(a) Every public utility shall file with the Commission and post, in conformity with the requirements of this part, full and complete rate schedules and tariffs and those service agreements not meeting the requirements of § 35.1(g), clearly and specifically setting forth all rates and charges for any transmission or sale of electric energy subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission, the classifications, practices, rules and regulations affecting such rates, charges, classifications, services, rules, regulations or practices, as required by section 205(c) of the Federal Power Act (49 Stat. 851; 16 U.S.C. 824d(c)). Where two or more public utilities are parties to the same rate schedule or tariff, each public utility transmitting or selling electric energy subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission shall post and file such rate schedule, or the rate schedule may be filed by one such public utility and all other parties having an obligation to file may post and file a certificate of concurrence on the form indicated in § 131.52 of this chapter: Provided, however, In cases where two or more public utilities are required to file rate schedules or certificates of concurrence such public utilities may authorize a designated representative to file upon behalf of all parties if upon written request such parties have been granted Commission authorization therefor.

(b) A rate schedule, tariff, or service agreement applicable to a transmission or sale of electric energy, other than that which proposes to supersede, cancel or otherwise change the provisions of a rate schedule, tariff, or service agreement required to be on file with this Commission, shall be filed as an initial rate in accordance with § 35.12.

(c) A rate schedule, tariff, or service agreement applicable to a transmission or sale of electric energy which proposes to supersede, cancel or otherwise change any of the provisions of a rate schedule, tariff, or service agreement required to be on file with this Commission (such as providing for other or additional rates, charges, classifications or services, or rules, regulations, practices or contracts for a particular customer or customers) shall be filed as a change in rate in accordance with § 35.13, except cancellation or termination which shall be filed as a change in accordance with § 35.15.

(d)(1) The provisions of this paragraph (d) shall apply to rate schedules, tariffs or service agreements tendered for filing on or after August 1, 1976, which are applicable to the transmission or sale of firm power for resale to an all-requirements customer, whether tendered pursuant to § 35.12 as an initial rate schedule or tendered pursuant to § 35.13 as a change in an existing rate schedule whose term has expired or whose term is to be extended.

(2) Rate schedules, tariffs or service agreements covered by the terms of paragraph (d)(1) of this section shall contain the following provision when it is the intent of the contracting parties to give the party furnishing service the unrestricted right to file unilateral rate changes under section 205 of the Federal Power Act:

Nothing contained herein shall be construed as affecting in any way the right of the party furnishing service under this rate schedule to unilaterally make application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a change in rates under section 205 of the Federal Power Act and pursuant to the Commission's Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(3) Rate schedules, tariffs or service agreements covered by the terms of paragraph (d)(1) of this section shall contain the following provision when it is the intent of the contracting parties to withhold from the party furnishing service the right to file any unilateral rate changes under section 205 of the Federal Power Act:

The rates for service specified herein shall remain in effect for the term of __________ or until __________, and shall not be subject to change through application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pursuant to the provisions of Section 205 of the Federal Power Act absent the agreement of all parties thereto.

(4) Rate schedules covered by the terms of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, but which are not covered by paragraphs (d)(2) or (d)(3) of this section, are not required to contain either of the boilerplate provisions set forth in paragraph (d)(2) or (d)(3) of this section.

(e) No public utility shall, directly or indirectly, demand, charge, collect or receive any rate, charge or compensation for or in connection with electric service subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or impose any classification, practice, rule, regulation or contract with respect thereto, which is different from that provided in a rate schedule required to be on file with this Commission unless otherwise specifically provided by order of the Commission for good cause shown.

(f) A rate schedule applicable to the sale of electric power by a public utility to the Bonneville Power Administration under section 5(c) of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (Pub. L. No. 96-501 (1980)) shall be filed in accordance with subpart D of this part.

