[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 119 (Friday, June 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37092-37094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13106]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Southeastern Power Administration


Revision to Power Marketing Policy Kerr-Philpott System of 
Projects

AGENCY: Southeastern Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed revision to power marketing policy.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to its Procedure for Public Participation in the 
Formulation of Marketing Policy, published in the Federal Register of 
July 6, 1978, Southeastern Power Administration (Southeastern or SEPA) 
published on November 15, 2019, a notice of intent to revise its power 
marketing policy to include provisions regarding renewable energy 
certificates (RECs) from its Kerr-Philpott System of Projects (Kerr-
Philpott System). The current power marketing policy was published on 
July 29, 1985, for the Kerr-Philpott System and is reflected in 
contracts for the sale of system power, which are maintained in 
Southeastern's headquarters office. The following is the proposed 
revision to the Kerr-Philpott System Power Marketing Policy to include 
a procedure for distribution of RECs to Preference Customers. 
Southeastern solicits written comments in formulating the final 
marketing policy revision.

DATES: A public information and comment forum will be held in Boydton, 
Virginia, at 1:00 p.m. on August 18, 2020. Persons desiring to attend 
the forum should notify Southeastern by August 10, 2020, so that a list 
of forum participants can be prepared. Persons desiring to speak at the 
forum should specify this in their notification to Southeastern; others 
may speak if time permits. Written comments are due September 2, 2020, 
fifteen (15) days after the scheduled comment forum.

ADDRESSES: Five copies of written comments should be submitted to: 
Herbert R. Nadler, Acting Administrator, Southeastern Power 
Administration, Department of Energy, 1166 Athens Tech Road, Elberton, 
Georgia 30635-6711, and emailed to [email protected]. The public 
information and comment forum for the revision of the Kerr-Philpott 
System power marketing policy to include provisions for renewable 
energy certificates will be at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, J. H. 
Kerr Reservoir Visitor Assistance Center, 1930 Mays Chapel Road, 
Boydton, Virginia 23917, Phone: (434) 738-6143. If travel restrictions 
occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic on August 18, 2020, the comment 
forum will be held as a webinar on the same date and time. Please 
register your intent to attend, including name, address, phone number, 
and email address, with Southeastern's Legal Assistant at 
[email protected], to receive updates on the meeting status of 
the comment forum. Registered attendees will be contacted on August 11, 
2020, regarding meeting updates and call-in information, if held by 
webinar.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon Jourolmon IV, General Counsel, 
Southeastern Power Administration, 1166 Athens Tech Road, Elberton, GA 
30635, (706) 213-3800, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Pursuant to its Procedure for 
``Public Participation in Formulation of Marketing Policy'' published 
in the Federal Register on July 6, 1978, 43 FR 29186, Southeastern 
published a ``Notice of Issuance of Final Power Marketing Policy, Kerr-
Philpott System of Projects'' in the Federal Register on July 29, 1985, 
50 FR 30751. The policy establishes the marketing area for system power 
and addresses the utilization of area utility systems for essential 
purposes. The policy also addresses wholesale rates, resale rates, and 
conservation measures, but does not address renewable energy 
certificates. Under Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 
U.S.C. 825s), Southeastern is responsible for the transmission and 
disposition of electric power and energy from reservoir projects 
operated by the Department of the Army. Furthermore, Southeastern must 
transmit and dispose of such power and energy in such manner as to 
encourage the most widespread use at the lowest possible rates to 
consumers consistent with sound business principles. Rate schedules 
shall be drawn to recover all costs associated with producing and 
transmitting the power in accordance with repayment criteria
    All documents introduced at the public information and comment 
forum, and all comments, questions and answers will be available for 
inspection and copying in accordance with the Freedom of Information 
Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

Public Notice and Comment

    On November 15, 2019, Southeastern published in the Federal 
Register, 84 FR 62519, a ``Notice of Intention to begin a public 
process'' to revise its marketing policy by including provisions 
regarding renewable energy certificates from its Kerr-Philpott System. 
The notice requested that written comments and proposals be submitted 
on or before January 14, 2020. All comments received are summarized and 
answered in the following section.

Staff Review of Comments

    Written comments were received from one source, Southeastern 
Federal Power Customers, Inc. (SeFPC), and are summarized below. 
Southeastern's response follows each comment.

