,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #adgg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ae1 #bjai,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 and ,mr4 ,cardin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,federal ,power ,act to establish an ,office of ,public ,participation and ,consumer ,advocacy4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,public ,engagement at ,,ferc ,act4 #b4 ,office of ,public ,participation and ,consumer ,advocacy ,section #cai of the ,federal ,power ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbeq-#a7 is amended to read as follows3 #cai4 ,office of ,public ,participation and ,consumer ,advocacy 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,advisory ,committee ,the term ,advisory ,committee means the ,public and ,consumer ,advocacy ,advisory ,committee established under subsection 7f77#a74 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office appointed under subsection 7c77#a74 7#c7 ,energy customer ,the term energy customer means a residential customer or a small commercial customer that receives products or services from-- 7,a7 a public utility or natural gas company under the jurisdiction of the ,commission2 or 7,b7 an electric cooperative4 7#d7 ,natural gas company ,the term natural gas company has the meaning given the term natural-gas company in section #b of the ,natural ,gas ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gag;a71 as modified by section #fja7;a77#a77;,c7 of the ,natural ,gas ,policy ,act of #aigh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cdca7;a77#a77;,c774 7#e7 ,office ,the term ,office means the ,office of ,public ,participation and ,consumer ,advocacy established by subsection 7b74 7b7 ,establishment ,there is established within the ,commission an office1 to be known as the ,office of ,public ,participation and ,consumer ,advocacy4 7c7 ,director 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,office shall be headed by a ,director1 to be appointed by the ,secretary of ,energy from among individuals who-- 7,a7 are licensed attorneys admitted to the bar of-- 7i7 any ,state2 or 7ii7 the ,district of ,columbia2 and 7,b7 have experience relating to public utility proceedings4 7#b7 ,duties ,the ,director shall coordinate assistance made available to-- 7,a7 the public1 with respect to authorities exercised by the ,commission2 and 7,b7 individuals and entities intervening or participating1 or proposing to intervene or participate1 in proceedings before the ,commission4 7#c7 ,compensation and powers 7,a7 ,compensation ,the ,director shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level ,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under section #ecae of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,b7 ,powers ,the ,director may-- 7i7 employ at the ,office-- 7,i7 not more than #abe full-time professional employees at appropriate levels of the ,general ,schedule2 and 7,,ii7 such additional support personnel as the ,director determines to be necessary2 and 7ii7 procure for the ,office such temporary and intermittent services as the ,director determines to be necessary4 7d7 ,powers of ,office ,the ,office may-- 7#a7 intervene1 appear1 and participate1 in accordance with this section1 in administrative1 regulatory1 or judicial proceedings on behalf of energy customers with respect to any matter concerning natural gas siting and infrastructure development under the jurisdiction of the ,commission or the rates1 charges1 prices1 tariffs1 or service of public utilities and natural gas companies under the jurisdiction of the ,commission by representing the interests of the energy customers-- 7,a7 on any matter before the ,commission concerning rates or service of such a public utility or natural gas company2 or 7,b7 as amicus curiae in-- 7i7 a review in any ,united ,states court of a ruling by the ,commission in such a matter2 or 7ii7 a hearing or proceeding in any other ,federal regulatory agency or commission relating to such a matter2 7#b7 support public participation in the siting and permitting of natural gas storage and distribution infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the ,commission2 7#c7 monitor and review energy customer complaints and grievances on matters concerning rates or service of public utilities and natural gas companies under the jurisdiction of the ,commission2 7#d7 employ means1 such as public dissemination of information1 consultative services1 and technical assistance1 to ensure1 to the maximum extent practicable1 that the interests of energy customers are adequately represented in the course of any hearing or proceeding described in paragraph 7#a72 7#e7 collect data concerning rates or service of public utilities and natural gas companies under the jurisdiction of the ,commission2 7#f7 prepare and issue reports and recommendations2 and 7#g7 take such other actions as the ,director determines to be necessary to ensure just and reasonable rates for energy customers4 7e7 ,information from ,federal departments and agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director may secure directly from a ,federal department or agency such information as the ,director considers to be necessary to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,provision of information ,on request of the ,director under paragraph 7#a71 the head of a ,federal department or agency shall1 to the extent practicable and authorized by law1 provide the information to the ,office4 7f7 ,public and ,consumer ,advocacy ,advisory ,committee 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,director shall establish an advisory committee1 to be known as the ,public and ,consumer ,advocacy ,advisory ,committee-- 7,a7 to review rates1 services1 and disputes2 and 7,b7 to make recommendations to the ,director4 7#b7 ,composition ,the ,advisory ,committee shall-- 7,a7 be composed of such members as the ,director determines to be appropriate2 but 7,b7 include not fewer than-- 7i7 #b individuals representing ,state utility consumer advocates2 and 7ii7 #a individual representing a nongovernmental organization that represents consumers4 7#c7 ,meetings ,the ,advisory ,committee shall meet at such frequency as is required to carry out the duties of the ,advisory ,committee4 7#d7 ,reports ,the ,director shall publish the recommendations of the ,advisory ,committee on the public internet website established for the ,office4 7#e7 ,duration ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,advisory ,committee shall continue in operation during the period for which the ,office exists4 7#f7 ,application of ,,faca ,except as otherwise specifically provided1 the ,advisory ,committee shall be subject to the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app474 7g7 ,reports and guidance ,as the ,director determines to be appropriate1 the ,office shall issue to the ,commission and entities subject to regulation by the ,commission reports and guidance-- 7#a7 regarding market practices2 7#b7 proposing improvements in ,commission monitoring of market practices2 and 7#c7 addressing potential improvements to industry and ,commission practices4 7h7 ,outreach ,the ,office shall promote1 through outreach1 publications1 and1 as appropriate1 direct communication with entities regulated by the ,commission-- 7#a7 improved compliance with ,commission rules and orders2 and 7#b7 public participation in the siting and permitting of natural gas storage and distribution infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the ,commission4 7i7 ,compensation to eligible recipients for intervention or participation 7#a7 ,definition of eligible recipient ,in this subsection1 the term eligible recipient means an individual or entity-- 7,a7 that intervenes or participates in any proceeding before the ,commission2 7,b7 the intervention or participation of which substantially contributed to the approval1 in whole or in part1 of a position advocated by the individual or entity in the proceeding2 and 7,c7 that is-- 7i7 an individual2 7ii7 an energy customer2 or 7iii7 a representative of the interests of energy customers4 7#b7 ,compensation ,subject to paragraph 7#c71 the ,commission1 in accordance with regulations promulgated by the ,commission1 may provide to any eligible recipient compensation for reasonable attorney fees1 expert witness fees1 and other costs of intervening or participating in the applicable proceeding before the ,commission4 7#c7 ,requirement ,the ,commission may only provide compensation under paragraph 7#b7 if the ,commission determines that-- 7,a7 the applicable proceeding is significant2 7,b7 the compensation is approved by the ,advisory ,committee2 and 7,c7 the intervention or participation by the eligible recipient in the proceeding without receipt of compensation constitutes a significant financial hardship to the eligible recipient4 7j7 ,savings clause ,nothing in this section restricts or otherwise affects-- 7#a7 any right or obligation of an intervenor1 participant1 ,state utility consumer advocate1 energy customer1 or group of energy customers under any other applicable provision of law 7including regulations72 or 7#b7 the work of ,commission trial staff in representing the public interest and pursuing appropriate resolutions in contested matters before the ,commission4 7k7 ,funding ,of the amounts received by the ,commission for fiscal year #bjbj and each fiscal year thereafter as a result of any fee imposed by the ,commission1 the ,commission shall use such sums as are necessary to establish and provide for the operation of the ,office under this section4 4