About FERC 
Office of Energy Market Regulation
What We Do
The Office of Energy Market Regulation (OEMR) integrates the Commission’s economic regulation of the electric, natural gas, and oil industries, as well as electric reliability responsibilities under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. OEMR deals with matters involving energy markets; tariffs and rates relating to electric, natural gas, and oil pipeline facilities and services; and the reliability of the electric grid. One of the Commission’s primary goals is to prevent the exercise of market power by wholesale power sellers, electric transmission companies, and natural gas and oil companies. This is accomplished by striking the right balance between competition and regulation. The Commission has been steadily reforming its electricity policies to find this balance in its regulation of wholesale power sales and transmission. The Commission believes competition is the right national policy for wholesale power markets – when combined with effective regulation.
Major areas of responsibilities:
- Serves the public interest by providing leadership and vision in promoting competitive markets and ensuring just and reasonable rates, tariffs and conditions in natural gas pipeline, oil pipeline and electric power markets and reliability of the electric grid;
- Provides the Chairman and other members of the Commission with policy options, recommendations and strategies relating to the Commission's regulation of the natural gas pipeline, electric power and oil pipeline industries. Prepares economic analyses of these industries assessing the significance of developments and trends for current and future regulatory policies; and
- Provides engineering analysis and recommendations related to the Commission’s authority to approve and enforce mandatory Reliability Standards. Monitors and addresses issues related to the reliable operation of the Nation's Bulk-Power System and bulk power supply needs.
OEMR is led by Office Director Shelton M. Cannon and Deputy Director Jamie L. Simler.
OEMR Organization Chart
(Note: Click for larger image)
