Public Engagement at FERC Act

To amend the Federal Power Act to establish an Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Engagement at FERC Act 2. Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy Section 319 of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 825q–1 319. Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Advisory Committee The term Advisory Committee (2) Energy customer The term energy customer (3) Natural gas company The term natural gas company natural-gas company 15 U.S.C. 717a 15 U.S.C. 3431(a)(1)(C) (4) Office The term Office (5) Public utility The term public utility (b) Establishment There is established within the Commission an office, to be known as the Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy (c) Director (1) In general The Office shall be headed by a Director, to be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate from among individuals who— (A) are licensed attorneys admitted to the bar of— (i) any State; or (ii) the District of Columbia; and (B) have experience relating to public utility proceedings. (2) Duties The Director shall coordinate assistance made available to— (A) the public, with respect to authorities exercised by the Commission; and (B) individuals and entities intervening or participating, or proposing to intervene or participate, in proceedings before the Commission. (3) Compensation and powers (A) Compensation The Director shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. (B) Powers The Director may— (i) employ at the Office— (I) not more than 125 full-time professional employees at appropriate levels of the General Schedule; and (II) such additional support personnel as the Director determines to be necessary; and (ii) procure for the Office such temporary and intermittent services as the Director determines to be necessary. (d) Powers of Office The Office may— (1) intervene, appear, and participate, in accordance with this section, in administrative, regulatory, or judicial proceedings on behalf of energy customers with respect to any matter concerning the rates, charges, prices, tariffs, or service of public utilities and natural gas companies, or natural gas siting and infrastructure development, under the jurisdiction of the Commission by representing the interests of the energy customers— (A) on any matter before the Commission concerning rates or service of such a public utility or natural gas company; or (B) as amicus curiae in— (i) a review in any United States court of a ruling by the Commission in such a matter; or (ii) a hearing or proceeding in any other Federal regulatory agency or commission relating to such a matter; (2) support public participation in the siting and permitting of natural gas storage and distribution infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the Commission; (3) monitor and review energy customer complaints and grievances on matters concerning rates or service of public utilities and natural gas companies under the jurisdiction of the Commission; (4) investigate independently, or within the context of a formal proceeding, the services provided by, the rates charged by, and the valuation of the properties of, public utilities and natural gas companies under the jurisdiction of the Commission; (5) employ means, such as public dissemination of information, consultative services, and technical assistance, to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the interests of energy customers are adequately represented in the course of any hearing or proceeding described in paragraph (1); (6) collect data concerning rates or service of public utilities and natural gas companies under the jurisdiction of the Commission; (7) prepare and issue reports and recommendations; and (8) take such other actions as the Director of the Office determines to be necessary to ensure just and reasonable rates for energy customers. (e) Information from Federal departments and agencies (1) In general The Director of the Office may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the Director considers to be necessary to carry out this section. (2) Provision of information On request of the Director under paragraph (1), the head of a Federal department or agency shall provide the information to the Office, to the extent practicable and authorized by law. (f) Public and Consumer Advocacy Advisory Committee (1) Establishment The Director of the Office shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the Public and Consumer Advocacy Advisory Committee (A) to review rates, services, and disputes; and (B) to make recommendations to the Director. (2) Composition The Advisory Committee shall— (A) be composed of such members as the Director determines to be appropriate; but (B) include not fewer than— (i) 2 individuals representing State utility consumer advocates; and (ii) 1 individual representing a nongovernmental organization that represents consumers. (3) Meetings The Advisory Committee shall meet at such frequency as is required to carry out the duties of the Advisory Committee. (4) Reports The Director shall publish the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the public Internet website established for the Office. (5) Duration Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Advisory Committee shall continue in operation during the period for which the Office exists. (6) Application of FACA Except as otherwise specifically provided, the Advisory Committee shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). (g) Reports and guidance As the Director of the Office determines to be appropriate, the Office shall issue to the Commission and entities subject to regulation by the Commission reports and guidance— (1) regarding market practices; (2) proposing improvements in Commission monitoring of market practices; and (3) addressing potential improvements to industry and Commission practices. (h) Outreach The Office shall promote, through outreach, publications, and, as appropriate, direct communication with entities regulated by the Commission— (1) improved compliance with Commission rules and orders; and (2) public participation in the siting and permitting of natural gas storage and distribution infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the Commission. (i) Compensation to eligible recipients for intervention or participation (1) Definition of eligible recipient In this subsection, the term eligible recipient (A) that intervenes or participates in any proceeding before the Commission; (B) the intervention or participation of which substantially contributed to the approval, in whole or in part, of a position advocated by the individual or entity in the proceeding; and (C) that is— (i) an individual; (ii) an energy customer; or (iii) a representative of the interests of energy customers. (2) Compensation Subject to paragraph (3), the Commission, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Commission, may provide to any eligible recipient compensation for reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other costs of intervening or participating in the applicable proceeding before the Commission. (3) Requirement The Commission may only provide compensation under paragraph (2) if the Commission determines that— (A) the applicable proceeding is significant; (B) the compensation is approved by the Advisory Committee; and (C) the intervention or participation by the eligible recipient in the proceeding without receipt of compensation constitutes a significant financial hardship to the eligible recipient. (j) Savings clause Nothing in this section restricts or otherwise affects any right or obligation of an intervenor, participant, State utility consumer advocate, energy customer, or group of energy customers under any other applicable provision of law (including regulations), nor does this section restrict in any way the work of Commission trial staff in their strong representation of the public interest and their aggressive pursuit of appropriate resolutions in contested matters before the Commission. (k) Funding Of the amounts received by the Commission for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter as a result of any fee imposed by the Commission, the Commission shall use such sums as are necessary to establish and provide for the operation of the Office under this section. .

Summary: Public Engagement at FERC Act This bill amends the Federal Power Act to revise and expand the Office of Public Participation in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)and rename it as the Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy. The office may participate in FERC proceedings on rates, service, and infrastructure siting to represent the interests of the public and issue guidance for potential improvements to industry and FERC practices. Additionally, the office must establish a Public and Consumer Advocacy Advisory Committee to review rates, services, and disputes and make recommendations to the office.