1. Any unique Tradestyle Names (e.g. UtilityCo Power Marketing) that the operation may be known by.
   
2. Operations/division manager name
   
3. Unique phone number (may be direct line of operations manager)
   
4. Number of employees dedicated to the operation

INTERNET ACCESS TO D&B:

You may also contact D&B through the Internet at http://www.dbisna.com. Click on the D-U-N-S Number link at the center of the home page. There will be approximately a 3 day turnaround time for this method.)

Report from How+ Working Group Meeting
September 19, 1996

On September 19, 1996 the How Working Group met in Washington D.C. following the OASIS Workshop. This report documents decisions made at that meeting regarding implementation of Phase 1 OASIS. These decisions require actions by OASIS node providers, transmission providers, and OASIS users.

FERC has approved an extension of the OASIS start date, as requested by the How WG. OASIS nodes must be operational for testing purposes on or before December 2, 1996. OASIS nodes will begin commercial operation on January 3, 1997. At the How+ WG meeting, it was decided that coordination of the OASIS testing period would allow the most effective use of transmission provider and OASIS user resources during December.

1. OASIS Node Testing
   
   
   1. All OASIS nodes must be made operational on or before 8 a.m. on December 2, 1996. The first stage of testing will be a one day test of each node. Each OASIS node must designate their initial test date as either December 2, 3, or 4. The How+ WG will post on www.tsin.com a schedule of node availability for testing. We will accept requests from node administrators for particular days, but need to schedule approximately 1/3 of the nodes on each day. (Requests should be sent to Peter Hirsch at EPRI.)

      On the designated test day, for a 12 hour period beginning at 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. local time for the node, each transmission provider must provide sufficient staff to support the "backend" processes needed to respond to simulated transaction requests from transmission customers. Transmission customers will query the designated nodes, submit requests for service, and post services for resale. The transmission providers will respond to requests, decrement ATC, post schedules and curtailments, etc. All transactions will be simulated. Both customers and providers should attempt to make use of as much OASIS functionality as possible. Problems that occur will be reported by the customer to the OASIS node administrator as quickly as possible (within 24 hours of conclusion of the test).
      
      

   2. Once the OASIS node has completed its initial 12 hour test, it may be removed from service at any time during the succeeding 6 & 1/2 days until its second test period begins on either December 9, 10, or 11. This down time will allow resolution of problems that occurred during the initial test period.
      
      
   3. OASIS node testing in A above will be repeated on December 9, 10 and 11. The nodes tested on December 2 will repeat the process for the same 12 hour period on December 9. Likewise, December 3 nodes will be retested on December 10, and December 4 nodes on December 11.
      
      
   4. OASIS nodes may be unavailable from the conclusion of the second round of testing until 8 a.m. local time at the node on December 16. Once again, this period will allow correction of problems that may occur during the testing.
      
      
   5. During the period beginning on December 16 at 8 a.m. local time of the node, all nodes must be capable of processing realistic requests for transmission and ancillary services. During this period, transmission customers should attempt to conduct business in a manner similar to what they anticipate doing when the nodes become commercial. Transmission providers should also attempt to operate as if the system were commercial. However, all transactions will be simulated. Problems should be reported immediately to the OASIS node administrator.
      
      
   6. OASIS nodes may be unavailable during the week of December 28 while transaction data bases are purged and any final corrections made to the nodes. All nodes must be available for commercial operation at 8 a.m. local time on January 3, 1997.
      
      
   7. The coordinated test process outlined above is intended to maximize the customer/provider interactions and create realism in the testing, while minimizing commitment of staff resources on both sides of the OASIS interface. It also allows for short bursts of testing in the beginning and sufficient recovery time for OASIS node administrators to repair problems.
      
      
   8. EPRI will prepare a description of the test process outlined above, including a clear statement of test objectives by October 31. EPRI and NERC will coordinate the test schedule and work with customer groups to ensure they take advantage of the designated test dates
      
      
   9. EPRI will also prepare a separate test sheet for checking the compliance of a node with the Standards and Communications Protocol. No decision was made at the meeting as to how this compliance test plan would be used, but it will be available to vendors, providers, and others by October 31.
      
