This legislation significantly enhances the enforcement capabilities of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). It amends the Federal Power Act (FPA) to grant FERC new authority to prohibit or suspend any person who violates sections 221 or 222 of the FPA, or related rules and regulations. These prohibitions can be conditional, unconditional, permanent, or temporary, preventing engagement in the business of purchasing or selling electric energy, electric energy products such as financial transmission rights, or transmission services under FERC's jurisdiction. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new prohibition within the Natural Gas Act (NGA), making it unlawful to willfully and knowingly report false information to federal or private price-reporting agencies with the intent to fraudulently affect data related to natural gas transportation or sales. Concurrently, it empowers FERC to impose similar prohibitions or suspensions on individuals or entities that violate this new provision (Section 4B) or existing Section 4A of the NGA. This allows FERC to bar violators from directly or indirectly engaging in the business of purchasing or selling natural gas or natural gas transmission services.
This legislation significantly enhances the enforcement capabilities of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). It amends the Federal Power Act (FPA) to grant FERC new authority to prohibit or suspend any person who violates sections 221 or 222 of the FPA, or related rules and regulations. These prohibitions can be conditional, unconditional, permanent, or temporary, preventing engagement in the business of purchasing or selling electric energy, electric energy products such as financial transmission rights, or transmission services under FERC's jurisdiction. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new prohibition within the Natural Gas Act (NGA), making it unlawful to willfully and knowingly report false information to federal or private price-reporting agencies with the intent to fraudulently affect data related to natural gas transportation or sales. Concurrently, it empowers FERC to impose similar prohibitions or suspensions on individuals or entities that violate this new provision (Section 4B) or existing Section 4A of the NGA. This allows FERC to bar violators from directly or indirectly engaging in the business of purchasing or selling natural gas or natural gas transmission services.