Report: JPMorgan, federal grid regulator near record settlement

{mosads}The settlement is believed to be costlier than the $435 million fine FERC levied against Barclays earlier this week, said The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

From the Journal:

The settlement discussions had included a possible fine of close to $1 billion, but the figure has gotten smaller as talks have progressed, these people said.

It isn’t clear whether J.P. Morgan will admit wrongdoing as part of a settlement, and the discussions still could fall apart, the people close to the talks said. Spokesmen for J.P. Morgan and FERC declined to comment.

The charges against JPMorgan are part of a broader FERC crackdown on alleged wrongdoing in electricity markets.

Ex-Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, who left the federal grid regulator last month, has said the increased activity is a product of FERC reaching full staffing levels in its enforcement office.

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