Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Commission, with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), is issuing regulations for employees of the Commission, including members of the Commission, which supplement the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch issued by OGE. The supplemental regulations are necessary and appropriate in view of the particular needs of the Commission as a regulatory body with quasi-judicial functions. The supplemental regulations establish prohibitions on holding securities of certain companies substantially affected by Commission regulation and require Commission employees to seek approval from the Designated Agency Ethics Officer of the Commission (DAEO) prior to engaging in certain outside activities. The supplemental regulations also require employees to document recusals in writing. The Commission is also repealing its existing standards of conduct and inserting in their place a cross- reference to other ethics regulations, and a provision establishing standards of cooperation with the Inspector General.