[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 18898-18899] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-10092] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP92-633-001] Public Service Company of Colorado; Notice of Request for Clarification or Amendment to Blanket Certificate April 10, 1998. Take notice that on April 2, 1998, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), 1225 17th Street, Denver, Colorado 80202, filed in Docket No. CP92-633-001, pursuant to Rules 212 and Section 284.224 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, a request for clarification of, or in the alternative, an application to amend the blanket certificate issued to PSCo in Docket No. CP92-633-000 by order issued October 8, 1992 (Order).\1\ By its request for amendment, PSCo requests that the Commission either (1) clarify that PSCo's existing blanket certificate authorization permits PSCo to provide service using facilities located on any portion of its system in the state of Colorado, or (2) amend PSCo's existing blanket certificate authorization to permit PSCo to provide service on any portion of its system in the state of Colorado. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ 61 FERC para.62,012 (1992). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- PSCo states that the Commission, by its Order, issued PSCo a Section 284.224 certificate in order to continue to provide service to the customers of Western Gas Supply Corporation (WestGas), a subsidiary of PSCo which held this type of certificate when a merger between PSCo and WestGas occurred. PSCo's blanket certificate application requested that the authorization pertain ``to service through the former WestGas Hinshaw facilities and not PSCo's distribution facilities.'' On December 23, 1997, PSCo filed an application with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for authority to construct and operate the Front Range Pipeline in order to provide additional capacity on its system in Colorado. Responding to discovery [[Page 18899]] requests in the CPUC proceeding, PSCo determined that, in providing transportation under the blanket certificate, two points on its system that were not part of the former WestGas facilities may have been used from time to time. On March 9, 1998, KN Wattenberg filed a complaint against PSCo and others which alleges, inter alia, that the 1992 Certificate is limited to the former WestGas Hinshaw facilities. However, PSCo believes the Commission authorized it to engage in Section 311-type transactions without limitation to any specific portions of its system. Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, PSCo has restructured the current Section 311-type transactions involving the two points such that only former WestGas facilities are now used in providing the service. Since the demand by shippers for such service is expected to exceed PSCo's capacity to transport gas through only these facilities, PSCo urges the Commission to act promptly to remove the current uncertainty. Any person desiring to be heard or to make any protest with reference to said application should on or before May 1, 1998, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, a motion to intervene or a protest in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 and 385.211) and the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.10). All protests filed with the Commission will be considered by it in determining the appropriate action to be taken but will not serve to make the protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party to a proceeding or to participate as a party in any hearing therein must file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules. Take further notice that, pursuant to the authority contained in and subject to jurisdiction conferred upon the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by Sections 7 and 15 of the Natural Gas Act and the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, a hearing will be held without further notice before the Commission or its designee on this application if no motion to intervene is filed within the time required herein, if the Commission on its own review of the matter finds that the application should be approved. If a motion for leave to intervene is timely filed, or if the Commission on its motion believes that a formal hearing is required, further notice of such hearing will be duly given. Under the procedure herein provided for, unless otherwise advised, it will be unnecessary for PSCo to appear or be represented at the hearing. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-10092 Filed 4-15-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M