[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35493-35494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17167]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RM95-9-003]


Open Access Same-time Information System and Standards of 
Conduct; Notice of Technical Conference and Clarification of Procedures 
for Developing Scheduling Requirements

June 25, 1997.
    Before Commissioners: James J. Hoecker, Chairman; Vicky A. 
Bailey, William L. Massey, and Donald F. Santa, Jr.

Introduction

    In order to assess the electric power industry's progress in 
implementing the requirements of OASIS Phase I, review industry 
proposals for revisions to these requirements in response to Order No. 
889-A, review issues relating to the development of OASIS Phase II 
requirements, and review how well OASIS is meeting the Commission's 
goals for open access transmission and the industry's needs for a 
functioning marketplace, we announce that the Commission's staff will 
host a technical conference on July 18, 1997 at the Commission's 
offices at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, starting at 
10:00 a.m.
    We also take this opportunity to provide some guidance as to the 
development of electronic scheduling requirements for OASIS Phase II 
implementation.

Background

    The timetable for OASIS Phase I requirements and OASIS Phase II 
development is discussed in both Order No. 889 and in Order No. 889-
A.\1\ Order No. 889 became effective on July 9, 1996 with compliance 
due by January 3, 1997.\2\ Order No. 889-A became effective on May 13, 
1997. In Order No. 889-A, the Commission requested that the How Working 
Group address several issues in a report to the Commission due on or 
before June 30, 1997.\3\ The Commission also requested that the 
industry file a report with the Commission, on or before August 4, 
1997, dealing with OASIS Phase II requirements.
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    \1\ See Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards 
of Conduct, Order No. 889, FERC Stats. & Regs. para.31.037, 61 FR 
21,737, 21,762-63 (1996), order on reh'g, Order No. 889-A, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. para.31,049, 62 FR 12,484, 12,501-03 (1997), reh'g 
pending.
    \2\ Extended from November 1, 1996, see Open Access Same-Time 
Information System and Standards of Conduct, order granting request 
for extension of time, 76 FERC para.61,305 (1996).
    \3\ This report originally was due by June 2, 1997. However upon 
consideration of a request from the How Working Group, the 
Commission granted an extension, until June 30, 1997, for submittal 
of the report.
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Technical Conference

    The Commission's staff will convene a technical conference on OASIS 
Phase I implementation and OASIS Phase II development. The following 
issues will be discussed in a panel format:

    I. Status of OASIS Phase I Implementation. The How Working 
Group, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), and 
other interested persons are invited to discuss how well OASIS is 
working and whether transmission providers are meeting their 
obligations under the OASIS Phase I regulations.
    II. Summary of How Working Group's June 30, 1997 Report. The How 
Working Group, the Commercial Practices Working Group,\4\ and other 
interested persons are invited to discuss the recommendations 
contained in the June 30th report.
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    \4\ This is an industry-created and industry-based group, 
facilitated by NERC, comprised of representatives of various 
industry segments working together on issues concerning electric 
industry commercial practices. This group is a successor to the 
OASIS What Working Group.
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    III. OASIS Phase II. The How Working Group, the Commercial 
Practices Working Group, NERC, and other interested persons are 
invited to preview the industry's report on OASIS Phase II 
requirements (due on or before August 4, 1997) and discuss what 
steps should be taken to enhance OASIS and thereby fully realize the 
Commission's open access goals and create a functional marketplace.

    Persons wishing to speak on a panel at the technical conference 
should submit a request to make a statement in Docket No. RM95-9-003. 
The request must clearly identify the person desiring to speak and must 
identify anyone whom the speaker represents. The request must also 
include a brief [not to exceed 2 pages] synopsis of the issue or issues 
the speaker wishes to address as well as the speaker's position on that 
issue or issues. All requests must be filed with the Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426 on or before July 3, 1997. A notice 
listing the speakers and panels for the technical conference will be 
issued at a later date.

Broadcast of Technical Conference

    If there is sufficient interest, the Capitol Connection will 
provide a live broadcast of the technical conference to interested 
persons. Persons interested in receiving the broadcast for a fee should 
contact Shirley Al-Jarani by telephone at the Capitol Connection at 
703-993-3100 by no later than July 3, 1997.
    In addition, National Narrowcast Network's Hearings-On-The-Line 
service covers all FERC meetings live by telephone so that interested 
persons can listen to the proceedings from any telephone without 
special equipment. Call 202-966-2211 for details. Billing is based on 
time on-line.

Scheduling

    A vitally important issue in the development to the OASIS Phase II 
requirements is electronic scheduling of transactions. In Order No. 
889, the Commission asked the industry to discuss adding scheduling to 
the OASIS requirements in the report on OASIS Phase II requirements. In 
Order No. 889-A, we further explained that the inclusion of scheduling 
as part of the OASIS requirements would be addressed in Phase II.
    The Commission's understanding is that NERC, on its own initiative, 
has taken the lead in developing procedures for the electronic 
scheduling of transactions. The Commission appreciates NERC's efforts 
to develop an industry-wide electronic scheduling system. As with the 
transmission reservation system (covered by the OASIS Phase I 
requirements), proposed requirements and technical standards for an 
industry-wide electronic scheduling system are subject to the 
Commission's jurisdiction and review. The Commission must approve the 
requirements and technical standards to ensure that they comply with 
the Commission's comparable, open access policy. As with transmission 
reservations, a standards industry-wide system for electronic 
scheduling is needed to support the standards of conduct, functional 
unbundling, and open access transmission.
    The Commission accepted the industry's proposal for a phased 
implementation of OASIS. Scheduling was put off until Phase II because 
of the expected practical difficulties involved, and due to the 
Commission's interest in having the basic OASIS requirements 
implemented as expeditiously as possible. The proposed scheduling 
standards must be filed with the Commission for review and approval 
before they go into effect.
    The Commission believes that transmission reservation and 
scheduling are closely related. We are concerned that customers should 
not be required to learn to use two different systems to reserve 
capacity and to schedule power. Moreover, electronic scheduling should 
be readily available to all segments of the electric power industry. 
Like the Phase I OASIS, the system should be inexpensive and easy to 
use. We invite NERC and other interested persons to discuss development 
and

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implementation issues concerning electronic scheduling during the 
discussion of OASIS Phase II at the technical conference.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marvin Rosenberg (Technical Information), Office of Economic Policy, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1283
William C. Booth (Technical Information), Office of Electric Power 
Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-0849

    By direction of the Commission.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-17167 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M