153 FERC ¶ 61,061

UNITED STATE OF AMERICA 

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

18 CFR Parts 157, 260, and 284

[Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003; Order No. 587-W]

Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines; Coordination of the 

Scheduling Processes of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines and Public Utilities

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending 

its regulations to incorporate by reference, with certain enumerated exceptions, the latest 

version (Version 3.0) of business practice standards adopted by the Wholesale Gas 

Quadrant of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) applicable to 

interstate natural gas pipelines. These updated business practice standards contain and 

supplement the revisions to the NAESB scheduling standards accepted by the 

Commission in Order No. 809 [80 FR 23197] as part of the Commission’s efforts to 

harmonize gas-electric scheduling coordination, and are required to be implemented on 

April 1, 2016, the same date as the regulations adopted in Order No. 809. In addition, the

updated standards revise the codes used to identify receipt and delivery locations in the 

Index of Customers. Further, for consistency with the revisions to the Index of 

Customers, the Commission is also amending its regulations to make conforming changes 

to the Commission’s regulations on interstate natural gas pipeline filings and postings.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This rule will become effective [Insert_Date 30 days after date 
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 ii

of publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER]. Implementation of these standards is 

required on April 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stanley Wolf (technical issues)

Office of Energy Policy and Innovation

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Telephone: (202) 502-6841

E-mail: stanley.wolf@ferc.gov

Oscar F. Santillana (technical issues)

Office of Energy Market Regulation

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Telephone: (202) 502-6392

E-mail: oscar.santillana@ferc.gov

Gary D. Cohen (legal issues)

Office of the General Counsel

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Telephone: (202) 502-8321

E-mail: gary.cohen@ferc.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 iii

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural 

Gas Pipelines

Coordination of the Scheduling Processes of Interstate 

Natural Gas Pipelines and Public Utilities

Docket Nos. RM96-1-038

RM14-2-003

ORDER NO. 587-W

FINAL RULE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraph Numbers

I. Background ............................................................................................................................4.

II. Discussion.............................................................................................................................12.

A. Incorporation by Reference of the NAESB Standards.....................................................12.

1. The NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards......................................12.

2. NAESB’s Process.........................................................................................................14.

3. NOPR Proposal.............................................................................................................15.

4. Comments.....................................................................................................................16.

5. Commission Determination..........................................................................................17.

6. Required Compliance Filings.......................................................................................18.

B. Use of Proprietary Codes to Replace Common Codes ....................................................19.

1. NOPR Proposal.............................................................................................................19.

2. Comments.....................................................................................................................21.

3. Commission Determination..........................................................................................22.

C. Index of Customers...........................................................................................................24.

1. Filing Format ................................................................................................................24.

a. NOPR Proposal ........................................................................................................24.

b. Comment ..................................................................................................................25.

c. Commission Determination......................................................................................26.

2. Index of Customers Instruction Manual .......................................................................27.

a. NOPR Proposal ........................................................................................................27.

b. Comments.................................................................................................................28.

c. Commission Determination......................................................................................31.

D. Cross-References/Conforming Changes..........................................................................36.

1. NOPR Proposal.............................................................................................................36.

2. Comments.....................................................................................................................37.

3. Commission Determination..........................................................................................38.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 iv

III. Implementation Schedule ....................................................................................................40.

IV. Notice of Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards..............................................................43.

V. Incorporation By Reference..................................................................................................45.

VI. Information Collection Statement .......................................................................................47.

VII. Environmental Analysis.....................................................................................................53.

VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act................................................................................................54.

IX. Document Availability ........................................................................................................56.

X. Effective Date and Congressional Notification....................................................................59.
153 FERC ¶ 61,061

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Before Commissioners: Norman C. Bay, Chairman;

 Philip D. Moeller, Cheryl A. LaFleur,

Tony Clark, and Colette D. Honorable.

Standards for Business Practices of Interstate 

Natural Gas Pipelines

Coordination of the Scheduling Processes of 

Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines and Public 

Utilities

Docket Nos. RM96-1-038

RM14-2-003

ORDER NO. 587-W 

FINAL RULE

(Issued October 16, 2015)

1. In this final rule, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) 

amends its regulations at 18 CFR 284.12 to incorporate by reference, with certain 

enumerated exceptions, the latest version (Version 3.0) of business practice standards 

applicable to interstate natural gas pipelines adopted by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant 

(WGQ) of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). Interstate natural gas 

pipelines are required to implement these standards April 1, 2016.

2. The NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 package of standards includes standards governing 

coordination of the scheduling processes of interstate natural gas pipelines and public 
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 2 -

utilities that the Commission incorporated by reference in Docket No. RM14-2-000.1

 

These updated business practice standards will replace the earlier version of these 

business practice standards that previously were incorporated by reference. The 

standards also revise the codes used to identify receipt and delivery locations in the Index 

of Customers. In addition, for consistency with the revisions to the Index of Customers, 

the Commission is also amending its regulations at 18 CFR 157.14, 157.18, 260.8, and 

284.13 to have receipt and delivery point information in various interstate natural gas 

pipeline filings and postings use the same location point names as provided for in the 

NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 Standards. Finally, we also are making conforming changes 

to 18 CFR 284.126.

3. In addition, the Commission terminates, as moot, the proceeding in Docket 

No. RM14-2-003, as the standard corrections NAESB filed in Docket No. RM14-2-003 

are included as part of the Version 3.0 standards that the Commission is incorporating by 

reference here, with the same implementation date of April 1, 2016.

I. Background

4. Since 1996, the Commission has adopted regulations to standardize the business 

practices and communication methodologies of interstate natural gas pipelines to create a 

more integrated and efficient pipeline grid. These regulations have been promulgated in 

 1 Coordination of the Scheduling Processes of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines 

and Public Utilities, Order No. 809, Final Rule, 80 FR 23197 (Apr. 24, 2015), FERC 

Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,368 (Order No. 809).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 3 -

the Order No. 587 series of orders,2 wherein the Commission has incorporated by 

reference standards for interstate natural gas pipeline business practices and electronic 

communications that were developed and adopted by NAESB’s WGQ. Upon 

incorporation by reference, this version of these standards will become part of the 

Commission’s regulations and compliance by interstate natural gas pipelines will become 

mandatory and will replace the earlier version of these standards that the Commission 

previously incorporated by reference in 2012.

3

5. On July 23, 2013, as corrected on July 25, 2013, NAESB filed a report informing 

the Commission that it had adopted and ratified Version 2.1 of its business practice 

standards applicable to natural gas pipelines. NAESB reported that the WGQ reviewed, 

at the request of the industry, the necessity of maintaining the current location common 

codes system to determine if the system provides a significant benefit to the industry and 

should be continued.4

 NAESB (in its previous corporate incarnation as the Gas Industry 

 2 This series of orders began with the Commission’s issuance of Standards for 

Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Order No. 587, FERC Stats. 

