Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers

On October 16, 2008, the Commission issued Order No. 717, which revised the Standards of Conduct for natural gas and electric transmission providers.\1\ Order No. 717 became effective on November 26, 2008, 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. According to Order No. 717, transmission providers must be in full compliance with the Standards by that date, with the exception of the posting and training requirements, with which transmission providers must be in full compliance no later than 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register, or December 26, 2008. On November 17, 2008, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) jointly filed a motion for extension of certain compliance deadlines under Order No. 717. This order grants EEI's and INGAA's request to extend the time for compliance with 18 CFR 358.8(c)(1), 358.7(d), 358.7(h), and 358.8(b)(2) to January 30, 2009; and for a grace period until February 27, 2009 for training of new employees hired before January 30, 2009. In addition, this order provides notice of a change in personnel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------