16 U.S.C. § 824b

Disposition of property; consolidations; purchase of securities

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(a) Authorization(1) No public utility shall, without first having secured an order of the Commission authorizing it to do so—(A) sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the whole of its facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any part thereof of a value in excess of $10,000,000;(B) merge or consolidate, directly or indirectly, its facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any part thereof, with the facilities of any other person, or any part thereof, that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and have a value in excess of $10,000,000, by any means whatsoever;(C) purchase, acquire, or take any security with a value in excess of $10,000,000 of any other public utility; or(D) purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire an existing generation facility—(i) that has a value in excess of $10,000,000; and(ii) that is used for interstate wholesale sales and over which the Commission has jurisdiction for ratemaking purposes.(2) No holding company in a holding company system that includes a transmitting utility or an electric utility shall purchase, acquire, or take any security with a value in excess of $10,000,000 of, or, by any means whatsoever, directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate with, a transmitting utility, an electric utility company, or a holding company in a holding company system that includes a transmitting utility, or an electric utility company, with a value in excess of $10,000,000 without first having secured an order of the Commission authorizing it to do so.(3) Upon receipt of an application for such approval the Commission shall give reasonable notice in writing to the Governor and State commission of each of the States in which the physical property affected, or any part thereof, is situated, and to such other persons as it may deem advisable.(4) After notice and opportunity for hearing, the Commission shall approve the proposed disposition, consolidation, acquisition, or change in control, if it finds that the proposed transaction will be consistent with the public interest, and will not result in cross-subsidization of a non-utility associate company or the pledge or encumbrance of utility assets for the benefit of an associate company, unless the Commission determines that the cross-subsidization, pledge, or encumbrance will be consistent with the public interest.(5) The Commission shall, by rule, adopt procedures for the expeditious consideration of applications for the approval of dispositions, consolidations, or acquisitions, under this section. Such rules shall identify classes of transactions, or specify criteria for transactions, that normally meet the standards established in paragraph (4). The Commission shall provide expedited review for such transactions. The Commission shall grant or deny any other application for approval of a transaction not later than 180 days after the application is filed. If the Commission does not act within 180 days, such application shall be deemed granted unless the Commission finds, based on good cause, that further consideration is required to determine whether the proposed transaction meets the standards of paragraph (4) and issues an order tolling the time for acting on the application for not more than 180 days, at the end of which additional period the Commission shall grant or deny the application.(6) For purposes of this subsection, the terms “associate company”, “holding company”, and “holding company system” have the meaning given those terms in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 [42 U.S.C. 16451 et seq.].(7)(A) Not later than 180 days after September 28, 2018, the Commission shall promulgate a rule requiring any public utility that is seeking to merge or consolidate, directly or indirectly, its facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any part thereof, with those of any other person, to notify the Commission of such transaction not later than 30 days after the date on which the transaction is consummated if—(i) the facilities, or any part thereof, to be acquired are of a value in excess of $1,000,000; and(ii) such public utility is not required to secure an order of the Commission under paragraph (1)(B).(B) In establishing any notification requirement under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize the paperwork burden resulting from the collection of information.(b) Orders of Commission

The Commission may grant any application for an order under this section in whole or in part and upon such terms and conditions as it finds necessary or appropriate to secure the maintenance of adequate service and the coordination in the public interest of facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. The Commission may from time to time for good cause shown make such orders supplemental to any order made under this section as it may find necessary or appropriate.

(June 10, 1920, ch. 285, pt. II, § 203, as added Aug. 26, 1935, ch. 687, title II, § 213, 49 Stat. 849; amended Pub. L. 109–58, title XII, § 1289(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 982; Pub. L. 115–247, §§ 1, 2, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3152.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, referred to in subsec. (a)(6), is subtitle F of title XII of Pub. L. 109–58, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 972, which is classified principally to part D (§ 16451 et seq.) of subchapter XII of chapter 149 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 15801 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–247, § 1, added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “merge or consolidate, directly or indirectly, such facilities or any part thereof with those of any other person, by any means whatsoever;”.

