69-3-1404. Functional separation -- code of conduct -- emergency services -- customer protection. (1) Except as provided in 69-3-1413 through 69-3-1416, a natural gas utility that provides customer choice and open access on its system shall:

(a) functionally separate its natural gas production and gathering resources from its natural gas transmission, storage, and distribution services and remove natural gas production and gathering resources from the rate base;

(b) adopt and comply with commission-approved standards of conduct to be included in a tariff to govern its natural gas transmission, storage, and distribution services; and

(c) provide emergency natural gas supply and related services to the extent necessary to maintain the operational integrity of the transmission system as determined by the commission.

(2) The commission shall develop standards that protect consumers and natural gas suppliers from anticompetitive and abusive practices.

(3) This part does not reduce or otherwise change the authority of the commission to review the prudence of natural gas purchases made by a natural gas utility for its customers that do not have a choice or that have not made a choice of natural gas suppliers or have not been assigned a natural gas supplier.