[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35493-35494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17167]
[[Page 35493]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RM95-9-003]
Open Access Same-time Information System and Standards of
Conduct; Notice of Technical Conference and Clarification of Procedures
for Developing Scheduling Requirements
June 25, 1997.
Before Commissioners: James J. Hoecker, Chairman; Vicky A.
Bailey, William L. Massey, and Donald F. Santa, Jr.
Introduction
In order to assess the electric power industry's progress in
implementing the requirements of OASIS Phase I, review industry
proposals for revisions to these requirements in response to Order No.
889-A, review issues relating to the development of OASIS Phase II
requirements, and review how well OASIS is meeting the Commission's
goals for open access transmission and the industry's needs for a
functioning marketplace, we announce that the Commission's staff will
host a technical conference on July 18, 1997 at the Commission's
offices at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, starting at
10:00 a.m.
We also take this opportunity to provide some guidance as to the
development of electronic scheduling requirements for OASIS Phase II
implementation.
Background
The timetable for OASIS Phase I requirements and OASIS Phase II
development is discussed in both Order No. 889 and in Order No. 889-
A.\1\ Order No. 889 became effective on July 9, 1996 with compliance
due by January 3, 1997.\2\ Order No. 889-A became effective on May 13,
1997. In Order No. 889-A, the Commission requested that the How Working
Group address several issues in a report to the Commission due on or
before June 30, 1997.\3\ The Commission also requested that the
industry file a report with the Commission, on or before August 4,
1997, dealing with OASIS Phase II requirements.
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\1\ See Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards
of Conduct, Order No. 889, FERC Stats. & Regs. para.31.037, 61 FR
21,737, 21,762-63 (1996), order on reh'g, Order No. 889-A, FERC
Stats. & Regs. para.31,049, 62 FR 12,484, 12,501-03 (1997), reh'g
pending.
\2\ Extended from November 1, 1996, see Open Access Same-Time
Information System and Standards of Conduct, order granting request
for extension of time, 76 FERC para.61,305 (1996).
\3\ This report originally was due by June 2, 1997. However upon
consideration of a request from the How Working Group, the
Commission granted an extension, until June 30, 1997, for submittal
of the report.
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Technical Conference
The Commission's staff will convene a technical conference on OASIS
Phase I implementation and OASIS Phase II development. The following
issues will be discussed in a panel format:
I. Status of OASIS Phase I Implementation. The How Working
Group, the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), and
other interested persons are invited to discuss how well OASIS is
working and whether transmission providers are meeting their
obligations under the OASIS Phase I regulations.
II. Summary of How Working Group's June 30, 1997 Report. The How
Working Group, the Commercial Practices Working Group,\4\ and other
interested persons are invited to discuss the recommendations
contained in the June 30th report.
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\4\ This is an industry-created and industry-based group,
facilitated by NERC, comprised of representatives of various
industry segments working together on issues concerning electric
industry commercial practices. This group is a successor to the
OASIS What Working Group.
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III. OASIS Phase II. The How Working Group, the Commercial
Practices Working Group, NERC, and other interested persons are
invited to preview the industry's report on OASIS Phase II
requirements (due on or before August 4, 1997) and discuss what
steps should be taken to enhance OASIS and thereby fully realize the
Commission's open access goals and create a functional marketplace.
Persons wishing to speak on a panel at the technical conference
should submit a request to make a statement in Docket No. RM95-9-003.
The request must clearly identify the person desiring to speak and must
identify anyone whom the speaker represents. The request must also
include a brief [not to exceed 2 pages] synopsis of the issue or issues
the speaker wishes to address as well as the speaker's position on that
issue or issues. All requests must be filed with the Office of the
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street,
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426 on or before July 3, 1997. A notice
listing the speakers and panels for the technical conference will be
issued at a later date.
Broadcast of Technical Conference
If there is sufficient interest, the Capitol Connection will
provide a live broadcast of the technical conference to interested
persons. Persons interested in receiving the broadcast for a fee should
contact Shirley Al-Jarani by telephone at the Capitol Connection at
703-993-3100 by no later than July 3, 1997.
In addition, National Narrowcast Network's Hearings-On-The-Line
service covers all FERC meetings live by telephone so that interested
persons can listen to the proceedings from any telephone without
special equipment. Call 202-966-2211 for details. Billing is based on
time on-line.
Scheduling
A vitally important issue in the development to the OASIS Phase II
requirements is electronic scheduling of transactions. In Order No.
889, the Commission asked the industry to discuss adding scheduling to
the OASIS requirements in the report on OASIS Phase II requirements. In
Order No. 889-A, we further explained that the inclusion of scheduling
as part of the OASIS requirements would be addressed in Phase II.
The Commission's understanding is that NERC, on its own initiative,
has taken the lead in developing procedures for the electronic
scheduling of transactions. The Commission appreciates NERC's efforts
to develop an industry-wide electronic scheduling system. As with the
transmission reservation system (covered by the OASIS Phase I
requirements), proposed requirements and technical standards for an
industry-wide electronic scheduling system are subject to the
Commission's jurisdiction and review. The Commission must approve the
requirements and technical standards to ensure that they comply with
the Commission's comparable, open access policy. As with transmission
reservations, a standards industry-wide system for electronic
scheduling is needed to support the standards of conduct, functional
unbundling, and open access transmission.
The Commission accepted the industry's proposal for a phased
implementation of OASIS. Scheduling was put off until Phase II because
of the expected practical difficulties involved, and due to the
Commission's interest in having the basic OASIS requirements
implemented as expeditiously as possible. The proposed scheduling
standards must be filed with the Commission for review and approval
before they go into effect.
The Commission believes that transmission reservation and
scheduling are closely related. We are concerned that customers should
not be required to learn to use two different systems to reserve
capacity and to schedule power. Moreover, electronic scheduling should
be readily available to all segments of the electric power industry.
Like the Phase I OASIS, the system should be inexpensive and easy to
use. We invite NERC and other interested persons to discuss development
and
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implementation issues concerning electronic scheduling during the
discussion of OASIS Phase II at the technical conference.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marvin Rosenberg (Technical Information), Office of Economic Policy,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1283
William C. Booth (Technical Information), Office of Electric Power
Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street,
N.E., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-0849
By direction of the Commission.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-17167 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
