Definitions

In this Act: (1) Centralized service company The term centralized service company has the meaning given the term in section 367.1(a) of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). (2) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (3) Covered expense The term covered expense means a direct or indirect expense paid by a covered utility to— (A) an external entity to perform political influence activities; (B) a centralized service company, parent company, or other corporate affiliate— (i) to perform a political influence activity; and (ii) that invoices that covered utility for the expenses related to that political influence activity; or (C) an employee of that covered utility, in the form of a salary, that performs a political influence activity. (4) Covered utility The term covered utility means— (A) an electric utility company (as defined in section 367.1(a) of title 18, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) that had, in each of the 3 previous calendar years, sales or transmission services that exceeded— (i) 1,000,000 megawatt-hours of total annual sales; (ii) 100 megawatt-hours of annual sales for resale; (iii) 500 megawatt-hours of annual power exchanges delivered; or (iv) 500 megawatt-hours of annual wheeling; (B) a major natural gas company; and (C) a centralized service company. (5) Major natural gas company The term major natural gas company means a natural-gas company (as defined in section 2 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717a)) whose combined gas transported or stored for a fee exceed 50,000,000 Dth in each of the 3 previous calendar years. (6) Political influence activity The term political influence activity includes— (A) any expense for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the possible— (i) adoption of Federal, State, or local regulations, legislation, or ordinances; or (ii) repeal or modification of existing Federal, State, or local regulations, legislation, or ordinances; (B) any expense for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing elections or appointments of public officials or referenda; (C) any expense for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the approval, modification, or revocation of utility franchises; (D) any expense for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the public opinion with respect to Federal, State, or local— (i) regulations, legislation, or ordinances; (ii) elections; (iii) referenda; or (iv) utility rate setting; (E) any expense for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the decisions of Federal, State, or local government officials; (F) any expense relating to attendance or participation in, preparation for, or appeal of any formal proceeding before a regulatory commission; (G) dues or fees paid to trade associations or industry associations; (H) any contributions or other payments to an organization described in paragraph (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (I) advertising, marketing, or public relations expenses designed for the purpose of— (i) influencing public opinion; (ii) increasing goodwill toward a covered utility from the public or from public officials; (iii) improving the reputation of a covered utility; or (iv) promoting or retaining the service provided by a covered utility.