Electric utilities (Federal Power Act): time information system (OASIS) and standards of conduct Emergency circumstances affecting system reliability; reporting by transmission providers; and new docket prefix EY to track reports,
[Federal Register: June 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 114)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32611-32612]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jn98-9]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
18 CFR Part 37
Notice of Clarification and New Docket Prefix EY
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Clarification of rule.
SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is clarifying that, as required by section 37.4(a)(2) of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, 18 CFR 37.4(a)(2) (1997), transmission providers should report emergency circumstances affecting system reliability to the Commission within 24 hours by sending reports by facsimile to the Secretary of the Commission. In addition, the Commission is clarifying the information that transmission providers should include in the reports. The Commission is also establishing a new docket prefix, EY, to track the reports.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 15, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Johnathan E. First, Office of the General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, (202) 208-1033.
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, N.E., Room 2A, Washington, D.C. 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 Wordperfpect 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 acccess 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, La Dorn Systems Corporation. La Dorn Systems Corporation is located in the Public Reference Room at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.
Notice of Clarification and New Docket Prefix EY
June 1, 1998.
The Commission clarifies the procedures that transmission providers should follow when reporting emergency circumstances that result in deviations from the standards of conduct. See 18 CFR 37.4(a)(2). Further, the Commission gives notice that it has established a new docket prefix, EY, for reports of emergency circumstances that transmission providers submit.
Background
In Order No. 889, the Commission issued rules governing an Open Access Same-Time Information System (OASIS)
[[Page 32612]]
and prescribing Standards of Conduct.\1\ Section 37.4(a)(1) of the Commission's regulations, 18 CFR 37.4(a)(1) (1997), requires employees of transmission providers engaged in transmission system operations to function independently of employees engaged in wholesale merchant functions. Section 37.4(a)(2) creates an exception and states that, ``in emergency circumstances affecting system reliability, Transmission Providers may take whatever steps are necessary to keep the system in operation.'' The rule requires transmission providers that invoke the emergency exception to ``report to the Commission and on the OASIS each emergency that resulted in any deviation from the standards of conduct, within 24 hours of such deviation'' but does not provide guidance on how transmission providers should submit such reports or the details that should be included in the reports.
\1\ Open Access Same-Time Information System (Formerly Real-Time Information Network) and Standards of Conduct, 61 FR 21737 (May 10, 1996), FERC Stats. & Regs., Regulations Preambles January 1991-June 1996 para. 31,035 (April 24, 1996); Order No. 889-A, order on rehearing, 62 FR 12484 (March 14, 1997), III FERC Stats. & Regs. para. 31,049 (March 4, 1997); Order No. 889-B, rehearing denied, 62 FR 64715 (December 9, 1997), 81 FERC para. 61,253 (November 25, 1997).
Reporting Procedures
To promote the uniform reporting of emergency circumstances as required by section 37.4(a)(2), the Commission clarifies that transmission providers should report emergencies to the Commission within 24 hours by sending a report by facsimile to the Secretary at the following telephone number: (202) 208-2268.
The use of facsimiles for reporting emergencies is an interim measure until the Commission develops a comprehensive information system that accepts filings and disseminates information electronically using the Commission's Internet site. The Commission will issue a subsequent notice when it implements a comprehensive electronic filing initiative.
Further, to allow for the uniform reporting of emergency circumstances as required by section 37.4(a)(2), the Commission clarifies that the reports should, at a minimum:
(a) Identify the name, title and telephone number of the person who prepared the report;
(b) State in the ``subject'' line of the facsimile that the correspondence reports an ``emergency deviation'';
(c) Identify when the emergency occurred and the duration of the emergency;
(d) Describe the emergency circumstances, including the nature of the emergency, the cause of the emergency, and the effects on system reliability; and
(e) Describe the resulting deviation(s) from the standards of conduct.
If the emergency is ongoing, the report should provide an estimate of when the emergency will be concluded. Transmission providers should provide updates as necessary until the emergency is concluded,
Further, section 37.4(a)(2) requires that transmission providers report emergency circumstances on the OASIS. However, the rule does not state a minimum period for transmission providers to post the reports on the OASIS. Accordingly, the Commission clarifies that reports must remain posted on the OASIS for 30 days from the date when the emergency ends. The OASIS reports must include the same information as the reports that transmission providers submit to the Commission.
New Docket Prefix EY
To properly track reports of emergency circumstances affecting system reliability, the Commission has established a new docket prefix EY. The new docket prefix will be EYFY-NNN, where the FY stands for the fiscal year in which the report is submitted and the NNN identifies the docket number for tracking emergency reports. If a transmission provider submits an emergency report and subsequently submits one or more update reports regarding the same emergency, the original report and updates will be filedunder the same docket number.
The Commission will assign docket numbers to emergency reports only for internal record keeping purposes. The reports will not be subject to Federal Register notice or public comment. The public will have access to the same information on the OASIS. David P. Boergers, Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-14926Filed6-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
