Inflation Reduction Act
FERC Revises Market-Based Rate Seller Requirements
NOTE: Since the original publication of this post, FERC has postponed the implementation of Order No. 860. The order now becomes effective on July 1, 2021 and baseline filings into the new relational database are due on February 1, 2022...
Finding New FPA Authority, FERC Makes Policy Change to Authorize Retroactive Surcharges (and Maybe More)
Historically, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) has maintained a policy whereby it will not order refunds stemming from rate design and cost allocation rulings, reasoning that it was statutorily barred from instituting offsetting surcharges. [1] In...
DOT Issues Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization Proposal
The Department of Transportation (DOT) released a legislative proposal to Congress on June 3, 2019, to reauthorize the federal Pipeline Safety Act (PSA or the Act) and continue funding the federal agency charged with implementing it, the Pipeline and Hazardous...
Gas Pipeline Safety Rule Clearing Final Hurdle: Operators Should Prepare
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is close to finalizing a rule applicable to the safety of natural gas transmission pipelines that has been nearly eight years in the making. Both Congress and the industry have urged PHMSA...
Pipeline Safety Settlements: Time to Take a Page from Hazmat?
With an increased interest in the resolving disputes efficiently and avoiding litigation where possible, the time may be right for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to clarify the process for settlement of pipeline safety compliance issues, whether...
CFTC Division of Enforcement Releases First Public Enforcement Manual
On May 8, 2019, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Division of Enforcement (DOE) published its first public Enforcement Manual (Manual). The CFTC's DOE is responsible for investigating and prosecuting alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and Commission...
The Crypto Paradox: Code is Law and Consensus Rules
As the world contemplates the future of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts – including whether and how to invest in them, to transact using them, and to regulate them – it will be important to recognize the significant implications of two...
Executive Order Impact on 401 Water Quality Certification Appears Limited
President Trump recently issued two much anticipated Executive Orders aimed to streamline the permitting of U.S. energy infrastructure. One Executive Order (EO) focuses primarily on Clean Water Act (CWA) state issued water quality certifications and associated EPA guidance and regulations...
New Executive Order Attempts to Streamline Presidential Permits
The White House issued a new Executive Order (EO) on April 10, 2019 intended to ‘revise the process for the development and issuance of Presidential Permits’ for certain cross border energy infrastructure. The EO limits the opportunity and timeframe for...
Recent Executive Order Extends Beyond Section 401 Water Quality Certifications
The Executive Order (EO) “ Promoting Energy Infrastructure and Economic Growth ,” issued by the White House on April 10, 2019 has primarily been heralded as an effort to prevent states from blocking pipelines under their Clean Water Act Section...
Distribution Pipelines and Increased Penalties Feature in Senate Pipeline Safety Bill
In advance of a Senate Commerce Committee Hearing on reauthorization of the Pipeline Safety Act , Senators Markey, Warren, and Blumenthal announced legislation to address distribution pipelines and risks associated with the September 2018 Merrimack Valley incident. The Leonel Rondon...
Congress Turns its Attention to Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization
The first Congressional Hearing on Pipeline Safety Act Reauthorization for 2019 was held this week before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Hearing did not have as much drama as last summer’s Hearing before the same Committee, where PHMSA...
FERC Issues Transmission Notices of Inquiry Focused on Return on Equity and Transmission Incentives
On Thursday, March 21, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) issued two Notices of Inquiry (“NOIs”). One NOI focuses on FERC’s approach to determining the Return on Equity (“ROE”) for FERC jurisdictional electric transmission and cost-based wholesale...
The Importance of Creating A Record for Judicial Review of Agency Action
For at least the past 35 years, federal courts have generally allowed an administrative agency’s interpretation of a regulation or statute that it administers to prevail when challenged by a member of the regulated community or any other interested party...
FERC Revises Interlocking Directorate Reporting Requirements
A February 21, 2019 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) order updated certain FERC interlocking directorate requirements (“Order”). [1] More detailed background information on FERC’s interlocking directorate requirements is provided below, but in short, these requirements apply to the officers and...