[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38663-38664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18905]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 35

[Docket No. RM96-11-000]


Capacity Reservation Open Access Transmission Tariffs

July 18, 1996.
AGENCY: Federal Agency Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of time and convening 
a public conference.

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SUMMARY: Various participants have requested additional time to comment 
on the Commission's notice of proposed rulemaking in this proceeding. 
The proposed rule specifies filing requirements to be followed by 
public utilities in making transmission tariff filings based on 
capacity reservations for all transmission users. An extension of time 
is being granted and a one-day technical conference will be convened.

DATES: An extension of time for filing comments on the proposed rule is 
granted to and including October 21, 1996. A technical conference will 
be held on September 20, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David D. Withnell, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the 
General Counsel, 888 First St., NE., Washington, DC 20426, telephone: 
(202) 208-2063.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 27, 1996, July 3, 1996, and July 17, 
1996, Various Utilities,\1\ Joint Petitioners,\2\ and Allegheny Power 
Service Corporation (Allegheny Power),\3\ respectively, filed motions 
for an extension of time within which to file comments in response to 
the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued April 24, 1996 in the above-
captioned proceeding.\4\ Various Utilities, Joint Petitioners, and 
Allegheny Power express concern that the August 1, 1996 date set by the 
Commission for filing written comments should hamper the ability of 
electric industry participants, who must also meet the various 
requirements of Order Nos. 888 and 889,\5\ to address the issues in a 
meaningful manner.\6\ Various Utilities and Allegheny Power request a 
61-day extension of time, until October 1, 1996. Joint Petitioners 
request a greater number of technical conferences or an

[[Page 38664]]

expanded schedule for the Commission's proposed technical conference, 
and request that the Commission issue, following such conferences, a 
Supplemental NOPR or Notice of Clarification upon which the parties 
would then be allowed to submit comments.
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    \1\ Central Illinois Public Service Company, Cleveland Electric 
Illuminating Company, Commonwealth Edison Company, Central Power and 
Light Company, Ohio Edison Company, Pennsylvania Power Company, 
Public Service Company of Oklahoma, South Carolina Electric & Gas 
Company, Toledo Edison Company, Southwestern Electric Power Company, 
West Texas Utilities Company, and Union Electric Company.
    \2\ Edison Electric Institute, National Association of 
Regulatory Utility Commissioners, American Public Power Association, 
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and North American 
Electric Reliability Council.
    \3\ Submitted on behalf of Monongahela Power Company, The 
Potomac Edison Company, and West Penn Power Company.
    \4\ Capacity Reservation Open Access Transmission Tariffs, 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 61 FR 21847 (May 10, 1996) (CRT 
NOPR).
    \5\ Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-
discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities and 
Recovery of Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting 
Utilities, 61 FR 21540 (May 10, 1996), FERC Stats. & Regs. para. 
31,036 (1996) (Order No. 888); Open Access Same-Time Information 
System (formerly Real-Time Information Networks) and Standards of 
Conduct, 61 FR 21737 (May 10, 1996), FERC Stats. & Regs. para. 
31,037 (1996) (Order No. 889); Order Clarifying Order Nos. 888 and 
889 Compliance Matters, 76 FERC para. 61,009 (July 2, 1996).
    \6\ Answers in support have been filed by Virginia Electric and 
Power Company, M-S-R Public Power Agency, Transmission Agency of 
Northern California, Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities, 
South Carolina Public Service Authority, and Transmission Access 
Policy Study Group.
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    Upon consideration, notice is hereby given that the August 1, 1996 
deadline for filing written comments is extended to October 21, 1996 
and that the Commission will convene a technical conference on 
September 20, 1996. Because participants will now have the opportunity 
to submit comments following the technical conference, the Commission 
has decided to hold a one-day technical conference rather than the two-
day conference mentioned in the CRT NOPR. The agenda and the times for 
the technical conference will be announced at a later date. In 
addition, the Commission may schedule further procedures and offer 
further guidance based on the outcome of the technical conference.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-18905 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M