Federal Power Commission

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Federal Power Commission
Agency overview
FormedJune 23, 1930 (1930-06-23)
DissolvedOctober 1, 1977
Superseding agency
JurisdictionU.S. government
Agency executive

The Federal Power Commission (FPC) was an independent commission of the United States government, originally organized on June 23, 1930, with five members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The FPC was originally created in 1920 by the Federal Water Power Act, which provided for the licensing by the FPC of hydroelectric projects on the land or navigable water owned by the federal government. The FPC has since been replaced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The FPC also regulated interstate electric utilities and the natural gas industry.

In June 1939, President Roosevelt appointed Leland Olds to the FPC, who served as chairman from January 1940 until 1949. Under Olds’ leadership, the FPC successfully pressured electric utilities to extend power into neglected rural areas and to lower electricity rates to increase use.

Olds' insistence on enforcing the Natural Gas Act of 1938 raised the ire of the oil industry in Texas and led to the end of his tenure at the FPC. Robert Caro's book Master of the Senate describes how Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Olds' re-appointment by orchestrating a smear campaign.[1] The tactics involved having the staff of the House Un-American Activities Committee dig up old writings, which were then taken out of context to create a false image of Olds as a communist. The subcommittee in charge of reappointment was stacked against Leland and coached by Johnson.

James G. Watt was another prominent FPC commissioner, who conducted prayer meetings prior to the FPC sessions.

Chairmen[]

From its founding in 1920 until its first reform in 1930, the FPC did not have its own commissioners; rather, it was chaired ex officio by the Secretaries of War, Interior, and Agriculture.[2] The first "Chairman" in that sense was Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker. Before 1930, five Secretaries of War, five Secretaries of the Interior, and five Secretaries of Agriculture held title at the FPC.

Following the 1930 reforms, FPC had its own commissioners, with the following commissioners holding the title of Chairman of the Federal Power Commission:

Past Chairmen[3][]

  • George Otis Smith December 22, 1930 - July 18, 1933
  • Frank R. McNinch July 19, 1933 - September 30, 1937
  • September 30, 1937 - December 31, 1939
  • Leland Olds January 1, 1940 - June 22, 1944
  • September 21, 1944 - September 14, 1945
  • Leland Olds December 14, 1945 - January 1, 1947
  • January 1, 1947 - May 24, 1950
  • Mon C. Wallgren May 24, 1950 - October 1, 1951
  • January 5, 1952 - May 15, 1953
  • May 15, 1953 - August 31, 1961
  • September 1, 1961 - December 30, 1965
  • Lee C. White March 2, 1966 - July 31, 1969
  • August 1, 1969 - June 22, 1975
  • October 20, 1975 - August 9, 1977
  • Charles B. Curtis August 10, 1977 - September 30, 1977 (through renaming to FERC)

Past Commissioners[4][]

  • James G. Watt November 11, 1975 - August 30, 1977
  • October 20, 1975 - August 9, 1977
  • September 3, 1975 - August 4, 1977
  • December 13, 1973 - June 30, 1979
  • William L. Springer June 14, 1973 - December 1, 1975
  • November 19, 1971 - March 15, 1975
  • May 26, 1971 - December 31, 1972
  • August 1, 1969 - October 20, 1975
  • October 16, 1968 - March 31, 1975
  • John A. Carver Jr. September 13, 1966 - June 15, 1972
  • Lee C. White March 2, 1966 - July 31, 1969
  • May 27, 1965 - December 31, 1970
  • August 30, 1963 - September 13, 1966
  • March 30, 1962 - August 4, 1964
  • September 29, 1961 - September 25, 1968
  • August 14, 1961 - August 30, 1971
  • 1961 - December 30, 1965
  • June 28, 1961 - June 22, 1963
  • July 15, 1960 - April 15, 1961
  • June 23, 1958 - March 17, 1960
  • June 23, 1956 - August 13, 1961
  • June 23, 1955 - June 22, 1958
  • July 9, 1954 - July 15, 1961
  • August 17, 1953 - June 22, 1958
  • May 15, 1953 - August 31, 1961
  • May 22, 1952 - June 22, 1954
  • Mon C. Wallgren November 2, 1949 - October 1, 1951
  • June 14, 1948 - May 15, 1953
  • November 1, 1945 - June 22, 1947
  • October 5, 1945 - June 22, 1958
  • October 26, 1943 - June 22, 1956
  • Leland Olds July 7, 1939 - June 22, 1944
  • June 24, 1937 - June 15, 1945
  • August 13, 1934 - August 5, 1943
  • June 24, 1933 - October 1, 1945
  • Herbert J. Drane June 16, 1933 - June 22, 1937
  • December 31, 1930 - December 10, 1932
  • Frank R. McNinch December 27, 1930 - June 22, 1934
  • George Otis Smith December 22, 1930 - October 31, 1933
  • December 22, 1930 - June 22, 1956
  • December 22, 1930 - June 22, 1932

Relevant laws[]

Dissolution[]

Main article: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

On October 1, 1977, the FPC was replaced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.[5]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Robert A. Caro (2002). Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson. ch. 10-12. ISBN 0-394-52836-0.
  2. ^ Staff (1995). "A Salute: 75 Years for the FPC and FERC" (PDF). Energy Law Journal. 16 (2): 293. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  3. ^ "Past FPC Chairmen".
  4. ^ "Past FPC Commissioners".
  5. ^ 42 U.S.C. § 7172.
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