2019-11044. Application To Export Electric Energy; Idaho Power Company

AGENCY:

Office of Electricity, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION:

Notice of application.

SUMMARY:

Idaho Power Company (Applicant or Idaho Power) 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 27, 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 May 13, 2019, DOE received an application from Idaho Power 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. Idaho Power's application “requests authorization only to export excess generated or purchased energy that will not impair its ability to meet native load demands, regional load obligations, or prospective wholesale power-supply responsibilities.”

In its application, Idaho Power states that it is “engaged in the business of generating, purchasing, transmitting, and distributing electrical energy.” The electric energy that Idaho Power proposes to export to Canada would be surplus energy sold pursuant to voluntary bilateral contracts with electric utilities and other suppliers within the United States. 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 Idaho Power's application to export electric energy to Canada should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. EA-475. An additional copy is to be provided directly to both Julia Hilton, Idaho Power Company, 1221 West Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 and Jaren Wieland, Mooney Wieland PLLC, 405 South 8th Street, Suite 295, Boise, Idaho 83702.

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 May 22, 2019.

Christopher Lawrence,

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