On July 17, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a "Notice of Effective Date of Revised Company Registration Requirements" stating that beginning on August 5, 2013, FERC will implement a new company registration format for those filings requiring the use of a Company Identifier (CID) number. The company registration system currently applies only to electronic tariff (eTariff) and Electric Quarterly Report (EQR) filings and does not apply to, or change the procedures relating to, other filings made through the Commission's eFiling system.

After August 5, filings requiring the use of a CID number cannot be made until the filer has either (1) registered using the new format (for new filers); or (2) transitioned its existing company registration to the new format. Companies required to file using CIDs are urged to register or complete the transition process prior to making a filing to avoid the potential for registration problems on the day of the filing.

The new system adopts a revised method of authenticating filings requiring the use of a CID number that improves the filer's security by eliminating the practical need under the current CID system for a filing company to share its company registration password. Under the new system, the filer will maintain a list of eRegistered account administrators and agents whom it has authorized to submit filings on its behalf. Account administrators, in addition to making filings themselves, will have additional rights to administer the company registration account settings and designate agents to make filings. To make a filing, an account administrator or agent will use its individual eRegistration account to log onto FERC Online and choose the type of filing (e.g., eTariff), and then will be presented with a list of all the filing companies for which they are registered to make that type of filing. Staff recommends that there be a minimum of two Account Managers to ensure no companies are locked out of the registration and designation process due to an Account Manager being out of the office or leaving the company.

A detailed instruction manual for the new company registration system is posted here.