Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 1990 / Notices

sheets to Original Volume No.1 of its

FERC Gas Tariff:

To be effective October 1, 199k

Alternate Eighth Revised Sheet No. 6

To be effective November 1, 1990.

Ninth Revised Sheet No. 8

Viking states that the purpose of the

revisions on Ninth Revised Sheet No. 0

is to institute the Annual PGA pursuant

to Article XVII of the General Terms

and Conditions of Viking's Tariff.

Alternate Eighth Revised Sheet No. 6 is

being filed to reflect a new Annual

Charge Adjustment under Viking's

current rates.

Viking states that the Current

Purchased Gas Cost Rate Adjustments

reflected on Ninth Revised Sheet No. 6

consist of a $.3451 per dekatherm

adjustment to the gas rate, a $.0436 per

dekatherm adjustment to Rate Schedule

SR-1, and a $.53 per dekatherm

adjustment applicable to the Di

component of the demand rates.

Viking states that the revisions also

reflect a $(.1411) per dekatherm

surcharge adjustment to the gas rates

and a $1.13 per dekatherm surcharge

adjustment to the demand D1 for

amortizing the Unrecovered Gas Cost

Account.

Viking states that copies of the filing

have been mailed to all of its

jurisdictional customers and affected

state regulatory commissions.

Any person desiring to be heard or to

protest said filing should file a motion to

intervene or protest with the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission, 825

North Capitol Street NE., Washington,

DC 20426, in accordance with rules 211

and 214 of the Commission's Rules of

Practice and Procedure. All such

motions or protests should be filed on or

before September 25, 1990. Protests will

be considered by the Commission in

de'rarmining 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 motion to intervene;

provided, however, that any person who

had previously filed a motion to

intervene in this proceeding is not

required to file a further petition. Copies

of this filing are on file with the

Commission and are available for public

inspection.

Linwood A. Watson, jr,

Act ing.Secretary.

[FR Doc. 90-21343 Filed 9--11-90; 8:45 am.]

SIWfG C 6747-04-a

Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Application for

Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver

of Furnace Test Procedures from

Rheem Manufacturing Company (F025)

AGENCY: Conservation and Renewable

Energy Office, Department of Energy.

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a

letter granting an Interim Waiver to

Rheem Manufacturing Company

(Rheem) from the existing Department of

Energy (DEO) test procedures for

furnaces regarding blower time delay for

the company's GEC(-) upflow models

and GKB(-) downflow models of

condensing gas furnaces.

Today's notice also publishes a

"Petition for Waiver" from Rheem.

Rheem's Petition for Waiver requests

DOE to grant relief from the DOE test

procedures relating to the blower time

delay specification. Rheem seeks to test

using a blower delay time of 30 seconds

for GEC(-) and CKB(-) condensing

gas furnaces instead of the specified 1.5

minute delay between burner on-time

and blower on-time. DOE is soliciting

comments, data, and information

respecting the Petition for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data,

and information not later than October

12, 1990.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy. Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Case No. F-025, Mail

Stop CE-43, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independent Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Mail Station, CE43, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127.

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

of Energy, Office of General Counsel,

Mail Station, GC-12, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585. (202)

586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products (other than

automobiles) was established pursuant

to the Energy Policy and Conservation

Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat.

917, as amended by the National Energy

Conservation Policy Act (NECPA),

37521

Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the.

National Appliance Energy

Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA),

Public Law 100-12, and the National

Appliance Energy Conservation

Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988),

Public Law 100-357, which requires DOE

to prescribe standardized test

procedures to measure the energy

consumption of certain consumer

products, including furnaces. The intent

of the test procedures is to provide a

compatible measure of energy

consumption that will assist consumers

in making purchasing decisions. The test

procedures appear at 10 CPR part 430,

subpart B.

'DOE has amended the prescribed test

procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on

September 26, 1980, creating the waiver

process. 45 FR 84108. DOE further

amended its appliance test procedure

waiver to allow the Assistant Secretary

for Conservation and Renewable Energy

(Assistant Secretary) to grant an interim

waiver from test procedure requirements

to manufacturers that have petitioned

DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test

procedures..51 FR 43823, November 28,

1986.

The waiver process allows the

Assistant Secretary to waive

temporarily test procedures for a

particular basic model when a petitioner

shows that the basic model contains one

or more.design characteristics which

prevent testing according to the

prescribed test procedures or when the

prescribed test procedures may evaluate

the basic model in a manner so

unrepresentative of its true energy

consumption as to provide materially

inaccurate comparative data. Waivers

generally remain in effect until final test

procedure amendments become

effective, resolving the problem that is

the subject of the waiver.

