On March 16, 2012, the Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, issued a memorandum to the four federal Power Marketing Agencies (“PMAs”) directing them to modernize the way that they do business.  Secretary Chu has called for the PMAs to take a leadership role in the Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) goal of creating a more secure and sustainable electric sector nationwide.

On March 20, 2012, the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing to consider the nominations of four individuals: Adam Sieminski, to be the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, Marcilynn Burke to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Anthony Clark to be a member of FERC, and John Norris to be a member of FERC.

On March 6, 2012, the Bonneville Power Administration (“Bonneville” or “BPA”) submitted an Oversupply Management Protocol (“OMP”) as part of its compliance filing in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (the “Commission” or “FERC”) December 7, 2011 Order which found that BPA engaged in unduly discriminatory curtailment practices and directed BPA to file an OATT pursuant to Federal Power Act Section 211A.