FERC Responsibilities
- Regulating the interstate transport of natural gas, oil, and electricity
- Regulating the wholesale sales of electricity and oil
- Licensing and inspecting hydroelectric projects
- Approving the siting of and abandonment of interstate natural gas facilities, including pipelines, storage and liquefied natural gas
- Ensuring the reliability of high voltage interstate transmission system
- Monitoring energy markets and companies to protect customers from market manipulation and higher prices
- Overseeing environmental matters related to natural gas and hydroelectricity projects and major electricity policy initiatives
Highlights
- Order 636: Created open access for shipping on natural gas pipelines
- Order 888: Created open access to electric transmission lines
- Order 2000: Established rules for and encouraged the development of Regional Transmission Operators (RTO’s)
Relevant Energy Type(s)
- Electricity
- Natural Gas/Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Transport Fuels (gasoline/diesel/ethanol)
- Oil/Petroleum
About FERC
- Federal agency
- Five-person commission (appointed by the U.S. President with Senate confirmation)
- Washington, DC
Formation of FERC
The FPC (Federal Power Commission) was reorganized as FERC in 1977. The FPC had a wide jurisdiction, and reorganization was called for due to the large backlog of applications for natural gas permits, the chronic brownouts in the 1960’s and the OPEC embargo in the 1970’s.
Useful Links
Source: FERC website
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