[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56154-56155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28638]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-58-F]


Application to Amend Export Authorization; The Detroit Edison 
Company

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: The Detroit Edison Company has filed, on behalf of itself and 
Consumers Energy Company, an application for removal of the annual 
limitation on the existing authorization permitting Detroit Edison and 
Consumers Energy to export electric energy to Ontario Hydro.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before November 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal and Power Systems (FE-27), Office 
of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.

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 October 16, 1997, The Detroit Edison Company (``Detroit 
Edison'') applied on behalf of itself and Consumers Energy Company 
(``Consumers'') for removal of the annual limitation on their existing 
authorization (FE Docket EA-58-E) to export electricity to Ontario 
Hydro, a Canadian Provincial utility. The existing authorization, 
issued by the Federal Power Commission on October 20, 1972, allows 
Detroit Edison and Consumers (together ``Michigan Companies'') to 
export to Ontario Hydro up to 4,000,000,000 kilowatt hours (kWhr) of 
electric energy annually at a maximum rate of 2,200,000,000 volt-
amperes (2,200 MVA). Based on emergency situations or other unusual 
circumstances, the Department of Energy (``DOE'') has granted several 
temporary waivers of this limit. By this application, the Michigan 
Companies request that DOE remove the annual energy export limitation 
on a permanent basis.
    In their application, the Michigan Companies assert that 
reliability will not be adversely affected by the removal of the annual 
energy export limitation, coordination among the Michigan Companies and 
Ontario Hydro can be increased, and that there will be no adverse 
impacts from removing the 4,000,000,000 kWhr limitation. The Michigan 
Companies do not propose to modify the 2,200,000 kVa limitation on the 
rate of export, and they represent that they will apply that limitation 
on a scheduled basis to mitigate loopflow on other systems as a result 
of increased energy exports to Canada.
    The electrical systems of the Michigan Companies and Ontario Hydro 
presently are interconnected at four points on the U.S.-Canada border. 
Each interconnection has been authorized by a Presidential permit 
issued under Executive Order 10485.

Procedural Matters

    Any persons desiring to become a party to these proceedings 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 D. McGrane, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1800 M Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20036-5869; Raymond O. Sturdy, Jr., The Detroit Edison 
Company, 2000 Second Avenue--688WCB, Detroit, Michigan, 48226-1279; 
William M. Lange, Consumers Energy Company, 1016 16th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20036; and Wayne A. Kirkby, Consumers Energy Company, 
212 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson, Michigan 49201.
    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.


[[Page 56155]]


    Issued in Washington, DC on October 23, 1997.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex, 
Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 97-28638 Filed 10-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M