Application To Export Electric Energy; American Electric Power Service Corporation

Exports of electricity from the United States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)). On December 22, 1998, as supplemented on February 3, 1999, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) received an application from AEPSC for authorization to export electric energy to Canada. AEPSC has seven public utility affiliates which, collectively, are known as the ``AEP Operating Companies.'' The AEP Operating Companies are investor-owned public utilities that serve retail and wholesale customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. They include: Appalachian Power Company; Columbus Southern Power Company; Indiana Michigan Power Company; Kentucky Power Company; Kingsport Power Company; Ohio Power Company; and Wheeling Power Company. AEPSC and the AEP Operating Companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the American Electric Power Company, Inc., a registered holding company with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. In its February 3, 1999 supplemental filing, AEPSC indicated that export authorization was being sought only for its generation-owning affiliates, thus excluding Kingsport Power Company and Wheeling Power Company from the application. The energy and capacity to be exported will be from either surplus generation of the AEP Operating Companies or from purchases on the wholesale market. The Applicants intend to export to Canada using the existing international transmission facilities owned by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bonneville Power Administration, Citizens Utilities, Detroit Edison Company, Eastern Maine

Electric Cooperative, Joint Owners of the Highgate Project, Long Sault, Inc., Maine Electric Power Company, Maine Public Service Company, Minnesota Power, Inc., Minnkota Power Cooperative, New York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, Northern States Power and Vermont Electric Transmission Company. The construction of each of the international transmission facilities to be utilized by AEPSC, as more fully described in the application, has previously been authorized by a Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended.

Procedural Matters

Any person desiring to become a party to this proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to this application should file a petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address provided above in accordance with Secs. 385.211 or 385.214 of the FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each petition and protest should be filed with the DOE on or before the date listed above. Comments on the AEPSC application to export electric energy to Canada should be clearly marked with Docket EA-200. Additional copies are to be filed directly with F. Mitchell Dutton, Esq., American Electric Power, 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2373 and John R. Lilyestrom, Esq., Hogan & Hartson, LLP., 555 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. A final decision will be made on this application after the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and a determination is made by the DOE that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system. Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by accessing the Fossil Energy Home Page at www.fe.doe.gov. Upon reaching the Fossil Energy Home page, select ``Regulatory,'' then ``Electricity, and then ``Pending Proceedings'' from the options menus.

Issued in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 1999. Anthony J. Como, Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex, Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy. [FR Doc. 99-3833 Filed 2-16-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P