Docket No. IN12-17-000
Item: G-1
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today voted to establish a hearing before a FERC Administrative Law Judge to determine whether Total Gas & Power North America, Inc., Total, S.A., Total Gas & Power, Ltd., Aaron Hall and Therese Tran violated section 4A of the Natural Gas Act and the Anti-Manipulation Rule outlined in the Commission’s regulations.
The Commission issued a show cause order on April 28, 2016, directing Total Gas & Power North America, Hall and Tran to explain why FERC should not find that they manipulated the price of natural gas at four locations in the Southwestern U.S. between June 2009 and June 2012. The order further directed Total Gas & Power North America’s ultimate parent, Total, and Total Gas & Power Ltd. to explain why they should not be held liable for the conduct of Total Gas & Power North America, Hall and Tran.
The show cause order also directed Total Gas & Power North America to explain why it should not pay civil penalties of $213.6 million and disgorge $9.2 million in unjust profits, plus interest, resulting from market manipulation. The show cause order directed Hall to explain why he should not pay civil penalties of $1 million, and Tran to explain why she should not pay civil penalties of $2 million.
Today’s order sets for hearing the issue of whether all parties violated section 4A of the Natural Gas Act and the Anti-Manipulation Rule, including whether the facts support finding Hall and Tran individually liable for market manipulation and whether Total and Total Gas & Power Ltd. may be held liable for the conduct of Total Gas & Power North America, Hall and Tran. The order reserves for Commission decision whether to impose the proposed penalties.
A prehearing conference is to convene within 45 days of today’s order.
R21-45