18 C.F.R. § 284.8 Release of firm capacity on interstate pipelines.
Title 18 - Conservation of Power and Water Resources
(a) An interstate pipeline that offers transportation service on a firm basis under subpart B or G of this part must include in its tariff a mechanism for firm shippers to release firm capacity to the pipeline for resale by the pipeline on a firm basis under this section. (b) Firm shippers must be permitted to release their capacity, in whole or in part, on a permanent or short-term basis, without restriction on the terms or conditions of the release. A firm shipper may arrange for a replacement shipper to obtain its released capacity from the pipeline. A replacement shipper is any shipper that obtains released capacity. (c) Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this section, a firm shipper that wants to release any or all of its firm capacity must notify the pipeline of the terms and conditions under which the shipper will release its capacity. The firm shipper must also notify the pipeline of any replacement shipper designated to obtain the released capacity under the terms and conditions specified by the firm shipper. (d) The pipeline must provide notice of offers to release or to purchase capacity, the terms and conditions of such offers, and the name of any replacement shipper designated in paragraph (b) of this section, on an Internet web site, for a reasonable period. (e) The pipeline must allocate released capacity to the person offering the highest rate (not over the maximum rate) and offering to meet any other terms and conditions of the release. If more than one person offers the highest rate and meets the terms and conditions of the release, the released capacity may be allocated on a basis provided in the pipeline's tariff, provided however, if the replacement shipper designated in paragraph (b) of this section offers the highest rate, the capacity must be allocated to the designated replacement shipper. (f) Unless otherwise agreed by the pipeline, the contract of the shipper releasing capacity will remain in full force and effect, with the net proceeds from any resale to a replacement shipper credited to the releasing shipper's reservation charge. (g) To the extent necessary, a firm shipper on an interstate pipeline that offers transportation service on a firm basis under subpart B or G of this part is granted a limited-jurisdiction blanket certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to section 7 of the Natural Gas Act solely for the purpose of releasing firm capacity pursuant to this section. (h)(1) A release of capacity by a firm shipper to a replacement shipper for any period of 31 days or less, or for any term at the maximum tariff rate applicable to the release, need not comply with the notification and bidding requirements of paragraphs (c) through (e) of this section. A release under this paragraph may not exceed the maximum rate. Notice of a firm release under this paragraph must be provided on the pipeline's electronic bulletin board as soon as possible, but not later than forty-eight hours, after the release transaction commences. (2) When a release under paragraph (h)(1) of this section is at less than the maximum tariff rate, a firm shipper may not roll-over, extend, or in any way continue the release at less than the maximum tariff rate without complying with the requirements of paragraphs (c) through (e) of this section, and may not re-release to the same replacement shipper under this paragraph at less than the maximum tariff rate until twenty-eight days after the first release period has ended. (i) Waiver of maximum rate ceiling. Until September 30, 2002, the maximum rate ceiling does not apply to capacity release transactions of less than one year. The provision of paragraph (h)(1) of this section providing an exemption from the posting and bidding requirements for transactions at the applicable maximum tariff rate for pipeline services will not apply as long as the waiver of the rate ceiling is in effect. With respect to releases of 31 days or less under paragraph (h) of this section, the requirements of paragraph (h)(2) of this section will apply to all such releases regardless of the rate charged. [Order 636, 57 FR 13318, Apr. 16, 1992, as amended by Order 636–A, 57 FR 36217, Aug. 12, 1992; Order 577, 60 FR 16983, Apr. 4, 1995; Order 577-A, 60 FR 30187, June 8, 1995. Redesignated and amended by Order 637, 65 FR 10220, Feb. 25, 2000; Order 637–A, 65 FR 35765, June 5, 2000]
Title 18: Conservation of Power and Water Resources
PART 284—CERTAIN SALES AND TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS UNDER THE NATURAL GAS POLICY ACT OF 1978 AND RELATED AUTHORITIES
Subpart A—General Provisions and Conditions
§ 284.8 Release of firm capacity on interstate pipelines.