& Regs. ¶ 31,038 (1996).

3 Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Final Rule, 

Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 (2012) (Order No. 587-V).

4 NAESB Version 2.1 Report dated July 23, 2013 (NAESB Version 2.1 Report). 

As explained in the NAESB Version 2.1 Report, this request was received by NAESB in 

November 2010 and was included by the NAESB Board of Directors in the 2011 WGQ 

Annual Plan as part of Item No. 7 and as part of the 2012 WGQ Annual Plan Item No. 8. 

See NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 3. The proposed modifications made in response to 

this request were developed by the WGQ’s Business Practices Subcommittee and jointly 

by the Information Requirements/Technical Subcommittees.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 4 -

Standards Board) adopted a system of registering common codes to identify 

interconnection points between pipelines using a single code for the shared point. The 

industry chose an independent third party to assign and maintain the common code 

database.

6. NAESB reported that, after extensive discussions, the WGQ reached the 

conclusion that the NAESB WGQ Standards should no longer support the location 

common codes system, as the NAESB membership concluded that the system provided 

little commercial benefit to the industry at large. Consistent with this determination, the 

Version 2.1 Standards added seven new standards, modified six standards, and deleted 

three standards to match up with a transition from common codes to the proprietary codes

used by interstate pipelines to identify points.

5

 These will be the codes assigned by the 

transportation service providers for the identification of locations.6

 The standards require 

pipelines to post sufficient information on their websites to permit shippers and the 

Commission to identify the interconnection points between pipelines that were previously 

identified through the common codes.

7. Additionally, as requested by the Commission in Order No. 587-V,7 NAESB 

modified the standards to include reporting requirements for “Design Capacity” for each 

 5 NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 2.

6 Id. at 4.

7 See supra n.3.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 5 -

location by transportation service providers.8

 Other changes to the existing standards 

were made at the request of industry. These include changes to the NAESB WGQ 

Additional Standards, Nominations Related Standards, Flowing Gas Related Standards, 

Invoicing Related Standards, Quadrant Electronic Delivery Mechanism Standards, 

Capacity Release Related Standards, and Data Set Standards.9

 NAESB further reported

on the changes it made to the NAESB WGQ Interpretations and Contracts and Manuals 

that the Commission has declined to incorporate by reference in past Final Rules.10 

NAESB also reported on all the minor corrections it made to the standards since 

Version 2.0 of the Standards.11 Finally, NAESB reported on items that it considered 

changing but on which it took no action.12

8. On November 14, 2014, NAESB filed a report informing the Commission that it 

had adopted and ratified Version 3.0 of its business practice standards applicable to 

natural gas pipelines. NAESB reported that all of the modifications made in the Version 

2.1 Standards are included in the Version 3.0 Standards and thus no action is needed on 

 8 NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 2-3.

9 Id. at 3.

10 See, e.g., Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at n.11.

11 NAESB Version 2.1 Report at 18.

12 Id. at 17-18.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 6 -

the Version 2.1 Standards.13 The Version 3.0 Standards introduced modifications to the 

standards to support efforts to harmonize gas-electric scheduling coordination that 

NAESB had separately filed and that the Commission incorporated by reference in Order 

No. 809.14 In addition, the Version 3.0 Standards contain revisions to the capacity 

release standards regarding posting requirements for offers to purchase released capacity 

that were the subject of the Commission’s order to show cause in Docket No. RP14-442-

000.15 Other revisions in the Version 3.0 Standards are: (1) revisions to the standards to 

define “Operating Capacity” and “Design Capacity” in response to the Commission 

request in Order No. 587-V;16 (2) elimination of the WGQ Interpretations, which the 

Commission has long declined to incorporate by reference; (3) modifications to standards 

to reflect the elimination of the WGQ’s interpretations of the standards; (4) modifications 

for maintenance purposes, which includes changes to eliminate the appearance of the 

electronic data interchange in the imbalance trading process; (5) modifications to reflect 

 13 NAESB Version 3.0 Report dated November 14, 2014 (NAESB Version 3.0 

Report) at 2.

14 See supra n.1.

15 Posting of Offers to Purchase Capacity, 146 FERC ¶ 61,203, at P 6 (2014)

(Show Cause Order); B-R Pipeline Co., 149 FERC ¶ 61,031 (2014) (order accepting 

compliance filings).

16 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at P 8.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 7 -

new data elements; and (6) edits for clarity and to increase user-friendliness. The 

Version 3.0 standards have also been revised to include 29 minor corrections.17

9. On July 7, 2015, NAESB filed a report informing the Commission that it made 

errata corrections to the WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards.18 These 

corrections incorporated a 9:00 AM Central Clock Time (CCT) start to the gas operating 

day, consistent with the Commission’s findings in Order No. 80919 and also corrected

other minor errors.

10. On July 16, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(Version 3.0 NOPR) proposing to amend its regulations to incorporate by reference, with 

certain enumerated exceptions, the NAESB Version 3.0 business practice standards 

(referenced above) applicable to natural gas pipelines.20 In addition, the Version 3.0 

NOPR proposed certain conforming changes to the Commission’s regulations at 18 CFR 

 17 The NAESB Version 3.0 Report also provides information on other NAESB 

activities and tools unrelated to standards development. A complete listing of all the 

revisions made in NAESB’s WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards to NAESB’s 

prior business practice standards can be found in the Appendix to the Version 3.0 NOPR, 

80 FR 43987, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 at 34,767.

18 NAESB adopted two minor corrections, MC15009 and MC15012, approved on 

April 30, 2015 and May 29, 2015, respectively.

19 Order No. 809, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,368 at P 171.

20 Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking, 80 FR 43979 (July 24, 2015), FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 

(July 16, 2015) (Version 3.0 NOPR).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 8 -

157.14 and 157.18 (dealing with exhibits) and 260.8 (dealing with system flow 

diagrams).

11. In response to the Version 3.0 NOPR, comments were filed by three commenters. 

All three commenters express support for the Commission’s proposal to incorporate by 

reference NAESB’s Version 3.0 business practice standards. Tennessee Valley Authority 

(TVA) comments that it fully supports the full package of revisions reflected in the 

NAESB Version 3.0 Standards that are subject to the NOPR. Interstate Natural Gas 

Association of America (INGAA) comments that it “supports the Commission’s proposal 

to amend its regulations to incorporate by reference Version 3.0 of the business practice 

standards adopted by [NAESB’s WGQ] applicable to natural gas pipelines,” subject to a 

few suggested modifications.21 It supports the Version 3.0 NOPR’s proposal to introduce 

the use of proprietary location codes and to discontinue the use of industry common 

codes, but it offers suggested minor modifications to the regulatory text accomplishing 

this transition. Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (Southern Star), likewise, comments 

that it “supports the incorporation by reference of the NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 business 

practice standards in 18 CFR § 284.12 as proposed.”22 “[H]owever, Southern Star asks 

the Commission to clarify its proposed corresponding changes to 18 CFR §§ 157.14, 

157.18, 260.8, and 284.13 to avoid confusion and ensure consistent compliance with the 

 21 INGAA at 1.

22 Southern Star at 2.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 9 -

regulations.” 23 In the discussion below, we will address the comments in greater detail. 

