
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates electric companies. FERC has limited jurisdiction over the siting of certain electric transmission facilities within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy and used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce. Once electricity projects become operational, safety is regulated, monitored and enforced by the state in which the project resides. State Public Utility Commissions administer accounting and financial reporting regulations and conduct of regulated companies and authorise the construction and maintenance of power-generating plants and transmission lines.
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Electricity project safety is monitored and enforced by the state
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the primary federal agency that regulates the electric industry. It reviews officer and director positions held between top officials at utility companies and certain firms with which they do business. It also reviews rates set by the federal power marketing administrations, certifies qualifying small power production and cogeneration facilities, and issues permits to construct or modify certain electric transmission facilities within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy.
Once electricity projects become operational, safety is regulated, monitored, and enforced by the state in which the project resides. The state Public Utility Commissions authorise the construction and maintenance of power-generating plants and transmission lines. FERC has limited jurisdiction over the siting of certain electric transmission facilities located within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy.
The state Public Utility Commissions also regulate retail electricity and natural gas sales to consumers, approve physical construction of electric generation facilities, regulate activities of the municipal power systems, federal power marketing agencies, and most rural electric cooperatives. They also exercise responsibility for pipeline transportation on or across the Outer Continental Shelf or for pipeline safety, regulate local distribution pipelines of natural gas, oversee development and operation of natural gas vehicles, and address reliability problems related to failures of local distribution facilities.
The FERC also protects the reliability of the high voltage interstate transmission system through mandatory reliability standards. It reviews certain mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies, regulates the transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce, regulates the transportation of oil by pipelines in interstate commerce, approves the siting and abandonment of interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, reviews the siting application for electric transmission projects under limited circumstances, and assesses the safe operation and reliability of proposed and operating LNG terminals.
The FERC also licenses and inspects private, municipal, and state hydroelectric projects. It administers accounting and financial reporting regulations and conduct of regulated companies and oversees the issuance of certain stock and debt securities, assumption of obligations and liabilities, and mergers.
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FERC reviews mergers and acquisitions
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is a federal agency that regulates the transmission and wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce. FERC reviews mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies as part of its oversight of the issuance of certain stock and debt securities, assumption of obligations and liabilities, and mergers.
FERC also reviews officer and director positions held between top officials at utility companies and certain firms with which they do business. This includes reviewing rates set by the federal power marketing administrations, reviewing exempt wholesale generator status, and issuing permits to construct or modify certain electric transmission facilities within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy.
In addition to its oversight of mergers and acquisitions, FERC is also responsible for regulating the transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce, regulating the transportation of oil by pipelines in interstate commerce, and approving the siting and abandonment of interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities. FERC also reviews the siting application for electric transmission projects under limited circumstances and assesses the safe operation and reliability of proposed and operating LNG terminals.
The responsibility for authorizing the construction and maintenance of power-generating plants and transmission lines primarily resides with the state Public Utility Commissions. However, FERC does have limited jurisdiction over the siting of certain electric transmission facilities located within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy and to be used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce.
Once electricity projects become operational, safety is regulated, monitored, and enforced by the state in which the project resides, with the exception of hydropower projects, for which FERC retains jurisdiction when they are operational.
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FERC reviews wholesale sales
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is a federal agency that regulates the transmission and wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce. FERC reviews wholesale sales of electricity and approves rates for wholesale sales of electricity and transmission in interstate commerce for jurisdictional utilities, power marketers, power pools, power exchanges, and independent system operators.
FERC also reviews certain mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies. The Commission's responsibilities include oversight of the issuance of certain stock and debt securities, assumption of obligations and liabilities, and mergers.
In addition, FERC reviews the siting application for electric transmission projects under limited circumstances and assesses the safe operation and reliability of proposed and operating LNG terminals. The Commission also licenses and inspects private, municipal, and state hydroelectric projects.
FERC's jurisdiction covers wholesale sales of electricity and transmission in interstate commerce, as well as certain electric transmission facilities located within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy.
The Commission's responsibilities also include reviewing officer and director positions held between top officials at utility companies and certain firms with which they do business.
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FERC reviews officer and director positions
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is a federal agency that regulates the transmission and wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce. FERC also reviews certain mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies.
The Commission's Responsibilities include approval of rates for wholesale sales of electricity and transmission in interstate commerce for jurisdictional utilities, power marketers, power pools, power exchanges, and independent system operators. FERC also oversees the issuance of certain stock and debt securities, assumption of obligations and liabilities, and mergers.
In terms of officer and director positions, FERC reviews positions held between top officials at utility companies and certain firms with which they do business. This includes reviewing rates set by the federal power marketing administrations, reviewing exempt wholesale generator status, issuing permits to construct or modify certain electric transmission facilities within National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors designated by the Department of Energy, and certifying qualifying small power production and cogeneration facilities.
The Commission's responsibilities also include approving the siting and abandonment of interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, reviewing the siting application for electric transmission projects under limited circumstances, and assessing the safe operation and reliability of proposed and operating LNG terminals.
In addition, FERC licenses and inspects private, municipal, and state hydroelectric projects and protects the reliability of the high voltage interstate transmission system through mandatory reliability standards.
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State Public Utility Commissions regulate retail electricity
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates electric companies, but State Public Utility Commissions (SPUC) also play a crucial role in regulating retail electricity. The SPUC is responsible for authorizing the construction and maintenance of power-generating plants and transmission lines, as well as approving the physical construction of electric generation facilities.
The SPUC also regulates the activities of the municipal power systems, federal power marketing agencies, and most rural electric cooperatives. They oversee the development and operation of natural gas vehicles and address reliability problems related to failures of local distribution facilities.
In addition, the SPUC approves rates for wholesale sales of electricity and transmission in interstate commerce for jurisdictional utilities, power marketers, power pools, power exchanges, and independent system operators. They also oversee the issuance of certain stock and debt securities, assumption of obligations and liabilities, and mergers.
The SPUC is responsible for regulating retail electricity and natural gas sales to consumers, as well as exercising responsibility for pipeline transportation on or across the Outer Continental Shelf or for pipeline safety. They also regulate local distribution pipelines of natural gas and oversee the development and operation of natural gas vehicles.
Overall, the SPUC plays a crucial role in regulating electric companies and ensuring the reliability and safety of the electricity supply.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates electric companies.
FERC regulates the transmission and wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce and reviews certain mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions by electricity companies.
State Public Utility Commissions regulate electric companies outside of FERC's jurisdiction.