TITLE 42 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

42 USC 7171 - Appointment and administration

(a) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; establishment
There is established within the Department an independent regulatory commission to be known as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

(b) Composition; term of office; conflict of interest; expiration of terms

(1) The Commission shall be composed of five members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. One of the members shall be designated by the President as Chairman. Members shall hold office for a term of 5 years and may be removed by the President only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Not more than three members of the Commission shall be members of the same political party. Any Commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. A Commissioner may continue to serve after the expiration of his term until his successor is appointed and has been confirmed and taken the oath of Office, except that such Commissioner shall not serve beyond the end of the session of the Congress in which such term expires. Members of the Commission shall not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment while serving on the Commission.

(2) Notwithstanding the third sentence of paragraph (1), the terms of members first taking office after April 11, 1990, shall expire as follows:

(A) In the case of members appointed to succeed members whose terms expire in 1991, one such members term shall expire on June 30, 1994, and one such members term shall expire on June 30, 1995, as designated by the President at the time of appointment.

(B) In the case of members appointed to succeed members whose terms expire in 1992, one such members term shall expire on June 30, 1996, and one such members term shall expire on June 30, 1997, as designated by the President at the time of appointment.

(C) In the case of the member appointed to succeed the member whose term expires in 1993, such members term shall expire on June 30, 1998.

(c) Duties and responsibilities of Chairman
The Chairman shall be responsible on behalf of the Commission for the executive and administrative operation of the Commission, including functions of the Commission with respect to

(1) the appointment and employment of hearing examiners in accordance with the provisions of title 5,

(2) the selection, appointment, and fixing of the compensation of such personnel as he deems necessary, including an executive director,

(3) the supervision of personnel employed by or assigned to the Commission, except that each member of the Commission may select and supervise personnel for his personal staff,

(4) the distribution of business among personnel and among administrative units of the Commission, and

(5) the procurement of services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5. The Secretary shall provide to the Commission such support and facilities as the Commission determines it needs to carry out its functions.

(d) Supervision and direction of members, employees, or other personnel of Commission
In the performance of their functions, the members, employees, or other personnel of the Commission shall not be responsible to or subject to the supervision or direction of any officer, employee, or agent of any other part of the Department.

(e) Designation of Acting Chairman; quorum; seal
The Chairman of the Commission may designate any other member of the Commission as Acting Chairman to act in the place and stead of the Chairman during his absence. The Chairman (or the Acting Chairman in the absence of the Chairman) shall preside at all sessions of the Commission and a quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of at least three members present. Each member of the Commission, including the Chairman, shall have one vote. Actions of the Commission shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. The Commission shall have an official seal which shall be judicially noticed.

(f) Rules
The Commission is authorized to establish such procedural and administrative rules as are necessary to the exercise of its functions. Until changed by the Commission, any procedural and administrative rules applicable to particular functions over which the Commission has jurisdiction shall continue in effect with respect to such particular functions.

(g) Powers of Commission
In carrying out any of its functions, the Commission shall have the powers authorized by the law under which such function is exercised to hold hearings, sign and issue subpenas, administer oaths, examine witnesses, and receive evidence at any place in the United States it may designate. The Commission may, by one or more of its members or by such agents as it may designate, conduct any hearing or other inquiry necessary or appropriate to its functions, except that nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of section 556 of title 5 relating to hearing examiners.

(h) Principal office of Commission
The principal office of the Commission shall be in or near the District of Columbia, where its general sessions shall be held, but the Commission may sit anywhere in the United States.

(i) Commission deemed agency; attorney for Commission
For the purpose of section 552b of title 5, the Commission shall be deemed to be an agency. Except as provided in section 518 of title 28, relating to litigation before the Supreme Court, attorneys designated by the Chairman of the Commission may appear for, and represent the Commission in, any civil action brought in connection with any function carried out by the Commission pursuant to this chapter or as otherwise authorized by law.

(j) Annual authorization and appropriation request
In each annual authorization and appropriation request under this chapter, the Secretary shall identify the portion thereof intended for the support of the Commission and include a statement by the Commission

(1) showing the amount requested by the Commission in its budgetary presentation to the Secretary and the Office of Management and Budget and

(2) an assessment of the budgetary needs of the Commission. Whenever the Commission submits to the Secretary, the President, or the Office of Management and Budget, any legislative recommendation or testimony, or comments on legislation, prepared for submission to Congress, the Commission shall concurrently transmit a copy thereof to the appropriate committees of Congress.