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 115–247, § 2, added par. (7).

2005—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–58 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “No public utility shall sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the whole of its facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, or any part thereof of a value in excess of $50,000, or by any means whatsoever, directly or indirectly, merge or consolidate such facilities or any part thereof with those of any other person, or purchase, acquire, or take any security of any other public utility, without first having secured an order of the Commission authorizing it to do so. Upon application for such approval the Commission shall give reasonable notice in writing to the Governor and State commission of each of the States in which the physical property affected, or any part thereof, is situated, and to such other persons as it may deem advisable. After notice and opportunity for hearing, if the Commission finds that the proposed disposition, consolidation, acquisition, or control will be consistent with the public interest, it shall approve the same.”

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–247, § 3, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3152, provided that: “The amendment made by section 1 [amending this section] shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 28, 2018].”

Effective Date of 2005 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–58, title XII, § 1289(b), (c), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 983, provided that:“(b)Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 8, 2005].“(c)Transition Provision.—The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall not apply to any application under section 203 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824b) that was filed on or before the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 8, 2005].”

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 46 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1938–2025 · leading case: Atl. City Elec. Co. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 295 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2002).

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Atl. City Elec. Co. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 295 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2002). · cites it 3× “§ 824d, and required the owners of transmission assets to modify their ISO agreements to forbid any owner from withdrawing without prior FERC approval pursuant to section 203 of the Act, 16 U.S.C. § 824b. The utility petitioners contend that FERC has exceeded its statutory…”

Gulf States Utils. Co. v. Fed. Power Comm'n, 411 U.S. 747 (1973). · cites it 6× “…related to interconnections under § 202 of the Act, 16 U. S. C. § 824a, to dispositions and mergers under § 203, 16 U. S. C. § 824b, to rates and rate-making practices under §§ 205 and 206, 16 U. S. C. §§ 824d and 824e, and to adequacy of service under § 207, 16 U. S. C.…”

Arcadia v. Ohio Power Co., 498 U.S. 73 (1991). · cites it 2× “§ 79n, which similarly empowers the SEC; and the fourth, "the acquisition or disposition of any security, capital assets, facilities, or any other subject matter" refers to § 203, 16 U. S. C. § 824b, which requires all purchases of securities of other public utilities, and all…”

Wabash Valley Power Ass'n v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 268 F.3d 1105 (D.C. Cir. 2001). · cites it 2× “(“CSW”), two large regional utility holding companies, jointly petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) for merger approval, as required by § 203 of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a) (1994). When presented with a merger or acquisition…”

Duke Power Co. v. Fed. Power Comm'n, 401 F.2d 930 (D.C. Cir. 1968). · cites it 8× “” Federal Power Act § 203(b), 16 U.S.C. § 824b (b) (emphasis supplied), 119 .”

Off. of Util. Consum. Couns. v. Pub. Serv. Co. of Indiana, Inc., 608 N.E.2d 1362 (Ind. 1993). · cites it 4× “Federal Power Act § 203(a), 16 U.S.C.A. § 824b. In 1987, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), federal counterpart of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, interpreted Section 203(a), above, as conferring jurisdiction over the formation of utility holding…”

Allegheny Def. Proj. v. FERC, 964 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2020). “16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(5). But Congress expressly authorized the Commission to toll that period for “not more than 180 days” if, and only if, it first finds, “based on good cause, that further consideration is required to determine whether” to approve the application.”

Piedmont Env't Council v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 558 F.3d 304 (4th Cir. 2009). · cites it 2× “See 16 U.S.C.A. § 824b(a)(5) (West Supp.2008) ("If the Commission does not act within 180 days [on an application] .”