In addition, on September 25, 2015, NAESB filed a report with the Commission in 

Docket No. RM96-1-038 announcing that it had made additional minor corrections.24 In 

this Final Rule, the version of the NAESB WGQ business practice standards that we are 

incorporating by reference into our regulations will include these additional minor 

corrections.

II. Discussion

A. Incorporation by Reference of the NAESB Standards

1. The NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards

12. The NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 Business Practice Standards made a number of 

changes to the earlier version of those standards that the Commission previously 

incorporated by reference in 2012 in Order No. 587-V.

25 Notable among these changes 

was a change, made at the request of the industry, to introduce the use of proprietary 

codes to identify the location of points of receipt and delivery. Consistent with this 

determination, the Version 2.1 Standards added seven new standards, modified 

six standards, and deleted three standards to match up with a transition from common 

codes to proprietary codes. Under the new standards, each transportation service 

 23 Id.

24 MC15003, MC15004, and MC15005, which were adopted by the WGQ 

Executive Committee on April 9, 2015.

25 Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Order

No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 (2012).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 10 -

provider assigns the proprietary codes it will use to identify the locations of its points of 

receipt and delivery. The standards require pipelines to post sufficient information on 

their websites to permit shippers and the Commission to identify the interconnection 

points between pipelines that were previously identified through the common codes.

13. Additionally, as requested by the Commission in Order No. 587-V,26 NAESB 

modified the standards to include reporting requirements for “Design Capacity” for each 

location by transportation service providers. Other changes to the existing standards 

were made at the request of industry. These include changes to the NAESB WGQ 

Additional Standards, Nominations Related Standards, Flowing Gas Related Standards, 

Invoicing Related Standards, Quadrant Electronic Delivery Mechanism Standards, 

Capacity Release Related Standards, and Data Set Standards. NAESB further reports on 

the changes it made to the NAESB WGQ Interpretations and Contracts and Manuals that 

the Commission has declined to incorporate by reference in past final rules.27 NAESB’s

Version 3.0 report also identified the minor corrections it made to the standards since 

Version 2.0 of the Standards.

2. NAESB’s Process

14. NAESB used its consensus procedures to develop and approve the Version 3.0 

Standards. As the Commission found in Order No. 587, the adoption of consensus 

 26 Id. P 30.

27 See, e.g., id. n.11.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 11 -

standards is appropriate because the consensus process helps ensure the reasonableness of 

the standards by requiring that the standards draw support from a broad spectrum of 

industry participants representing all segments of the industry. Moreover, since the 

industry itself has to conduct business under these standards, the Commission's 

regulations should reflect those standards that have the widest possible support. In 

section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 

(NTT&AA), Congress affirmatively requires federal agencies to use technical standards 

developed by voluntary consensus standards organizations, like NAESB, as means to 

carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies unless an agency 

determines that the use of such standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 

otherwise impractical.

3. NOPR Proposal

15. In the Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission proposed to incorporate by reference, 

in its regulations, Version 3.0 of the NAESB WGQ's consensus business practice 

standards, with the exception of NAESB’s standards specifying the terms of optional 

model contracts and its eTariff-related standards.28

 28 Version 3.0 NOPR, 80 FR 43982, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 at P 20.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 12 -

4. Comments

16. As explained above, all of the commenters supported the Commission’s proposal 

to incorporate by reference the NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 business practice standards as 

proposed in the Version 3.0 NOPR.29

5. Commission Determination

17. After a review of the comments filed in response to the Version 3.0 NOPR, the 

Commission is amending Part 284 of its regulations to incorporate by reference the 

NAESB WGQ Version 3.0 business practice standards, with the exceptions (as explained 

in the Version 3.0 NOPR) of the optional model contracts and the eTariff-related 

standards, which, as proposed in the Version 3.0 NOPR, we are not incorporating by 

reference.

30 In the discussion below, we also will discuss the various comments 

suggesting modifications to the regulatory text proposed in the Version 3.0 NOPR in the 

conforming changes we proposed to other provisions of our regulations.

6. Required Compliance Filings

18. To implement the standards we are incorporating by reference in this Final Rule, 

we will require each interstate natural gas pipeline to file a separate tariff record

reflecting the changed standards by February 1, 2016, to take effect on April 1, 2016, and 

 29 See discussion at P 11, supra.

30 We are also, as discussed in Section II.D below, making a number of 

conforming changes in other provisions of our regulations, for consistency with our 

action here.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 13 -

the natural gas pipelines will be required to comply with these standards on and after 

April 1, 2016.

31

B. Use of Proprietary Codes to Replace Common Codes

1. NOPR Proposal

19. As explained in the Version 3.0 NOPR, at industry’s request, NAESB reviewed 

the location common codes system and concluded that the NAESB WGQ Business 

Practice Standards should no longer support the location common codes system, as the 

NAESB membership concluded that the system provided little commercial benefit to the 

industry at large.32 The industry determined that having a third party maintain a common 

code database is not worth the expense and effort and revised the standards to introduce

the use of proprietary codes to identify the location of points of receipt and delivery. The 

revised standards include requirements to replace much of the information previously 

contained in the third party database. These standards require interstate pipelines to post 

on their internet websites information on each of the proprietary points that can be used 

among other things to determine which points are interconnecting points, one of the 

primary reasons for adoption of the common code database.

 31 To aid in compliance, promptly after issuance of this Final Rule, the 

Commission will post a sample tariff record on the Commission’s website that may be 

accessed at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. All pipelines are to file their 

tariff records in conformance with this sample tariff record.

32 Version 3.0 NOPR, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 at P 4.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 14 -

20. In the Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission proposed to incorporate by reference 

the standards that revised the prior standards to introduce the use of proprietary codes to 

identify the location of points of receipt and delivery and that included requirements for 

the pipelines to post on their websites information on each of the proprietary points that 

can be used to determine which points are interconnecting points between pipelines.33 

We also proposed that these same codes be used by the Commission in its Index of 

Customers to identify the points on shippers’ contracts and we proposed to revise 

§ 284.13(c) of the regulations to assure that these provisions operate in harmony.

34 In the 

NOPR, we proposed to revise the Commission’s regulations at § 284.13(c)(2)(vi) to 

reflect the use of the term “location code” rather than “industry common code” to identify 

the location of receipt and delivery points, and we also proposed to require pipelines to 

post information on their internet website regarding such location points, including the 

coordinates of each point, and an identification of the upstream or downstream entity, if 

any, at that point, and date the point becomes active or inactive.

35

2. Comments

21. Southern Star & INGAA both support the Commission’s proposal to use the term

“location code,” rather than “industry common code” to identify the location of receipt 

 33 Id. PP 15-16.

34 Id.

35 Id. at proposed regulatory text for § 284.13(c)(2)(vi). (80 FR 43987).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 15 -

and delivery points.36 Southern Star and INGAA, however, point out that the term 

“common code” recurs in a number of places in the Commission’s regulations other than 

in the Index of Customers, and contend that, as a result, the Commission should establish 

a separate regulation at 18 CFR 284.13(f) for the posting requirement to eliminate the 

need for repetition.37

3. Commission Determination

22. We will incorporate by reference NAESB’s standards requiring interstate pipelines 

to refer to location points using their own proprietary code, together with a posting of 

information regarding these codes on the pipelines’ website, rather than requiring the 

pipelines to maintain a common code database implemented by a third party. Given the 

ability of the Commission and customers to continue to identify interconnection points 

referenced in the Index of Customers through the website postings, the Commission also 

will revise its regulations governing the filing of the Index of Customers and other 

regulations requiring the specification of location point codes to align with the NAESB 

standards.

23. We also will adopt Southern Star and INGAA’s recommendations to modify the 

regulations to create a separate requirement at 18 CFR 284.13(f) for the posting of 

information regarding the location points to make cross-reference easier. Consistent with 

 36 INGAA at 2. Southern Star at 3.

37 Southern Star at 2-3.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 16 -

the proposal in the Version 3.0 NOPR, we are requiring interstate pipelines to file their 

Index of Customers using the new location names and codes for all active points. In 

addition, as proposed in the Version 3.0 NOPR, we are requiring pipelines to maintain 

and post on their websites a complete listing of all inactive points. Finally, for the

convenience of those reviewing past Index of Customers filings, or those wishing to 

compare past Index of Customers filings to newer Index of Customers filings, we will 

post the old common code file for past indices on the Commission’s website prior to 

April 1, 2016.

C. Index of Customers

1. Filing Format

a. NOPR Proposal

24. In the Version 3.0 NOPR, we explained that pipelines currently file the Index of 

Customers using a tab-delimited file format consistent with Form No. 549B - Index of 

Customers Instruction Manual.38 While we did not propose any changes to that 

formatting in the Version 3.0 NOPR, we further explained that,

[b]ecause tab-delimited file formats can be difficult and can result in 

errors that impose burdens both on Commission and pipeline staff to 

correct, we also are adding the Index of Customers form to the list of 

forms that are being updated as part of the Commission’s forms 

refresh project in Docket No. AD15-11-000 (Forms Project). 

Adding the Index of Customers to the Forms Project will move the 

Commission towards the use of a standard approach for all 

 38 Version 3.0 NOPR, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 at P 17.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 17 -

Commission forms that will result in more efficient filing and 

processing of forms.[39]

b. Comment

25. TVA comments that, while it was neutral in the past, it has come to appreciate that 

a user-friendly format for the Index of Customers is extremely beneficial to TVA in longrange planning. TVA asserts that, with growing staff to support the growth of gas-fired 

generation at TVA and counterparties, a user-friendly format for locations codes is a 

beneficial tool to avoid potential miscommunication of receipt and delivery points from 

occurring.40

c. Commission Determination

26. The transition from the current tab delimited file format for the Index of 

Customers information reported on Form No. 549B to a more up-to-date format will 

improve the efficient filing and processing of this information. As we explained in the 

Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission issued an order (Forms Project Order) initiating a 

proceeding in Docket No. AD15-11-000 to consider the transition to a new filing format 

for a number of other Commission forms and has enlisted the assistance of NAESB in 

this endeavor.41 As we explained in Forms Project Order, the current software which the 

Commission requires industry to use for the electronic filing of many of the forms 

 39 Id.

40 TVA at 3.

41 Electronic Filing Protocols for Commission Forms, 151 FERC ¶ 61,025 (2015).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 18 -

(Visual Fox Pro) is no longer supported by its developer.42 The Commission enlisted 

NAESB in an effort to transition to an electronic filing format based on the use of 

Extensible Mark-Up Language (XML), which NAESB helped to develop for electronic 

tariff filing.43 We recognize that NAESB’s highest priority is to develop the XML 

standards for the forms to replace the unsupported and outdated Visual Fox Pro software. 

While the Index of Customers can still be filed in the current tab delimited format, we 

agree with TVA that continued use of this format is inefficient for both the industry and 

the Commission. Accordingly, we request that NAESB consider revisions to the Index of 

Customers as part of their ongoing deliberations.

2. Index of Customers Instruction Manual

a. NOPR Proposal

27. In the Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission proposed to post on the Commission’s 

website a revised instruction manual for the filing of Form No. 549B – Index of 

Customers.

44 As promised, after issuance of the Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission 

posted the proposed revised instruction manual on its website. The only proposed 

changes to the instruction manual were to Item ID yj (Point identification Code Qualifier) 

and Item ID yk (Point identification Code) to specify that the new proprietary location 

 42 Id. P 1.

43 Electronic Tariff Filings, Order No. 714, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,276 (2008).

44 Version 3.0 NOPR, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 at P 17 & n.26.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 19 -

names and codes were to be used in identifying points of receipt and delivery in the Index 

of Customers.

b. Comments

28. Southern Star and INGAA both suggest that three changes are needed to the 

proposed instruction manual for the Index of Customers:45 First, in the instructions for 

Item yh (the Point Identifier Code), the commenters suggest that the references to 

G1- Gas Transaction Point 1 and G2-Gas Transaction Point 2 should be deleted as these 

are antiquated codes that are no longer used in the referenced NAESB business standard.

29. Second, for Item yj (the Point identification Code Qualifier), the commenters 

suggest that the instructions should simply read “Enter 95” as all location codes will now 

be assigned by the pipeline (the Transportation Service Provider).

30. Third, for Item yk (the Point Identification Code), the commenters suggest that the 

instructions should simply read “Enter the Transportation Service Provider’s Location 

(LOC)” as there is no longer an industry common code to enter. INGAA asserts that this 

item should read “Enter the pipeline’s location code.” It makes this suggestion because

“Pipeline” is the term utilized throughout the Instruction Manual.

 45 Southern Star at 5-6 and INGAA at 7-9.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 20 -

c. Commission Determination

31. As to the suggestion to revise the instruction manual to delete references to 

references to G1 and G2 in the instructions for Item yh (the Point Identifier Code), we 

find this suggestion reasonable and will make this change.

32. As to the suggestion to revise the instruction manual to revise the instructions for 

Item yj, we see merit in this suggestion, but believe the suggested language would be 

clearer if it read “Enter 95 whenever item yk is the Transmission Service Provider’s 

Location (LOC)” and will revise the instruction manual accordingly.

33. As to the suggestion to revise the instruction manual to revise the instructions for 

Item yk to read “Enter the Transmission Service Provider’s Location (LOC),” we find 

this suggestion reasonable and will make this change.

34. As to the suggestion to revise the instruction manual to revise the instructions for 

Item yj to substitute the term “Pipeline” in lieu of the term “Transmission Service 

Provider,” we are not persuaded to make this revision, as the term “Transmission Service 

Provider” matches the terminology in the standards we are incorporating. As we did after 

we issued the Version 3.0 NOPR, we will post a link to the revised instruction manual on 

our website after issuance of this Final Rule.46

 46 To aid in compliance, promptly after issuance of this Final Rule, a Revised 

Instruction Manual for filing Form No. 549B, Index of Customers, will be posted on the 

Commission’s website and may be accessed at http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/indusact/pipelines/standards.asp. All pipelines are to file their Index of Customers in 

accordance with the instructions provided in this manual.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 21 -

35. Finally, our review of the comments also brought to our attention that Item yi 

(Point Name) also needs revision to reflect the transition to the use of proprietary location 

codes in the Version 3.0 standards. Thus, the Instructions for Item ID yi will now read as 

follows: “Enter the Location Name (LOC Name) of the point or facility.”

D. Cross-References/Conforming Changes

1. NOPR Proposal

36. In the Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission proposed conforming changes to 

reference the new location names and codes at 18 CFR 157.14 and 18 CFR 157.18

(dealing with exhibits), in 18 CFR 260.8 (dealing with system flow diagrams), and in 

18 CFR 284.13 (dealing with reporting requirements for interstate pipelines).

2. Comments

37. Along with their comments suggesting that the Commission move its proposed 

regulation at § 284.13(c)(2)(6) into a new subsection § 284.13(f), the commenters point 

out the Commission missed two references to common codes in § 284.13(b) and suggest

revisions to the accompanying cross references proposed in the Version 3.0 NOPR.

47 

INGAA further requests two minor additional modifications.48 In § 157.14(a), INGAA 

argues that the Commission should remove the reference to Exhibit H(iv) that appears in 

the proposed regulatory text because Exhibit H(iv) no longer exists. In addition, INGAA 

 47 INGAA at 2-4, Southern Star at 3-4.

48 INGAA at 7.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 22 -

requests the Commission to clarify that it did not intend to delete certain language after 

the asterisks in both §§ 157.14(a) and 157.18(c). Specifically, INGAA states that the 

Commission should revise the language at the beginning of item 2 of its proposed 

amendment to § 157.14(a) to state that “Section 157.14 is amended by revising the 

introductory language of paragraph (a) to read as follows:” (emphasis added), and insert 

“(1)” before the asterisks. In INGAA’s view, this would remove any doubt about how 

much of the existing section is being replaced with the new proposed language.

3. Commission Determination

38. Given the Commission’s determination that, as proposed by the commenters, the 

proper provision in which to place the requirement for pipelines to use “location code” 

rather than “industry common code” to identify the location of receipt and delivery points

is at 18 CFR 284.13(f), we will make appropriate cross-references. We agree with 

INGAA that the inclusion of Exhibit H(iv) in the regulatory text of proposed § 157.14(a) 

is in error. Reference to this exhibit was deleted in Order No. 699 as an erroneous or 

outdated reference.49 Thus, we will delete any reference to Exhibit H(iv) in the 

regulatory text we are promulgating in this Final Rule. In addition, as requested, we will 

clarify that our revisions to § 157.14(a) and § 157.18(c) are not intended to delete 

language that follows later in these provisions.

 49 Conforming Changes, Order No. 699, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,254 at P 10 

(cross-referenced at 120 FERC ¶ 61,134 (2007)).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 23 -

39. Finally, as a result of the INGAA comment that we needed to make additional 

conforming changes that were overlooked, we also will make a conforming change to 

18 CFR 284.126 to remove the reference to common codes. Intrastate pipelines filing 

Form No. 549D should identify their location codes and names in their list of 

jurisdictional points of receipt and delivery.

III. Implementation Schedule

40. In the Version 3.0 NOPR, the Commission stated that we anticipated acting on the 

proposed rule in order to permit these standards to become effective April 1, 2016 at the 

same time as the Gas-Electric Harmonization standards, with compliance filings due 

February 1, 2016.50 We explained that requiring implementation of the updated business 

practice standards and the Gas-Electric Harmonization standards on the same date should 

reduce the compliance burden on the pipelines and avoid confusion.51 We also explained 

our policies on tariff filings and on waiver requests.52

41. None of the comments took issue with the Commission’s proposed 

implementation schedule. Nor did the comments take issue or seek clarification with 

regard to the Commission’s explanation of its policies on tariff filings and on waiver 

requests. We are not modifying these policies in this Final Rule and stand by the 

 50 Version 3.0 NOPR, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 32,708 at P 23.

51 Id.

52 Id. PP 23-27.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 24 -

explanation of those policies we made in the Version 3.0 NOPR. The Commission will 

require interstate natural gas pipelines to comply with the revised NAESB standards that 

we are incorporating by reference in this Final Rule beginning on April 1, 2016. Thus, 

among other requirements, when pipelines make their Index of Customers filing for the 

second quarter of 2016 and thereafter they should do so using the new location names 

and codes for all active points. We are requiring this implementation schedule to give the 

interstate natural gas pipelines subject to these standards adequate time to implement 

these changes. In addition, the interstate natural gas pipelines must file tariff records to 

reflect the changed standards by February 1, 2016.

42. In addition, consistent with the requirements in Order Nos. 587-V and 809,53 the 

Commission is including the following compliance filing requirements to increase the 

transparency of the pipelines’ incorporation by reference of the NAESB WGQ Standards 

so that shippers and the Commission will know which tariff provision(s) implements each 

standard as well as the status of each standard.

(1) The pipelines must designate a single tariff record under which every 

NAESB standard currently incorporated by reference by the Commission is listed.54 This 

section should be a separate tariff record under the Commission’s electronic tariff filing 

requirement and should be filed electronically using the eTariff portal using the Type of 

 53 Order No. 587-V, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,332 at PP 36-37; Order No. 809, 

FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,368 at P 169.

