At FERC, Uncertainty Remains Despite Norman Bay’s Nod.)