[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 52121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25625]



[[Page 52121]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. EC01-156-000 and ER01-3154-000]


Alliant Energy Corporate Services, Inc., MidAmerican Energy 
Company, Xcel Energy Services, Inc., TRANSLink Transmission Company, 
LLC.; Notice of Filing

October 5, 2001.
    Take notice that on September 28, 2001, Alliant Energy Corporate 
Services, et al. (Applicants), tendered for filing a Joint Application 
for Authorization to Transfer and Consolidate Transmission Assets To 
and In an Independent Transmission Company, a pro forma Lease 
Agreement, a pro forma Private Power Participant Operating Agreement, a 
pro forma Public and Cooperative Power Participant Operating Agreement, 
and a pro forma Asset Contribution Agreement and an open access 
transmission tariff (TRANSLink Tariff).
    Applicants submitted an application, pursuant to Section 203 of the 
Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824b, for authorization to transfer 
control and, potentially, ownership, of certain transmission facilities 
to TRANSLink for the purpose of providing open access transmission 
service on an unbundled basis over these interconnected transmission 
facilities. To the extent necessary, the Applicants are also seeking 
authorization under Section 203 to consolidate in TRANSLink the 
operation of certain of the Private Power Participants' transmission 
facilities with those of Public Power Participants and the Cooperative 
Power Participant, including the planned consolidation of the 
Applicants' systems into a single electrical control area.
    Applicants also submitted several filings under Section 205 of the 
FPA, 16 U.S.C. 824d. The first of these is a proposed open access 
transmission tariff, pursuant to which TRANSLink will provide 
transmission service over the interconnected transmission facilities of 
the Applicants within the Midwest ISO region. The proposed TRANSLink 
Tariff includes all ancillary service schedules included in the Order 
No. 888 pro forma tariff. The proposed TRANSLink Tariff includes cost 
of service formula rates for the recovery of TRANSLink's costs of 
providing transmission service, including its costs of owning, 
operating and maintaining those transmission facilities that are 
transferred to it by the Applicants as well as the management fees of 
the TRANSLink Corporate Manager.
    Applicants have also submitted under Section 205 of the FPA a pro 
forma Asset Contribution Agreement, a pro forma Lease Agreement, and a 
pro forma Private Power Participant Agreement for the transfer of 
ownership or functional responsibility to TRANSLink of transmission 
facilities by jurisdictional public utilities. The pro forma agreements 
include cost of service formula rates for the calculation of the 
contribution fee, rental fee, or operating fee TRANSLink will pay to 
the respective Participant. Amounts payable under the agreement will be 
reflected in TRANSLink's transmission rates under the TRANSLink Tariff.
    In addition, filings were made under Section 205 of the FPA by 
TRANSLink, as contracts affecting TRANSLink's jurisdictional rates, of 
a pro forma Public and Cooperative Power Participant Operating 
Agreement. The agreement allows transfer to TRANSLink of functional 
responsibility for the transmission facilities of Public Power 
Participants and Cooperative Power Participants that are not 
jurisdictional ``public utilities.'' The pro forma Public and 
Cooperative Power Participant Operating Agreement is similar to the pro 
forma Private Power Participant Operating Agreement, but contains 
provisions appropriate to recognize the special requirements and 
limitations applicable to non-jurisdictional Participants. It includes 
formulas for the recovery of the transmission revenue requirements of 
each such Participant. In addition to the generic form of this pro 
forma agreement that TRANSLink intends to make available to additional 
public and cooperative power participants, a second version, tailored 
to address the unique limitations to which public power entities in 
Nebraska are subject as a result of restrictions in financing 
arrangements and state law, was also filed.
    Applicants request that the TRANSLink Tariff and the pro forma 
Lease Agreement, pro forma Private Power Participant Operating 
Agreement, pro forma Public and Cooperative Power Participant Operating 
Agreement, and pro forma Asset Contribution Agreement be accepted for 
filing effective on the date for initial commercial operations of 
TRANSLink, which is expected to be in the fourth quarter of 2002. The 
TRANSLink Participants respectfully request the Commission issue an 
order provisionally approving the TRANSLink rate schedules and 
transactions by December 31, 2001, so the transactions may be completed 
and TRANSLink may begin operations on the earliest possible date.
    The Applicants state that this filing has been served upon all 
customers taking service under an existing open access transmission 
tariff of one of its participants.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest such filing should 
file a motion to intervene or protest with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, in 
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). All such motions and 
protests should be filed on or before October 29, 2001. Protests will 
be considered by the Commission to determine the appropriate action to 
be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the 
proceedings. Any person wishing to become a party must file a motion to 
intervene. Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and 
are available for public inspection. This filing may also be viewed on 
the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket 
#'' and follow the instructions (call 202-208-2222 for assistance). 
Comments, protests and interventions may be filed electronically via 
the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's web site under the ``e-Filing'' link.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-25625 Filed 10-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P