[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 18186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9779]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-179]


Application to Export Electric Energy; California Power Exchange 
Corp.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

AGENCY: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: California Power Exchange Corporation (PX), a non-profit 
public benefit corporation formed under California law, has submitted 
an application for authorization 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 May 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex (FE-27), Office of 
Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0350 (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 March 26, 1998, PX applied to the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) 
of the Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization to export electric 
energy to Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the FPA. The newly 
structured corporation does not own or control any electric generation 
or transmission facilities, nor does it have a franchised service area. 
The applicant claims that its purpose is to provide an efficient, 
competitive energy auction on a non-discriminatory basis to suppliers 
(``PX sellers'') and purchasers (``PX buyers''). The PX will manage the 
trading of power in the day ahead and hour ahead markets based on 
demand bids from PX buyers and generation bids from PX sellers. Based 
on these bids, the PX will determine market clearing prices for each of 
the hours of the 24 hour scheduling day, then conduct auctions under 
which PX sellers will sell power through the PX and PX buyers will 
purchase power through the PX. PX sellers and PX buyers will not 
contract directly with one another but with the PX. A portion of the 
power that is purchased through the PX will be purchased by the 
Comision Federal de Electricidad, the national electric utility of 
Mexico.
    The PX indicates that it controls the sale of the power to be 
exported. It will be the entity that will determine the quantity of 
power to be sold, to whom the power is to be sold (including sales to 
Mexico), and the price of such power to be sold. The PX members will 
not know the identity of the purchaser, but only the price that the PX 
sellers receive for the sale of their power.
    Transmission of the electric energy to be exported to Mexico will 
be scheduled by the PX and coordinated with the California Independent 
System Operator. Electric energy will be transmitted to Mexico using 
the international transmission facilities of San Diego Gas & Electric 
Company (SDG&E). SDG&E's international transmission facilities, as more 
fully described in the application, have been authorized by 
Presidential permits issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 10485, as 
amended by EO 12038.

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 
pactice and procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of 
such petitions, comments and protests should be filed with the DOE on 
or before the date listed above. Additional copies are to be filed 
directly with Dennis Loughridge, Chief Executive Officer, California 
Power Exchange Corp., 1000 South Fremont, A9W-5th Floor, Alhambra, CA 
91803 AND Edwin F. Feo, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, 601 South 
Figueroa, Suite 3000, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
    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, 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 April 8, 1998.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal and Power Im/Ex, 
Office of Coal and Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 98-9779 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P