Comment 1: Precedential Effect

    At the outset, the SeFPC recognizes that SEPA is only revising the 
marketing policy for the Kerr-Philpott system of

[[Page 37093]]

projects. However, the precedent set by these revisions may apply to 
other marketing areas which requires due care to ensure that the 
approach adopted by SEPA can be adopted and modified as appropriate for 
other marketing areas. Moreover, SEPA should explain that the 
development of a REC policy and allocation of RECs to existing 
customers does not change the Administrator's prior determinations on 
power allocations within the marketing area.
    Response 1: Southeastern's proposal addresses only changes to the 
Kerr-Philpott System marketing policy. Revisions to other marketing 
policies would involve a similar public process to allow comments from 
interested parties. The revision would not change the Administrator's 
prior determinations regarding power allocations within the marketing 
area. Southeastern recognizes that policy decisions within the Kerr-
Philpott System may be taken into account in Southeastern's development 
of subsequent proposals. Southeastern believes that many of the 
principles used may be used in other systems; however, as Renewable 
Energy Certificates are defined on a state-by-state basis with a 
variety of generation requirements and reporting systems, a uniform 
policy is not possible.

Comment 2: Eligible Customers

    The RECs which will be made available under this new policy should 
be offered to all eligible customers. Here, we suggest that SEPA 
clarify that eligible recipients of RECs are limited to existing power 
customers with an allocation in that specific marketing area.
    Response 2: The Renewable Energy Certificates for the Kerr-Philpott 
System would be distributed to Kerr-Philpott preference customers based 
upon the amount of energy sold to each customer during a quarterly 
period.

Comment 3: Flexibility and Optionality

    The REC policy adopted by SEPA must incorporate flexibility to 
allow for customers to utilize RECs to the maximum benefit for each 
customer. As a starting premise, SEPA should offer RECs to each 
available customer to determine how to utilize the RECs for optimum 
benefit. If a customer declines to take possession of its REC 
entitlement, SEPA should offer to sell the RECs on behalf of that 
customer and credit the customer's bill accordingly. Additionally, 
SeFPC suggests SEPA offer individual customers the option to transfer 
RECs to wholesale power providers that meet the definition of a 
preference customer but are not the counterparty to the power supply 
contract with SEPA.
    Response 3: The proposal would allow for flexibility while limiting 
the transactional costs for Southeastern. Customers would be able to 
accept RECs directly or designate third-parties to receive the REC 
distributions. Southeastern does not propose to sell any RECs at this 
time. Southeastern reserves the right to distribute RECs that have been 
declined at a later date.

Comment 4: Relationship to Laws and Regulations

    SEPA must ensure the revised Kerr-Philpott System power marketing 
policy adheres to current SEPA regulations and contracts, as well as 
current state, federal, and local laws. Such a practice will support 
consistency and clarity within SEPA's marketing areas. Additionally, 
SeFPC suggests SEPA work with individual customers to ensure that RECs 
sourced from a particular balancing/marketing area will be eligible to 
qualify under state programs.
    Response 4: Southeastern will adhere to all applicable statutes, 
regulations, and contracts. Southeastern will assist Kerr-Philpott 
System customers in gaining value from REC distributions through state 
renewable energy programs by providing data for the registration of the 
generating resources with state programs where applicable.

Comment 5: Term

    The REC policy and availability of RECs should track the term of 
the power supply agreements in place with a power customer. In 
particular, RECs should be available for the duration of the agreement 
and subject to recall by SEPA only in the event that the power customer 
ceases to buy capacity and energy from SEPA.
    Response 5: The proposal is for a distribution to preference 
customers based upon energy sales during the prior quarter.

Comment 6: Billing and Costs

    Because SEPA will incur no direct expense in allocating available 
RECs, the policy should clarify that RECs are provided at no cost to 
requesting customers. To the extent that a customer declines to take 
possession of a REC and relies on SEPA to sell the REC, a separate line 
item should be included on that customer's bill setting forth the 
benefit received and the costs directly attributable to sale of RECs 
for that particular customer.
    Response 6: The administrative costs to maintain the PJM-GATS 
membership and fees for creation and distribution of the certificates 
would be allocated over the entire Kerr-Philpott System. Southeastern 
would not establish any rate schedules for RECs. Southeastern would not 
sell any RECs.

Comment 7: Further Review and Comment

    The recommendations set forth above provide a general framework for 
SEPA to consider in drafting the policy. As the policy is prepared in a 
more detailed format, the SeFPC reserves the right to provide 
additional comments and clarifications to the points raised above.
    Response 7: Southeastern will accept comments from interested 
parties including SeFPC and its members until 15 days after the 
announced Public Information and Comment Forum. Written comments must 
be submitted on or before September 2, 2020.

