Sec. 16-258a. Registration of natural gas sellers. Procedures. Penalties.

(a) Each person that sells natural gas to an end user in the state and is not (1) a gas company, as defined in section 16-1, (2) a municipal gas utility established under chapter 101 or any other gas utility owned, leased, maintained, operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government under any general statute or any public or special act, or (3) a gas pipeline or gas transmission company subject to the provisions of chapter 208, shall register with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority prior to making any such sale by filing a form supplied by said authority. The registration period shall be for a one-year term from October first to September thirtieth of the following year.

(b) Each person registered with the authority shall: (1) Maintain a bond or other security for at least the registration period or longer in amount and form approved by the authority, to ensure the person's financial responsibility and its supply of natural gas to end use customers in accordance with contracts, agreements or arrangements; (2) have a contractual relationship with an entity or entities to purchase natural gas supply; (3) comply with the National Labor Relations Act and regulations, if applicable; (4) comply with the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and applicable regulations; and (5) agree to cooperate with (A) each gas company, (B) each municipal gas utility established under chapter 101 or any other gas utility owned, leased, maintained, operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government under any general statute or special act, (C) each gas pipeline or gas transmission company subject to the provisions of chapter 208, (D) the authority, and (E) all other gas suppliers in the event of an emergency condition that may jeopardize the safety and reliability of the state's natural gas system.

(c) Each person registered with the authority shall submit to the authority by July fifteenth of each year, on a form prescribed by the authority, an update of information the authority deems relevant. Each registered person shall pay an annual registration fee to be determined by the authority which shall not exceed the actual administrative costs of the authority and provide a bond or other security as described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section. If the authority determines that a person registered with the authority has not complied with the requirements of subsection (b) or (c) of this section, the authority shall notify such person that such person's registration expires on September thirtieth of that year and such person shall no longer be authorized to sell natural gas to an end user in the state.

(d) A registered person shall notify the authority at least ten days before a change in corporate structure that affects the person. No registration may be transferred without the prior approval of the authority. The authority may assess additional registration fees to pay the administrative costs of reviewing a request for such transfer.

(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to sanctions by the authority, in accordance with section 16-41, which may include, but are not limited to, the suspension or revocation of such registration or a prohibition on accepting new customers.

(P.A. 95-114, S. 1, 5; P.A. 98-218, S. 1, 3; P.A. 00-91, S. 1; P.A. 01-49, S. 10; P.A. 03-27, S. 1; P.A. 04-236, S. 14; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 95-114 effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-218 moved “in the state”, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-91 made technical changes in existing provisions, designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and inserted new Subsecs. (b) to (e), inclusive, re gas registrant requirements and penalties; P.A. 01-49 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change; P.A. 03-27 amended Subsec. (a) to designate the registration period as a one-year term from October first to September thirtieth, amended Subsec. (b) to add “for at least the registration period or longer”, amended Subsec. (c) to replace provision re not less than annual submission with provision re submission “by July fifteenth of each year”, to delete provision re notice of change in corporate structure, to add provision requiring a bond or other security, and to add provision re failure to comply with Subsecs. (b) or (c), and amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re notification ten days before a change in corporate structure, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-236 amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change, effective June 8, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” and “department” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” and “authority”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.