FERC: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2nd Ed. is a clear and accessible introduction to the workings of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The author, James H. McGrew, is an attorney who spent six years working for FERC and now has a legal practice representing energy companies. Among the points he covers in this book are:
- The scope of FERC's regulatory power provided by the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA), the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 (PUHCA 2005), and other statutes.
- The general steps involved in FERC proceedings, such as filings, motions, and settlements.
- The appeals (appellate) process, the ripeness doctrine, and why it is difficult to obtain a stay of FERC's orders.
- Natural gas ratemaking, importation and exportation, storage, tariffs, and various distinctions in service and rates. Also, authorization to construct, operate, or abandon interstate natural gas pipelines.
- Regulation, licensing, monitoring, and enforcement of hydroelectric power (dams).
- Transmission service ratemaking.
- FERC's ongoing efforts to restructure the electric industry, reduce market manipulation, and increase service reliability. Restructuring opened up wider access to transmission service, increased wholesale markets, and separated commercial transmission functions from electricity sales functions.
- The role of Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs).
- How public utilities may set rates, including market based rates, fixed-rate contracts, unbundled transmission service, and pipeline contracts.
The book's appendix provides a supplementary, and helpful, Frequently Asked Questions section.