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Suedeen Kelly was appointed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in December 2004. Kelly was a professor of law at the University of New Mexico School of Law and chair of the New Mexico Public Service Commission. Three new commissioners joined FERC recently, rounding out the commission for the first time in several years. Commissioner Kelly, whose term expires in 2009, reflects here on life in the nation’s capital.
Was adjusting to life in Washington, D.C., difficult?
No, it wasn’t. The city is beautiful and very livable, with many parks and an excellent public transit system. It’s full of art and culture and international diversity. The Smithsonian is open every day except Dec. 25 and it’s free. I also love the fact that when the sun shines, it shines down on the city streets because there is a ban on building anything higher than the Capitol. The hardest things to get used to are that the sun doesn’t shine every day, there’s no mountain to be seen from any window, and I haven’t been able to find a bakery that sells biscochitos.
Who’s the most interesting person you’ve met there?
President George W. Bush. He’s smart and engaging-and good-looking. The second most interesting person I’ve met here is Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). He received the Pulitzer Prize for his book, “The Prize: Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power.” He continues to research and write about international energy issues, and he has published a new, and highly acclaimed, book, “The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy.” I find him fascinating.
What do you miss most about New Mexico?
In addition to the sunshine, the mountains and the food, I miss the warmth of the people of New Mexico and the Hispanic and Native American cultures.
What personality trait do you find most helpful in your work?
Endless curiosity-because there is so much to learn to do this job well. It’s a good thing that I love to learn.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My family says the one thing I should change about myself is that I should work less and play more. I guess the root of this problem is that I really enjoy this work.
If you had to follow a different career path, what would you be?
I would have a career in a more physical profession, either in professional sports-running, kayaking, swimming and/or providing commentary on them-or as a jazz vocalist. Of course, I’d have to learn how to sing first.
What talent would you develop if you had the time?
I would like to become a better kayaker and snow skier.
What kind of people inspire you?
People who combine extraordinary personal achievement with extraordinary compassion for others. Some of the people who inspire me because they are like this include Bill Cosby, Colin Powell, Sue Monk Kidd, Nelson Mandela, Cokie Roberts and my mother. They are more than exceedingly accomplished; they are heroic. They truly make the world a better place. I think that is the best that can ever be said of any person.
What magazines do you read just for fun?
I currently subscribe to The New Yorker, Science News, The Economist, and InStyle. The latter is thanks to a gift from my two daughters who told me this is to help me “stay in fashion” now that they aren’t living with me anymore. I regularly buy Oprah over-the-counter. And I almost always get in the longest line at the grocery store so I can surreptitiously read People Magazine while I’m waiting.
What’s your idea of the perfect Saturday afternoon?
The perfect Saturday afternoon is a clear and sunny one spent outdoors, doing something or nothing, alone or with others.
Is this your “dream” job?
Yes, it is. I like thinking about the things this job requires one to think about-law, policy, economics, politics, engineering, international trade and people. I like meeting the people I must meet to do this job-people involved in our diverse energy industry who strive to meet the country’s energy needs; government officials concerned about energy policy; reporters who probe and write about energy developments; the many different types of energy consumers who rely on federal laws and regulators to ensure they have sufficient energy at just and reasonable rates. And I like working with the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; they are the best there is. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to do this job. 
