[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43998-43999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21027]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
18 CFR Parts 141 and 388
[Docket No. RM95-9-000]
Real-Time Information Networks; Notice of Timetable and
Opportunity for Participation in Industry Working Groups
August 10, 1995.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of Timetable and Opportunity to Participate in Industry
Working Groups.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is issuing this
notice to announce the timetable for further actions in this docket and
the opportunity for participation in two industry working groups, with
expected representation from all segments of the electric industry, to
consider recommendations to the Commission concerning the requirements
for Real-Time Information Networks.
DATES: Any submittals from the working groups should be filed by
October 16, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 N. Capitol St.,
NE, Washington, D.C. 20426.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marvin Rosenberg (Technical Information), Office of Economic Policy,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street, NE.,
Washington, D.C. 20426, (202) 208-1283
William Booth (Technical Information), Office of Electric Power
Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol
Street, NE., Washington, D.C. 20426, (202) 208-0849
Gary D. Cohen (Legal Information), Electric Rates and Corporate
Regulation, Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 825 North Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426,
(202) 208-0321
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to publishing the full text of
this document in the Federal Register, the Commission also provides all
interested persons an opportunity to inspect or copy the contents of
this document during normal business hours
[[Page 43999]]
in Room 3104 at 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.
The Commission Issuance Posting System (CIPS), an electronic
bulletin board service, provides access to the text of formal documents
issued by the Commission. CIPS is available at no charge to the user
and may be accessed using a personal computer with a modem by dialing
(202) 208-1397. To access CIPS, set your communications software to
19200, 14400, 12000, 9600, 7200, 4800, 2400, or 1200 bps, full duplex,
no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit. The full text of this document
will be available on CIPS in ACSII and WordPerfect 5.1 format. The
complete text on diskette in WordPerfect format may also be purchased
from the Commission's copy contractor, La Dorn Systems Corporation,
also located in Room 3104, 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20426.
Real-time Information Networks; Notice of Timetable and Opportunity for
Participation in Industry Working Groups
[Docket No. RM95-9-000]
August 10, 1995.
On July 27, 1995, the Commission held an informal Technical
Conference \1\ to discuss, inter alia, the process for developing
requirements for Real-Time Information Networks (RINs).\2\
\1\ See 60 FR 17726 (April 7, 1995); 60 FR 33375 (June 28,
1995); and the unpublished notice of the preliminary agenda for the
Technical Conference (issued on July 19, 1995).
\2\ The Commission also previously announced, 60 FR at 17727-28,
that it expected to enlist working groups, operating in consultation
with Commission Staff, to reach consensus on RIN-related issues and
that it expected to have RIN requirements in place no later than the
date when it issues a final rule, in Docket No. RM95-8-000, an open
access transmission, 60 FR at 17728.
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Different panels representing a cross section of the electric
industry discussed the efforts of the industry to date, what industry
standards are needed, what information is needed on a RIN, how a RIN
should be structured, and what actions the Commission should next take
to resolve remaining issues and proceed to develop rules for RIN
requirements. In particular, the North American Electric Reliability
Council (NERC) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
described efforts they had been making, in conjunction with other
parties, to work on issues related to RINs development.
Chair Elizabeth Moler stated the Commission's intention of issuing
a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments
late in 1995 that will propose mandatory requirements for an
information system. She expressed the Commission's willingness to make
use of consensus proposals that are submitted in advance of the
supplemental NOPR in developing the proposed rule.
During the discussion at the Technical Conference, a consensus
developed that two industry working groups should be formed, one
dealing with ``what'' in formation should be posted on a RIN and the
other dealing with ``how'' to design a RIN to communicate this
information (interactively, if possible) to the industry and what, if
any, national standards this would require.
Based on the consensus of the participants at the Technical
Conference, the ``what'' group will be facilitated by the North
American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) \3\ and the ``how'' group
will be facilitated by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).\4\
Staff intends to consult and participate in the activities of both
working groups. Each working group will be composed of representatives
of all segments of the electric industry. The two working groups will
try to reach consensus on as many issues as possible and prepare
reports to the Commission describing all areas of consensus as well as
the issues where there are differences and what those differences are.
Any consensus proposals or other materials that a working group wishes
the Commission to consider in preparing the supplemental NOPR should be
filed with the Commission no later than October 16, 1995.
\3\ The NERC coordinator is Mr. David Nevius, telephone # (609)
452-8060, facsimile # (609) 452-9550.
\4\ The EPRI coordinator is Mr. Gerry Cauley, telephone # (415)
855-2832, facsimile # (415) 855-8997.
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Any working group reports submitted should be as specific as
possible and include draft regulations implementing the recommended RIN
requirements (and presenting alternative recommendations where
consensus has not been reached).
The discussion at the Technical Conference indicated that it may be
necessary to start out with a basic set of RIN requirements to be
effective as of the effective date of a final rule on non-
discriminatory open access transmission and stranded costs, with the
possibility of later enhancements or refinements. Thus, any working
group reports submitted should address whether the RIN requirements
should be implemented in phases, and, if so, what RIN requirements
should/must be included in the first phase. If the working group
reports recommend a phased approach, they should consider the timetable
for when basic and more complete systems can be developed and put in
place. Ideally, if RIN requirements are developed in phases, later
phases should make use of the investments made in earlier phases.
There was considerable discussion at the Technical Conference and
in comments about the need for a commercially workable definition of
``available transmission capacity.'' The report submitted by the
``what'' working group should address this issue and whether a phased
approach to this issue also is appropriate.
The working groups are encouraged to continue their efforts, after
the October 1995 submittals, to reach consensus on any remaining
issues.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-21027 Filed 8-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