      
   10. OASIS users will be required to register prior to gaining access to OASIS for testing. For eligible transmission customers, this registration process should be real and there is no need to re-register on January 3. OASIS node administrators may issue additional temporary registrations to EPRI, NERC, FERC and others, which would allow them to submit purchase requests during the test period only. These temporary registrations would expire prior to the commercial start date. Providers are requested to make the customer registration process available prior to the December 2 start of testing, so that the initial 12 hour testing period is not diminished by the need to register.
       
       
   11. Web Node www.tsin.com
       
       
       1. The web node www.tsin.com will include in the registration for the OASIS nodes information on the schedule when each node will be available for testing. We request that all nodes register and indicate their preferred test dates as soon as possible (no later than October 31).
          
          
       2. The web node www.tsin.com will register transmission customers as well as providers, so that the 12 character customer name is unique across all nodes.
          
          
       3. A managed conferencing facility will be provided on the web site www.tsin.com, with categories for key OASIS subject areas. This will serve as a medium for exchange of ideas in focused areas. This service will be provided in parallel to the TSIN exploder on the PacifiCorp server, which continues to provide a valuable exchange of ideas. We will make a decision as to whether we should continue one or both after we gain experience with both services running in parallel for a few months.
          
          
   12. Customer DUNS numbers

       All customers will have a DUNS numbers and it is required that in the case where the provider and customer are within the same company that they each have a unique DUNS number. Gerry Cauley is meeting with Dunn & Bradstreet representatives on September 26 to resolve problems with obtaining multiple numbers within a single company.
       
       

   13. Coordination of What Issues

       EPRI will establish a set of contacts for questions regarding ATC implementation, reservation and scheduling processes, and other "what" issues. We will establish a screening process which will direct questions and issues to the best authority. Several task forces within NERC are addressing these issues and will be asked to provide timely response to OASIS questions.
       

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   September 23, 1996

   Late Friday, September 20, FERC released its Order granting an extension of time for OASIS start-up. The full text of the Order follows:
   

   UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
   76 FERC 61,305
   FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

   Before Commissioners: Elizabeth Anne Moler, Chair;
   Vicky A. Bailey, James J. Hoecker,
   William L. Massey, and Donald F. Santa, Jr.
   

   
   
   

                 Open Access Same-time Information   )
                 System (OASIS) and Standards of     )  Docket No. RM95-9-000
                 Conduct                             )

   ORDER GRANTING REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME
   FOR COMMENCING PHASE 1 OASIS OPERATIONS
   AND COMPLYING WITH STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

   
   

   (Issued September 20, 1996)

   INTRODUCTION

   As discussed below, we will grant a request from the How Working Group for a two-step extension of time of the implementation schedule for compliance with the Phase 1 OASIS requirements and Standards of Conduct (from November 1, 1996), with OASIS operations to begin on a test basis starting on December 2, 1996, and with full commercial operations and compliance with the Standards of Conduct to begin by January 3, 1997.

   BACKGROUND

   In Order No. 889, we promulgated regulations that require transmission providers to establish and operate OASIS sites and to comply with Standards of Conduct. The regulations require, among other matters, the posting on an OASIS of transmission- related information and the separation of transmission operation functions and generation marketing functions. 1/ Order No. 889 requires OASIS sites, in conformance with the regulations, to be in operation by November 1, 1996.

   On September 9, 1996, the How Working Group, 2/ on behalf of the electric industry, filed a letter presenting the above- mentioned request for a two-month, two-step time extension to comply with the Commission's requirements established in Order No. 889. The How Working Group's letter delineates the industry's progress in developing Phase 1 OASIS nodes and in meeting the Commission's November 1, 1996 deadline for compliance. The letter concludes that, despite best efforts, industry members require additional time to meet the Commission's Phase 1 OASIS requirements. 3/

   On September 10, 1996, Siemens Power Systems Control (Siemens) and ISSC, Inc. (ISSC) filed a letter stating that they expect to be ready to meet and/or exceed the Commission's Phase 1 OASIS requirements by November 1, 1996. They explain that they do not believe that any further delay in the OASIS compliance schedule is required or would be beneficial to the electric industry at large or to "solution providers" such as themselves.

