FAQs
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil, and electricity. FERC also regulates natural gas and hydropower projects. FERC’s Mission is to assist consumers in obtaining economically efficient, safe, reliable, and secure energy services at a reasonable cost through appropriate regulatory market means, and collaborative efforts.
Electric transmission facilities consist of transmission lines, substations, transformers, and other related equipment. Transmission lines transport high-voltage electricity from generation facilities to local distribution systems, which then disperse lower-voltage electricity to homes and businesses for use. These transmission lines can be overhead wires or underground cables, depending the electrical grid, environmental, and community needs for a specific application. Substations are the intersections of transmission lines that allow electricity to flow from one circuit to another on its way to consumers. Substations also contain specialized equipment that monitors and protects the electrical grid, controls flows to prevent overloads, and transforms electricity from higher voltages that enable efficient long-distance transmission to lower voltages that can be used in homes and business.