Background
In 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking comments on whether it should modify the semi-annual storage reports required of interstate and intrastate and Hinshaw pipelines, in particular whether it should modify the information required to be collected, whether there should be a standardized electronic format, and whether the reports must be public.
AGA Viewpoint
Some AGA members own and/or operate natural gas pipelines and local distribution systems that have been and may be classified as Hinshaw pipelines, i.e., pipelines that operate in interstate commerce but are exempt from FERC jurisdiction under the Natural Gas Act because they are wholly within one state and regulated at the state level. Apart from providing local service, some Hinshaw pipelines conduct transactions in interstate commerce under limited jurisdiction blanket certificates issued pursuant to § 284.224 of FERC’s regulations. AGA supports efforts to improve market transparency and to make sure FERC has the information it needs to adequately monitor the wholesale, interstate natural gas markets. AGA also believes that storage reporting requirements should be streamlined and efficient to reduce the burden on reporting entities. AGA recommends that FERC eliminate the semi-annual storage reporting requirement for intrastate and Hinshaw pipelines or revise current reports to include any necessary seasonal data.
AGA Contact: Andrew Soto, (202) 824-7215, asoto@aga.org