Revised Public Utility Filing Requirements

In this final rule, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending its filing requirements for public utilities under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to require public utilities to electronically file Electric Quarterly Reports summarizing the contractual terms and conditions in their agreements for all jurisdictional services (including market-based power sales, cost-based power sales, and transmission service) and transaction information for short-term and long-term market-based power sales and cost-based power sales during the most recent calendar quarter. Under this rule, public utilities may file standard forms of service agreements for Commission approval for all cost-based transmission and power sales services they offer under 18 CFR part 35 and will file agreements for such services provided under this Part that do not conform to an applicable standard form of service agreement. Executed market-based power sales agreements need not be filed. The procedures adopted in this rule will replace the current procedure whereby public utilities file short-term and long-term service agreements for market-based sales of electric energy, service agreements for generally applicable services, such as point-to-point transmission service, and Quarterly Transaction Reports summarizing their short-term sales and purchases of power at market-based rates. This rule also further clarifies the book outs that must be reported in Electric Quarterly Reports. Implementation of the reporting requirements will take place in two phases: an interim phase through October 31, 2002, and a final phase thereafter. This rule will make available for public inspection, in a convenient form and place all relevant information relating to public utility rates, terms, and conditions of service; ensure that information is available in a standardized, user friendly format; and meet the Commission's electronic filing option obligation.\1\ These actions also will allow the public to bette