Information on Relicensing Cases at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the relicensing of existing non-Federal hydroelectric facilities by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), focusing on whether: (1) the public benefits when competing applications are filed for a facility; and (2) FERC can serve as a surrogate for competition when no competing application is filed. To qualify for a hydroelectric project license, an applicant must submit a comprehensive plan to develop and use the water resources for recreational and environmental purposes as well as power generation.