AICPA SOC Service Organizations - Certrec

FERC Imposes $66,700,000 in Penalties and Disgorgement on Linde and NIPSCO for MISO Tariff Violations

Summary of NERC Penalties

REGION

WHEN?

ENTITY

COMPLIANCE AREA

VIOLATION

REASON

PENALTY AMOUNT

FERC

Quarter 1 - January 2024

Linde, Inc. and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO)

FERC's Regulations and MISO Tariff

Violations of the Federal Power Act, MISO Tariff, and Commission Regulations

The stipulated violations pertain to Linde's participation, through NIPSCO, in a MISO demand response program. The investigation by the Office of Enforcement concluded that there were violations of the Federal Power Act, the MISO Tariff, and Commission regulations. Both Linde and NIPSCO stipulated to the facts in the Agreement.

$66,700,000

Summary:

In response to violations of the MISO Tariff, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the Stipulation and Consent Agreement (Agreement) between the Office of Enforcement (Enforcement) and Linde, Inc., (Linde) and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). The Agreement resolves Enforcement’s investigation into whether Linde and/or NIPSCO violated the Federal Power Act, the MISO Tariff, or Commission regulations, in connection with Linde’s participation, through NIPSCO, in a MISO demand response program. Linde and NIPSCO stipulated to the facts set forth in the Agreement. Linde agreed to (a) pay a $10,500,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Treasury and (b) pay $48,500,000 in disgorgement. NIPSCO agreed to pay $7,700,000 in disgorgement. NIPSCO agreed to take specific steps with its state regulator to ensure that disgorged funds paid to NIPSCO will be paid to NIPSCO ratepayers (other than Linde). Linde agreed that, should it ever participate as a demand response unit in MISO in the future, it will provide training to its staff and alert Enforcement and the MISO Market Monitor.

Associated Files:

20240104-186FERC61009-IN24-3-000-Linde Inc et al-Settlement Agreement

About Certrec:
Certrec is a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions for the energy industry with the mission of helping ensure a stable, reliable, bulk electric supply. Since 1988, Certrec’s SaaS applications and consulting expertise have helped hundreds of power-generating facilities manage their regulatory compliance and reduce their risks.

Certrec’s engineers and business teams bring a cumulative 1,500 years of working experience in regulatory areas of compliance, engineering, and operations, including nuclear, fossil, solar, wind facilities, and other Registered Entities generation and transmission.

Certrec has helped more than 120 generating facilities establish and maintain NERC Compliance Programs. We manage the entire NERC compliance program for 60+ registered entities in the US and Canada that trust us to decrease their regulatory and reputational risk. Certrec is ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified and has successfully completed annual SOC 2 Type 2 examinations.

For press and media inquiries, please contact marketing@certrec.com.

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