Commission's Responsibilities
The Commission's responsibilities include:
- Issuance of licenses for the construction of a new project;
- Issuance of licenses for the continuance of an existing project (relicensing);
- and Oversight of all ongoing project operations, including dam safety inspections and environmental monitoring.
- Hydropower Primer
- Office of Energy Projects Inspections Guidelines
Licensing
The Commission's major hydropower activity is relicensing existing projects whose licenses are about to expire. Staff prepares either an Environmental Assessments (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and bases recommended license conditions on the these reviews
- Integrated, Traditional, and Alternative Licensing Processes
- Hydrokinetic Projects
- Small/Low-Impact Hydropower Projects
- Pumped Storage Projects
- Preliminary Permits
- Complete list of Active Licenses
- Active Exemptions
- Pending Licenses, Relicenses, and Exemptions
- Expected Relicense Projects FY 2019 – FY 2033 (updated 09/25/2019)
- Licenses and Exemptions Issued in Less than 2 Years (updated 2/19/2020)
- Projects Delayed by Water Quality Certifications and Endangered Species Act Consultation (updated 2/25/2020)
Administration and Compliance
The Commission regulates over 1,700 non-federal dams in the US. FERC staff ensures compliance with the numerous terms and conditions contained in each of the licenses and exemptions issued.
- How To Submit and/or Update Contact Information
- Order No. 852 (Form 80 Removed)
- Shoreline Management Planning (updated 07/16/2012) | FAQs
- Managing Hydropower Project Exhibits - Drawings Guide (updated August 2014) | Summary of Updates
- Compliance Handbook (updated 12/16/2015)
- Jurisdiction Determination
- Renewable Energy Tax Credit Guidelines Pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Projects that received an Energy Production Tax Credit Certification (updated 06/29/2016)
Dam Safety and Inspections
Hydropower is one of the project types in which FERC regulates both the construction and operational phase of a project. Dam safety is a critical part of the Commission's hydropower program and receives top priority. Before projects are constructed, the Commission staff reviews and approves the designs, plans, and specifications of dams, powerhouses, and other structures. During construction, Commission staff engineers frequently inspect a project, and once construction is complete, Commission engineers continue to inspect it on a regular basis.
Engineering Guidelines
- Chapter 13
- About Drilling at Embankment Dams
- Risk Informed Decision Making (RIDM)
- Revised Chapter 3, Gravity Dams
- Revised Chapter 14, Appendix H
Initiatives
- Spillway Assessments and Inspections
- Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring
- Owners Dam Safety Program (ODSP)
- Reviewing and Revising Potential Failure Modes
- Time Sensitive EAP
Tainter Gates
- Testing and Reporting on Spillway Gate Operations
- Annual Spillway Gate Operation Certificate [DOC] [PDF]
Security
Project Information
Workshops
- Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) - Workshops and Conferences
- Dam Safety and Inspections - Workshops
- Fish Passage Workshop
- Noxious Plants Workshop
Regulation