By Rich Heidorn Jr.

More change is coming to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as Commissioner Philip Moeller announced last week that he won’t be returning for a third term.

News of Moeller’s departure set off one of Washington’s favorite parlor games: guessing his replacement. Sources have tabbed Patrick McCormick III, chief counsel for Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), as the likely nominee.

Murkowski named McCormick as her chief counsel in 2013. He joined Murkowski’s staff as special counsel in April 2011 from Hunton & Williams, where he was a partner and led the firm’s regulated markets and energy infrastructure practice. Among McCormick’s law clients were Xcel Energy and coal giant Peabody Energy.

He was also registered as a lobbyist for FirstEnergy and the CCS Alliance, which promotes carbon capture and sequestration.

McCormick took a big pay cut to join the committee. He reported earning $567,000 in 2010 and $374,000 through April 15, 2011, at Hunton & Williams. His initial salary when he joined the Senate committee staff was about $81,000.

Before joining Hunton & Williams in 2005, McCormick was the managing partner for the Washington office of Balch & Bingham, longtime counsel for Southern Co.

McCormick also served as a deputy assistant general counsel for FERC, where he dealt with electric rates and corporate regulation, and in the law and governmental affairs departments of Potomac Electric Power Co. (PEPCO). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at Wheeling Jesuit University in 1977 and his law degree from Catholic University of America in 1984.

McCormick did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

If he is confirmed, and Murkowski has her way, McCormick could be implementing the first major energy legislation since the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

On May 7, Murkowski introduced 17 legislative proposals that she said would modernize the nation’s energy policies, improve infrastructure and speed review of natural gas pipelines on federal lands.

“America’s energy landscape has undergone a dramatic change since Congress last acted on comprehensive energy legislation. Our domestic energy supply has gone from scarce to abundant,” she said. “Our energy renaissance underscores the need to modernize America’s energy policies.”

Moeller to Remain Pending Replacement

Moeller, whose term expires June 30, said he will remain on the commission until a replacement is sworn in. A Republican, Moeller joined the panel in 2006.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve on the commission every single day since I joined the commission in July 2006,” he said in a statement. “I send thanks to President Bush and President Obama for nominating me, as well as the members of the United States Senate who unanimously confirmed me to both terms.”

Moeller’s departure comes as the commission is adjusting to a new chairman, Norman Bay, who replaced Cheryl LaFleur in April. (See LaFleur Chairmanship Ending; Bay to Take Gavel.) The newest commissioner, Colette Honorable, joined the panel in December.

McCormick’s arrival could make for some interesting interpersonal dynamics on the commission given Murkowski’s cool reception to Bay’s nomination. (See GOP Remains Skeptical on Bay Nomination.)

Moeller’s departure means he won’t have a chance to become chairman if a Republican wins the White House in 2016.

Before joining the commission, he worked from 1997 through 2000 as an energy policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.). Before joining Gorton’s staff, he was the staff coordinator for the Washington State Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications. Before becoming a commissioner, he headed the D.C. office of Alliant Energy and worked in the D.C. office of Calpine.