Complaints
You may file a complaint against a regulated energy organization
or individual associated with a specific project or energy market.
Complaints are filed by persons seeking action against persons
or organizations alleged to be in contravention or in violation
of any statute, rule, order or other law administered by the
Commission or for any other alleged wrong over which the Commission
may have jurisdiction.
Two easy ways to make a complaint are to use the Enforcement
Hotline or the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS).
- The hotline is available for help in matters within the Commission’s jurisdiction including
helping landowners obtain restoration of property damaged by natural gas pipeline
construction.
- The DRS can assist parties in addressing a conflict through alternative dispute
resolution before or after a matter has been filed with the Commission.
You can also file formal complaints with the Commission on any aspect of its regulation
of the energy industry and markets, including natural gas and hydropower.
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) amended the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. §§ 601 et seq, to require that federal agencies establish policies and programs to make their regulations more understandable to small businesses. SBREFA also contains congressional review provisions that require agencies to submit information concerning most new rules to Congress and the Comptroller General. When an agency issues a rule that requires analysis under the RFA, the agency must publish a guide explaining how small businesses are to comply with the rule. Finally, SBREFA amended the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) to allow certain small businesses to recover post-complaint attorney fees in instances in which the agency's final demand is substantially in excess of the decisions of the adjudicative officer and is unreasonable when compared with that decision, given the facts of the case (this provision is limited to adversary adjudications, judicial review of agency enforcement actions, civil penalty actions, and adversary administrative adjudications initiated on or after March 29, 1996).
The Commission works with the small business community via the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Ombudsman  and Regional Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman assists small businesses that believe they have experienced excessive or unfair federal regulatory enforcement actions by a federal agency, such as excessive fines or penalties, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action. Information is available at the Ombudsman's web site or by calling 888-734-3247.
The Ombudsman has asked all federal agencies to make clear that if a small business entity requests Ombudsman assistance on a federal agency matter, or complains about a federal agency action, that agency will not retaliate in response. The Commission regards the fair treatment of small businesses, without retaliation, as an obligation of its employees under the standards of conduct applicable to all federal employees by virtue of 5 C.F.R. § 635.101(b).
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Contact
Information:
Public Inquiries
Local: 202-502-6088
TTY: 202-502-8659
Toll-free: 1-866-208-3372
Email: customer@ferc.gov
Enforcement Hotline
Telephone: 202-502-8390
Toll-free: 1-888-889-8030
Fax: 202-208-0057
Email: hotline@ferc.gov
Dispute Resolution Service
Toll Free Helpline
Toll-free: 1-877-337-2237
FAX: 202-219-2730
Email: ferc.adr@ferc.gov |
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