[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 4273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2171]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. EA-140]
Application To Export Electric Energy; Public Service Company of
New Mexico
AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.
SUMMARY: Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), a regulated public
utility, has submitted an application to export electric energy to
Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.
DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on
or before February 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex (FE-52), Office of
Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20585 (FAX 202-287-5736).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-6667.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C.
824a(e)).
On January 16, 1997, PNM filed an application with the Office of
Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization
to export electric energy to Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE),
the Mexican national electric utility, or other power customers in
Mexico, for a term of five years, pursuant to section 202(e) of the
FPA. Specifically, PNM has proposed to engage in open-ended
transactions to transmit and exchange wholesale electric energy under
terms and contracts to be negotiated in the future.
PNM asserts that a series of State regulatory actions have left the
utility with 170 megawatts (MW) of excess generating capacity that
could be dedicated for the sale in the wholesale market. PNM further
asserts that it will schedule all power consistent with the reliability
criteria, standards, and guides of the North American Electric
Reliability Council and the Western Systems Coordinating Council.
The electric energy PNM proposes to sell to CFE would be delivered
to Mexico using San Diego Gas & Electric Company's two 230-kilovolt
transmission facilities at Miguel and Imperial Valley, California. The
construction and operation of these international transmission lines
was previously authorized by Presidential Permit numbers PP-68 and PP-
79, respectively.
Procedural Matters
Any persons desiring to become a party to this proceeding or to be
heard by filing comments or protests to this application should file a
petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address provided above
in accordance with Secs. 385.211 or 385.214 of the FERC's Rules of
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of
such petitions and protests should be filed with the DOE on or before
the date listed above. Additional copies are to be filed directly with:
John T. Stough, Jr., Long, Aldridge & Norman, L.L.P., 701 Pennsylvania
Ave., N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20004 And Patrick T. Ortiz,
Secretary and General Counsel, Public Service Company of New Mexico,
Alvarado Square, Albuquerque, N.M. 87158.
A final decision will be made on this application after the
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and a determination is made by
the DOE that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the
reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system.
Copies of this application will be made available, upon request,
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 23, 1997.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal and Power Systems,
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 97-2171 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P