Report on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's role in the Department's small hydroelectric development programs
This report concerns the role played by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the Department of Energy's (DOE) hydroelectric development programs. The Department of Energy has been designated as the lead agency for implementation of the Small-Scale Hydroelectric Program and the Rural Energy Initiative Hydroelectric Program. Both programs are designed to stimulate commercial development of small hydroelectric projects, thereby reducing the nation's dependence on imported oil. A team from the Office of the Inspector General examined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's role in these two programs. FERC has taken an average of 8.3 months to process each preliminary permit for such hydroelectric projects and 14 months to issue a license for each project. It was found that due to the time taken by FERC to process permits and licenses for potential hydroelectric sites, the goals for both programs will probably not be met. FERC attempted to streamline the approval process earlier this year, hoping to reduce the average time by approximately 30%. This projected 30% reduction did not, however, take into account the new class of applicants who are involved in the two hydroelectric programs. These new applicants are generally not familiar with the electric-power industry or FERC rules and regulations; thus the planned 30% reduction in processing time may not be realized in the overall approval process.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Inspector General
- OSTI ID:
- 6779954
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/IG-132; ON: DE83006624
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
130400* -- Hydro Energy-- Legislation & Regulations
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
LICENSING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERMITS
POWER PLANTS
POWER POTENTIAL
RURAL AREAS
SMALL-SCALE HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
US DOE
US FERC
US ORGANIZATIONS