[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 11081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4948]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. RP95-167-000]


Indicated Shippers v. Sea Robin Pipeline Company; Notice of 
Complaint and Request for Initiation of Investigation of Transportation 
Rates of Sea Robin Pipeline Company

February 23, 1995.
    Take notice that on February 16, 1995, Amoco Production Company, 
Amoco Energy Trading Corporation, Exxon Corporation, OXY USA Inc., 
Phillips Gas Marketing Company and Phillips Petroleum Company 
(Indicated Shippers) filed a complaint under Section 5 of the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA) 15 U.S.C. 717d (1988) and Section 5 of the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), 43 U.S.C. 1334 (1988) against Sea 
Robin Pipeline Company (Sea Robin) alleging that the maximum 
transportation rates currently being charged by Sea Robin are unjust, 
unreasonable or otherwise unlawful. The Indicated Shippers further 
request that the Commission immediately institute an investigation to 
determine whether Sea Robin's rates are unjust, unreasonable or 
otherwise unlawful, and to determine just and reasonable rates on a 
prospective basis.
    Sea Robin's currently effective rates are based on the January 5, 
1990 settlement in Sea Robin's last general Section 4 rate case in 
Docket No. RP88-181. This settlement was approved by the Commission on 
April 18, 1990 (51 FERC para.61,046, reh'g. denied 51 FERC para.61,315 
(1990)). Since that time, the Indicated Shippers assert, Sea Robin's 
throughput has increased by approximately 52% and that in the 1991-1993 
time period, Sea Robin's annual return on net plant has averaged 
approximately 50%. The Indicated Shippers estimate that Sea Robin's 
just and reasonable maximum rates, if based on current throughput and 
costs, would be at least 30% less than Sea Robin's currently effective 
rates.
    Based largely on data taken from Sea Robin Form 2 reports, the 
Indicated Shippers claim that Sea Robin's just and reasonable maximum 
IT rate should not exceed 5.9 cents/MMBtu. Consistent with Commission 
precedent in United Gas Pipe Line Company and ANR Storage Company, 47 
FERC para.61,285 (1989), the Commission is requested to order Sea Robin 
to file a cost and revenue study and other schedules in accordance with 
18 CFR 154.63(e)(2) and 154.63(f) as well as other documents sufficient 
to allow interested parties to fully evaluate Sea Robin's current cost-
of-service and to permit the establishment of just and reasonable 
rates.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest said complaint should 
file a motion to intervene or a protest with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426, in accordance with Rules 214 and 211 of the Commission's Rules 
of Practice and Procedure 18 CFR 385.214, 385.211. All such motions or 
protests should be filed on or before March 27, 1995. Protests will be 
considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to 
be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the 
proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a motion to 
intervene. Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and 
are available for public inspection. Answers to this complaint shall be 
due on or before March 27, 1995.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-4948 Filed 2-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M