42 USC 7172 - Jurisdiction of Commission

(a) Transfer of functions from Federal Power Commission

(1) There are transferred to, and vested in, the Commission the following functions of the Federal Power Commission or of any member of the Commission or any officer or component of the Commission:

(A) the investigation, issuance, transfer, renewal, revocation, and enforcement of licenses and permits for the construction, operation, and maintenance of dams, water conduits, reservoirs, powerhouses, transmission lines, or other works for the development and improvement of navigation and for the development and utilization of power across, along, from, or in navigable waters under part I of the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.];

(B) the establishment, review, and enforcement of rates and charges for the transmission or sale of electric energy, including determinations on construction work in progress, under part II of the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.], and the interconnection, under section 202(b), of such Act [16 U.S.C. 824a (b)], of facilities for the generation, transmission, and sale of electric energy (other than emergency interconnection);

(C) the establishment, review, and enforcement of rates and charges for the transportation and sale of natural gas by a producer or gatherer or by a natural gas pipeline or natural gas company under sections 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717, 717c to 717e];

(D) the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity, including abandonment of facilities or services, and the establishment of physical connections under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717f];

(E) the establishment, review, and enforcement of curtailments, other than the establishment and review of priorities for such curtailments, under the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.]; and

(F) the regulation of mergers and securities acquisition under the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.] and Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.].

(2) The Commission may exercise any power under the following sections to the extent the Commission determines such power to be necessary to the exercise of any function within the jurisdiction of the Commission:

(A) sections 4, 301, 302, 306 through 309, and 312 through 316 of the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 797, 825, 825a, 825e to 825h, 825k to 825o]; and

(B) sections 8, 9, 13 through 17, 20, and 21 of the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717g, 717h, 717l to 717p, 717s, 717t].

(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 103–272, § 7(b), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379

(1) Pursuant to the procedures specified in section 7174 of this title and except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commission shall have jurisdiction to consider any proposal by the Secretary to amend the regulation required to be issued under section 753 (a)1 of title 15 which is required by section 757 or 760a1 of title 15 to be transmitted by the President to, and reviewed by, each House of Congress, under section 6421 of this title.

(2) In the event that the President determines that an emergency situation of overriding national importance exists and requires the expeditious promulgation of a rule described in paragraph (1), the President may direct the Secretary to assume sole jurisdiction over the promulgation of such rule, and such rule shall be transmitted by the President to, and reviewed by, each House of Congress under section 757 or 760a1 of title 15, and section 6421 of this title.

(d) Matters involving agency determinations to be made on record after agency hearing
The Commission shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any other matter arising under any other function of the Secretary

(1) involving any agency determination required by law to be made on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing; or

(2) involving any other agency determination which the Secretary determines shall be made on the record after an opportunity for an agency hearing,

except that nothing in this subsection shall require that functions under sections 6213 and 62141 of this title shall be within the jurisdiction of the Commission unless the Secretary assigns such a function to the Commission.

(e) Matters assigned by Secretary after public notice and matters referred under section 7174 of this title
In addition to the other provisions of this section, the Commission shall have jurisdiction over any other matter which the Secretary may assign to the Commission after public notice, or which are required to be referred to the Commission pursuant to section 7174 of this title.

(f) Limitation
No function described in this section which regulates the exports or imports of natural gas or electricity shall be within the jurisdiction of the Commission unless the Secretary assigns such a function to the Commission.

(g) Final agency action
The decision of the Commission involving any function within its jurisdiction, other than action by it on a matter referred to it pursuant to section 7174 of this title, shall be final agency action within the meaning of section 704 of title 5 and shall not be subject to further review by the Secretary or any officer or employee of the Department.

(h) Rules, regulations, and statements of policy
The Commission is authorized to prescribe rules, regulations, and statements of policy of general applicability with respect to any function under the jurisdiction of the Commission pursuant to this section.

[1] See References in Text note below.

42 USC 7173 - Initiation of rulemaking procedures before Commission

(a) Proposal of rules, regulations, and statements of policy of general applicability by Secretary and Commission
The Secretary and the Commission are authorized to propose rules, regulations, and statements of policy of general applicability with respect to any function within the jurisdiction of the Commission under section 7172 of this title.

(b) Consideration and final action on proposals of Secretary
The Commission shall have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any proposal made under subsection (a) of this section, and shall consider and take final action on any proposal made by the Secretary under such subsection in an expeditious manner in accordance with such reasonable time limits as may be set by the Secretary for the completion of action by the Commission on any such proposal.

(c) Utilization of rulemaking procedures for establishment of rates and charges under Federal Power Act and Natural Gas Act
Any function described in section 7172 of this title which relates to the establishment of rates and charges under the Federal Power Act [16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.] or the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.], may be conducted by rulemaking procedures. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the procedures in such a rulemaking proceeding shall assure full consideration of the issues and an opportunity for interested persons to present their views.

