A Senate panel today voted to confirm Norman Bay to FERC in a deal that will keep acting chair Cheryl LaFleur in her current role for nine months.

Norman Bay's case for confirmation as FERC chair wasn’t helped last week by the responses Acting Chair Cheryl LaFleur filed in response to Senators. LaFleur detailed seven enforcement cases in which she differed from Bay and her fellow commissioners.

Leading Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said last week they remain skeptical of President Obama’s nomination of Norman Bay to chair the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur sailed through her Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday while Norman Bay was forced to defend his limited policy experience and his running of the commission’s enforcement division. He also found himself having to negotiate a gender politics minefield.

Top enforcement officials at FERC and the CFTC assured energy lawyers they respect the due process rights of investigative targets, rejecting allegations that they have employed heavy-handed tactics.

The Powhatan Energy Fund, the subject of a FERC investigation for more than three years without being charged, has decided to go on offense by releasing documents it says proves it has been unfairly hounded.

A guide to the players in the Powhatan Energy Fund market manipulation investigation.

At this year's NARUC winter meeting, Senators told state regulators they had little hope of passing comprehensive cybersecurity legislation or finding a solution for the nuclear waste stalemate this year.

The coal industry lobby that sank Ron Binz’ FERC nomination will have a much harder time pinning the “war on coal” label on President Obama’s new choice, Norman Bay. But that doesn’t necessarily mean clear sailing.

Cheryl LaFleur became acting chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Sunday, succeeding Jon Wellinghoff, who came under pressure to resign after accepting a law firm position in October.