How Settlements Resolve Conflicts
When there are allegations of market abuse or violations of the Federal Power Act, the Commission investigates the matter. Often the Commission will send a case to an administrative hearing where Staff and the involved parties present evidence to an Administrative Law Judge. These hearings are often lengthy and expensive.

As an alternative to litigation, the Commission's staff also works with the parties to resolve conflicts through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Settlements. ADR and settlements are voluntary. Settlements often correct market abuse and provide monetary relief to the damaged parties. All settlements still have to be approved by the full Commission.

• 06/04/2008 - FERC approves three California settlements Fact Sheet | EL00-95-209 | EL00-95-210 | EL00-95-211
  
  
• 05/23/2008 - FERC approves $26.5 million California settlement Fact Sheet | Decision
  
  
• 04/02/2008 - FERC approves $85.7 million Western energy settlement News Release | Decision
  
  
• 03/21/2008 - FERC accepts settlement in PJM Market Monitor Case News Release | Decision
  
  
• 02/15/2007 - Commission approves settlement; new license issued for 38.8 megawatt hydro project in upstate New York News Release | Decision



• 12/21/2006 - Commission conditionally approves PJM reliability pricing settlement designed to ensure adequate power supply News Release | Decision



• 10/02/2006 - AmerenUE agrees to pay $15 million to settle matters relating to December 2005 dam breach News Release | Order | Agreement | Violations


• 06/28/2006 - Three Enron settlements approved; exclusive jurisdiction under Section 1290 of EPAct exercised News Release | EL03-180-020 | EL03-180-024 | EL05-139-000 | EL06-3-000
  
  
• 06/15/2006 - Accepted settlement designed to resolve reliability issues in New England News Release | Settlement


• 05/23/2006 - Commission approves IDACORP settlement


• 01/26/2006 - Action on cost filings expected to expedite California refund proceeding News Release | Decision



• 01/25/2006 - Agreement accepted between Enron and Nevada companies settling matters stemming from Western Energy Crisis News Release | Decision



• 12/28/2005 - Report to Congress on the California Electricity Crisis and Timeline for Distribution of Refunds News Release | Report



• 12/22/2005 - Commission accepts $512 million settlement with Reliant Energy resolving claims relating to Western Energy Crisis News Release | Decision



• 11/15/2005 - FERC accepts Enron settlement valued at $1.5 billion News Release | Order



• 10/21/2005 - Settlement discussions on LICAP alternatives designed to solve New England's electric reliability problem News Release | Order


• 08/24/2005 - Enron settlement agreement asks for FERC approval before December 31, 2005



• 08/15/2005 - Reliant Energy agrees to pay $460 million to settle Western Energy Crisis issues with States and FERC News Release | Fact Sheet



• 07/15/2005 - Staff facilitates Enron’s proposed $1.5 billion agreement to settle California energy refund and gaming issues Read More | Fact Sheet | SCE News Release | Schedule of Oral Argument



• 06/15/2005 - Williams Companies to pay $7.6 million in refunds and civil penalty News Release | Decision



• 01/26/2005 - Commission accepts $21 million civil penalty to settle investigation of AEP's natural gas activities News Release | Order



• 12/07/2004 - Commission accepts global settlement resolving matters related to CA's energy crises



• 08/02/2004 - Commission accepts $8.1 million to resolve improper sharing of gas storage inventory information News Release | Order