“This is what Einstein said to avoid, and it waste’s everyone’s effort!”
WHO IS REGULATING THE ENEGY COMPANIES?
“Everyone is not on the same page fighting the good fight, some only want a shift in political power or financial gain.”
“There is misinformation campaign going on that is why you must only follow the facts!”
Why do we not have heavy domestic regulation of our energy companies? We do it with water companies?
They are able to get by with little regulation because of the power that the industry had in politics. Exxon Mobile especially.
The regulation of the American energy sector is shared among several federal and state agencies — there isn’t just one body in charge. Here’s a breakdown of the main players and what each does:
Federal Level
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- Oversees interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.
- Regulates wholesale electricity markets and approves liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and natural gas pipelines.
- Ensures reliability and fairness in the nation’s bulk power system.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- Develops and implements national energy policy.
- Oversees nuclear energy research, energy efficiency programs, and energy security.
- Manages the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
- Funds research into renewable energy and advanced technologies.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Regulates air and water pollution from energy production.
- Enforces environmental laws affecting power plants, refineries, and fuel production (e.g., emissions standards, Clean Air Act compliance).
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- Regulates civilian use of nuclear materials, including nuclear power plants, to ensure safety and security.
State Level
- State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) or Public Service Commissions (PSCs)
- Regulate retail electricity and natural gas rates within the state.
- Oversee local utilities, service reliability, and consumer protection.
- Approve or deny new power plants and transmission lines within the state.
Regional & Market Entities
- Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs)
- Coordinate and operate the electric grid across multiple states.
- Manage electricity markets to ensure supply and demand balance.
So, in short:
FERC regulates interstate energy markets and infrastructure, DOE handles policy and research, EPA enforces environmental standards, NRC oversees nuclear safety, and state commissions regulate local utilities.
When the revenue of some countries exceeds the GDP of many nations, it can create monopolistic problems.
