Regulations

FERC has begun auditing several energy companies to determine whether they are complying with the agency regulations governing the reporting of prices on natural gas trades to published indexes.

FERC on Tuesday initiated audits of several energy companies to determine whether they are complying with the agency regulations governing the reporting of prices on natural gas trades to published indexes.

In anticipation of its planned merger with Cinergy Corp., Duke Energy on Friday was granted limited waivers of FERC’s policies and regulations to divest itself of a number of natural gas transportation contracts associated with certain West Coast and East Coast generation power plants that will not be part of the asset base of the merged company.

FERC last Monday proposed rules and amendments to the Commission’s regulations to implement merger review provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), which amended section 203 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

In response to the newly enacted energy bill, Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to put on hold portions of proposed regulations that would have allowed it to implement fees to recover costs associated with oil, natural gas and geothermal leasing, including the processing of oil and gas applications for permits to drill (APDs) and geothermal permits to drill (GPDs).

FERC on Tuesday granted Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL) waivers of its tariff and agency regulations to mitigate the effect of planned repairs on its Amarillo Line to its shippers.

FERC last Wednesday announced procedures to bring more than 200 companies into compliance with Commission regulations or have them risk losing their market-based rate authority.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) announced plans last week for some changes to its natural gas regulations, including a new multi-year incentive rate plan for utilities and an examination of whether to regulate gas storage rates and services to ensure optimal service to power generators. The board issued a basic framework on Wednesday for implementation of the regulatory changes over the next several years.

The Ontario Energy Board announced plans Wednesday for some changes to its natural gas regulations, including a new multi-year incentive rate plan and an examination of whether to regulate gas storage rates and services to ensure optimal service to power generators.