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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 4, 1983 (45)PUC APPLICATIMS City Clerk Reimche presented the following information i, regarding PUC applications: 1. Letter received from Leonard M. Grimes, Jr. of Public Utilities Commission re Investigation on the ConmissionIs own motion into the rules, procedures and practices which should be applicable to the Com;nission's review of transmission lines not exceeding 200 kilovolts. 2. Notice received from Greyhound Lines, Inc. re Application No. 83-02-62 filed on February 28, 1983 requesting to increase its passenger bus fares. RECE(YED 1:03 IPPR 25 a 8. 07 PUBLICF I T � UTltIT co"Wil BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITV&� RMMji" OF THE STATE OF CALIF69 rX R APR a o 03 Investigation on the Commi �� own motion into the rules, SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE procedures and practices which ) 8 OA 63should be applicable to the ) OII N4= Commission's review of trans- ) mission lines not exceeding 200 ) Kilovolts. ) Pursuant to Section 1001 of the Public Utilities Code, no electrical corporation (among others) is permitted to begin the construction of "... a line, plant, or system, or of any extension thereof, without having first obtained from the Commission a certificate that the present°or future public convenience and necessity require or will require such construction." This language is tempered considerably by the second paragraph of Section 1001 which states that such certificate requirement shall not be inferred to apply to extensions: "... within any city or city and county within which it has theretofore lawfully commenced operations, or for an extension into territory either within or without a city or city and county contiguous to its lines plant, or system, and not theretofore served by public utility of like character) or for an extension within or to territory already served by it, necessary in the ordinary course of its business." The Commission has exercised its authority under various provisions of the Public Utilities Code to require the issuance prior to construction of oertificates of public convenience and necessity under circumstances where the economic, environmental or L/PSW: , • other ramifications of such projects clearly indicate a review is necessary. Pursuant to General Order 131-H, the Commission currently requires that certificates of public convenience and necessity be obtained before transmission lines in excess of 200 kilovolts (kV), among other projects, are constructed by utilities subject to our jurisdiction. The initial adoption of this General Order was intended to bring the Commission's project review procedures into conformance with the then newly adopted California Environmental Quality Act, Calif. Pub. Res. C. 621000 €t. seq. The most recent version of the General Order was intended to better conform this Commission's review procedures with those of the California Energy Commission on projects both agencies must review and to require certain information to be filed with the Commission on an annual basis. Among the informational items required to be provided annually by each electric utility are lists of the 200 kV or higher voltage transmission lines which have been approved but not yet built, which are undergoing regulatory review but have not yet been approved, or which have not yet been submitted for regulatory review but are being planned for construction within a fifteen -year forecast period. The information filed must include the planned operating date, transmission line name, terminal points, number of circuits, voltage, normal and emergency continuous operating ratings, length, estimated cost in current year dollars, cities and counties involved, and any other comments the utility believes informative. The Commission is interested in determining whether it should expand the requirements of General Order 131-8 to include transmission lines with voltages less than 200 kV. The Commission is concerned that it lacks the systematic information necessary to 2 R 011 L/PSW:lz • fully evaluate the utilities' activities with regard to these lower voltage transmission lines. Although the information may be available upon request, we currently have no systematic reporting of the number, coat, need, location, operating characteristics or other information concerning these lines. We are also very mindful of the mandate of the California Environmental Quality Act, Section 21000(g) which states: "It is the intent of the Legislature that all agencies of the state government which regulate activities of private individuals, corporations and public agencies which are found to affect the quality of the environment, shall regulate such activities so that major consideration is given to preventing environmental damage, while providing a decent horse and satisfying living environment of every Californian." Pub. Res. C. 521000(g). We are not prepared to propose a specific amendment to General Order 131-B at this time. We must first determine the magnitude of the problem and decide whether projects should be reviewed on an individual or group basis. Therefore, this investigation will begin for the purpose of gathering information and assistance from the respondent utilities and all interested persons. IT IS ORDERED that an investigaton on the Commission's own motion is hereby instituted into the rules, procedures, and practices which should be applicable to the Commission's review of transmission lines operating at voltages below 200 kV for all electric utilities under its jurisdiction. CP National Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pacific Power and Light Company, San Diego Gas A Electric Company, Sierra Pacific Power Company, and Southern California Edison Company are hereby made respondents to this proceeding. 