On Aug. 8, 2005, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) is the first major energy law enacted in more than a decade, and makes the most significant changes in Commission authority since the New Deal’s Federal Power Act of 1935 and the Natural Gas Act of 1938. In passing EPAct, Congress signaled a strong vote of confidence in the Commission. The Commission has taken on new duties and authorities with a sense of purpose, mindful of the public trust they entail. Moreover, the Commission has been dedicated to meeting
these obligations within the time allotted by Congress.

EPAct had three principal policy goals in the areas of the statute that relate to the Commission: (1) it reaffirmed a commitment to competition in wholesale power markets as national policy, the third major federal law in the last 30 years to do so; (2) it strengthened the Commission’s regulatory tools, recognizing that effective regulation is necessary to protect the consumer from exploitation and assure fair competition; and (3) it provided for development of a stronger energy infrastructure.

EPAct granted the Commission significant new responsibilities and significant new authority to discharge these responsibilities by modifying the Federal Power Act, the Natural Gas Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA).