[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 45047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12852]



[[Page 45047]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Electric Transmission Congestion Study

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the National Electric Transmission 
Congestion Study and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the ``Department'') gives notice 
that it has issued a National Electric Transmission Congestion Study 
(the ``Congestion Study'') and is seeking comments on the study and on 
the possible designation of national interest electric transmission 
corridors (National Corridors). The Congestion Study, including request 
for comments, is available at http://www.oe.energy.gov.

DATES: Written comments may be filed electronically in MS Word and PDF 
formats. Comments regarding the Congestion Study should be e-mailed to 
[email protected]. Comments regarding the 
designations should be e-mailed to [email protected]. Comments 
should be received no later than 5 p.m. EDT October 10, 2006. Also, 
comments can be filed by mail at the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments via mail should be submitted to: Office of 
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, Attention: 1221 
Comments, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6H050, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.


    Note: U.S. Postal Service mail sent to the Department continues 
to be delayed by several weeks due to security screening. Electronic 
submission is therefore encouraged. Copies of written comments 
received and other relevant documents and information may be 
reviewed at http://www.oe.energy.gov.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Poonum Agrawal, Office Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-1411, 
[email protected], or Lot Cooke, Office of General Counsel, GC-
76, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
0503, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1221(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct a nationwide study of 
electric transmission congestion. The Congestion Study was to be 
completed within one year of enactment of the Energy Policy Act and 
subsequently updated every three years. Based upon the Congestion 
Study, the Secretary may designate any geographic area experiencing 
electric energy transmission capacity constraints or congestion that 
adversely affects consumers as a National Corridor.
    The first Congestion Study has been completed and issued by the 
Secretary of Energy. The study is available for review at the website 
listed above. Based on the study, the Department found three classes of 
congestion areas that merit further federal attention: Critical 
Congestion Areas, Congestion Areas of Concern, and Conditional 
Congestion Areas. These areas are identified and discussed in Section 5 
of the study. The Department is considering designating National 
Corridors in the areas identified as Critical Congestion Areas.
    The Department is seeking comments from interested persons on the 
National Electric Transmission Congestion Study, on future steps for 
identifying and addressing electric transmission congestion, and on the 
possible designation of National Corridors in Critical Congestion 
Areas. Section 6 of the study details the comments the Department is 
seeking.

     Issued in Washington, DC on August 2, 2006.
Kevin Kolevar,
Director, Office of Electricity Delivery, and Energy Reliability.
 [FR Doc. E6-12852 Filed 8-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P