A USER’S GUIDE TO ENERGY REGULATORY AGENCIES

FERC: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — regulates electricity and natural gas in interstate commerce

NERC: North American Electric Reliability Corp. — nonprofit that develops and enforces reliability standards for the power grid in the U.S., Canada and parts of Mexico. Overseen by FERC.

Texas RE: Texas Reliability Entity — one of six regional arms of NERC; only one whose jurisdiction is confined to a single state

Texas Reliability Monitor: Part of Texas RE; hired by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to oversee compliance of state energy rules and protocols

PUC: Public Utility Commission of Texas — three-member panel, appointed by governor, that oversees electric, telecommunication, water and sewer utilities. Oversees ERCOT.

ERCOT: Electric Reliability Council of Texas — operates the electric grid and manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. That’s about 90 percent of the state’s electric load.

RRC: Railroad Commission — oldest regulatory body in Texas, run by three statewide elected commissioners, with primary jurisdiction over oil and gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining. No longer oversees railroads despite the name.