S. 186 — what changed

changed Section 205(d) 205 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824d(d)) 824d) is amended by adding at the end the following: “Any absence of action by the Commission that allows a change to take effect under this section (including the Commission allowing the 60 days of notice provided under this section to expire without Commission action) shall be considered to be an order issued by the Commission accepting the change for purposes of section 313.”.following:

added “(g) Inaction of Commissioners

added “(1) In general—If the Commission permits the expiration of the 60–day period established under the first sentence of subsection (d) because the members of the Commission are divided two against two as to the lawfulness of the change, as a result of vacancy, incapacity, or recusal on the Commission—

added “(A) the failure to act by the Commission shall be considered to be an order issued by the Commission accepting the change for purposes of section 313(a); and

added “(B) there shall be added to the record of the proceeding of the Commission—

added “(i) the proposed order;

added “(ii) notice of the division of the Commissioners with respect to the proposed order; and

added “(iii) the written statement of each member of the Commission explaining the views of the Commissioner with respect to the proposed order.

added “(2) Appeal—If any party to a proceeding of the Commission described in paragraph (1) seeks a rehearing under section 313(a) and the Commission fails to act on the merits of the rehearing request by the date that is 30 days after the date of the rehearing request because the members of the Commission are divided two against two, as a result of vacancy, incapacity, or recusal on the Commission, any party that sought the rehearing may appeal under section 313(b).”