POLITICO Energy Bonus episode: FERC Commissioner Chang on the US power grid, data centers and Trump
Mar 26, 2026
Judy Chang, a Democratic FERC commissioner who oversees U.S. electricity transmission and reliability, joins to discuss grid strain and soaring power costs. She talks about the challenge of massive data center demand, how regulators balance regional planning with quick fixes, and the agency’s independence in high-stakes decisions.
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Regulator As Voice For Those Not In The Room
- Judy Chang views her role as representing voices not present, like residential consumers.
- She cites former Chair Mark Christie’s refrain about people not in the room and says she takes that responsibility seriously.
FERC Maintains Formal Independence
- FERC stresses institutional independence while engaging with federal agencies as input.
- Judy Chang says commissioners follow ex parte rules and weigh stakeholder input but decide on merits and public interest.
Data Centers Stress Regional Transmission
- Large data-center and big-load interconnections raise transmission impacts beyond local utilities.
- Judy Chang notes states lead on interconnection but FERC has responsibility over transmission planning, cost allocation and reliability with regional implications.