§ 717g. — Accounts; records; memoranda.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC717g]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 15B--NATURAL GAS
Sec. 717g. Accounts; records; memoranda
(a) Rules and regulations for keeping and preserving accounts, records,
etc.
Every natural-gas company shall make, keep, and preserve for such
periods, such accounts, records of cost-accounting procedures,
correspondence, memoranda, papers, books, and other records as the
Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe as necessary or
appropriate for purposes of the administration of this chapter:
Provided, however, That nothing in this chapter shall relieve any such
natural-gas company from keeping any accounts, memoranda, or records
which such natural-gas company may be required to keep by or under
authority of the laws of any State. The Commission may prescribe a
system of accounts to be kept by such natural-gas companies, and may
classify such natural-gas companies and prescribe a system of accounts
for each class. The Commission, after notice and opportunity for
hearing, may determine by order the accounts in which particular outlays
or receipts shall be entered, charged, or credited. The burden of proof
to justify every accounting entry questioned by the Commission shall be
on the person making, authorizing, or requiring such entry, and the
Commission may suspend a charge or credit pending submission of
satisfactory proof in support thereof.
(b) Access to and inspection of accounts and records
The Commission shall at all times have access to and the right to
inspect and examine all accounts, records, and memoranda of natural-gas
companies; and it shall be the duty of such natural-gas companies to
furnish to the Commission, within such reasonable time as the Commission
may order, any information with respect thereto which the Commission may
by order require, including copies of maps, contracts, reports of
engineers, and other data, records, and papers, and to grant to all
agents of the Commission free access to its property and its accounts,
records, and memoranda when requested so to do. No member, officer, or
employee of the Commission shall divulge any fact or information which
may come to his knowledge during the course of examination of books,
records, data, or accounts, except insofar as he may be directed by the
Commission or by a court.
(c) Books, accounts, etc., of the person controlling gas company subject
to examination
The books, accounts, memoranda, and records of any person who
controls directly or indirectly a natural-gas company subject to the
jurisdiction of the Commission and of any other company controlled by
such person, insofar as they relate to transactions with or the business
of such natural-gas company, shall be subject to examination on the
order of the Commission.
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, Sec. 8, 52 Stat. 825.)
Transfer of Functions
Federal Power Commission terminated and functions, personnel,
property, funds, etc., transferred to Secretary of Energy (except for
certain functions transferred to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
by sections 7151(b), 7171(a), 7172(a), 7291, and 7293 of Title 42, The
Public Health and Welfare.
For transfer of functions of Federal Power Commission, with certain
reservations, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 9 of
1950, Secs. 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set
out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 42 section 7172.
