[Federal Register: June 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 109)]
[Notices]               
[Page 31207-31208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jn98-46]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. RP98-235-000]

 
Gas Research Institute; Notice of Annual Application

June 2, 1998.
    Take notice that on May 22, 1998, Gas Research Institute (GRI) 
filed an application requesting advance approval of its 1999-2003 Five-
Year Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Plan and 1999 RD&D 
Program, and the funding of its RD&D activities for 1999, pursuant to 
the Natural Gas Act, Section 154.401(b) of the Commission's 
Regulations, and the Order Approving Settlement issued by the 
Commission on April 29, 1998 [83 FERC para. 61,093 (1998)]. GRI's 
application seeks to collect funds to supports its 1999 RD&D Program 
through jurisdictional rates and charges during the twelve months 
ending December 31, 1999.
    In its application, GRI proposes to incur contract obligations of 
$132 million in 1999, which GRI states is consistent with the April 29 
Order. This amount comprises $114.5 in RD&D obligations and $17.5 
million in Administrative and General (operating) obligations. GRI 
states that $77.1 of the 1999 contract obligations will be for Core 
Projects and $54.9 for Non-Core Projects.
    Also consistent with the Commission's April 29 Order Approving 
Settlement, GRI proposes to fund the 1999 RD&D program by the use of 
the following surcharges: (1) a demand/reservation surcharge of 23 
cents per Dth per month for ``high load factor customers''; (2) a 
demand/reservation surcharge of 14.2 cents per Dth per month for ``low 
load factor customers''; (3) a volumetric commodity/usage surcharge of 
.75 cents; and (4) a special ``small customer'' surcharge of 1.8 cents 
per Dth.
    In addition, GRI plans to make a series of one-time charges against 
its cash balance in 1998 and 1999 to fund expenses associated with its 
required transition to a fully voluntary funding system. GRI estimates 
these charges to be $2.7 million in 1998 and $1.2 million in 1999.
    The Commission Staff will analyze GRI's application and prepare a 
Commission Staff Report. This Staff Report will be served on all 
parties and filed with the Commission as a public document by August 7, 
1998. Comments on the Staff Report by all parties, except GRI, must be 
filed with the Commission on or before August 21, 1998. GRI's reply 
comments must be filed on or before August 28, 1998.
    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest GRI's application, 
except for GRI members and state regulatory commissions, who are 
automatically permitted to participate in the instant proceedings as 
intervenors, should file a motion to intervene or protest with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
Washington, D.C. 20426, in accordance with Rules 214 and 211 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and procedure, 18 CFR 385.214 and 
385.211. All protests, motions to intervene and comments should be 
filed on or before June 16, 1998. All comments and protests will be 
considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to 
be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to this 
proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party, other than a GRI 
member or a state regulatory commission, must file a motion to 
intervene. Copies of this application are on file with the

[[Page 31208]]

Commission and are available for public inspection.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-15145 Filed 6-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M