15 USC 717d

§ 717c–1

TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE

service for the sale of natural gas for resale for industrial use only.
ADVANCE RECOVERY OF EXPENSES INCURRED BY NATURAL GAS COMPANIES FOR NATURAL GAS RESEARCH,
DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Pub. L. 102–104, title III, Aug. 17, 1991, 105 Stat. 531,
authorized Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
pursuant to this section, to allow recovery, in advance,
of expenses by natural-gas companies for research, development and demonstration activities by Gas Research Institute for projects on use of natural gas in
motor vehicles and on use of natural gas to control
emissions from combustion of other fuels, subject to
Commission finding that benefits, including environmental benefits, to both existing and future ratepayers
resulting from such activities exceed all direct costs to
both existing and future ratepayers, prior to repeal by
Pub. L. 102–486, title IV, § 408(c), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat.
2882.

§ 717c–1. Prohibition on market manipulation
It shall be unlawful for any entity, directly or
indirectly, to use or employ, in connection with
the purchase or sale of natural gas or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject
to the jurisdiction of the Commission, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance (as
those terms are used in section 78j(b) of this
title) in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Commission may prescribe as necessary in the public interest or for the protection of natural gas ratepayers. Nothing in this
section shall be construed to create a private
right of action.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 4A, as added Pub. L.
109–58, title III, § 315, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 691.)
§ 717d. Fixing rates and charges; determination
of cost of production or transportation
(a) Decreases in rates
Whenever the Commission, after a hearing had
upon its own motion or upon complaint of any
State, municipality, State commission, or gas
distributing company, shall find that any rate,
charge, or classification demanded, observed,
charged, or collected by any natural-gas company in connection with any transportation or
sale of natural gas, subject to the jurisdiction of
the Commission, or that any rule, regulation,
practice, or contract affecting such rate, charge,
or classification is unjust, unreasonable, unduly
discriminatory, or preferential, the Commission
shall determine the just and reasonable rate,
charge, classification, rule, regulation, practice,
or contract to be thereafter observed and in
force, and shall fix the same by order: Provided,
however, That the Commission shall have no
power to order any increase in any rate contained in the currently effective schedule of
such natural gas company on file with the Commission, unless such increase is in accordance
with a new schedule filed by such natural gas
company; but the Commission may order a decrease where existing rates are unjust, unduly
discriminatory, preferential, otherwise unlawful, or are not the lowest reasonable rates.
(b) Costs of production and transportation
The Commission upon its own motion, or upon
the request of any State commission, whenever
it can do so without prejudice to the efficient

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and proper conduct of its affairs, may investigate and determine the cost of the production
or transportation of natural gas by a naturalgas company in cases where the Commission has
no authority to establish a rate governing the
transportation or sale of such natural gas.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 5, 52 Stat. 823.)
§ 717e. Ascertainment of cost of property
(a) Cost of property
The Commission may investigate and ascertain the actual legitimate cost of the property
of every natural-gas company, the depreciation
therein, and, when found necessary for ratemaking purposes, other facts which bear on the
determination of such cost or depreciation and
the fair value of such property.
(b) Inventory of property; statements of costs
Every natural-gas company upon request shall
file with the Commission an inventory of all or
any part of its property and a statement of the
original cost thereof, and shall keep the Commission informed regarding the cost of all additions, betterments, extensions, and new construction.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 6, 52 Stat. 824.)
§ 717f. Construction, extension, or abandonment
of facilities
(a) Extension or improvement of facilities on
order of court; notice and hearing
Whenever the Commission, after notice and
opportunity for hearing, finds such action necessary or desirable in the public interest, it may
by order direct a natural-gas company to extend
or improve its transportation facilities, to establish physical connection of its transportation
facilities with the facilities of, and sell natural
gas to, any person or municipality engaged or
legally authorized to engage in the local distribution of natural or artificial gas to the public, and for such purpose to extend its transportation facilities to communities immediately
adjacent to such facilities or to territory served
by such natural-gas company, if the Commission
finds that no undue burden will be placed upon
such natural-gas company thereby: Provided,
That the Commission shall have no authority to
compel the enlargement of transportation facilities for such purposes, or to compel such natural-gas company to establish physical connection or sell natural gas when to do so would impair its ability to render adequate service to its
customers.
(b) Abandonment of facilities or services; approval of Commission
No natural-gas company shall abandon all or
any portion of its facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any service rendered by means of such facilities, without the
permission and approval of the Commission first
had and obtained, after due hearing, and a finding by the Commission that the available supply
of natural gas is depleted to the extent that the
continuance of service is unwarranted, or that
the present or future public convenience or necessity permit such abandonment.