July 23, 2003—The Federal Energy Regulation Commission has told the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of major advances in its use of electronic filing in the past two years. The report also summarizes the Commission’s plans for additional paperless transactions. As a result of FERC’s electronic filing initiatives, known as FERC Online, citizens and businesses can make electronic submissions of comments, motions, briefs, and other documents related to proceedings before the Commission.
Since November 2000, the Commission has received 22,000 documents electronically. Companies regulated by the Commission have also filed 15,000 forms and reports electronically. More than half of the documents received annually can be filed electronically.
In reporting on Commission progress to OMB, Chairman Wood noted that FERC expects to provide an electronic filing option for most high volume documents submitted to the Commission by the end of October. By early 2004, he reported, the Commission and those who do business with it will take advantage of a huge reduction in paper flow. All orders and notices issued by the Commission are accessible from FERC in electronic formats in its eLibrary system (FERRIS) as soon as they are released.
The Commission’s report to OMB can be found on FERC’s Web site under What’s New.