(d) Submission of written questions by interested persons
With respect to any rule or regulation promulgated by the Commission to establish rates and charges for the first sale of natural gas by a producer or gatherer to a natural gas pipeline under the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.], the Commission may afford any interested person a reasonable opportunity to submit written questions with respect to disputed issues of fact to other interested persons participating in the rulemaking proceedings. The Commission may establish a reasonable time for both the submission of questions and responses thereto.

42 USC 7174 - Referral of other rulemaking proceedings to Commission

(a) Notification of Commission of proposed action; public comment
Except as provided in section 7173 of this title, whenever the Secretary proposes to prescribe rules, regulations, and statements of policy of general applicability in the exercise of any function which is transferred to the Secretary under section 7151 of this title or section 60501 of title 49, he shall notify the Commission of the proposed action. If the Commission, in its discretion, determines within such period as the Secretary may prescribe, that the proposed action may significantly affect any function within the jurisdiction of the Commission pursuant to section 7172 (a)(1) and (c)(1) of this title and section 60502 of title 49, the Secretary shall immediately refer the matter to the Commission, which shall provide an opportunity for public comment.

(b) Recommendations of Commission; publication
Following such opportunity for public comment the Commission, after consultation with the Secretary, shall either

(1) concur in adoption of the rule or statement as proposed by the Secretary;

(2) concur in adoption of the rule or statement only with such changes as it may recommend; or

(3) recommend that the rule or statement not be adopted.

The Commission shall promptly publish its recommendations, adopted under this subsection, along with an explanation of the reason for its actions and an analysis of the major comments, criticisms, and alternatives offered during the comment period.

(c) Options of Secretary; final agency action
Following publication of the Commissions recommendations the Secretary shall have the option of

(1) issuing a final rule or statement in the form initially proposed by the Secretary if the Commission has concurred in such rule pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section;

(2) issuing a final rule or statement in amended form so that the rule conforms in all respects with the changes proposed by the Commission if the Commission has concurred in such rule or statement pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section; or

(3) ordering that the rule shall not be issued.

The action taken by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection shall constitute a final agency action for purposes of section 704 of title 5.

42 USC 7175 - Right of Secretary to intervene in Commission proceedings

The Secretary may as a matter of right intervene or otherwise participate in any proceeding before the Commission. The Secretary shall comply with rules of procedure of general applicability governing the timing of intervention or participation in such proceeding or activity and, upon intervening or participating therein, shall comply with rules of procedure of general applicability governing the conduct thereof. The intervention or participation of the Secretary in any proceeding or activity shall not affect the obligation of the Commission to assure procedure fairness to all participants.

42 USC 7176 - Reorganization

For the purposes of chapter 9 of title 5 the Commission shall be deemed to be an independent regulatory agency.

42 USC 7177 - Access to information

(a) The Secretary, each officer of the Department, and each Federal agency shall provide to the Commission, upon request, such existing information in the possession of the Department or other Federal agency as the Commission determines is necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter.

(b) The Secretary, in formulating the information to be requested in the reports or investigations under section 825c and section 825j of title 16 and section 717i and section 717j of title 15 shall include in such reports and investigations such specific information as requested by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and copies of all reports, information, results of investigations and data under said sections shall be furnished by the Secretary to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

42 USC 7178 - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission fees and annual charges

(a) In general

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and beginning in fiscal year 1987 and in each fiscal year thereafter, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall, using the provisions of this section and authority provided by other laws, assess and collect fees and annual charges in any fiscal year in amounts equal to all of the costs incurred by the Commission in that fiscal year.

(2) The provisions of this section shall not affect the authority, requirements, exceptions, or limitations in sections 803 (e) and 823a (e) of title 16.

(b) Basis for assessments
The fees or annual charges assessed shall be computed on the basis of methods that the Commission determines, by rule, to be fair and equitable.

(c) Estimates
The Commission may assess fees and charges under this section by making estimates based on data available to the Commission at the time of assessment.

(d) Time of payment
The Commission shall provide that the fees and charges assessed under this section shall be paid by the end of the fiscal year for which they were assessed.

(e) Adjustments
The Commission shall, after the completion of a fiscal year, make such adjustments in the assessments for such fiscal year as may be necessary to eliminate any overrecovery or underrecovery of its total costs, and any overcharging or undercharging of any person.

(f) Use of funds
All moneys received under this section shall be credited to the general fund of the Treasury.

(g) Waiver
The Commission may waive all or part of any fee or annual charge assessed under this section for good cause shown.