Commissioner LaFleur's Statement on NOPR in RM15-23

September 17, 2015
Commissioner Cheryl A. LaFleur

Docket No. RM15-23-000
Item No. E-2

Statement of Commissioner Cheryl A. LaFleur on
FERC Collection of Organized Market Participant Data
“Today’s order proposes to amend the Commission’s regulations by establishing a newly defined term, “Connected
Entity,” and to require the collection of information regarding Connected Entities, to allow the Commission to better
monitor complex business relationships that could be utilized to engage in manipulative conduct in our jurisdictional
markets. I support this proposal because it is important that the Commission, in accordance with our statutory
mandate, have the tools to protect customers from manipulative behavior, and the collection of this information would
assist the Commission with that effort.
“However, the Commission should always consider carefully whether the benefits offered by new compliance
obligations outweigh the burdens that will be faced by market participants. I believe that the requirements in the
Noticed of Proposed Rulemaking would create a significant new reporting regime for all market participants, as well as
the RTOs and ISOs. I therefore encourage market participants to submit comments on today’s proposed rulemaking
that address the benefits of this proposed regulation, as well as the incremental costs or burdens that would be
created by this new reporting requirement. I will carefully consider these issues as I decide whether to support the
final rule.
“Accordingly, I respectfully concur.”