I appreciate the opportunity to provide comments following the October 23, 2025 proposed advance notice of proposed rulemaking (proposed ANOPR) submitted by the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) pursuant to section 403 of the Department of Energy Organization Act to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission). I support the Commission’s consideration of the Secretary’s efforts to “ensure all Americans and domestic industries have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity… in a timely, orderly, and non-discriminatory manner.” Specifically, I urge the Commission to enable Consumer Regulated Electricity (CRE), which offers a parallel path to timely, orderly, and non-discriminatory access to electricity for large loads.

I. Interest in this Proceeding

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. At Cato, I am the Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies, and my research focuses on the economics and reliability of electricity, the role of free markets in improving the availability and affordability of energy and natural resources, and environmental regulations that impact the energy sector. FERC has an opportunity to embrace free-market principles as part of this docket and others, and I am committed to ensuring that the Commission uses its statutory authorities to improve the lives of American consumers by unleashing market forces to the maximum extent possible.