Internal controls over financial reporting
Internal controls over financial reporting in the Energy, Power & Commodities sector sit under active scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, each applying distinct but overlapping expectations to how energy firms document, test, and certify their financial control environments. The SEC's Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 requirements remain the baseline, but FERC's accounting and reporting rules under the Uniform System of Accounts add a layer that pure-SEC compliance teams routinely underestimate. Commodity price volatility, hedge accounting complexity, and cross-border asset structures are the specific pressure points where ICFR deficiencies surface in this sector.
Watch
- SEC Staff bulletins on climate-related financial statement controls and disclosure linkage
- FERC Order 160 compliance deadlines for energy companies with cost-of-service rate filings
- Material weakness disclosures tied to hedge accounting restatements in oil and gas
- FCA guidance on internal control attestations for UK-listed commodity trading firms
Recent material activity in Energy, Power & Commodities
A selection of recent published briefs; this is not a complete archive.
CFTC obtains federal court orders against EminiFX and Eddy Alexandre for commodity pool Ponzi scheme
The CFTC announced on October 19, 2026 that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered orders granting the CFTC's motions for summary judgment, injunctive relief, and a civil monetary penalty a…
Read a full sample brief →DOE commits up to $42 million in Defense Production Act funds to advance Constitution Pipeline development
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on October 19, 2026 that it will deploy up to $42 million in Defense Production Act Title III funding to advance a proposed 125-mile natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New Y…
Read a full sample brief →DOE announces intent to deploy Defense Production Act funding for Virginia and West Virginia transmission expansion
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on October 16, 2026 its intent to deploy Defense Production Act funding to accelerate transmission capacity expansion in Virginia and West Virginia. The project is framed as streng…
Read a full sample brief →EPA co-proposes two approaches to revise 2026 and 2027 RFS small refinery exemption reallocation volumes
EPA published a proposed rulemaking on October 16, 2026 to revise the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Fuel Standard small refinery exemption reallocation volumes. The proposal responds to a higher volume of 2025 small refinery e…
Read a full sample brief →DOE publishes Emissions Value Request Process supporting Treasury and IRS administration of the Clean Fuel Production Credit
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a Notice of Availability on October 16, 2026, establishing an Emissions Value Request Process to support Treasury and IRS administration of the section 45Z Clean Fuel Product…
Read a full sample brief →FERC opens additional scoping period for Gulf South Pipeline Texas Gateway Project EIS
FERC staff have opened a second public scoping period for the Texas Gateway Project, a natural gas pipeline proposed by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC across seven Texas counties and Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The C…
Read a full sample brief →Estonian Competition Authority fines Futugrid €16,000 in its first REMIT market-manipulation decision, subject to appeal
The Estonian Competition Authority (Konkurentsiamet) has fined Futugrid Technologies OÜ €16,000 for placing a non-genuine bid in the Baltic balancing energy market on 1 April 2025. The bid sent misleading signals and dir…
Read a full sample brief →AER invites submissions on Transgrid's $9.34 million network support cost pass through application for 2025-26
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has opened a public consultation on Transgrid's cost pass-through application for network support costs incurred in 2025-26. Transgrid has identified a net positive pass-through amou…
Read a full sample brief →AER invites submissions on ElectraNet's $18.6 million storm cost pass-through application for South Australian transmission network
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has opened a public consultation on ElectraNet's cost pass-through application for transmission network damage caused by the 17 October 2024 storm. ElectraNet has identified $18.6 mi…
Read a full sample brief →AER publishes draft decision to grant AGN ring-fencing exemptions for two hydrogen trial projects
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) published a draft decision on October 16, 2026 proposing to grant Australian Gas Networks Limited (AGN) exemptions from gas ring-fencing obligations for its Hydrogen Park South Austr…
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