[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63859-63860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26678]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. RM95-9-014 and RM95-9-015]


Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards of Conduct

Issued October 12, 2000.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Order Granting Time Extension and Twelve Hour Transition 
Period.

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

SUMMARY: In this order, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) grants a time extension, until March 1, 2001, for 
compliance with the OASIS Standards and Communications Protocols 
Document, Version 1.4, and allows a twelve hour transition period, on 
February 28, 2001, during which requests for service made by telephone 
or facsimile will be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marvin Rosenberg (Technical Information), Office of Economic Policy, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1283
Paul Robb (Technical Information), Office of Electric Power Regulation, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 219-2702
Gary D. Cohen (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-0321

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Before Commissioners: James J. Hoecker, Chairman; William L. 
Massey, Linda Breathitt, and Curt Hebert, Jr.
    Order Granting Requests for Extension of Time for Implementing 
OASIS Standards and Communications Protocols Document, Version 1.4

Introduction

    As discussed below, we will grant requests from the OASIS How 
Working Group (How Group) and American Electric Power Service 
Corporation (AEP) \1\ for a time extension, until March 1, 2001, for 
compliance with the OASIS Standards and Communications Protocols 
Document, Version 1.4 (S&CP Document) and for a twelve hour transition 
period, on February 28, 2001, during which requests for service made by 
telephone or facsimile will be accepted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ AEP styled its request for a time extension as a ``request 
for rehearing,'' but the sole issue raised in the pleading is its 
request for a time extension.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    On August 1, 2000, in Open Access Same-time Information System and 
Standards of Conduct, 65 Fed. Reg. 48,990, 92 FERC para. 61,146, FERC 
Stats. & Regs. para. 31,106 (2000) (August 1 Order), the Commission 
adopted a revised S&CP Document (Version 1.4) with an effective date of 
January 8, 2001.\2\ The How Group and AEP each request that an 
extension, until March 1, 2001, be granted for compliance with the 
revised S&CP Document so that the implementation date will not coincide 
with the Winter Peak period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Based on comments from the industry that a six month lead 
time would be needed for compliance, the August 1 Order prescribed 
an effective date 150 days after publication in the Federal 
Register, FERC Stats. & Regs. para. 31,106 at 31,712.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discussion

    Both AEP and the How Group point out that the January 8, 2001 
effective date coincides with the Winter Peak period. They suggest a 
March 1, 2001 effective date that would avoid the Winter Peak period 
and that would be preferable for accounting reasons. AEP

[[Page 63860]]

states that: (1) The prompt publication of the August 1 Order in the 
Federal Register had the effect of advancing the effective date of the 
revised S&CP Document; (2) it would be preferable if the effective date 
would coincide with the end of a billing cycle; and (3) scheduling 
customer and operator training is more difficult at the end of the 
calendar year. For these reasons, AEP and the How Group each request 
that the Commission adopt a March 1, 2001 effective date for 
implementation of the revised OASIS S&CP Document.\3\ We find these 
concerns reasonable and will grant the requested extension.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The How Group also informs us that the transmission 
providers plan to display certain information on their respective 
OASIS websites on February 1, 2001, for informational purposes. We 
have no objection to these postings being made.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To allow a smooth transition, the How Group also requests that the 
Commission allow transmission providers to shut down their OASIS 
website operations for no more than twelve hours prior to midnight, 
local time, on February 28, 2001, and allow them to conduct 
transactions by telephone or facsimile as they transfer from OASIS S&CP 
Document, Version 1.3, to Version 1.4.
    The Commission orders:
    (A) The requests of AEP and the How Group for an extension, until 
March 1, 2001, for the industry to comply with the OASIS S&CP Document 
(Version 1.4) is hereby granted.
    (B) The How Group's request on behalf of the industry for a twelve 
hour transition period on February 28, 2001, is hereby granted, as 
discussed in the body of this order.

    By the Commission.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-26678 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P