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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 717g. Accounts; records; memoranda
(a) Rules and regulations for keeping and preserving accounts,
records, etc.
Every natural-gas company shall make, keep, and preserve for such
periods, such accounts, records of cost-accounting procedures,
correspondence, memoranda, papers, books, and other records as the
Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe as necessary or
appropriate for purposes of the administration of this chapter:
Provided, however, That nothing in this chapter shall relieve any
such natural-gas company from keeping any accounts, memoranda, or
records which such natural-gas company may be required to keep by
or under authority of the laws of any State. The Commission may
prescribe a system of accounts to be kept by such natural-gas
companies, and may classify such natural-gas companies and
prescribe a system of accounts for each class. The Commission,
after notice and opportunity for hearing, may determine by order
the accounts in which particular outlays or receipts shall be
entered, charged, or credited. The burden of proof to justify every
accounting entry questioned by the Commission shall be on the
person making, authorizing, or requiring such entry, and the
Commission may suspend a charge or credit pending submission of
satisfactory proof in support thereof.
(b) Access to and inspection of accounts and records
The Commission shall at all times have access to and the right to
inspect and examine all accounts, records, and memoranda of
natural-gas companies; and it shall be the duty of such natural-gas
companies to furnish to the Commission, within such reasonable time
as the Commission may order, any information with respect thereto
which the Commission may by order require, including copies of
maps, contracts, reports of engineers, and other data, records, and
papers, and to grant to all agents of the Commission free access to
its property and its accounts, records, and memoranda when
requested so to do. No member, officer, or employee of the
Commission shall divulge any fact or information which may come to
his knowledge during the course of examination of books, records,
data, or accounts, except insofar as he may be directed by the
Commission or by a court.
(c) Books, accounts, etc., of the person controlling gas company
subject to examination
The books, accounts, memoranda, and records of any person who
controls directly or indirectly a natural-gas company subject to
the jurisdiction of the Commission and of any other company
controlled by such person, insofar as they relate to transactions
with or the business of such natural-gas company, shall be subject
to examination on the order of the Commission.
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