54 See supra n.31.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 25 -

Filing Code 580. The Commission will post on its eLibrary website (under Docket 

No. RM96-1-038) a sample tariff record, to provide filers an illustrative example to aid 

them in preparing their compliance filings;

55

(2) For each standard, each pipeline must specify in the tariff record a list of all

the NAESB standards currently incorporated by reference by the Commission:

(a) whether the standard is incorporated by reference; 

(b) for those standards not incorporated by reference, the tariff 

provision that complies with the standard;56 and

(c) a statement identifying any standards for which the pipeline 

has been granted a waiver, extension of time, or other variance with 

respect to compliance with the standard.57

(3) If the pipeline is requesting a continuation of an existing waiver or 

extension of time, it must include a table in its transmittal letter that states the standard 

for which a waiver or extension of time was granted, and the docket number or order 

citation to the proceeding in which the waiver or extension was granted.

 55 Id.

56 For example, pipelines are required to include the full text of the NAESB 

nomination and capacity release timeline standards (WGQ Standards 1.3.2(i-vi) and 

5.3.2) in their tariffs. See, e.g., Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural 

Gas Pipelines, Order No. 587-U, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,307, at P 39 & n.42 (2010). 

The pipeline would indicate which tariff provision complies with each of these standards.

57 Shippers can use the Commission’s electronic tariff system to locate the tariff 

record containing the NAESB standards, which will indicate the docket in which any 

waiver or extension of time was granted.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 26 -

IV. Notice of Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards

43. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-119 (section 11) (February 10, 

1998) provides that federal agencies should publish a request for comment in a NOPR 

when the agency is seeking to issue or revise a regulation proposing to adopt a voluntary 

consensus standard or a government-unique standard. In this Final Rule, the Commission 

is amending its regulations to incorporate by reference voluntary consensus standards 

developed by NAESB’s WGQ. In section 12(d) of NTT&AA, Congress affirmatively 

requires federal agencies to use technical standards developed by voluntary consensus 

standards organizations to carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the 

agencies unless use of such standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 

otherwise impractical.58

44. In section 12(d) of NTT&AA, Congress affirmatively requires federal agencies to 

use technical standards developed by voluntary consensus standards organizations to 

carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies unless use of such 

standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 

V. Incorporation By Reference

45. The Office of the Federal Register requires agencies incorporating material by 

reference in final rules to discuss, in the preamble of the final rule, the ways that the 

materials it incorporates by reference are reasonably available to interested parties and 

 58 Pub L. No. 104-113, 12(d), 110 Stat. 775 (1996), 15 U.S.C. 272 note (1997).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 27 -

how interested parties can obtain the materials.59 The regulations also require agencies to 

summarize, in the preamble of the final rule, the material it incorporates by reference.

46. The NAESB standards being incorporated by reference in this Final Rule are 

summarized in PP 5-9 above. Our regulations provide that copies of the NAESB 

standards incorporated by reference may be obtained from the North American Energy 

Standards Board, 801 Travis Street, Suite 1675, Houston, TX 77002, Phone: (713) 356–

0060. NAESB’s Web site is at http://www.naesb.org/. Copies may be inspected at the 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance 

Branch, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, Phone: (202) 502–

8371, http://www.ferc.gov.

60 The procedures utilized by NAESB make its standards 

reasonably available to those affected by the Commission regulations.61 Participants can 

join NAESB, for an annual membership cost of $7,000, which entitles them to full 

participation in NAESB and enables them to obtain these standards at no cost.62 Nonmembers may obtain the Individual Standards Manual or Booklets for each standard by 

 59 1 CFR 51.5. See Incorporation by Reference, 79 FR 66267 (Nov. 7, 2014).

60 18 CFR 284.12.

61 As a private, consensus standards developer, NAESB needs the funds obtained 

from its membership fees and sales of its standards to finance the organization. The 

parties affected by these Commission regulations generally are highly sophisticated and 

have the means to acquire the information they need to effectively participate in 

Commission proceedings. 

62 North American Energy Standards Board Membership Application, 

https://www.naesb.org/pdf4/naesbapp.pdf.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 28 -

email for $250 per manual or booklet, which in the case of these standards would total 

$1,000.63 Nonmembers also may obtain the complete set of Standards Manuals, 

Booklets, and Contracts on CD for $2,000. NAESB also provides a free electronic readonly version of the standards for a three business day period or, in the case of a regulatory 

comment period, through the end of the comment period.64 In addition, NAESB 

considers requests for waivers of the charges on a case by case basis based on need.

VI. Information Collection Statement

47. The collections of information for this Final Rule are being submitted to the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 199565 and OMB’s implementing regulations.66 OMB must approve 

information collection requirements imposed by agency rules. The burden estimates for 

this Final Rule are for one-time implementation of the information collection 

requirements of this Final Rule (including tariff filing, documentation of the process and 

procedures, and IT work), and ongoing burden.

 63 NAESB Materials Order Form, https://www.naesb.org//pdf/ordrform.pdf.

64 Procedures for non-members to evaluate work products before purchasing, 

https://www.naesb.org/misc/NAESB_Nonmember_Evaluation.pdf. See Incorporation by 

Reference, 79 FR at 66271, n. 51 & 53(Nov. 7, 2014) (citing to NAESB’s procedure of 

providing “no-cost, no-print electronic access,” NAESB Comment, at 1, available at

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=OFR-2013-0001-0023).

65 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).

66 5 CFR 1320.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 29 -

48. The Commission solicits comments from the public on the Commission's need for 

this information, whether the information will have practical utility, the accuracy of the 

burden estimates, recommendations to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondents' 

burden, including the use of automated information techniques. The burden estimates are 

for implementing the information collection requirements of this Final Rule. The 

Commission asks that any revised burden estimates submitted by commenters include the 

details and assumptions used to generate the estimates.

49. The collections of information related to this Final Rule fall under FERC–545 

(Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-Formal))67 and FERC–549C (Standards for 

Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines).68 The following estimates of 

reporting burden are related only to this Final Rule and include the costs to pipelines to

comply with the Commission’s directives in this Final Rule. The burden estimates are 

primarily related to start-up to implement these standards and regulations and will not 

result in ongoing costs.

 67 FERC-545 covers rate change filings made by natural gas pipelines, including 

tariff changes.

68 FERC-549C covers Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas 

Pipelines.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 30 -

One-Time Effects of NOPR in Docket RM96-1-038 (rounded)

Number of 

Respondents69

(1)

Annual 

Number of 

Responses 

per 

Respondent

(2)

Total 

Number of 

Responses 

(1)*(2)=

(3)

Average 

Burden & 

Cost Per 

Response

(4)

Total 

Annual 

Burden 

Hours & 

Total 

Annual 

Cost

(3)*(4)=(5)

Cost per 

Respondent

70

($)

(5)÷(1)

FERC545A71165 1 165 10 hrs.; 

$837

1,650 hrs.; 

$138,056

$837

FERC549C72165 1 165 22 hrs.; 

$1,841

3,630 hrs.; 

$303,722

$1,841

Totals 5,280 hrs.; 

$441,778

 69 The number of respondents is the number of entities in which a change in 

burden from the current standards to the proposed exists, not the total number of entities 

from the current or proposed standards that are applicable.

