[Federal Register: August 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 152)]
[Notices]
[Page 45047]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au06-58]
[[Page 45047]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Electric Transmission Congestion Study
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE),
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the National Electric Transmission
Congestion Study and Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the ``Department'') gives notice
that it has issued a National Electric Transmission Congestion Study
(the ``Congestion Study'') and is seeking comments on the study and on
the possible designation of national interest electric transmission
corridors (National Corridors). The Congestion Study, including request
for comments, is available at http://www.oe.energy.gov.
DATES: Written comments may be filed electronically in MS Word and PDF
formats. Comments regarding the Congestion Study should be e-mailed to
congestionstudy.comments@hq.doe.gov. Comments regarding the
designations should be e-mailed to EPACT1221@hq.doe.gov. Comments
should be received no later than 5 p.m. EDT October 10, 2006. Also,
comments can be filed by mail at the address listed below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments via mail should be submitted to: Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, Attention: 1221
Comments, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6H050,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
Note: U.S. Postal Service mail sent to the Department continues
to be delayed by several weeks due to security screening. Electronic
submission is therefore encouraged. Copies of written comments
received and other relevant documents and information may be
reviewed at http://www.oe.energy.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Poonum Agrawal, Office Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-1411,
poonum.agrawal@hq.doe.gov, or Lot Cooke, Office of General Counsel, GC-
76, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
0503, lot.cooke@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1221(a) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct a nationwide study of
electric transmission congestion. The Congestion Study was to be
completed within one year of enactment of the Energy Policy Act and
subsequently updated every three years. Based upon the Congestion
Study, the Secretary may designate any geographic area experiencing
electric energy transmission capacity constraints or congestion that
adversely affects consumers as a National Corridor.
The first Congestion Study has been completed and issued by the
Secretary of Energy. The study is available for review at the website
listed above. Based on the study, the Department found three classes of
congestion areas that merit further federal attention: Critical
Congestion Areas, Congestion Areas of Concern, and Conditional
Congestion Areas. These areas are identified and discussed in Section 5
of the study. The Department is considering designating National
Corridors in the areas identified as Critical Congestion Areas.
The Department is seeking comments from interested persons on the
National Electric Transmission Congestion Study, on future steps for
identifying and addressing electric transmission congestion, and on the
possible designation of National Corridors in Critical Congestion
Areas. Section 6 of the study details the comments the Department is
seeking.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 2, 2006.
Kevin Kolevar,
Director, Office of Electricity Delivery, and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E6-12852 Filed 8-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P