[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 60182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25849]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RP00-586-000]


Vector Pipeline L.P.; Notice of Proposed Changes in FERC Gas 
Tariff

October 3, 2000.
    Take notice that on September 29, 2000, Vector Pipeline L.P. 
(Vector), tendered for filing to become part of its FERC Gas Tariff, 
Original Volume No. 1, the tariff sheets listed in Appendix A to the 
filing, to become effective November 1, 2000.
    Vector states that the purpose of this filing is to propose certain 
new services and to place into effect its preferred method of dealing 
with overrun quantities and imbalances. Vector requests any and all 
waivers of the Commission's regulations that may be required to place 
the proposed tariff into effect as requested.
    Vector states that it is proposing three new services, a park and 
loan service, a title transfer tracking service, and a management 
balancing service. Vector states that the proposed interruptible park 
and loan service in Rate Schedule PALS-1 is intended as a means of 
dealing with shipper imbalances in preference to the imposition of 
penalties. Whenever operationally possible, Vector will offer shippers 
the option of either parking or loaning gas, on an interruptible basis, 
under Rate Schedule PALS-1. The proposed rate for PALS-1 service is a 
maximum of $0.2556 per Dth and a minimum rate of $0.00 per Dth. The 
maximum PALS-1 rate is the same as Vector's maximum interruptible rate 
for Zone 2 service (i.e., service from Milepost 0 to the terminus of 
the pipeline at Milepost 333), which is the 100% load factor equivalent 
of Vector's Zone 2 firm rate under Rate Schedule FT-1. Vector may 
choose to discount the PALS-1 rate, where market circumstances warrant, 
on a not unduly discriminatory basis.
    Vector states that it also is offering title transfer tracking 
service in Rate Schedule TTS under which Vector follows the trades of 
gas supply effected by shippers and others who wish to use the Vector 
system as a trading mart. Such changes in gas ownership may take place 
at any point on the Vector system that has been designated by the TTS 
customer and accepted by Vector. The proposed rate for TTS service is a 
maximum of $0.01 per Dth and a minimum of $0.00 per Dth, which reflects 
anticipated operation and maintenance (O&M) costs that Vector will 
incur in order to render the service. Vector may choose to discount the 
TTS rate, where market circumstances warrant, on a not unduly 
discriminatory basis.
    Vector states that it is offering a management of balancing 
agreement service, in Rate Schedule MBA, under which shippers have the 
opportunity to contract with third parties for imbalance management. 
The MBA service allows a gas customer, which can be a Vector shipper or 
an end-user connected to the Vector system, to contract with a third 
party for balancing, with Vector managing the balancing on behalf of 
the balancing provider. This service allows the balancing customer to 
vary its takes of gas on an hourly basis different from the uniform 
requirement in the tariff while maintaining the overall integrity of 
the system by adjusting the gas takes of the balancing provider to 
compensate. For this reason, the balancing provider must be able to 
provide Vector with gas on a firm basis. Vector will manage the 
balancing service for the balancing provider. The rate Vector proposes 
to charge for this administrative service is a maximum of $0.02 per Dth 
and a minimum of $0.00 per Dth, reflecting anticipated operation and 
maintenance (O&M) costs that Vector states it will incur in order to 
render the service. Vector may choose to discount the MBA rate, where 
market circumstances warrant, on a not unduly discriminatory basis.
    With respect to imbalance tolerances, Vector states that it has 
incorporated the Commission's requirement that imbalances which do not 
cause system problems should not incur a penalty. Thus, as long as a 
shipper's imbalance does not contribute--together with the imbalances 
of all other shippers on the system--to a variance of 5% from the 
target line pack (i.e., the optimum level needed for system operations 
on any given day), the shipper incurs no imbalance charge. If, however, 
these conditions are not present, a shipper--in a noncritical period--
could be assessed an imbalance charge of $0.10 per Dth for that portion 
of shipper's net imbalance that exceeds the greater of 5% or 100 Dth. 
Where a shipper has created an imbalance and failed to resolve it 
through available means during an operational flow order (OFO) period, 
imbalance charges are more severe, starting at $25 per Dth plus a daily 
index price for imbalances in the 3% to 7% range. Vector states it has 
provided for the netting and trading of imbalances.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest said filing should 
file a motion to intervene or a protest with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, in 
accordance with sections 385.214 or 385.211 of the Commission's Rules 
and Regulations. All such motions or protests must be filed in 
accordance with section 154.210 of the Commission's Regulations. 
Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the 
appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants 
parties to the proceedings. Any person wishing to become a party must 
file a motion to intervene. Copies of this filing are on file with the 
Commission and are available for public inspection in the Public 
Reference Room. This filing may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-25849 Filed 10-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M