Proposed Revision to the Power Marketing Policy

    Kerr-Philpott System: The Kerr-Philpott System consists of two 
projects, the John H. Kerr Project (Kerr) and the Philpott Project 
(Philpott). The power from the projects is currently marketed to 
Preference Customers located in the service areas of Dominion Energy, 
Duke Energy Progress, American Municipal Power and American Electric 
Power. Both projects are located within the current PJM 
Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) footprint. Southeastern owns no 
transmission assets and is reliant on PJM transmission resources to 
deliver power and energy from the projects. As such, Southeastern 
became a PJM market participant member in 2005.
    Southeastern proposes to revise the Power Marketing Policy for the 
Kerr-Philpott System to include the following additional provisions for 
RECs associated with hydroelectric generation:
    Renewable Energy Certificates: The Generation Attribute Tracking 
System (GATS) of PJM Environmental Information Services, Inc. (PJM-EIS) 
creates and tracks certificates reporting generation attributes, by 
generating unit, for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy produced by 
registered generators. PJM-EIS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PJM 
Connext, L.L.C., itself a subsidiary of PJM. Both the Kerr and Philpott 
projects are registered generators within GATS. The RECs potentially 
satisfy Renewable Portfolio Standards, state policies, and other 
regulatory or voluntary clean energy standards in a number of states. 
Southeastern has subscribed to GATS and has an account in which RECs 
are collected and tracked for each MWh of energy produced from Kerr and

[[Page 37094]]

Philpott. Within GATS, certificates can be transferred to other GATS 
subscribers or to a third-party tracking system.
    As defined by the PJM-GATS Terms, ``Certificates'' refers to a GATS 
electronic record of generation data representing all of the Attributes 
from one MWh of electricity generation from a Generating Unit 
registered with the GATS tracking system. The GATS will create exactly 
one Certificate per MWh of generation. These certificates may be used 
by electricity suppliers and other energy market participants to comply 
with relevant state policies and regulatory programs and to support 
voluntary ``green'' electricity markets.
    Southeastern proposes distribution of the GATS-created REC to 
Preference Customers with allocations of power from the Kerr-Philpott 
System.
    REC Distribution: Southeastern shall maintain an account with GATS 
and collect RECs from the generation at the Kerr and Philpott projects. 
Southeastern will verify the total amount of RECs each month. 
Preference Customers with an allocation of power from the Kerr-Philpott 
System are eligible to receive RECs by transfer from Southeastern's 
GATS account to their GATS account or that of their agent. GATS (or a 
successor application) will be the transfer mechanism for all RECs 
related to the Kerr-Philpott System. Any further transfer, sale, use, 
or trade transaction would be the sole responsibility of a Preference 
Customer. Southeastern will summarize RECs by month for calendar year, 
quarterly distribution to customers through GATS. Southeastern will 
determine a total number of RECs to transfer to each customer based on 
the customer's monthly invoices during the same three-month period. 
RECs will be project-specific based on the customer's applicable 
contractual arrangements. Thus, customers receiving energy from 
Philpott will receive equivalent RECs from Philpott, and customers 
receiving energy from Kerr will receive equivalent RECs from Kerr.
    All RECs distributed by Southeastern shall be transferred within 
thirty days of the end of the calendar year quarter (quarterly 
distribution month). Each customer must submit to Southeastern, by the 
tenth day of a quarterly distribution month, the name, contact 
information, and identification number of the GATS account to which the 
RECs are to be transferred initially and for any quarterly distribution 
month in which the account for transfer changes. The account may be 
held by a third party. If the customer fails to designate an account by 
the tenth day of the quarterly distribution month, those RECs shall not 
be distributed until the following quarter. Any RECs that were not 
transferred because a transfer account was not provided to Southeastern 
will be forfeited if they become non-transferable in the GATS Terms of 
Use procedures, policies, or definitions of Reporting and Trading 
Periods, or any subsequent rules and procedures for transfers as 
established.
    The initial transfer process in GATS will be accomplished by the 
thirtieth day after the end of the first completed calendar year 
quarter subsequent to publication of the final policy revision. Any 
balance of RECs that exist in Southeastern's GATS account, other than 
the first quarter after policy revision publication, may also be 
transferred to Preference Customers according to the customer's 
invoiced energy at the time of the REC creation.
    Rates: No rates shall be established by Southeastern for RECs 
transferred to Preference Customers. Any cost to Southeastern, such as 
the GATS subscription, will be incorporated into marketing costs and 
included in recovery through the energy and capacity rates of the Kerr-
Philpott System.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on June 11, 
2020, by Herbert R. Nadler, Acting Administrator, Southeastern Power 
Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of 
Energy. That document, with the original signature and date, is 
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance 
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 12, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-13106 Filed 6-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P