An agency of the government of the United States created by an Act of Congress, the Federal Water Power Act, in 1920. Originally charged with regulating the nation's water resources, the FPC later assumed responsibility for regulating the electric power and natural gas industries that sell or transport electricity or gas for resale in interstate commerce. With respect to the gas industry, the general regulatory principles of the FPC were defined in the Natural Gas Act, as amended. In 1977, the FPC passed into history and the Department of Energy was created, incorporating the independent regulatory agency known as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.