The interim waiver provisons, added

by the 1986 amendment, allow the'

Assistant Secretary to grant an interim

waiver when it is determined that the

applicant will experience hardship if the

Application for Interim Waiver is

denied, if it appears likely that the

petition for waiver will be granted, and/

or the Assistant Secretary determines

that it would be desirable for public

policy reasons to grant immediate relief

pending a determination on the petition

for waiver. An interim Waiver remains

in effect for a period of 180 days or until

DOE issues its determination, and may

be extended for an additional 180 days

if necessary.

On June 1, 1990, Rheem filed an

Application for an Interim Waiver

regarding blower time-delay. Rheem's

Application seeks an interim waiver

HeinOnline -- 55 Fed. Reg. 37521 1990

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 40
37522 Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 1990 / Notices

from the DOE test provisions that

require a 1.5 minute time delay between

the ignition of the burner and starting of

the circulating air blower. Instead,

Rheem requests the allowance to test

using a 30 second blower time delay

when testing is GEC(-) and GKB(-)

condensing gas furnaces. Rheem states

that the 30 second delay is indicative of

how these furnaces actually operate.

Such a delay results in an energy

savings of approximately 2.0 percent.

Since current DOE test procedures do

not address this variable blower time

delay, Rheem asks that the interim

waiver be granted.

Previous waivers for this type of

timed blower delay control have been

granted by the Department to the

Coleman Company, S0 FR 2710, January

18,1985, Magic Chef Company, 50 FR

41553, October 11, 1985, Rheem

Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574,

December 1, 1988, and 55 FR 3253,

January 31,1990, Trane Company, 54 FR

19226, May 4,1989, DMO Industries, 55

FR 4004, February 6, 1990, Hell-Quaker

Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April 9,1990,

Dear Mr. Canclini: This is in response to

your June 1, 1990, Application for Interim

Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the

Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures

for furnaces when testing Rheem

Manufacturing Company GEC(-) and

GKB(-) condensing gas furnaces regarding

blower time delay.

Pursuant to the Energy Policy and

Conservation Act, as amended, DOE has

prescribed test procedures to measure the

energy consumption of certain major

household appliances, including furnaces.

The intent of the test procedures is to provide

a comparable measure of energy

consumption that will assist consumers in

making purchase decisions. These test

procedures appear in the Code of Federal

Regulations at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B.

DOE amended the test procedure

regulations on September 26, 1980 [45 FR

64108] and November 26, 1986 [51 FR 428231,

by adding paragraph 430.27. These provisions

allow the Assistant Secretary for

Conservation and Renewable Energy

[Assistant Secretary) to waive temporarily

test procedures for a particular basic model

when a petitioner shows that the basic model

contains one or more design characteristics

which prevent testing of the basic model

according to the prescribed test procedures or

may evaluate the basic model in a manner so

a

April 9, 1990. Thus, it appears likely that unrepresentative of its true energy

consumption characteristics as to provide

the Petition for Waiver will be granted materially inadequate comparative data. The

for blower time delay. 1988 amendments added provisions allowing

In those instances where the likely the Assistant Secretary to grant an interim

success for the Petition for Waiver has waiver for a particular basic model when a

been demonstrated based upon DOE petitioner demonstrates the likely success of

having granted a waiver for a similar the petition for waiver, it is determined that

product design,

it is in the public interest the applicant will experience economic

to.

have similar products tested and hardship if the Application for Interim

rated for energy consumption on a Waiver is denied and/or the Assistant

basis. Secretary determines that it would be

comparable desirable for public policy reasons to grant

. Therefore, based on the above; DOE is immediate relief pending a determination on

granting Rheem an Interim Waiver for the petition for waiver.

its GEC(-) upflow models and GKB(-) Previous waivers for timed blower delay

downflow model of condensing gas control have been granted to the Coleman

furnaces. Company. 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985, Magic

Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR Chef Company. 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985,

430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574,

"Petition for Waiver" in its entirety. The December 1, 1988, and 55 FR 3253, January 31,

1990, the Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May

petition contains no confidential 4,1989, DMO Industries, 55 FR 4004, February

information. DOE solicits comments, 6,1990, Heil-Quaker Corporation, 55 FR

data, and information respecting the 13184, April 9; 1990, and Carrier Corporation,

petition. 55 FR 13182, April 9,1990.

In addition, pursuant to paragraph (e) Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver

of § 430.27 of the Code of Federal does not provide sufficient information to

Regulations, the following letter granting evaluate what, if any, economic impact or

the Application for Interim Waiver was competitive disadvantage Rheem will likely

experience absent a favorable determination issued to Rheem Manufacturing

Company.