(g) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, any service agreement that conforms to the form of service agreement that is part of the public utility's approved tariff pursuant to § 35.10a of this chapter and any market-based rate service agreement pursuant to a tariff shall not be filed with the Commission. All agreements must, however, be retained and be made available for public inspection and copying at the public utility's business office during regular business hours and provided to the Commission or members of the public upon request. Any individually executed service agreement for transmission, cost-based power sales, or other generally applicable services that deviates in any material respect from the applicable form of service agreement contained in the public utility's tariff and all unexecuted agreements under which service will commence at the request of the customer, are subject to the filing requirements of this part.

[Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended by Order 541, 40 FR 56425, Dec. 3, 1975; Order 541-A, 41 FR 27831, July 7, 1976; 46 FR 50520, Oct. 14, 1981; Order 337, 48 FR 46976, Oct. 17, 1983; Order 541, 57 FR 21734, May 22, 1992; Order 2001, 67 FR 31069, May 8, 2002; Order 714, 73 FR 57530, 57533, Oct. 3, 2008; 74 FR 55770, Oct. 29, 2009]

(a) Electric service. The term electric service as used herein shall mean the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce or the sale of electric energy at wholesale for resale in interstate commerce, and may be comprised of various classes of capacity and energy sales and/or transmission services. Electric service shall include the utilization of facilities owned or operated by any public utility to effect any of the foregoing sales or services whether by leasing or other arrangements. As defined herein, electric service is without regard to the form of payment or compensation for the sales or services rendered whether by purchase and sale, interchange, exchange, wheeling charge, facilities charge, rental or otherwise.

(b) Rate schedule. The term rate schedule as used herein shall mean a statement of (1) electric service as defined in paragraph (a) of this section, (2) rates and charges for or in connection with that service, and (3) all classifications, practices, rules, or regulations which in any manner affect or relate to the aforementioned service, rates, and charges. This statement shall be in writing and may take the physical form of a contract, purchase or sale or other agreement, lease of facilities, or other writing. Any oral agreement or understanding forming a part of such statement shall be reduced to writing and made a part thereof. A rate schedule is designated with a Rate Schedule number.

(c)(1) Tariff. The term tariff as used herein shall mean a statement of (1) electric service as defined in paragraph (a) of this section offered on a generally applicable basis, (2) rates and charges for or in connection with that service, and (3) all classifications, practices, rules, or regulations which in any manner affect or relate to the aforementioned service, rates, and charges. This statement shall be in writing. Any oral agreement or understanding forming a part of such statement shall be reduced to writing and made a part thereof. A tariff is designated with a Tariff Volume number.

(2) Service agreement. The term service agreement as used herein shall mean an agreement that authorizes a customer to take electric service under the terms of a tariff. A service agreement shall be in writing. Any oral agreement or understanding forming a part of such statement shall be reduced to writing and made a part thereof. A service agreement is designated with a Service Agreement number.

(d) Filing date. The term filing date as used herein shall mean the date on which a rate schedule, tariff or service agreement filing is completed by the receipt in the office of the Secretary of all supporting cost and other data required to be filed in compliance with the requirements of this part, unless such rate schedule is rejected as provided in § 35.5. If the material submitted is found to be incomplete, the Director of the Office of Energy Market Regulation will so notify the filing utility within 60 days of the receipt of the submittal.

(e) Posting (1) The term posting as used in this part shall mean:

(i) Keeping a copy of every rate schedule, service agreement, or tariff of a public utility as currently on file, or as tendered for filing, with the Commission open and available during regular business hours for public inspection in a convenient form and place at the public utility's principal and district or division offices in the territory served, and/or accessible in electronic format, and

(ii) Serving each purchaser under a rate schedule, service agreement, or tariff either electronically or by mail in accordance with the service regulations in Part 385 of this chapter with a copy of the rate schedule, service agreement, or tariff. Posting shall include, in the event of the filing of increased rates or charges, serving either electronically or by mail in accordance with the service regulations in Part 385 of this chapter each purchaser under a rate schedule, service agreement or tariff proposed to be changed and to each State Commission within whose jurisdiction such purchaser or purchasers distribute and sell electric energy at retail, a copy of the rate schedule, service agreement or tariff showing such increased rates or charges, comparative billing data as required under this part, and, if requested by a purchaser or State Commission, a copy of the supporting data required to be submitted to this Commission under this part. Upon direction of the Secretary, the public utility shall serve copies of rate schedules, service agreements, or tariffs, and supplementary data, upon designated parties other than those specified herein.