70 Wage data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2012 

(“May 2012 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage 

Estimates, [for] Sector 22 - Utilities” at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and is 

compiled for the top 10 percent earned. For the estimate of the benefits component, see

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm.

71 The mean hourly cost of tariff filings and implementation for interstate natural 

gas pipelines is $83.67. This represents the average wage (salary and benefits for 

2,080 annual work-hours) of the following occupational categories: “Legal” 

($128.02 per hour), “Computer Analyst” ($83.50 per hour), and “Office and 

Administrative” ($39.49 per hour). Wage data is available from the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics at http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm and is compiled for the top 

10 percent earned. For the estimate of the benefits component, see

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm.

72 The mean hourly cost of tariff filings and implementation for interstate natural 

gas pipelines is $83.67. It is composed of the skill sets and related hourly costs described 

above.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 31 -

Information Collection Costs: The Commission estimates the average annualized cost for 

all respondents to be the following:

FERC-545 FERC-549C

Annualized Capital/Startup 

Costs

$138,056 $303,722

Annualized Costs 

(Operations & 

Maintenance)

N/A N/A

Total Annualized Costs $138,056 $303,722

Total Cost for all Respondents = $441,778

OMB regulations require OMB to approve certain information collection requirements 

imposed by agency rule. The Commission is submitting notification of this Final Rule to 

OMB. These information collections are mandatory requirements.

Title: FERC-545,

73 Gas Pipeline Rates: Rates Change (Non-Formal);

FERC-549C, Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Action: Information collections.

OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0154, 1902-0174

Respondents: Business or other for profit (i.e., Natural Gas Pipelines, applicable 

to only a few small businesses). Although the intraday reporting requirements will affect 

 73 In the supporting statement for the NOPR, we submitted Gas and Pipeline 

Rates: Rate Changes (non-formal) under the temporary collection no. FERC-545A to 

ensure timely submission to OMB as another unrelated item was pending OMB review 

under FERC-545 (and only one item per collection can be pending at OMB).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 32 -

electric plant operators, the Commission is not imposing the reporting burden of adopting 

these standards on those entities.

Frequency of Responses: One-time implementation (business procedures, 

capital/start-up).

50. Internal Review: The Commission has reviewed the proposed business practice 

standards of natural gas pipelines and has determined that the revisions the Commission 

makes in this Final Rule to its regulations are necessary to establish more efficient 

coordination between the natural gas and electric industries. Requiring such information 

ensures both a common means of communication and common business practices to 

eliminate miscommunication for participants engaged in the sale of electric energy at 

wholesale and the transportation of natural gas. These requirements conform to the 

Commission's plan for efficient information collection, communication, and management 

within the natural gas pipeline industry. The Commission has assured itself, by means of 

its internal review, that there is specific, objective support for the burden estimates 

associated with the information requirements.

51. Interested persons may obtain information on the reporting requirements by 

contacting the following: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 

Washington, DC 20426 [Attention: Ellen Brown, Office of the Executive Director, 

e-mail: DataClearance@ferc.gov, phone: (202) 502-8663, fax: (202) 273-0873].

52. Comments concerning the collections of information and the associated burden 

estimates should be sent to the Commission and to the Office of Management and 

Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503 
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 33 -

[Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, telephone: 

(202) 395-0710, fax: (202) 395-4718]. For security reasons, comments to OMB should 

be submitted by e-mail to: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Comments submitted to 

OMB should include OMB Control Numbers 1902-0154 and 1902-0174.

VII. Environmental Analysis

53. The Commission concludes that neither an Environmental Assessment nor an 

Environmental Impact Statement is required for this Final Rule under section 380.4(a) of 

the Commission’s regulations, which provides a categorical exemption for actions that 

are clarifying, corrective, or procedural, or that do not substantively change the effect of 

legislation or regulations being amended, for information gathering, analysis, and 

dissemination, or for the sale, exchange, or transportation of natural gas under sections 4, 

5, and 7 of the Natural Gas Act that require no construction of facilities.74

VIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

54. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA)75 generally requires a description 

and analysis of final rules that will have significant economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities. The Small Business Administration (SBA) revised its size 

 74 See 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii), 380.4(a)(5), 380.4(a)(27).

75 5 U.S.C. 601-612.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 34 -

standard (effective January 22, 2014) for electric utilities from a standard based on 

megawatt hours to a standard based on the number of employees including affiliates.76

55. This Final Rule applies only to interstate natural gas pipelines, most of which are 

not small businesses. The Commission estimates that approximately 165 interstate 

pipeline entities are potential respondents subject to the data reporting requirements of 

FERC-545 and also are subject to data collection FERC 549-C reporting requirements. 

For the year 2012 (the most recent year for which information is available), only 

eleven companies not affiliated with larger companies had annual revenues of less than 

$25.5 million and are defined by the SBA as “small entities.” These companies 

constitute about seven percent of the total universe of potential respondents. The 

Commission estimates that the one-time implementation cost of the proposals in this 

Final Rule is $441,778 (or $2,677 per entity, regardless of entity size).77 The 

Commission does not consider the estimated $2,677 impact per entity to be significant. 

Moreover, these requirements are designed to benefit all customers, including small 

businesses that must comply with them. Further, as noted above, adoption of consensus 

standards helps ensure the reasonableness of the standards by requiring that the standards 

draw support from a broad spectrum of industry participants representing all segments of 

 76 SBA Final Rule on “Small Business Size Standards: Utilities,” 78 FR 77343 

(Dec. 23, 2013).

77 This number is derived by dividing the total cost figure by the number of 

respondents. $441,778/165 = $2,677.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 35 -

the industry. Because of that representation and the fact that industry conducts business 

under these standards, the Commission’s regulations should reflect those standards that 

have the widest possible support. Accordingly, pursuant to § 605(b) of the RFA,78 the 

Commission certifies that this Final Rule will not have a significant economic impact on 

a substantial number of small entities.

IX. Document Availability

56. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the 

Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the 

contents of this document via the Internet through FERC's Home Page 

(http://www.ferc.gov) and in FERC's Public Reference Room during normal business 

hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street, N.E., Room 2A, 

Washington DC 20426.

57. From FERC's Home Page on the Internet, this information is available on 

eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft 

Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in 

eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in the 

docket number field.

58. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC’s website during normal 

business hours from FERC Online Support at 202-502-6652 (toll free at 1-866-208-3676) 

 78 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 36 -

or email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or the Public Reference Room at (202) 502-

8371, TTY (202)502-8659. E-mail the Public Reference Room 

at public.referenceroom@ferc.gov.