Issued in Washington, DC., September 4,

1990.

1. Michael Davis,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy. .

September 4,1990.

Mr. Daniel J. Canclini, Vice President,

on the application for interim waiver.

However, the Department finds that it would

be desirable for public policy reasons to grant

Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver.

Specifically, In those instances where the

likely success of the petition for waiver has

been demonstrated based upon DOE having

granted a waiver for a similar product design,

it is In the public's interest to have the similar

products tested and rated for energy

from the DOE test procedures for its GEC(-)

and GKB(-) series condensing gas furnaces

regarding blower time delay is granted.

Rheem shall be permitted to test its line of

GEC(-) and GKB(-) condensing gas

furnaces on the basis of the test procedures

specified-in 10 CFR part 430, with the

modification set forth below.

(I) Section 9.3.1 of ANASI/ASHRAE

Standard 103-1982 is deleted and replaced

with the following paragraph:

Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces.

After equilibrium conditions are achieved

following the cool-down test and the required

measurements performed, turn on the furnace

and measure the flue gas temperature, using

the thermocouple grid described above, at 0.5

and 2.5 minutes after the main burner(s) come

on. After the burner start-up, delay the

blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-), unless:

(1) The furnace employs a single motor to

drive the power burner and the indoor air

circulation blower, in which case the burner

and blower shall be started together (2) the

furnace is designed to operate using an

unvarying delay time that is other than 1.5

minutes, in which case the fan control shall

be permitted to start the blower, or (3) the

delay time results in the activation of a

temperature safety device which shuts off the

burner, in which case the fan control shall be

permitted to start the blower. In the latter

case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to

start, the blower at the highest temperature. If

the fan control is permitted to start the

blower, measure time delay , (t-), using a

stop watch. Record the measured

temperatures. During the beat-up test for oilfueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue

pipe with ±0.01 inch of water gauge of the

manufacturers recommended on-period draft.

This Interim Waiver is based upon the

presumed validity of statements and all

allegations submitted by the company. This

Interim Waiver may be revoked or modified

at any time upon a determination that the

factual basis underlying the application is

incorrect.

The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect

for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on

the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner.

If DOE has not acted by the expiration of that

period, it will exercise its statutory authority

to extend the Interim Waiver for an

additional 180-day period.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Davis, P.E.,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

Rheem Manufacturing Company, Air

Conditioning Division, 5600 Old

Greenwood Road, P.O. Box 6444, Fort

Smith, AR 72906-9444

June 1, 1990.

Assistant Secretary, Conservation and

Renewable Energy

United States-Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue..SW., Washington,

DC 29585.

Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver

and petition for.interim waiver submitted

pursuant to title 10 CFR part 430.27. Waiver is

requested from the furnace test procedure

found at appendix N to subpart B of part 430.,

Product Development and Research consumption on a comparable basis.

Engineering, 5800 Old Greenwood Road, .. Therefore, Rheem's Application for an

P.O. Box 6444, Fort Smith, AR 72906-0444 Interim Waiver requesting an interim waiver

HeinOnline'-- 55 Fed. Reg. 37522 1990

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 40
Federal Register / Vol. 55, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 1990 / Notices

The test procedure requires a 1.5 minute

delay between burner on and blower on.

Rheem is requesting authorization to use a 30

second delay instead of 1.5 minutes. Rheem

will be manufacturing a series of condensing

furnaces which include the (-)GEC upflow

models and (-)GKB downflow models with

an electronic control that actuates and

terminates the blower operation on a timing

sequence as opposed to temperature.

Maximum energy efficiency is achieved-by

the fixed timing controls installed in these

models that activate the circulating air

blower 30 seconds after the burner is on.

Under the appendix N procedures, the stack

temperature is allowed to climb at a faster

rate than it would with a 30 second blower on

time, allowing energy to be lost out the vent

system. This waste of energy would not occur

in actual operation. If this petition is granted,

the true blower on time delay would be used

in the calculations. Proposed AS1 RAE

Standard 103-1982R of 9/25/87 paragraph

9.5.1.2.2 specifically addresses the use of

timed blower operation.

The current test procedures do not give

Rheem credit for the energy savings which

averages approximately 2%. This

improvement is an average reduction of 20%

of the energy loss. Rheem is of the opinion

that a 20% reduction is a worthwhile energy

savings.

Current prescribed test procedures prohibit

Rheem from taking credit for the saved

energy, thus providing inaccurate

comparative data.

Rheem has been granted a waiver

permitting the 30 second blower on time to be

used in the efficiency calculations of our

(-)GEB and (-)GKA series condensing

furnaces. Several other manufacturers of

condensing furnaces have also been granted

a waiver to permit calculations based on

timed blower operation.

