About FERC 
Division of Energy Market Oversight
Mission
The Division of Energy Market Oversight (DEMO) serves the public by overseeing the Nation's natural gas and electric power markets and related energy and financial markets, identifying problems and opportunities for those markets reporting to the Commission and the public on those issues, and proposing policy options and regulatory strategies for addressing the issues identified. DEMO assesses the competitiveness, fairness and efficiency of wholesale energy markets. DEMO advises the Commission on the efficacy of its current regulatory policies in light of evolving energy market. DEMO serves as an advisor to the Office Director, the Chairman, and the Commissioners on market structure and performance issues. DEMO conducts daily oversight of these markets and reports its findings and recommendations to the Commission and the public. DEMO ensures the Commission has the information it needs to oversee markets effectively.
Functions
Market Monitor Relations: Develops and maintains relationships with the market monitors of Commission-established Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO's) and independent market monitors as designated by the Commission.
- Contacts MMU's as needed to follow-up on issues raised in the Daily Monitoring Meetings.
- Conducts periodic conference calls with MMU's to discuss events in particular markets.
- Convenes periodic meetings with MMU's.
- Reviews and analyzes the State of the Markets reports prepared by the market monitors at Commission direction.
- Directs information received from MMU's to the appropriate parties within the Commission.
Energy Market Analysis: Conducts daily monitoring of developments in the electricity, natural gas and related energy and financial markets. Compiles results from daily monitoring into timely reports for Commissioners and senior staff. Reports as necessary at Commission meetings on topics relating to energy markets. Conducts special analysis as issues arise and reports as appropriate.
- Determines what information is needed to assess and oversee energy markets. Periodically reviews information needs to guide changes in information collection.
- Determines what information is needed for specific projects, including those needed to support investigations.
- Acquires needed data and information from publicly available sources when possible and through data collections when necessary.
- Validates data and information as needed.
- Maintains liaison with other organizations doing research on market oversight and regulatory policy, including federal and state agencies, academic institutions and think tanks.
- Reviews outside research on policy and industry issues affecting the energy industry activities regulated by the Commission.
- Maintains active working relationship with offices within DOE that gather, process and analyze relevant information (for instance, the Energy Information Administration and other policy offices).
- Develops cooperative relationships with other organizations that have a strong effect on market (for example, ratings agencies).
Information Management and Reporting: Supports the oversight function through the management of information and assistance in reporting and presentation of information including the web. Coordinates relationships between the division, the rest of the Commission and outside entities such as other Federal agencies, the states, Congress, and international delegations.
- Processes data and information to make it easy for the rest of OE staff to use; designs and creates computer analysis programs and data bases to help use the information. Automates information collection where possible.
- Develops and maintains a real-time information capability that includes the Market Monitoring Center (MMC).
- Stores data and information in readily retrievable ways.
- Participates in the Commission's outreach program, making use of the MMC as the focal point of outreach activities on market-based issues.