   On September 13, 1996, Public Service Company of New Mexico filed an answer in support of the How Working Group's request for a time extension. On September 16, 1996, Electric Clearinghouse, Inc. (Electric Clearinghouse) and Enron Power Marketing, Inc. (Enron) filed comments supporting the request of the How Working Group for a two-step time extension, so long as the Commission does not delay implementation of the Standards of Conduct that, they claim, are not dependent on implementation of the OASIS for compliance.

   On that same date, comments supporting the How Working Group's request for a time extension were filed by Centerior Energy Corporation, El Paso Electric Company, Jacksonville Electric Authority, Public Service Company of Colorado, Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, and Tuscon Electric Power Company. These comments describe problems that have arisen in meeting the Commission's November 1, 1996 deadline and urge that we grant the How Working Group's request. Additionally, on September 17, 1996, a group of eight utilities 4/ filed an answer in support of the How Working Group's request. This group offers the Commission's September 10, 1996 order issuing a revised Standards and Protocols document 5/ as a reason why a short time extension is appropriate.

   Also on September 17, 1996, comments were filed by Power System Engineering Inc. (PSE), a participant in the How Working Group. PSE supports a staged implementation schedule, as advanced by the How Working Group, but advocates additional stages, with operational OASIS test nodes publicly available on the Internet for all regions on November 1, 1996, followed by the incremental posting of transmission paths on successive dates, leading to full commercial implementation by January 3, 1997. 6/

   DISCUSSION

   After a review of the How Working Group's request and related comments, we agree that the How Working Group's suggested two-step modification to the timetable contained in Order No. 889 is appropriate. At the time that we issued Order No. 889, we did so with the knowledge that the schedule contained therein, for the development and implementation of a new information system, was ambitious. In our view, the How Working Group, and the industry at large, appear to be making best efforts to comply with these new requirements, but need additional time to complete their work.

   While we do not believe that a longer extension would be warranted, we will grant the How Working Group's request for a two-step, two-month extension, with test operations to begin by December 2, 1996, and with full commercial operations to begin by January 3, 1997. We will not adopt the suggested alternative approach advocated by PSE, as it appears both vague and too complicated.

   While we are pleased to learn that Siemens/ISSC will be ready to meet the Commission's OASIS requirements by November 1, 1996, we are persuaded by the How Working Group's letter and the responses to that letter that other affected entities may need more time to complete their preparations, and we are making our decision on this basis.

   Under the How Working Group's proposal, all required OASIS nodes will be operational and available for public access on or before December 2, 1996. After that time, users will be able to access and download all required OASIS information and will be able to submit electronic forms and upload data, as required by the OASIS Standards and Protocols. However, all user interactions initially will be on a test basis only, with no transmission service reservations being executed on the OASIS and no OASIS transactions being binding on any party. This testing period will allow providers and users to develop and test their capabilities to use the system. We find this proposal acceptable and approve it. Our time extension for commercial operations until January 3, 1997 is based on the availability of the OASIS on a test basis, as outlined by the How Working Group's proposal, starting on December 2, 1996.

   Notwithstanding the objections of Electric Clearinghouse and Enron, we also will extend the compliance date for the Standards of Conduct until January 3, 1997 because OASIS implementation is essential to compliance with the required separation for functions. In light of this extension of time, transmission providers need not comply with section 37.4(c) of our regulations, Maintenance of Written Procedures, until January 3, 1997, at which time they must file written procedures detailing their actions to implement the Standards of Conduct.

   The Commission orders:

   The request of the How Working Group for a two-month, two- step extension of time before transmission providers are required to commence full commercial Phase 1 OASIS operations and comply with the Standards of Conduct is hereby granted, as discussed in the body of this order.

   By the Commission.

   ( S E A L )

   Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
   Acting Secretary

   ---

   1/ See Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards of Conduct, Final Rule, Order No. 889, FERC Stats. & Regs. 31,037, 61 Fed. Reg. 21,737 (1996), reh'g pending.

   2/ The How Working Group is an industry-led group, with the participation of diverse industry and customer representatives, working to reach consensus on OASIS-related issues.

   3/ We issued a notice giving interested persons an opportunity (until September 16, 1996) to file comments in response to the How Working Group's letter.

