Confidential Treatment for Louisville Gas and Electric Company's Gas Suppliers Rejected

Strategic Insights -

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has rejected a motion by Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) to grant confidential treatment for the identities of its gas suppliers in a Quarterly Gas Supply Clause filing. The commission found that the information is generally recognized as confidential or proprietary, but denied the request due to potential commercial harm to LG&E's ability to negotiate future gas supply contracts.

Key Takeaways:

  • LG&E requested confidential treatment for the identities of its gas suppliers, arguing that public disclosure would result in competitive harm and impair its ability to negotiate favorable prices for natural gas supply.
  • The commission found that the information is generally recognized as confidential or proprietary, but denied the request due to potential commercial harm to LG&E.
  • The Commission ordered that the designated material granted confidential treatment shall not be placed in the public record or made available for public inspection for an indefinite period or until further Order of this Commission.
  • LG&E shall inform the Commission if the designated material granted confidential treatment becomes publicly available or no longer qualifies for confidential treatment.
  • A nonparty requesting to inspect the material granted confidential treatment must wait 30 days from receipt of written notice of the request to allow LG&E to demonstrate that the material still falls within the exclusions from disclosure requirements.
  • The Commission shall not make the requested material available for inspection for 30 days from the date of service of an Order finding that the material no longer qualifies for confidential treatment.

Statistics:

  • 30 days: the period of time a nonparty must wait before requesting to inspect the material granted confidential treatment.
  • Infinity: the indefinite period for which the designated material granted confidential treatment shall not be placed in the public record or made available for public inspection.
  • 1: the number of motion granted by the Commission, which is LG&E's request for confidential treatment.

Sources:

  • Public Service Commission of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. (2023, October 03). Commonwealth of Kentucky - Public Service Commission. In the Matter of: Electronic Purchased Gas Adjustment Filing of Louisville Gas and Electric Company. Case No. 2023-00089.