[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 4273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2171]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. EA-140]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Public Service Company of 
New Mexico

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

SUMMARY: Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), a regulated public 
utility, has submitted an application to export electric energy to 
Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before February 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex (FE-52), Office of 
Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585 (FAX 202-287-5736).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-6667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United 
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization 
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 
824a(e)).
    On January 16, 1997, PNM filed an application with the Office of 
Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization 
to export electric energy to Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), 
the Mexican national electric utility, or other power customers in 
Mexico, for a term of five years, pursuant to section 202(e) of the 
FPA. Specifically, PNM has proposed to engage in open-ended 
transactions to transmit and exchange wholesale electric energy under 
terms and contracts to be negotiated in the future.
    PNM asserts that a series of State regulatory actions have left the 
utility with 170 megawatts (MW) of excess generating capacity that 
could be dedicated for the sale in the wholesale market. PNM further 
asserts that it will schedule all power consistent with the reliability 
criteria, standards, and guides of the North American Electric 
Reliability Council and the Western Systems Coordinating Council.
    The electric energy PNM proposes to sell to CFE would be delivered 
to Mexico using San Diego Gas & Electric Company's two 230-kilovolt 
transmission facilities at Miguel and Imperial Valley, California. The 
construction and operation of these international transmission lines 
was previously authorized by Presidential Permit numbers PP-68 and PP-
79, respectively.

Procedural Matters

    Any persons desiring to become a party to this proceeding or to be 
heard by filing comments or protests to this application should file a 
petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address provided above 
in accordance with Secs. 385.211 or 385.214 of the FERC's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of 
such petitions and protests should be filed with the DOE on or before 
the date listed above. Additional copies are to be filed directly with: 
John T. Stough, Jr., Long, Aldridge & Norman, L.L.P., 701 Pennsylvania 
Ave., N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20004 And Patrick T. Ortiz, 
Secretary and General Counsel, Public Service Company of New Mexico, 
Alvarado Square, Albuquerque, N.M. 87158.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and a determination is made by 
the DOE that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the 
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.

    Issued in Washington, DC on January 23, 1997.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal and Power Systems, 
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 97-2171 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P