Just as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission evolved from its position as a niche regulator to one of the financial systems’ more important agencies in recent years, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also looking to raise its profile, and it’s doing so with big fines, big targets, and big controversy.
The complexity of the energy markets has made its expanded world view a necessity, FERC officials say. Nevertheless, its creep into the world of commodities regulation has angered critics who complain of burdensome, duplicative regulatory regimes.
