Railroad Commission of Texas

What Railroad Commission of Texas does

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is a constitutional state regulatory agency established in 1891, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and currently staffed at 1,001–5,000 employees. It holds primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, intrastate pipeline transporters, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations within Texas. The agency is organized into seven core regulatory divisions — Oil & Gas, Critical Infrastructure, Pipeline Safety, Alternative Fuels, Surface Mining, Gas Services, and Hearings — supported by a digital services layer comprising RRC Online (electronic filing), GIS Viewer (spatial data), Online Research Queries, and Data Visualization tools. In November 2025, EPA granted Texas Class VI Underground Injection Control primacy, extending RRC's authority into CO2 injection well permitting for geologic sequestration.

RRC does not operate on a commercial revenue model; it is funded through state appropriations and regulatory fees assessed to the industries it oversees. Its customer base is horizontal, spanning thousands of regulated operators across five industry segments with no disclosed individual customer concentration. The agency tracks production data across 158,173 oil wells and 83,387 gas wells statewide (April 2026 figures), and its value proposition centers on regulatory oversight, environmental protection, public safety in energy production, pipeline safety, and surface mining reclamation. Recent strategic positioning includes a multi-year pursuit of EPA primacy (culminating in 2025), a $1.93 million EPA implementation grant, and the launch of the Class VI program alongside 18 pending permit applications. Conversely, permitting authority for land application of treated oilfield wastewater was transferred to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under Senate Bill 1145, narrowing one area of scope. All historical railroad functions were transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation in 2005, completing the agency's evolution away from its original rail mandate.

Name

Railroad Commission of Texas

Legal name

Railroad Commission of Texas

Website

https://rrc.texas.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a 135-year-old state constitutional agency that regulates oil and gas, pipelines, surface mining, natural gas utilities, and LP-gas across Texas, and now holds EPA-granted Class VI primacy for CO2 sequestration oversight.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Energy Regulation

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612), Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas (48621)

SIC

Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923), Natural Gas Transmission (4922)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy, Utilities & Natural Resources Regulators (BPAIAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

FERC/PHMSA/State Commission Rule Compliance (Cross-Regulatory) (EUAJAIAH), Integrity Management Programs & Compliance (IMP, Risk Assessment, Regulatory Reporting) (TLAGALAE), Regulated Natural Gas Utility (LDC) Customer Acquisition & Switching (EUAAADAA)

Keywords

• Oil and gas regulation
• Pipeline safety oversight
• Underground injection control
• Surface mining permits
• Alternative fuels licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Railroad Commission of Texas is the state regulatory agency with primary jurisdiction over the Texas oil and natural gas industry, intrastate pipeline transportation, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining. It administers permitting, compliance monitoring, environmental protection, and enforcement across these industries. The agency also operates digital services including RRC Online for electronic filing, a GIS Viewer, Online Research Queries, and Data Visualization tools for industry operators and the public, and holds EPA-granted primacy over Class VI CO2 injection wells for geologic sequestration.

Product overview

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state regulatory agency providing a platform of regulatory divisions and digital services. Its core offerings include seven regulatory divisions (Oil & Gas, Critical Infrastructure, Pipeline Safety, Alternative Fuels, Surface Mining, Gas Services, and Hearings) that oversee Texas's energy industries. The agency also provides digital services including RRC Online for electronic filing, a GIS Viewer for spatial data, Online Research Queries for data access, and Data Visualization tools for production statistics. In November 2025, the EPA granted Texas Class VI Underground Injection Control primacy, adding carbon sequestration well regulation to the Commission's responsibilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oil & Gas Regulation Regulatory program overseeing oil and natural gas exploration, production, drilling permitting, production data tracking, and compliance monitoring for the Texas oil and gas industry.
• Pipeline Safety Regulation Regulatory program providing oversight of intrastate pipeline transporters and the hazardous liquid pipeline industry, including safety compliance, construction permitting, and damage prevention.
• Alternative Fuels Regulation Regulatory program for LP-gas industry licensing, safety inspections, and certification programs covering propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distributors, installers, and equipment handlers.
• Surface Mining Regulation Regulatory program for coal, lignite, and uranium surface mining and exploration operations, including permitting, reclamation oversight, and safety inspections.
• Gas Services Regulation Regulatory program handling natural gas utility rate regulation, service quality oversight, and gas services customer complaint resolution in Texas.
• RRC Online (Online Filing) Online portal that allows regulated entities to file forms, applications, and regulatory documents electronically with the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• GIS Viewer Interactive mapping tool providing geographic information system-based visualization of Oil, Gas, Alternative Fuels, and Pipeline data for the state of Texas.
• Online Research Queries Online research tool for querying oil and gas industry data, operator information, and production statistics maintained by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
• Data Visualization Interactive charts and graphs presenting oil and gas production statistics and regulatory data for the state of Texas.
• Class VI Underground Injection Control Program Regulatory program for carbon dioxide injection wells used for geologic sequestration, with primacy granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency giving the Railroad Commission of Texas primary enforcement authority over Class VI wells in the state.

