[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 210 (Monday, November 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63384-63385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-2929]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD04-10-000]


Enhanced Reporting of Natural Gas Storage Inventory Information; 
Technical Conference and Agenda

September 17, 2004.
    As announced on August 2, 2004, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission) will hold a technical conference on September 
28, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. (e.s.t.) in the Commission Meeting Room at the 
Commission's headquarters, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC.
    The conference is intended to explore whether the Commission should 
institute a generic rulemaking to require interstate natural gas 
pipeline companies and other owners and operators of natural gas 
storage facilities to electronically post each day actual natural gas 
storage inventory levels on their systems for the preceding day. 
Specifically, the technical conference will look into the feasibility, 
usefulness and appropriateness of requiring posting on a standardized 
basis for the previous gas day: (1) Net aggregate actual injection or 
withdrawal data; (2) actual total available working gas; and (3) actual 
total storage inventory volume. The Commission's staff will conduct the 
conference and members of the Commission and guest Commissioners may 
attend.

Agenda for the Conference

William Hederman, Director, Office of Market Oversight & Investigations
    Opening Remarks 9:30 to 9:35 a.m.
John Kroeger, OMOI, Division of Enforcement
    Introduction to the Technical Conference 9:35 to 9:50 a.m.
Elizabeth Campbell, Director, Natural Gas Division, Energy Information
    Administration 9:50 to 10:10 a.m.
Panel 1: Interstate Storage Operators and Customers: 10:10 to 11 a.m.
    Process, Costs and Benefits

    Discussion of the feasibility, usefulness and appropriateness of 
posting on a standardized basis for the previous gas day: (1) Net 
aggregate actual injection or withdrawal data; (2) actual total 
available working gas; and (3) actual total storage inventory volume. 
Speakers will discuss costs of daily reporting, how the accuracy of 
reporting can be assured, and how corrections or adjustments to 
reported activity would be made. Speakers will also discuss the value 
of daily reporting and the benefits that pipeline customers and gas 
traders might receive from enhanced and timelier reporting.
     Anne Bomar, Managing Director of Rates, Dominion 
Transmission Inc.
     Jeff Keck, Manager of Operations Control, ANR.
     Arthur Corbin, President & General Manager, Municipal Gas 
Authority of Georgia (on behalf of American Public Gas Association).
     Gary Chapman, Senior Commercial Representative, Dow 
Chemical Co. (on behalf of Industrial Energy Consumers of America).

    Question and Answers 11 to 11:30 a.m.
    Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Panel 2: Intrastate and Local Distribution Company Storage
    Operators: Process, Costs and Benefits 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.

    Speakers are asked to address the same issues addressed by members 
of Panel 1. In addition, speakers are requested to address concerns 
triggered by the prospect of enhanced reporting that may be germane to 
the often differing obligations and business purposes of intrastate 
pipelines and local distribution companies relative to interstate 
pipeline companies. These concerns may include gas purchase activities 
and the legal authority of the Commission to impose enhanced reporting 
requirements on intrastate pipelines and local distribution companies 
that provide service pursuant to subpart C of part 284 of the 
Commission's regulations.
     Thomas Pearce, Chair of the Gas Staff Subcommittee of the 
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
     Rick Daniel, President, EnCana Gas Storage.
     Leonard Gilmore, Manager of Pipeline Regulation and Supply 
Planning, Northern Illinois Gas Company.
     David Taylor, Director of Gas Operations, Southern 
California Gas Company.
     Tim Oaks, Manager of Federal Regulatory Affairs & Contract 
Administration, UGI Utilities, Inc. (on behalf of the American Gas 
Association).

    Questions and Answers 1:20 to 1:50 p.m.

[[Page 63385]]

Panel 3: Use of Storage Data 2 to 3 p.m.

    Will daily posting contribute to market efficiency and reduce price 
volatility which occurs immediately following the EIA's release of its 
weekly storage report? Speakers will also discuss the value/benefits of 
enhanced reporting. Speakers will further discuss how storage inventory 
information is used and how that use might change with enhanced 
reporting.
     Robert Levin, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist, 
NYMEX Research Department.
     Rebecca Followill, Vice President, Howard Weil.
     Jim Avioli, Assets Manager--Natural Gas Storage, Unocal 
Midstream & Trade (on behalf of Natural Gas Supply Association).
     Martin Marz, Manager of Regulatory Affairs, BP Amoco.
     Arthur Gelber, President, Gelber and Associates.

    Questions and Answers 3 to 3:30 p.m.
    Concluding Remarks 3:35 to 3:45 p.m.
* * * * *
    As noted in the August 2, 2004, announcement of this conference, 
there is no charge to attend and no requirement to register in advance. 
The conference will be transcribed. Those interested in acquiring the 
transcript should contact Ace Reporters at (202) 347-3700 or (800) 336-
6646. Transcripts will be placed in the public record ten days after 
the Commission receives them.
    Capitol Connection offers the opportunity for remote listening and 
viewing of the conference. It is available for a fee, live over the 
Internet, by phone or via satellite. Persons interested in receiving 
the broadcast or who need information on making arrangements should 
contact David Reininger or Julia Morelli at Capitol Connection at (703) 
993-3100 as soon as possible or visit the Capitol Connection Web site 
at http://www.capitolconnection.org and click on ``FERC.''

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E4-2929 Filed 10-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P