0 OII L/PSW:lz • Respondent utilities are directed to file the information specified in Appendix A to this order within sixty (60) days of the effective date of the order by filing an original and twelve copies with the Commission's Docket Office. Service on respondents and interested persons is not required. Respondent utilities and interested persons are invited to comment within sixty (60; days on the issues set forth in Appendix B to this order by filing an original and twelve copies with the Commission's Docket Office. Service on respondents and interested persons is not required. Copies of this order shall be served on all respondent utilities as well as on the persons and organizations shown in Appendix C attached hereto. This order is effective today. Dated APR 2 0 199 at San Francisco, California. j._::.. r f t i •ti ::t%.no r ♦ r. r` :� J Cossaissioner Priscilla 0. Crew, being necessarily absent, did not participate 4 C Appendix A • Each respondent utility shall file the following information: 1. For all electric lines exceeding 50 W, but less than 200 kV, constructed during the past five years, under construction, or approved by all necessary public agencies but not yet constructed: a. Line name, or other designation and year of construction. b. Location, including names of all cities and counties affected, substations or other facilities to be connected, as well as a location on standard USGS Quadrangle maps or reproductions of such maps. C. Length in miles, indicating what portion of the length is located within public lands, franchise rights of way, or on private property for which an easement or fee was negotiated or condemned, and what portions are underground. d. Estimated cost in current dollars including right of way and construction. e. Public agency (local, state, federal) permits obtained. Specify agency and permit title_ f. was an environmental impact report or negative declaration prepared for the project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code 5621000 et. seq.?If so, what was the State Clearinghouse number and who was the lead agency? g. How many circuits does the project contain? h. Normal and emergency ratings of project in megawatts and megavolt -amperes. 1 The 50 kV lower limit is taken from the cutoff established in the Uniform System of Accounts. A-1 N i. Purpose of the project. 2. For all electric lines exceeding 50 kV but less than 200 kV applied for but not yet approved or not approved, but planned by the utility for construction in the next fifteen years: a. Line, name, or other designation and year planned for construction. b. Location, including names of all cities and counties affected, substations, or other facilities to be connected as well as location on standard USGS Quadrangle maps or reproduction of such maps. C. Length in miles, indictating what portion is proposed to use public lands, franchise rights of way, or private property and what portion is proposed to be underground. d. Estimated cost in current dollars. e. Public agency (local, state, federal) permits required. Specify agency and permit title. f. Will an environmental.impact report or negative declaration be prepared for the project? If so, who is the lead agency if known? g. How many circuits will the project contain? h. Normal and emergency rating of the project in megawatts and megavolt -amperes. i. Purpose of the project. 3. A brief narrative description of your sub -200 kV transmission line planning process including typical lead times for planning, approval and construction stages. 4. Current California rate base value of all sub -200 kV trans- mission lines in your system. 5. The voltage level or other characteristics that distinguish transmission lines from distributionlines.lines. 6. A scaled drawing of each transmission tower or pole type currently used for overhead lines between 50 kV and 200 kV. A-2 Appendix B Each respondent utility and interested party is invited to respond in writing to the following questions. 1. For purposes of Commission review, what is the appropriate voltage distinction between transmission lines and distribution lines? For the purpose of Appendix A, 50 kV was used, the voltage cutOff used in the Uniform System of Accounts. 2. khat, if any, other characteristics should be considered in the distinction between transmission lines and distribution lines? 3. Were formal review of transmission lines less than 200 kV to be undertaken by the Commission, what, if any, need, engineering, economic or Environmental issues might be addressed on a group or general basis? 4. Do 3ub-200 kV transmission lines of any particular voltage or design present unique engineering, construction, or environmental problems? B-1 Appendix C All appearances in 011 ?6 and in transmission line application proceedings in the last five years. All cities and counties The following state agencies: Air Resources Board Business and Transportation Agency California Coastal Commission California Energy Commission Department of Conservation Department of Fish and Game Department of Forestry Department of Justice Department of Parks and Recreation Department of Transportation Department of Water Resources Office of Planning and Research Resources Agency San Francisco Bay Conservation and Developement Commission State Lands Commission State Water Resources Control Board The following municipal utilities: Sacramento Municipal Utility District Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Imperial Irrigation District Modesto Irrigation District - Turlock Irrigation District Northern California Power Agency C-1 Greyhound Lines, Inc. Greyhound Tower Phoenix. Arizona 85077 Phone. (602) 248-5000 April 15, 1983 NOTICE By Application No. 83-02-62 filed February 28,, 1983, with the California i fmiia Public Utilities catmission, Q-fthoiu d Lines, Inc. requested approml to increase its passenger bus fares. Applicant est3mntes that a 15% ir=ease in passenger ha fares is required to offset increased openting expenses and provide for a y -r -r, reasonable rate of return. This Notice is provided by Qmyhound Lines, Inc.., pursuant to Rule 24 of the California Public Utilities Ccmnission's Rules of Practice and Procedures. A copy of Application No. 83-02-62 is available upon request from: R. L. Wilson,, Vice President -Traffic, above address.