[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4040-4041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1971]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. RP97-230-000]


Florida Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Compliance Filing

January 22, 1997.
    Take notice that on January 16, 1997, Florida Gas Transmission 
Company (FGT) tendered for filing as part of its FERC Gas Tariff, Third 
Revised Volume No. 1 the following tariff sheets to become effective 
April 1, 1997:

First Revised Sheet No. 115
Fourth Revised Sheet No. 116
Fourth Revised Sheet No. 117
Third Revised Sheet No. 117A
Third Revised Sheet No. 121

    FGT states that on October 1, 1996, FGT filed pro forma tariff 
sheets in Docket No. RP97-21-000 (October 1 Filing) to implement 
standards adopted by the Gas Industry Standards Board (GISB) in 
compliance with Commission Order No. 587. On November 15, 1996, the 
Commission issued an Order on Compliance (November 15 order) in which 
the Commission found that FGT's pro forma tariff language generally 
complied with Order No. 587 with certain exceptions. The November 15 
Order required FGT to file revised pro forma tariff sheets as needed to 
address the exceptions noted by the Commission. On December 16, 1996, 
FGT filed revised pro forma tariff sheets in Docket No. RP97-21-001 
(December 16 Filing) in compliance with the November 15 Order.
    FGT states that in the October 1 Filing, FGT requested waiver of 
the portion of Standard 1.3.2 establishing a deadline of 11:30 AM for 
nominations leaving the control of the nominating party (11:45 AM for 
receipt by Transporter) to the extent necessary to permit an earlier 
deadline for written nominations, which FGT currently accepts. The 
Commission in its November 15 Order denied FGT's requested waiver of 
the above deadlines for written nominations, citing the objective of 
uniformity in such rules and timelines for the gas industry, and 
required FGT to apply the GISB deadlines to written nominations to the 
extent that FGT continues to accept written nominations. The Commission 
then stated that any proposals to change service offerings should be 
made in a separate Section 4 filing.
    FGT states that during the GISB process, it was clearly understood 
by all participants that the accelerated timeline for receiving and 
confirming nominations and communicating scheduled quantities was 
predicated on the electronic exchange of information. As explained in 
the transmittal letter of FGT's December 16 Filing, because of the 
additional time that is necessary to perform the manual entry and 
validation work associated with a written nomination, FGT states that 
it cannot meet the GISB confirmation and scheduling deadlines if it 
continues to accept written nominations and such nominations are not 
received until 11:45 AM.
    FGT states that it currently receives all of its nominations in 
writing by 10:00 AM. It takes FGT approximately 7 hours to manually 
enter the nominations, perform iterative capacity allocations, and 
confirm quantities with the interconnecting parties. Currently, the 
scheduling process is completed by 5:00 PM. With the implementation of 
the GISB standards on April 1, 1997, the window for processing 
nominations must be shortened by 2 to 3 hours to complete the 
confirmation process by the 3:30 PM deadline.
    Accordingly, FGT states that it is herein proposing to eliminate 
written nominations, except in emergency circumstances, to ensure that 
it is able to meet the timeline set out in Standard 1.3.2.
    FGT states that on December 19, 1996, FGT advised its customers 
that in order to comply with the GISB timeline, it would be necessary 
for all customers to submit their nominations electronically beginning 
March 31, 1997 (for the gas day of April 1, 1997). In this letter, FGT 
informed its customers that they will have several options for the 
electronic transmission of nominations: (i) an ANSI X12 format from the 
customer's computer to FGT via the Internet, (ii) a standard flat file 
format via Internet, or (iii) use of a third party service provider 
using option (i) or (ii) above. FGT also included an electronic 
communications survey in order to facilitate the transition to 
electronic nominations.
    FGT states that it is currently testing the standard GISB X12/ 
Internet process with its customers which have expressed an interest in 
this process. This testing has been conducted on the servers which will 
be used for production on April 1, 1997. In addition, FGT has 
participated in the related pilot testing of the standard GISB process 
which allows any customer to upload X12 files to its test server.
    FGT states that it is also offering another capability for its 
customers to upload nominations electronically. This capability 
specifies a flat file format which can easily be created by a variety 
of inexpensive, widely available software products including 
spreadsheets. This eliminates the requirement that the customer 
maintain an X12 translator. FGT customers can

[[Page 4041]]

upload the flat file using a Web browser to access a Web page located 
on FGT's Web server. The uploaded file will be processed and a result 
returned interactively to the Web browser. FGT's customers can also use 
a part-time, dial-up connection to the Internet to implement this 
alternative. This capability is currently available for testing at 
http://x12.enron.com:5713/interhome.htm.
    FGT states that the changes submitted in the instant filing provide 
for the elimination of written nominations effective for the gas day of 
April 1, 1997, in accordance with FGT's implementation of GISB Standard 
1.3.2.1. The changes reflected in the attached tariff sheets are made 
in order to allow FGT to effectively implement Standard 1.3.2 (which 
provides for deadlines of 11:45 AM for the receipt of nominations by 
FGT, noon for a quick response, and 3:30 PM for receipt of completed 
confirmations by FGT from upstream and downstream connected parties, 
with the scheduling process being completed by 4:30 PM). Nominations 
for the April 1 gas day will be physically submitted on March 31, 1997. 
FGT has also included a provision providing for the submission of 
written nominations on an emergency basis in the event of a failure of 
electronic nomination communication equipment, such as phone lines, 
servers, or the Internet. The changes proposed herein also incorporate 
the changes previously proposed to the affected tariff sheets on a pro 
forma basis in FGT's October 1 and December 16 Filings. Upon acceptance 
of the changes proposed herein, it will not be necessary for FGT to 
refile these tariff sheets when it makes its filing to implement the 
proposed GISB changes following the completion of the Commission's 
review of FGT's pro forma filings in Docket Nos. RP97-21-000 and -001.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest said filing should 
file a motion to intervene or protest with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20426, in 
accordance with Sections 385.211 and 385.214 of the Commission's Rules 
and Regulations. All such motions or protests should be filed on or 
before February 12, 1997. 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 
in the Public Reference Room.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-1971 Filed 1-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M