[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 3074-3075] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-1169] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. RM93-20-000] Public Access to Information and Electronic Filing; Notice of Intent To Provide Upgraded Windows Software for FERC Form No. 1: Annual Report of Major Electric Utilities, Licensees and Others January 13, 1999. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hereby gives notice that it is updating the software that it provides public utilities, licensees and others to complete the FERC Form No. 1. The new software will be available by the end of January, 1999. The software will be used for the report due on or before April 30, 1999, for the year ending December 31, 1998. The Commission has not modified the form itself and the data requirements have not changed. The upgraded software is a Windows 95/98/NT version which replaces the DOS version previously used. The submission format has been changed to facilitate data entry and data base loading, improve data integrity, and provide Year 2000 compliance. The current DOS version of the software is not compatible with the new Windows version and can no longer be used. Software distribution, set-up, updates, and submission of the electronic filing will be via the Internet. The Commission will also provide access to the Form No. 1 filings for viewing and printing via the Internet. In order to disseminate information on the new software and to keep interested parties aware of development status, we're creating a point-of-contact list for companies that file FERC Form No. 1, other federal agencies, and state commissions. Persons who submit FERC Form No. 1, either for their company, or as an agent for another company, must register to get an Access Number(s) in order to file using the new software. Federal and state agencies and others who access or use the data do not need an Access Number, but may complete the same form to provide point of contact information (name, company/agency, address, phone number, and e-mail address). The information may be submitted interactively via the Internet by accessing a form on the Commission's web site at http:// rimsweb1.ferc.fed.us/form1. If you provide the information via the web site, you do not need to file a paper copy of the point of contact information. If you have questions about the new software, please e- mail them to Bolton Pierce at [email protected]. Respondents without readily available access to the Internet can call James Baird at (202) 219-2613 for further information. The new software provides enhancements which resolve most user complaints about the DOS software, including: Imports prior-year data: Allows respondents to retrieve ending balances from previous year's filing as beginning balances for the current year by page or for a range of rows within a page. The prior year's data are to be imported from a database maintained by FERC and placed in the proper field even if a row(s) was added or deleted from a page since the last filing. Copy/cut and paste text: respondents can import ASCII from other sources to a text entry on the form or to a footnote. Save work: respondents can save work in progress for update later or for higher-level review prior to submission. Work on different pages concurrently: different users within the respondent may complete or revise multiple pages concurrently; other users have read-only [[Page 3075]] access to the last saved version of an ``open'' page. Simplified footnote entry: respondents can add footnotes via a ``right-click'' menu; system denotes footnoted fields by a yellow background and retains applicable footnotes when importing prior year data. Auto-calculation: software automatically enters ``totals'' and other calculated entries. Validation checks: respondents can run a validation report that shows any differences for fields within a page or entries on different pages that should agree. Status reports: respondents can run a report to determine if data have been entered for particular pages. For the filing due April 30, 1999, respondents still have to submit an original and six conformed paper copies of the submission, but do not have to submit the two diskettes referenced in the Form No. 1 filing instructions. Comment Procedures The Commission invites interested persons to submit written comments on the matters and issues in this notice. The original and 14 copies of such comments must be received by the Commission before 5:00 p.m. February 19, 1999. Comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426 and should refer to Docket No. RM93-20-000. In addition to filing paper copies, the Commission encourages the filing of comments either on computer diskette or via Internet E-Mail. Comments may be filed in the following formats: WorkPerfect 6.1 or lower version, MS Word Office 97 or lower version, or ASCII format. For diskette filing, include the following information on the diskette label: Docket No. RM93-20-000; the name of the filing entity; the software and version used to create the file; and the name and telephone number of a contact person. For Internet E-Mail submittal, comments should be sent to ``C[email protected]'' in the following format. On the subject line, specify Docket No. RM93-20-000. In the body of the E-Mail message, include the name of the filing entity, the software and version used to create the file, and the name and telephone number of the contact person. Attach the comment to the E-Mail in one of the formats specified above. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgment to the sender's E-Mail address upon receipt. Questions on electronic filing should be directed to Brooks Carter at 202-501- 8145, E-Mail address [email protected]. Commenters should take note that, until the Commission amends its rules and regulations, the paper copy of the filing remains the official copy of the document submitted. Therefore, any discrepancies between the paper filing and the electronic filing or the diskette will be resolved by reference to the paper filing. All written comments will be placed in the Commission's public files and will be available for inspection in the Commission's Public Reference room at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, during regular business hours. Additionally, comments may be viewed and printed remotely via the 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 [email protected]. David P. Boergers, Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-1169 Filed 1-19-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M