(2) Unless it seeks a waiver of electronic service, each customer, State Commission, or other party entitled to service under this paragraph (e) must notify the public utility of the e-mail address to which service should be directed. A customer, State Commission, or other party may seek a waiver of electronic service by filing a waiver request under Part 390 of this chapter providing good cause for its inability to accept electronic service.

(f) Effective date. As used herein the effective date of a rate schedule, tariff or service agreement shall mean the date on which a rate schedule filed and posted pursuant to the requirements of this part is permitted by the Commission to become effective as a filed rate schedule. The effective date shall be 60 days after the filing date, or such other date as may be specified by the Commission.

(g) Frequency regulation. The term frequency regulation as used in this part will mean the capability to inject or withdraw real power by resources capable of responding appropriately to a system operator's automatic generation control signal in order to correct for actual or expected Area Control Error needs.

(16 U.S.C. 284(d), 792 et seq.; Pub. L. 95-617; Pub. L. 95-91; E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267) [Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended at 28 FR 11404, Oct. 24, 1963; 43 FR 36437, Aug. 17, 1978; 44 FR 16372, Mar. 19, 1979; 44 FR 20077, Apr. 4, 1979; Order 39, 44 FR 46454, Aug. 8, 1979; Order 699, 72 FR 45325, Aug. 14, 2007; Order 701, 72 FR 61054, Oct. 29, 2007; Order 714, 73 FR 57530, Oct. 3, 2008; Order 755, 76 FR 67285, Oct. 31, 2011]

(a)(1) Rate schedules or tariffs. All rate schedules or tariffs or any part thereof shall be tendered for filing with the Commission and posted not less than sixty days nor more than one hundred-twenty days prior to the date on which the electric service is to commence and become effective under an initial rate schedule or tariff or the date on which the filing party proposes to make any change in electric service and/or rate, charge, classification, practice, rule, regulation, or contract effective as a change in rate schedule or tariff, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, or unless a different period of time is permitted by the Commission. Nothing herein shall be construed as in any way precluding a public utility from entering into agreements which, under this section, may not be filed at the time of execution thereof by reason of the aforementioned sixty to one hundred-twenty day prior filing requirements. The proposed effective date of any rate schedule or tariff filing having a filing date in accordance with § 35.2(d) may be deferred by the public utility making a filing requesting deferral prior to the rate schedule or tariff's acceptance by the Commission.

(2) Service agreements. Service agreements that are required to be filed and posted authorizing a customer to take electric service under the terms of a tariff, or any part thereof, shall be tendered for filing with the Commission and posted not more than 30 days after electric service has commenced or such other date as may be specified by the Commission.

(b) Construction of facilities. Rate schedules, tariffs or service agreements predicated on the construction of facilities may be tendered for filing and posted no more than one hundred-twenty days prior to the date set by the parties for the contract to go into effect. The Commission, upon request, may permit a rate schedule or service agreement or part thereof to be tendered for filing and posted more than one hundred-twenty days before it is to become effective.

(16 U.S.C. 284(d); Pub. L. 95-617; Pub. L. 95-91; E.O. 12009, 42 FR 46267) [44 FR 16372, Mar. 19, 1979; 44 FR 20077, Apr. 4, 1979, as amended by Order 714, 73 FR 57531, Oct. 3, 2008]

The fact that the Commission permits a rate schedule or tariff, tariff or service agreement or any part thereof or any notice of cancellation to become effective shall not constitute approval by the Commission of such rate schedule or tariff, tariff or service agreement or part thereof or notice of cancellation.

[Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended by Order 714, 73 FR 57531, 57533, Oct. 3, 2008]

(a) The Secretary, pursuant to the Commission's rules of practice and procedure and delegation of Commission authority, shall reject any material submitted for filing with the Commission which patently fails to substantially comply with the applicable requirements set forth in this part, or the Commission's rules of practice and procedure.

