News News Releases Archives October–December 2007

FERC to make filing easier with expansion of Electronic Filing System

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today announced the expansion of its electronic filing system to include all documents, except those specifically named by the FERC Secretary. Today's final rule also allows the use of online forms for simplified comments and interventions in proceedings.

"The expansion of our electronic filing system will allow for more efficient and easier filing of materials in Commission proceedings," FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher said. "FERC has been working toward this for some time and I am pleased today that we have made such progress."

With the adoption of the final rule, oversized documents and most confidential documents will now be accepted through eFiling. The primary exceptions, at this time, for eFiling include: tariffs, tariff revisions and rate change applications; some forms; and documents that are subject to protective orders.

The addition of online forms will allow "documentless" interventions in all proceedings and "quick comments" in hydropower projects (P), pre-filing activities for proposed gas pipelines (PF), and natural gas pipeline certificate (CP) proceedings.

The final rule does not adopt the proposal outlined in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to move the filing deadline from 5 p.m. to midnight.

On July 23, 2007, FERC issued a NOPR on revisions to its regulations for electronic filing. A technical conference was held on August 22, 2007, to discuss technical issues associated with using the Commission's eFiling interface. The effective date of the final order, Filing Via the Internet, will be 30 days from the date of its publication in the Federal Register. The upgrade to the system is expected to go online in mid-January, 2008. The exact implementation date and the posting of eFiling instructions will be announced separately.

R-07-70


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