Quantifiable outcome

• 158,173 oil wells and 83,387 gas wells regulated
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and minor.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2025EPA granted Class VI UIC primacy to Texas, giving RRC primary enforcement authority for CO2 injection wells. EPA will conduct regular reviews to ensure the program meets or exceeds federal standards. RRC was awarded $1.93 million UIC Class VI grant for implementation support.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT)majorOthers · 1 January 2005Railroad functions were transferred to TXDOT, including rail safety inspection program, rail division administration, and highway-rail grade crossing coordination. TXDOT coordinates with federal authorities on hazardous materials, motive power, equipment, operating practices, and track structures.
• National Transportation Safety BoardminorOthersFederal agency providing information concerning transportation accidents and hearings relevant to rail safety (historical partnership since rail functions transferred to TXDOT).
• Federal Railroad AdministrationminorOthersFederal agency providing rail safety regulations, railroad assistance programs, and research supporting improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy (historical partnership since rail functions transferred to TXDOT).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Oklahoma Corporation Commission: Oklahoma's state regulator with primary authority over oil and gas drilling, production, pipeline safety, and underground injection in a major U.S. producing state. Functionally the most comparable U.S. state-level energy regulator to RRC in terms of mandate, division structure, and operational scope.
• New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (NMOCD): New Mexico's state regulator for oil and gas, including Class II UIC primacy. Comparable to RRC as a major Permian Basin state regulator with strong upstream production volumes and active injection well oversight.
• Louisiana Department of Natural Resources – Office of Conservation: Louisiana's lead state regulator for oil, gas, and underground injection, including primacy over Class II UIC wells. Highly comparable to RRC in mandate (upstream oil and gas + injection well oversight) and in serving a major Gulf Coast producing jurisdiction.
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): TCEQ is the primary Texas environmental regulator that recently absorbed oilfield wastewater permitting authority from RRC. It is the closest direct jurisdictional peer in Texas state government and shares overlapping mandate areas (air quality, water, waste). Useful for benchmarking how Texas splits regulatory responsibilities between energy-focused and environment-focused agencies.
• Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC): Colorado's state regulator responsible for oil and gas development, including UIC programs and, increasingly, carbon sequestration oversight. Comparable to RRC as a state-level energy regulator navigating both traditional upstream and emerging CCS mandates.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Region 6: EPA Region 6 has direct federal authority over UIC programs and pipeline safety in Texas, and granted RRC its Class VI primacy in November 2025. Functions as a hierarchical counterpart and federal grantor of primacy authority.
• PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration): Federal regulator with pipeline safety authority that delegates intrastate pipeline oversight to RRC's Pipeline Safety Division. The relevant federal counterpart for RRC's pipeline safety mandate.
• Texas General Land Office (GLO): Texas state agency with broad stewardship responsibilities over state lands, energy leasing on state acreage, and coastal regulation. Adjacent to RRC's mandate in managing state-affiliated oil, gas, and mineral activity.

Others

• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): Took over RRC's rail safety functions in 2005. Relevant peer not for oil and gas, but as a Texas state agency that historically shared jurisdiction with RRC and illustrates how regulatory scope has migrated between Texas agencies over time.

Emerging players

• Kansas Corporation Commission: Kansas's multi-utility state regulator covering oil and gas, pipelines, and utility rates — a smaller-scale analogue of RRC's combined energy regulatory scope, useful for state-by-state comparison.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/txrrc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/railroadcommissionoftexas
• Facebookfacebook.com/railroadcommissionoftexas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/railroad-commission-of-texas
• Instagraminstagram.com/railroadcommissionoftexas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Railroad Commission of Texas