2018-21938. Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order: NorthWestern Corporation

Take notice that on October 2, 2018, pursuant to Rule 207 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.207(2018), NorthWestern Corporation (Petitioner) filed a petition for declaratory order (petition) requesting the Commission issue a declaratory order determining that (1) in periods when NorthWestern Corporation has excess generation and cannot back down its generation, the avoided cost for energy to Qualifying Facilities should be zero; and (2) nothing in Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, including the rule against non-discrimination in pricing of avoided cost, permits the establishment of a rate in excess of the utility's avoided cost, all as more fully explained in the petition.

Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in this proceeding must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Petitioner.

The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at http://www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests.

Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 5 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.

The filings in the above proceeding are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available for review in the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the website that enables subscribers to receive email notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please email [e-mail], or call [phone] (toll free). For TTY, call [phone].

Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 1, 2018.

Dated: October 3, 2018.

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.