Natural gas companies (Natural Gas Act) and Natural Gas Policy Act: Interstate natural gas pipelines— term transportation services regulation; auctions and their use in natural gas markets; staff papers availability,

[Federal Register: October 16, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 200)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 55562-55563]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16oc98-29]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Parts 161, 250, and 284

[Docket No. RM98-10-000]

Regulation of Short-Term Natural Gas Transportation Services; Availability of Commission Staff Papers on Auctions

October 9, 1998. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

[[Page 55563]]

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of Availability of Commission Staff Papers on Auctions.

SUMMARY: The notice distributes a paper entitled ``Auctions and Their Use in Natural Gas Markets'' and a glossary of auction terms prepared by the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. These materials will be used in connection with the workshop to be held on October 20, 1998 to discuss pipeline capacity auctions as contemplated in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), issued on July 29, 1998. 63 FR 42982 (Aug. 11, 1998).

DATES: October 20, 1998, 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurel C. Hyde, Office of Economic Policy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, 202-208-0146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the Commission also provides all interested persons an opportunity to inspect or copy the contents of this document during normal business hours in the Public Reference Room at 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.

The Commission Issuance Posting System (CIPS) provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission. CIPS can be accessed via Internet through FERC's Homepage (http://www.ferc.fed.us) using the CIPS Link or the Energy Information Online icon. The full text of this document will be available on CIPS in ASCII and WordPerfect 6.1 format. CIPS is also available through the Commission's electronic bulletin board service at no charge to the user and may be accessed using a personal computer with a modem by dialing 202-208- 1397, if dialing locally, or 1-800-856-3920, if dialing long distance. To access CIPS, set your communications software to 19200, 14400, 12000, 9600, 7200, 4800, 2400, or 1200 bps, full duplex, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit. User assistance is available at 202-208-2474 or by E-mail to cipsmaster@ferc.fed.us.

This document is also available through the Commission's Records and Information Management System (RIMS), an electronic storage and retrieval system of documents submitted to and issued by the Commission after November 16, 1981. Documents from November 1995 to the present can be viewed and printed. RIMS is available in the Public Reference Room or remotely via Internet through FERC's Homepage using the RIMS link or the Energy Information Online icon. User assistance is available at 202-208-2222, or by E-mail to rimsmaster@ferc.fed.us.

Finally, the complete text on diskette in WordPerfect format may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, RVJ International, Inc. RVJ International, Inc. is located in the Public Reference Room at 888 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20426.

Notice of Availability of Commission Staff Papers on Auctions

October 9, 1998.

On October 20, 1998, the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is holding a workshop to discuss pipeline capacity auctions as contemplated in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), issued on July 29, 1998.\1\ The purpose of the workshop is for staff to provide background information about auctions and auction formats in order to facilitate comments on the capacity auctions proposed in NOPR.

\1\ Regulation of Short-Term Natural Gas Transportation Services, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 63 FR 42982 (Aug. 11, 1998), IV FERC Stats. & Regs. Proposed Regulations para. 32,533 (Jul. 29, 1998).

The Commission staff has prepared a paper entitled ``Auctions and Their Use in Natural Gas Markets,'' as well as a glossary of auction terms. The paper discusses general issues of auction design and describes auctions that have been used in the natural gas and electric industries. To provide those planning on attending the workshop with background information about auctions and auction formats, the paper and glossary accompany this notice.

The September 18, 1998 notice \2\ announcing the workshop asked those who have specific questions or who have identified areas in which clarification would be helpful to submit such questions or clarifications by October 13, 1998. Further information about the organization of the workshop may be distributed later after reviewing the questions or clarifications submitted. Depending on the amount of material to be covered at the workshop, it also may be necessary to establish a follow-up workshop.

\2\ 63 FR 51547 (Sept. 28, 1998).

Questions about the workshop should be directed to: Laurel C. Hyde, Office of Economic Policy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, 202-208-0146. David P. Boergers, Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-27777Filed10-15-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P