[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 67 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18078-18080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8461]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP00-129-000, CP00-130-000, and CP00-131-000]


Horizon Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Applications for 
Certificates

March 31, 2000.
    Take notice that on March 23, 2000, Horizon Pipeline Company, 
L.L.C. (Horizon or applicant), 747 E. 22nd Street, Lombard, Illinois 
60148--5072, filed applications pursuant to and in accordance with 
section 7(c) of the Natural Act (NGA). In Docket No. CP00-129-000, 
Horizon seeks a certificate of public convenience and necessity to 
construct and operate approximately 28.5 miles of new 36-inch 
interstate natural gas pipeline and compression facilities, lease 380 
MDth per day of firm capacity from Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America (Natural) \1\ on 42 miles of its existing pipeline, and provide 
firm compression service for Natural. Further, in Docket No. CP00-130-
000, Horizon requests a blanket certificate pursuant to Subpart F of 
Part 157 of the Commission's Regulations to perform certain routine 
activities and operations. In addition, in Docket No. CP00-131-000, 
Horizon seeks a blanket certificate pursuant to Subpart G of Part 284 
of the Commission's Regulations to provide open-access transportation 
of

[[Page 18079]]

natural gas for others. Horizon also seeks approval of its initial 
rates and pro forma tariff provisions included in its certificate 
application, all as more fully set forth in the applications which are 
on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing 
may be viewed on the web at http://www.herc.us/online/rims.htm (call 
202-208-2222).
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    \1\ Natural has filed simultaneously an application in Docket 
No. CP00-132-000 to abandon by lease to Horizon firm capacity and to 
construct and operate certain facilities.
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    Horizon is a limited liability company organized and existing under 
the laws of the State of Delaware. Horizon states that the two members 
of Horizon are Natural and Nicor-Horizon, Inc., a subsidiary of Nicor 
Inc. Horizon does not currently own any pipeline facilities and is not 
engaged in any natural gas transportation operations. Upon approval of 
the subject applications, Horizon will be a new interstate pipeline 
company subject to Commission jurisdiction under the NGA. Horizon 
proposes to provide gas transportation service from near Joliet, 
Illinois to near McHenry, Illinois. Horizon's proposed in-service date 
in April, 2002. Horizon requests that the Commission issue a 
preliminary determination on the non-environmental aspects of this 
proposal by September 15, 2000, and a final order granting the 
authorizations requested herein by March 1, 2001.
    Horizon states that its natural gas pipeline project (``Horizon 
Project'' or the ``Project'') will accommodate the continued growth and 
increasing need for additional gas supply in northern Illinois. The 
Horizon Project will consist of 71 miles of high pressure pipeline, of 
which, Horizon will construct 28.5 miles of 36-inch pipe \2\ and will 
use leased capacity from Natural along approximately 42 miles of 
Natural's existing pipe, a new compressor station with approximately 
8,900 horsepower located at Natural's existing Compressor Station No. 
113 (CS 113), meter stations, and mainline taps and valves along the 
new pipeline. Horizon's proposed compressor station will not only 
create the 380 MDth/d of leased capacity, but it will also provide 
Natural with the compression service needed to maintain Natural's 
current capacity along its south-to-north pipeline terminating near 
Volo, Illinois. Horizon will provide compression sufficient to allow 
Natural to move up to 170 MDth/d of its shipper customer's gas to Volo.
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    \2\ Horizon states that less than 2 miles of the total 28.5 
miles will involve greenfield right-of-way; about 22 miles of the 
total 28.5 miles will use existing electric transmission right-of-
way; 2 miles will be adjacent to existing pipeline right-of-way; and 
about 3 miles will be adjacent to existing pipeline right-of-way.
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    Horizon states that by leasing the 380 MDth per day of firm 
capacity from Natural, it will avoid the construction of 42 miles of 
new pipeline in a mostly congested area. Horizon has contacted with 
Natural for the leased capacity for an initial term of 20 years at 
$0.015 per Dth. According to Horizon, the lease payment will compensate 
Natural for its related costs in providing the lease capacity, 
including Natural's pro rata share of the fuel cost of Horizon's 
compression at CS 113 that it pays for the compression service provided 
by Horizon. Horizon states that Natural and its customers will not 
subsidize Horizon. Natural's capacity will not be decreased by the 
lease. Nor will Natural's customers suffer any economic detriment, 
because the revenues received by Natural will exceed the costs. Natural 
will continue to offer the same amount of capacity to its customers and 
they will continue to receive the same service at the same rates. 
Finally Horizon states that any costs that Natural incurs as a result 
of the Lease Agreement will be recovered through the lease payment from 
Horizon.
    Horizon estimates that the total cost of the Project will be 
$75,411,000, excluding AFUDC. Horizon is proposing a 60/40 debt to 
equity capital structure. Currently, Horizon has been financed by 
equity furnished by its members, after certificate authority is 
obtained, the project will be financed primarily with debt during the 
construction phase, and at the in-service date the construction debt 
will be replaced with long-term debt (10-year).
    Horizon held an open season between May 27 and June 25, 1999, as a 
result, Horizon has executed precedent agreements with two shippers for 
a total volume of 346 MDth/d firm service. According to Horizon, both 
shippers elected negotiated rates and a term of ten years. Horizon 
claims that one of the precedent agreements was executed with Nicor 
Gas, an affiliate of Nicor-Horizon, Inc., for the shipment of 300 MDth/
d on Horizon. Horizon contends that Nicor Gas selected Horizon to serve 
the growing needs of its service territory, where about 30,000 
customers are added each year. Horizon assert that there is a 
continuous increase in demand for natural gas in the northern counties 
of Illinois and the existing transportation service providers in the 
area are fully utilized, therefore there is a need for additional 
pipeline facilities. Horizon states that the second precedent agreement 
with Shipper A has been drafted to maintain its confidentiality because 
of the competitive nature of the electric power business. Horizon 
asserts that Shipper A is not affiliated with either of the Horizon 
members and that it has executed the precedent agreement for 46 MDth/d.
    Horizon is proposing to lease and construct as part of this project 
an additional 34 MDth/d of capacity that will be used to serve 
projected near term demand growth in either the residential or power 
generation markets. Horizon recognizes that it will be at risk for any 
non-utilization of such capacity, given the fact that its rates are 
based on the project's design capacity of 380 MDth/d. Horizon will 
offer firm transportation service under Rate Schedule FTS and 
interruptible transportation service under Rate Schedule ITS on an open 
access, nondiscriminatory basis pursuant to Part 284 of the 
Commission's Regulations, and in accordance with its pro forma FERC Gas 
Tariff included with the application. Horizon states that its rates 
under Rate Schedule FTS are traditional cost-of-service based rates, 
designed under the Straight Fixed Variable (SFV) rate design 
methodology. These cost-of-service rates are Horizon's recourse rates. 
Horizon's states that its pro forma tariff provides for the 
negotiation, on a nondiscriminatory basis, of rates that differ from 
Horizon's generally applicable recourse rates. Horizon states that the 
shippers will have access to alternative receipt and delivery points 
and may use a capacity release mechanism.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
James J. McElligott, Senior Vice President for Horizon, 747 East 22nd, 
Lombard, Illinois 60148 at (603) 691-3525, or Philip R. Telleen, 
Esquire, 747 East 22nd, Lombard, Illinois 60148 at (630) 691-3749.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to make protest with reference 
to said application should on or before April 21, 2000, file with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NW, Washington, 
DC 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the 
requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 
CFR 385.211 or 385.214) and the regulations under the Natural Gas Act 
(18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be 
considered by it in determining the appropriate action to be taken but 
will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding. The 
Commission's rules require that protestors provide copies of their 
protests to the party or parties directly involved. Any person wishing 
to become a party to a proceeding or to participate as a party in any 
hearing therein must file a

