Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

E82280

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 is a U.S. federal law that promoted energy conservation and the development of small-scale and renewable power generation by reforming electric utility rate structures and encouraging competition.


Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal statute
energy law
abbreviation PURPA
affects electric utility rate structures
utility planning practices
wholesale power markets
codifiedIn Title 16 of the United States Code
country United States
createdCategory cogeneration facility
small power production facility
createdConcept qualifying facility
enactedBy 95th United States Congress
encourages cogeneration of heat and power
competition in electric generation
distributed generation
renewable energy development
historicalImpact opened U.S. electric generation to non-utility producers
stimulated early independent power producer industry
implementedBy Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
state public utility commissions
jurisdiction federal
partOf National Energy Act of 1978
policyInstrument avoided cost pricing
mandatory purchase obligation
rate reform
presidentAtSigning Jimmy Carter
primaryGoal encourage cogeneration
encourage development of renewable energy
encourage small power production
promote efficient use of electricity
promote energy conservation
regulates electric utilities
retail electric rates
wholesale power purchases from qualifying facilities
relatedTo Energy Policy Act of 1992
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Federal Power Act
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
requires consideration of certain ratemaking standards
electric utilities to purchase power from qualifying facilities
non-discriminatory rates for qualifying facilities
sector electric power
shortName PURPA
signedBy Jimmy Carter
subjectMatter cogeneration policy
electric utility regulation
energy conservation
renewable energy policy
title Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978
yearEnacted 1978

Referenced by (5)

Please wait…