Confidential comparative test data is

available to you upon your request,

confirming the above energy savings.

Manufacturers that domestically market

similar products are being sent a copy of this

petition for waiver and petition for interim

waiver.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Canclini,

Vice-President, Product Development and

Research Engineering.

[FR Doc. 90-21407 Filed 9-11-90; 8:45 am]

8IWNG CODE 6450-01-S

Office of Fossil Energy

[Docket Nos. PP-48-3 and PP-48A-21

Application by El Paso Electric Co. for

Amendment of Presidential Permit and

Amendment of Authorization to

Transmit Electric Energy to Mexico

AGENCY: Fossil Energy, Department of

Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application by El Paso

Electric Company for amendment of a

Presidential permit in Docket No. PP-48- facilities in order to maintain its

3 and amendment of export interconnection with CFR.

authorization in Docket No. PP-48A-2.

SUMMARY: El Paso Electric Company

(EPE) has applied to the Department of

Energy (DOE) to amend the Presidential

permit contained in Docket No. PP-48-3

and issued to EPE on May 21, 1948, to

permit the conversion of an existing

international transmission line from 69-

kilovolts (kV) to 115-kV. EPE also has

applied to the DOE to amend the

electricity export authorization

contained in Docket No. PP-48A-2 and

issued on October 9, 1970, by

eliminating the 450,000,000 kilowatt-hour

(KWH) annual energy limit and

increasing the maximum allowable

transmission rate from 80,000 KW to

150,000 KW.

According to EPE, the requested

amendments would allow the continued

interconnection of existing EPE facilities

with facilities owned and operated by

the Comision Federal de Electricidad

(DFE), the Mexican national utility.

Comments, protests, and petitions to

intervene are invited. .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William H. Freeman, Office of Fuels

Programs, Fossil Energy (FE-52),

Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-5883

Lise Courtney M. Howe, Office of

General Counsel, Department of

Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202)

586-2900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On

August 30,1990, EPE applied to the DOE,

pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as

amended by Executive Order 12038, to

amend the Presidential permit contained

in Docket No. PP-48-3 which authorized

the construction, connection, operation,

and maintenance of a 69-kV

transmission line at the international

border between the U.S. and Mexico. On

the aforementioned date, EPE also

applied to the DOE, pursuant to section

202(e) of the Federal Power Act, to

amend EPE's existing authorization to

transmit electric energy to Mexico

contained in Docket No. PP-48A-2.

In its application to amend the

Presidential permit, EPE requested

authority to coinvert the existing 69-kV

international transmission line to 115-

kV. EPE has indicated that this

amendment is required because the EFE

has indicated that this amendment is

required because the CFE plans to

convert its local 69-kV facilities to 115-

kV operation and that EPE must effect a

similar conversion of its international

37523

EPE's existing 69-kV facilities extend

approximately 7100 feet from EPE's

Ascarate Substation to the U.S.-

Mexican border. Only about 2100 feet of

these existing facilities would require

any physical modification to affect the

conversion. All construction would take

place within the existing right-of-way

and would include replacement of ten

existing poles, installaiton of new

insulators, the addition of six new poles,

and the replacement of the existing

conductors.

EPE's existing electricity export

authorization allows EPE to export

electric energy to Mexico in an amount

not to exceed 450,000,000 KWH per year

at a maximum transmission rate of

80,000 KW. EPE now requests that this

export authorization be amended to

delete the 450,000,000 KWH annual

energy limitation and to allow an

increase in the maximum transmision

rate to 150,000 KW.

EPE's request for amendment of its

export authorization is occasioned by a

request from CFE to increase the amount

of energy that EPE exports to the City of

Juarez, Mexico, in order to allow more

efficient planning and operation of the

trans-border power supply system in the

region.

By this notice, the DOE also is

soliciting comments on the impact of the

proposed actions on the reliability of the

regional electric power supply system.

Any person desiring to be heard or to

protest this application to amend the

existing Presidential permit and export

authorization should file a petition to

intervene or protest with the Office of

Coal & Electricity, room 3H-087,

Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, in

accordance with § 385.211 or 385.214 of

the Rules of Practice and Procedure (18

CFR 385.211, 385.2H).

Any such petitions and protests

should be filed on or before October 12,

1990. Protest will be considered by the

DOE 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 petition to

intervene. Copies of this application will

be made available, upon request, for

public inspection and copying at the

Department of Energy's Freedom of

Information Room, room 1E-190,

Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC from 8

a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

HeinOnline -- 55 Fed. Reg. 37523 1990

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 40