[[Page 18080]]

motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's rules.
    A person obtaining intervenor status will be placed on the service 
list maintained by the Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents filed by the Applicant and by every one of the intervenors. 
An intervenor can file for rehearing of any Commission order and can 
petition for court review of any such order. However, an intervenor 
must submit copies of comments or any other filing it makes with the 
Commission to every other intervenor in the proceeding, as well as 14 
copies with the Commission.
    A person does not have to intervene, however, in order to have 
comments considered. A person, instead, may submit two copies of 
comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Commenters will be placed 
on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of 
environmental documents and will be able to participate in meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on 
all other parties. However, commenters will not receive copies of all 
documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission and will 
not have the right to seek rehearing or appeal the Commission's final 
order to a federal court.
    The Commission will consider all comments and concerns equally, 
whether filed by commenters or those requesting intervenor status.
    Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in 
and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Commission by Sections 7 
and 15 of the NGA and the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 
a hearing will be held without further notice before the Commission or 
its designee on this application if no motion to intervene is filed 
within the time required herein, if the Commission on its own review of 
the matter finds that a grant of the certificate is required by the 
public convenience and necessity. If a motion for leave to intervene is 
timely filed, or if the Commission on its own motion believes that a 
formal hearing is required, further notice of such hearing will be duly 
given.
    Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, 
it will be unnecessary for Horizon to appear or be represented at the 
hearing.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-8461 Filed 4-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M