X. Effective Date and Congressional Notification

59. These regulations are effective [insert date 30 days from date of publication in 

Federal Register]. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this 

rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of [insert date xx days after 

date of publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER]. The Commission has determined

(with the concurrence of the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs of OMB) that this rule is not a “major rule” as defined in section 351 of the Small 

Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This Final Rule is being 

submitted to the Senate, House, and Government Accountability Office.

List of subjects in 18 CFR Parts 157, 260, and 284

Incorporation by reference, Natural gas, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

By the Commission.

( S E A L )

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 37 -

In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission amends parts 157, 260, and 

284, chapter I, title 18, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows.

PART 157 – APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC 

CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY AND FOR ORDERS PERMITTING AND 

APPROVING ABANDONMENT UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE NATURAL GAS 

ACT

1. The authority citation for part 157 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717z.

2. Section 157.14 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:

§ 157.14 Exhibits.

(a) To be attached to each application. All exhibits specified must accompany 

each application when tendered for filing. Together with each exhibit applicant must 

provide a full and complete explanation of the data submitted, the manner in which it was 

obtained, and the reasons for the conclusions derived from the exhibits. If the 

Commission determines that a formal hearing upon the application is required or that 

testimony and hearing exhibits should be filed, the Secretary will promptly notify the 

applicant that submittal of all exhibits and testimony of all witnesses to be sponsored by 

the applicant in support of his case-in-chief is required. Submittal of these exhibits and 

testimony must be within 20 days from the date of the Secretary’s notice, or any other 

time as the Secretary will specify. Exhibits, except exhibits F, F– 1, G, G–I, and G–II, 

must be submitted to the Commission on electronic media as prescribed in § 385.2011 of 

this chapter. Receipt and delivery point information required in various exhibits must be 

labeled with a location point name and code in conformity with the location name and 
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 38 -

code the pipeline has adopted in conformance with § 284.13(f) of this chapter. 

Intervenors and persons becoming intervenors after the date of the Secretary's notice 

must be advised by the applicant of the afore-specified exhibits and testimony, and must 

be furnished with copies upon request. If this section requires an applicant to reveal 

Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII), as defined by § 388.113(c) of this 

chapter, to any person, the applicant shall follow the procedures set out in § 157.10(d).

* * * * *

3. Section 157.18 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:

§ 157.18 Applications to abandon facilities or service; exhibits.

(c) Exhibit V—Flow diagram showing daily design capacity and reflecting 

operation of applicant's system after abandonment. Receipt and delivery point 

information required in various exhibits must be labeled with a location point name and 

code in accordance with the location name and code the pipeline has adopted in 

conformance with § 284.13(f) of this chapter. A flow diagram showing daily design 

capacity and reflecting operating conditions of applicant's system after abandonment of 

facilities on that segment of the system affected by the abandonment, including the 

following:

* * * * *

PART 260 – STATEMENTS AND REPORTS (SCHEDULES)

4. The authority citation for part 260 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717z, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352.

5. Section 260.8 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 39 -

§ 260.8 System flow diagrams: Format No. FERC 567.

(a) Each Major natural gas pipeline company, having a system delivery capacity 

in excess of 100,000 Mcf per day (measured at 14.73 p.s.i.a. and 60o F), shall file with the 

Commission by June 1 of each year five (5) copies of a diagram or diagrams reflecting 

operating conditions on its main transmission system during the previous twelve months 

ended December 31. For purposes of system peak deliveries, the heating season 

overlapping the year's end shall be used. Facilities shall be those installed and in 

operation on December 31 of the reporting year. All volumes shall be reported on a 

uniform stated pressure and temperature base. Receipt and delivery point information 

required in various exhibits must be labeled with a location point name and code in 

accordance with the location name and code adopted by the pipeline in accordance with 

§ 284.13(f) of this chapter.

* * * * *

PART 284 -- CERTAIN SALES AND TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS 

UNDER THE NATURAL GAS POLICY ACT OF 1978 AND RELATED 

AUTHORITIES

6. The authority citation for part 284 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717-717z, 3301-3432; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352; 43 U.S.C. 1331-

1356.

7. Section 284.12 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1) to read as follows:

Section 284.12 Standards for pipeline business operations and communications.

 (a) * * *

 (1) An interstate pipeline that transports gas under subparts B or G of this part must 
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 40 -

comply with the business practices and electronic communications standards as 

promulgated by the North American Energy Standards Board, as incorporated herein by 

reference in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) thru (vii) of this section.

 (i) Additional Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014, with minor corrections 

applied through June 29, 2015);

 (ii) Nominations Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014, with minor 

corrections applied through June 29, 2015); 

 (iii) Flowing Gas Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014, with minor 

corrections applied through June 29, 2015);

 (iv) Invoicing Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014, with minor

corrections applied through June 29, 2015);

 (v) Quadrant Electronic Delivery Mechanism Related Standards (Version 3.0, 

November 14, 2014, with minor corrections applied through June 29, 2015);

 (vi) Capacity Release Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 2014, with 

minor corrections applied through June 29, 2015); and

 (vii) Internet Electronic Transport Related Standards (Version 3.0, November 14, 

2014, with minor corrections applied through June 29, 2015). 

* * * * *

8. Section 284.13 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(1)(vi), (b)(2)(iv) and

(c)(2)(vi) to read as follows:

§ 284.13 Reporting requirements for interstate pipelines.

(b) * * *
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 41 -

(1) * * *

 (vi) The receipt and delivery points and the zones or segments covered by the 

contract, including the location name and code adopted by the pipeline in conformance 

with paragraph (f) of this section for each point, zone or segment;

* * * * *

(b) * * *

(2) * * *

 (iv) The receipt and delivery points and the zones or segments covered by the 

contract, including the location name and code adopted by the pipeline in conformance 

with paragraph (f) of this section for each point, zone or segment;

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(2) * * *

 (vi) The receipt and delivery points and the zones or segments covered by the 

contract, including the location name and code adopted by the pipeline in conformance 

with paragraph (f) of this section for each point, zone or segment;

* * * * *

9. Section 284.13 is amended to add paragraph (f) to read as follows:

(f) Location Codes. An interstate pipeline must maintain a posting on its publicly 

available Internet web site of the pipeline’s location names and codes for all current and 

inactive receipt and delivery points on its system, including, for each point: direction of 

flow, the location of the point, the location zone if such exists, the Commission company 
Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003 - 42 -

identification code (CID), if any, of the upstream and/or downstream entity including the 

location type, the current status as active and inactive, and the date(s) the point becomes 

active or inactive. The pipeline must provide the information in downloadable file 

formats, in conformity with the requirements of 18 CFR 284.12 of this chapter. 

10. Section 284.126 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(1)(iv) to read as follows:

§ 284.126 Reporting requirements.

(b) * * *

(1) * * *

(iv) The primary receipt and delivery points covered by the contract, identified by the list 

of points that the pipeline has published with the Commission;

* * * * *