(b) A rate filing that fails to comply with this Part may be rejected by the Director of the Office of Energy Market Regulation pursuant to the authority delegated to the Director in § 375.307(a)(1)(ii) of this chapter.

[Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended by Order 614, 65 FR 18227, Apr. 7, 2000; Order 699, 72 FR 45325, Aug. 14, 2007; Order 701, 72 FR 61054, Oct. 29, 2007]

Any public utility may submit a rate schedule, tariff or service agreement or any part thereof or any material relating thereto for the purpose of receiving staff suggestions and comments thereon prior to filing with the Commission.

[Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended by Order 714, 73 FR 57531, Oct. 3, 2008]

(a) General rule. All filings made in proceedings initiated under this part must be made electronically, including tariffs, rate schedules and service agreements, or parts thereof, and material that relates to or bears upon such documents, such as cancellations, amendments, withdrawals, termination, or adoption of tariffs.

(b) Requirement for signature. All filings must be signed in compliance with the following:

(1) The signature on a filing constitutes a certification that: the contents are true and correct to the best knowledge and belief of the signer; and that the signer possesses full power and authority to sign the filing.

(2) A filing must be signed by one of the following:

(i) The person on behalf of whom the filing is made;

(ii) An officer, agent, or employee of the company, governmental authority, agency, or instrumentality on behalf of which the filing is made; or,

(iii) A representative qualified to practice before the Commission under § 385.2101 of this chapter who possesses authority to sign.

(3) All signatures on the filing or any document included in the filing must comply, where applicable, with the requirements in Part 385 of this chapter with respect to sworn declarations or statements and electronic signatures.

(c) Format requirements for electronic filing. The requirements and formats for electronic filing are listed in instructions for electronic filing and for each form. These formats are available through the Commission's website, https://www.ferc.gov.

(d) Only filings filed and designated as filings with statutory action dates in accordance with these electronic filing requirements and formats will be considered to have statutory action dates. Filings not properly filed and designated as having statutory action dates will not become effective, pursuant to the Federal Power Act, should the Commission not act by the requested action date.

[Order 714, 73 FR 57531, Oct. 3, 2008, as amended by Order 714-A, 79 FR 29076, May 21, 2014; Order 899, 88 FR 74030, Oct. 30, 2023]

Unless the notice issued by the Commission provides otherwise, any protest or intervention to a rate filing made pursuant to this part must be filed in accordance with §§ 385.211 and 385.214 of this chapter, on or before 21 days after the subject rate filing. A protest must state the basis for the objection. A protest will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make the protestant a party to the proceeding. A person wishing to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene.

[Order 612, 64 FR 72537, Dec. 28, 1999; 65 FR 18229, Apr. 7, 2000, as amended by Order 647, 69 FR 32438, June 10, 2004; Order 714, 73 FR 57531, Oct. 3, 2008]

(a) Rate schedules, tariffs, and service agreements may be filed either by dividing the rate schedule, tariff, or service agreements into individual sheets or sections, or as an entire document except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Open Access Transmission Tariffs (OATT) filed by utilities that are not Independent System Operators or Regional Transmission Organizations must be filed either as individual sheets or sections. If filed as sections, the sections must be no larger than the 1.0 level, although each schedule or attachment may be a single section. Individual service agreements that are entered into pursuant to the OATT may be filed as entire documents.

(c) OATT and other open access documents filed by Independent System Operators or Regional Transmission Organizations must be filed either as individual sheets or sections. If filed as sections, the sections must be no larger than the 1.1 level, including schedules or attachments. Individual service agreements that are part entered into pursuant to the OATT may be filed as entire documents.

[Order 714, 73 FR 57531, Oct. 3, 2008]

(a) Every rate schedule, tariff or service agreement offered for filing with the Commission under this part, shall show on a title page, which shall be otherwise blank, (1) the name of the filing public utility, (2) the names of other utilities rendering or receiving service under the rate schedule, tariff or service agreement ; and (3) a brief description of the service to be provided under the rate schedule, tariff or service agreement .

