2019-08958. Application To Export Electric Energy; Luminant Energy Company LLC

AGENCY:

Office of Electricity, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION:

Notice of application.

SUMMARY:

Luminant Energy Company LLC (Applicant or LUME) has applied for authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

DATES:

Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before June 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for more information should be addressed to: Office of Electricity, Mail Code: OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0350. Because of delays in handling conventional mail, it is recommended that documents be transmitted by overnight mail, by electronic mail to [e-mail], or by facsimile to 202-586-8008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Energy (DOE) regulates exports of electricity from the United States to a foreign country, pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b) and 7172(f)). Such exports require authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).

On April 17, 2019, DOE received an application from LUME for authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada as a power marketer for a five-year term using existing international transmission facilities. The Applicant states that it is certified as a Qualified Scheduling Entity with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and that it is registered with the Public Utility Commission of Texas as a wholesale power marketer. LUME is also conditionally authorized to sell wholesale electric energy, capacity, and ancillary services outside of ERCOT at market-based rates pursuant to authority granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

In its application, the Applicant states that it “does not own any electric generation, transmission facilities, or distribution facilities and does not hold a franchise or service territory or native load obligation.” The electric energy that the Applicant proposes to export to Canada over international electric transmission facilities would be surplus energy acquired from U.S. generating sources. The existing international transmission facilities to be utilized by the Applicant have previously been authorized by Presidential permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended, and are appropriate for open access transmission by third parties.

Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this proceeding should file a comment or protest to the application at the address provided above. Protests should be filed in accordance with Rule 211 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become a party to this proceeding should file a motion to intervene at the above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Five (5) copies of such comments, protests, or motions to intervene should be sent to the address provided above on or before the date listed above.

Comments and other filings concerning LUME's application to export electric energy to Canada should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. EA-472. An additional copy is to be provided directly to both Jessica H. Miller, Vistra Energy, 1005 Congress Avenue, Suite 750, Austin, Texas 78701, and Tracey L. Bradley, Bracewell LLP, 2001 M Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036.

A final decision will be made on this application after the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) and after DOE determines that the proposed action will not have an adverse impact on the sufficiency of supply or reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system.

Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, for public inspection and copying at the address provided above, by accessing the program website at http://energy.gov/​node/​11845,, or by emailing Angela Troy at [e-mail].

Signed in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2019.

Christopher Lawrence,

Management and Program Analyst, Transmission Permitting and Technical Assistance, Office of Electricity.