GI-2024-50-reg2: Export and Import Reporting Regulations

The regulations primarily affect large companies in the oil, gas, and electricity sectors — specifically the roughly 93 electricity export permit holders, 27 natural gas in-transit order holders, and approximately 142 natural gas importers. On the savings side, electricity exporters no longer need to classify exports by specialized 'transfer classes,' and in-transit exporters are fully exempt from reporting, reducing paperwork. On the cost side, all natural gas importers (not just those with pre-2022 authorizations) must now file monthly import reports, and 13 large pipeline companies that charge tolls must submit traffic data monthly rather than quarterly. The net effect is modest: businesses save an annualized average of $3,231 under the export/import reporting changes, while pipeline companies face an annualized cost increase of $4,132 for the more frequent toll traffic reporting — a small net increase overall. The regulations do not impact small businesses as currently no small businesses export or import oil, gas, or electricity.