---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 15501"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "15501"
heading: "Standards for pipeline rates, classifications, through routes, rules, and practices"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/15501"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part C — Pipeline Carriers"
  - "Chapter 155 — Rates"
---

# §15501. Standards for pipeline rates, classifications, through routes, rules, and practices

- (a) **Reasonableness.—** A [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7), classification, rule, or practice related to [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service provided by a [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) subject to this part must be reasonable. A through route established by such a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) must be reasonable.
- (b) **Nondiscrimination.—** A [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part may not discriminate in its [rates](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) against a connecting line of any other pipeline, rail, or [water carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=26) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this subtitle or unreasonably discriminate against that line in the distribution of traffic that is not routed specifically by the shipper.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 923.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 10701 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.