Information AboutFerc |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION | |
| united states department of energy | |
| reliability interconnections | |
| national electric power policy | |
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The Energy Policy Act of 2005 expanded FERC's authority to impose mandatory Reliability standards on the Bulk transmission system and to impose Penalties on entities that manipulate the electricity and natural gas markets. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave FERC additional responsibilities as outlined in FERC's Top Priorities and updated Strategic Plan. As part of that responsibility, FERC:
POSITION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT FERC is an independent regulatory agency within the United States Department Of Energy . Neither the President or Congress review FERC decisions. All FERC decisions are reviewable by the Federal Court s. FERC is also Self Funding . The Commission pays for itself by recovering costs directly from the industries it regulates through annual charges and fees. FERC is independent of the Department of Energy, but DOE may intervene just like any other party in FERC proceedings. FERC activities "shall not be subject to further view by the Secretary Energy or any officer or employee of the Department."42 U.S.C. ยง 7172(g) In recent years, the FERC has been promoting the voluntary formation of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operator s (ISOs) to eliminate the potential for undue discrimination in access to the Electric Grid . However since the passage of new energy legislation, it has aggressively developed regulations to implement key provisions of the new law dealing with LNG terminals, electric reliability, Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 Repeal and implementation of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, new merger regulations and new anti-market manipulation regulations. FERC has also been heavily involved in the California Electricity Crisis and in investigating allegations of Electricity Market manipulation by Enron and other energy companies. FERC has collected over $6.3 billion from California electric market participants by facilitating settlements. FERC is also working with Canadian energy officials to facilitate processing of a proposed Alaskan Natural Gas Pipeline , which would bring natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to the lower 48 States. FERC regulates approximately 1,600 hydroelectric projects in the U.S. It is largely responsible for permitting the construction of a large network of interstate natural gas pipelines. FERC also works closely with the United States Coast Guard in reviewing the safety, security and environmental impacts of proposed LNG terminals and associated shipping. Currently the Commission is chaired by Joseph T. Kelliher. The other members of the Commission include Commissioner Suedeen G. Kelly, Commissioner Philip D. Moeller, Commissioner Marc Spitzer, and Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff. REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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