[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63425-63426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30370]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Parts 161, 250, and 284

[Docket No. RM98-10-000]


Regulation of Short-term Natural Gas Transportation Services; 
Notice of Staff Conference on Pipeline Capacity Auctions

November 6, 1998.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of staff conference on 
pipeline capacity auctions.

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SUMMARY: The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is 
holding a conference to discuss pipeline capacity auctions as 
contemplated in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), issued on 
July 29, 1998. 63 FR 42982 (Aug. 11, 1998). The scope of the conference 
includes all issues raised by

[[Page 63426]]

the auction proposed in the NOPR and will consist of panel discussions 
and presentations.

DATES: December 8, 1998, 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Zerby, Office of Pipeline Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426, 202-208-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to publishing the full text of 
this document in the Federal Register, the Commission also provides all 
interested persons an opportunity to inspect or copy the contents of 
this document during normal business hours in the Public Reference Room 
at 888 First Street, N.E., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
    The Commission Issuance Posting System (CIPS) provides access to 
the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission. CIPS can be 
accessed via Internet through FERC's Homepage (http://www.ferc.fed.us) 
using the CIPS Link or the Energy Information Online icon. The full 
text of this document will be available on CIPS in ASCII and 
WordPerfect 6.1 format. CIPS is also available through the Commission's 
electronic bulletin board service at no charge to the user and may be 
accessed using a personal computer with a modem by dialing 202-208-
1397, if dialing locally, or 1-800-856-3920, if dialing long distance. 
To access CIPS, set your communications software to 19200, 14400, 
12000, 9600, 7200, 4800, 2400, or 1200 bps, full duplex, no parity, 8 
data bits and 1 stop bit. User assistance is available at 202-208-2474 
or by E-mail to [email protected].
    This document is also available through the Commission's Records 
and Information Management System (RIMS), an electronic storage and 
retrieval system of documents submitted to and issued by the Commission 
after November 16, 1981. Documents from November 1995 to the present 
can be viewed and printed. RIMS is available in the Public Reference 
Room or remotely via Internet through FERC's Homepage using the RIMS 
link or the Energy Information Online icon. User assistance is 
available at 202-208-2222, or by E-mail to [email protected].
    Finally, the complete text on diskette in WordPerfect format may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, RVJ International, 
Inc. RVJ International, Inc. is located in the Public Reference Room at 
888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426.

Regulation of Short-Term Natural Gas Transportation Services

    Take notice that on December 8, 1998, the staff of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission will hold a conference to discuss pipeline 
capacity auctions as contemplated in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NOPR), issued on July 29, 1998.\1\ The conference will begin at 9:30 
a.m. at the Commission's offices, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, 
DC, in the Commission Meeting Room. All interested persons are invited 
to attend and participate. The purpose of this conference is to enable 
the industry to discuss with staff, as well as with each other, issues 
relating to auctions as proposed in the NOPR.
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    \1\ Regulation of Short-Term Natural Gas Transportation 
Services, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 63 FR 42982 (Aug. 11, 
1998), IV FERC Stats. & Regs. Proposed Regulations para. 32,533 
(July 29, 1998).
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    The scope of the conference includes all issues raised by the 
auction proposed in the NOPR. These would include: how an auction might 
affect pipeline cost recovery, including issues of rate design, reserve 
prices, and access charges; how pre-arranged capacity release 
transactions could be accommodated within an auction; how a capacity 
auction could coordinate with gas purchasing and risk management 
practices as well as with the acquisition and scheduling of capacity on 
interconnecting pipelines and local distribution companies; how 
auctions affect transaction costs; and how to determine the extent of 
available capacity as well as the types of capacity that should be 
included in the auction. The conference is intended to stimulate 
comment and discussion between staff and the industry on all aspects of 
the auction proposal in the NOPR, but any staff comments will not 
necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission or any Commissioner.
    The conference will consist of roundtable discussions and 
presentations. Parties interested in making presentations and/or 
participating in the discussions should indicate their interest by 
November 20, 1998, by a letter addressed to the Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 
20426, and should refer to Docket No. RM98-10-000. Upon receipt of 
these requests, a later notice will be issued providing further details 
about how the conference is to be organized.
    An overhead projector will be made available at the conference. If 
participants require additional audiovisual services, the need to 
provide notice of their request in their letter to the Secretary to 
ensure that it can be accommodated.
    The Capitol Connection may broadcast this conference in the 
Washington, D.C. area if there is sufficient interest. For those 
outside the Washington, D.C. area, the Capitol Connection may broadcast 
the conference live via satellite for a fee if there is sufficient 
interest to justify the cost. To indicate interest in either the local 
or national braodcast, please call Shirley AlJarani or Julia Morelli at 
the Capitol Connection (703-993-3100) as soon as possible, or e-mail to 
[email protected].
    In addition, National Narrowcast Network's Hearing-On-The-line 
service covers all FERC meetings live by telephone so that interested 
persons can listen at their desks, from their homes, or from any phone, 
without special equipment. Billing is based on time on-line. Call 202-
966-2211 for further details.
    Questions about the conference should be directed to: Elizabeth 
Zerby, Office of Pipeline Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NW., Washington, DC 20426, 202-208-1181.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-30370 Filed 11-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M