FERC Addresses Price Transparency

Originally published October 24, 2006

On Friday, October 13, 2006, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held a technical conference to address the issue of price transparency in markets for the sale or transportation of physical gas in interstate commerce. Representatives from various sectors of the natural gas industry testified before FERC Commissioners to discuss whether the Commission’s current price reporting policies foster efficient and competitive gas markets and promote consumer confidence. Noting the refinement of the issue over the past few years, FERC Chairman Kelliher stated, "the issues of transparency appear to have shifted away from a narrow focus on index development toward other issues like access to information about term contract prices, understanding the relationship between physical and financial trading, and getting more information about supply and demand."