(b) At the time a public utility files with the Commission and posts under this part to supersede or change the provisions of a rate schedule, tariff, or service agreement previously filed with the Commission under this part, in addition to the other requirements of this part, it must list in the transmittal letter the sheets or sections revised, and file a marked version of the rate schedule, tariff or service agreement sheets or sections showing additions and deletions. New language must be marked by either highlighting, background shading, bold text, or underlined text. Deleted language must be marked by strike-through.

(c) In any filing to supersede or change the provisions of a rate schedule, tariff, or service agreement previously filed with the Commission under this part, only those revisions appropriately designated and marked under paragraph (b) of this section constitute the filing. Revisions to unmarked portions of the rate schedule, tariff or service agreement are not considered part of the filing nor will any acceptance of the filing by the Commission constitute acceptance of such unmarked changes.

[Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended by Order 568, 59 FR 40240, Aug. 8, 1994; Order 714, 73 FR 57532, Oct. 3, 2008]

(a) To the extent a public utility adopts a standard form of service agreement for a service other than market-based power sales, the public utility shall include as part of its applicable tariff(s) an unexecuted standard service agreement approved by the Commission for each category of generally applicable service offered by the public utility under its tariff(s). The standard format for each generally applicable service must reference the service to be rendered and where it is located in its tariff(s). The standard format must provide spaces for insertion of the name of the customer, effective date, expiration date, and term. Spaces may be provided for the insertion of receipt and delivery points, contract quantity, and other specifics of each transaction, as appropriate.

(b) Forms of service agreement submitted under this section shall be filed electronically as prescribed in § 35.7 for the filing of rate schedules.

[Order 2001, 67 FR 31069, May 8, 2002, as amended by Order 714, 73 FR 57532, Oct. 3, 2008]

Each public utility as well as each non-public utility with more than a de minimis market presence shall file an updated Electric Quarterly Report with the Commission covering all services it provides pursuant to this part, for each of the four calendar quarters of each year, in accordance with the following schedule: for the period from January 1 through March 31, file by April 30; for the period from April 1 through June 30, file by July 31; for the period July 1 through September 30, file by October 31; and for the period October 1 through December 31, file by January 31. Electric Quarterly Reports must be prepared in conformance with the Commission's guidance posted on the FERC Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).

(a) For purposes of this section, the term “non-public utility” means any market participant that is exempted from the Commission's jurisdiction under 16 U.S.C. 824(f).

The term does not include an entity that engages in purchases or sales of wholesale electric energy or transmission services within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas or any entity that engages solely in sales of wholesale electric energy or transmission services in the states of Alaska or Hawaii.

(b) For purposes of this section, the term “de minimis market presence” means any non-public utility that makes 4,000,000 megawatt hours or less of annual wholesale sales, based on the average annual sales for resale over the preceding three years as published by the Energy Information Administration's Form 861.

(c) For purposes of this section, the following wholesale sales made by a non-public utility with more than a de minimis market presence are excluded from the EQR filing requirement:

(1) Sales by a non-public utility, such as a cooperative or joint action agency, to its members; and

(2) Sales by a non-public utility under a long-term, cost-based agreement required to be made to certain customers under Federal or state statute.

[Order 768, 77 FR 61924, Oct. 11, 2012, as amended by Order 770, 77 FR 71299, Nov. 30, 2012]

Upon application and for good cause shown, the Commission may, by order, provide that a rate schedule or tariff, tariff or service agreement, or part thereof, shall be effective as of a date prior to the date of filing or prior to the date the rate schedule or tariff, tariff or service agreement would become effective in accordance with these rules. Application for waiver of the prior notice requirement shall show (a) how and the extent to which the filing public utility and purchaser(s) under such rate schedule or tariff, tariff or service agreement, or part thereof, would be affected if the notice requirement is not waived, and (b) the effects of the waiver, if granted, upon purchasers under other rate schedules. The filing public utility requesting such waiver of notice shall serve copies of its request therefor upon all purchasers.

[Order 271, 28 FR 10573, Oct. 2, 1963, as amended by Order 714, 73 FR 57532, 57533, Oct. 3, 2008]