[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5391-5392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2826]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Southwestern Power Administration


Transmission Rate Design Development

AGENCY: Southwestern Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice canceling a planned technical conference.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration 
(Southwestern) will not conduct the Technical Conference that was 
anticipated to be convened as noted in the Federal Register (61 FR 
53732) on October 15, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Forrest E. Reeves, Assistant Administrator, Office of Corporate 
Operations, Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department of

[[Page 5392]]

Energy, P.O. Box 1619, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101, (918) 595-6696.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following Department of Energy (DOE) 
guidance in its response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 
April 24, 1996, Order No. 888 (Promoting Wholesale Competition Through 
Open Access Non-Discriminatory Transmission Services by Public 
Utilities), Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) is 
reviewing its rate design structure to ensure compliance with the 
intent of Order 888 for open access wholesale electric transmission 
rates. A Public Forum was convened Tuesday, October 29, 1996, in 
Southwestern's offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Forum was held to 
explain the goals of the rate design review process and identify areas 
of specific concern. At the Forum and through a formal comment period, 
Southwestern sought comments and opinions regarding potential 
approaches to the rate design of ancillary services and the unbundling 
of the generation and transmission rates.
    A transcript of the Public Forum was made. For a fee, copies of the 
transcript may be obtained from the transcribing service.
    An interested parties list was also developed for those parties 
that were unable to attend the Public Forum, but wanted to receive any 
mailings regarding this issue in the future.
    It was anticipated that a Technical Conference would need to be 
convened before the end of February 1997 to review specific comments 
and encourage discussions to help ensure a better understanding of the 
technicalities of the issues being reviewed (e.g. Development of 
Ancillary Services). In October 15, 1996, Federal Register Notice (61 
FR 53732), Southwestern provided notification of its plan to convene a 
conference to review, in detail, the technical comments received to 
help determine how the technicalities could best be incorporated into 
the rates for transmission services. The Comments received were not 
technical in nature and virtually all are consistent with 
Southwestern's anticipated approach to unbundling transmission and 
generation rates. Therefore, with only minimal benefits expected to be 
gained from holding a technical conference, Southwestern will not 
conduct such a conference.
    Southwestern proposes to pursue the unbundling of its transmission 
services in conjunction with its normal repayment process. As part of 
this process, a formal comment period will be provided to allow 
interested parties to provide comments and suggestions regarding the 
rates being developed.
    We look forward to your continued interest and participation in the 
ongoing process of rate development.

    Issued in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this 27th day of January, 1997.
Michael A. Deihl,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-2826 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M