Citizens for Allegan Cnty., Inc. v. Fed. Power Comm'n, City of Allegan, Michigan, Consumers Power Co., Intervenors, 414 F.2d 1125 (D.C. Cir. 1969). · cites it 2× “16 U.S.C. § 824b (a) (1964). 3 . Though captioned in only one docket the intervention obviously was directed to both applications.”

Middle South Energy, Inc. & New Orleans Pub. Serv. Inc. v. The City of New Orleans & the Council of the City of New Orleans, 800 F.2d 488 (5th Cir. 1986). “king, this time, a declaration that the City’s acquisition of NOPSI, free of NOPSI’s share of the Grand Gulf project, (1) is necessarily qualified and limited by federal statute and regulation governing interstate utility operations; (2) would im-permissibly burden interstate…”

Arkansas Elec. Energy Consumers v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, Arkansas Pub. Serv. Comm'n, Intervenors, 290 F.3d 362 (D.C. Cir. 2002). · cites it 2× “In those opinions the Commission approved the merger of the Entergy and Gulf States systems under § 203 of the Federal Power Act (“FPA”), 16 U.S.C. § 824b, and an amendment to the Entergy System Agreement under FPA '§ 205, 16 U.”

Dominion Resources, Inc. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 286 F.3d 586 (D.C. Cir. 2002). “See 16 U.S.C. § 824b. Dominion was a holding company with predominantly electric utility interests, specifically: • Virginia Electric and Power Company, an electric transmission and distribution subsidiary; and • Dominion Energy, a multifaceted firm active in • power generation…”

Show all 46 citing cases →

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a) — 20 cases

Atl. City Elec. Co. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 295 F.3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2002). “§ 824d, and required the owners of transmission assets to modify their ISO agreements to forbid any owner from withdrawing without prior FERC approval pursuant to section 203 of the Act, 16 U.S.C. § 824b. The utility petitioners contend that FERC has exceeded its statutory…”

Wabash Valley Power Ass'n v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 268 F.3d 1105 (D.C. Cir. 2001). “(“CSW”), two large regional utility holding companies, jointly petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) for merger approval, as required by § 203 of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a) (1994). When presented with a merger or acquisition…”

Duke Power Co. v. Fed. Power Comm'n, 401 F.2d 930 (D.C. Cir. 1968). “” Federal Power Act § 203(b), 16 U.S.C. § 824b (b) (emphasis supplied), 119 .”

Off. of Util. Consum. Couns. v. Pub. Serv. Co. of Indiana, Inc., 608 N.E.2d 1362 (Ind. 1993). “Federal Power Act § 203(a), 16 U.S.C.A. § 824b. In 1987, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), federal counterpart of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, interpreted Section 203(a), above, as conferring jurisdiction over the formation of utility holding…”

Pub. Serv. Comm'n v. Panda-Brandywine, L.P., 825 A.2d 462 (Md. 2003).

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(1) — 1 case

Kentucky Mun. Energy Agency v. FERC, 45 F.4th 162 (D.C. Cir. 2022).

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(4) — 1 case

Louisville Gas & Elec. Co. v. FERC (D.C. Cir. 2025).

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(5) — 2 cases

Piedmont Env't Council v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 558 F.3d 304 (4th Cir. 2009). “See 16 U.S.C.A. § 824b(a)(5) (West Supp.2008) ("If the Commission does not act within 180 days [on an application] .”

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(l) — 1 case

Maine Pub. Utils. Comm'n v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 454 F.3d 278 (D.C. Cir. 2006).

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(a)(l)(A) — 1 case

W. Refining Sw., Inc. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 636 F.3d 719 (5th Cir. 2011).

— 16 U.S.C. § 824b(b) — 4 cases

Kentucky Mun. Energy Agency v. FERC, 45 F.4th 162 (D.C. Cir. 2022).

Ne. Utils. Serv. Co. v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm'n, 993 F.2d 937 (1st Cir. 1993).

In Re Mirant Corp., 303 B.R. 304 (N.D. Tex. 2003).

Louisville Gas & Elec. Co. v. FERC (D.C. Cir. 2025).

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