FERC has been ordered to pay attorney’s fees for stonewalling the STS Energy Partners request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

FERC was the subject of intense criticism Wednesday and Thursday as members of a congressional subcommittee considered legislation to rein in the agency’s Office of Enforcement.

Rich and Kevin Gates say they will force FERC to collect $34.5 million in federal court, where a statute of limitations defense could reduce the penalties.

Powhatan Energy Fund’s trading scheme cost more than 20 PJM market participants at least $100,000 each, with Exelon, AEP and Dominion each losing more than $1 million, according to an RTO analysis released by FERC.

Attorneys for Powhatan Energy Fund and Kevin Gates accused FERC's Office of Enforcement of withholding information that could exonerate their clients in a high-profile market manipulation case.

FERC issued an Order to Show Cause seeking $29.8 million in fines from the Powhatan Fund, in a case that became the centerpiece of a debate over FERC enforcement policy during Commissioner Norman Bay’s confirmation process earlier this year.

Kevin and Rich Gates have reactivated their website after FERC indicated that it was about to move on to the next step — civil prosecution.

The Gates brothers, accused of gaming up-to-congestion trades in PJM, abruptly ended their public relations campaign against FERC last week.

FERC staff issued a Notice of Alleged Violation last week against traders who exploited a loophole in PJM UTC trades in a case that will likely go to court.

After nearly four years of investigation, FERC publicly accused an energy trading firm of market manipulation in a case that dogged enforcement chief Norman Bay through his confirmation as commissioner.