   4/ This group is comprised of Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Boston Edison Company, Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, Montaup Electric Company, Vermont Electric Power Company, Virginia Electric and Power Company, and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation.

   5/ See Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards of Conduct, Order Issuing Revised OASIS Standards and Protocols Document, 76 FERC --,--- (1996).

   6/ On this same date, Edison Electric Institute also filed a letter supporting the How Working Group's request for an extension.

   ---

   September 12, 1996

   FERC released a revised OASIS Standards and Protocols Document today (the document itself is dated 9/5/96). The unzipped document is in Word 6 format.
   
   OASIS S&CP Version 1.1

   ---

   September 10, 1996

   FERC asks for Industry Response to How Working Group's Request

   
   
   

   UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
   FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

   Open Access Same-time Information ) Docket No. RM95-9-000
   System (OASIS) )

   NOTICE SHORTENING ANSWER PERIOD

   (September 9, 1996)

   On September 9, 1996, the How Working Group on the Open Access Same-time Information System (OASIS) filed a letter in this proceeding. In that letter, the How Working Group, on behalf of the electric industry, requests an extension of the November 1, 1996 deadline for implementation of Phase I OASIS systems. See Open Access Same-Time Information System and Standards of Conduct, Final Rule, Order No. 889, FERC Stats. & Regs. Ÿ 31,037, 61 FR 21737 (May 10, 1996). Specifically, the How Working Group requests that an extension of time be implemented in two steps: (1) by December 1, 1996, all OASIS nodes required by Order No. 889 will be operational and available for public access on a test basis only; and (2) By January 3, 1997, all OASIS nodes will begin full commercial operation.

   Any person that intends to respond to the How Working Group's request for an extension of time should file an anwer in this proceeding no later than September 16, 1996, in accordance with Rule 213 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.213.

   Lois D. Cashell Secretary

   ---

   September 6, 1996

   How Working Group Requests OASIS Implementation Extension

   Gerry Cauley, on behalf of the industry's How Working Group, wrote to FERC requesting a deadline extension regarding the final implementation of the OASIS network. Mr. Cauley asked FERC to move the initial testing of OASIS nodes to December 2,1996 (from November 1, 1996) and to begin commercial use of the OASIS network on January 3, 1997. Click here for the complete text of Mr. Cauley's letter.

   ---

   July 30, 1996

   Another Version of S&CP Sent to FERC

   EPRI sent FERC a revised version of the Standards and Communication Protocol document, rm95-9n.zip., today. The zip file contains a WordPerfect 5.1 and Word 6 version of the document, the data element dictionary, and a redline version comparing Version N to Version J.

   ---

   July 25, 1996

   Comments Spur Revisions to S&CP Document

   Version M of theStandards and Communications Protocols document was released today forreview. Changes were based on comments EPRI received from interestedparties. Additional comments may be made to Peter Hirsch, but a completed c opy of the S&CP document including comments received to date will beforwarded to the FERC on Friday, June 26, 1996.

   ---

   July 24, 1996

   Conference Call Participants review Standards and Communications Protocols Document

   Yesterday, a conference call for all interested parties was held to discuss Standards and Communications Protocols document developed by the industry's How Working Group. EPRI has modified that document to Version L based on the comments from those involved in the conference call. The downloadable file, RM95-9L.ZIP, contains the following files:

   
   
   • RM95-9L.WP5 - Version L, S&CP document (WordPerfect 5)
   • RM95-9DL.WP5 - Appendix A -- Data Element Dictionary (WordPerfect 5)
   • RM95-9L.RED - Redline version of S&CP, comparing version L to version J (WordPerfect 5)
   • RM95-9DL.RED - Redline version of Appendix A, comparing version L to version J (WordPerfect 5)
   • RM95-9L.DOC - Redline version of S&CP, comparing version L to version J (Word 6)
   • RM95-9DL.DOC - Redline version of Appendix A, comparing Version L to Version J (Word 6)

   ---

   July 17, 1996

   EPRI has drafted changes to the Standards and Communications Protocol document to reflect comments made by Joint Transmission Services Information Network (JTSIN) participants. The new version, Version K, is in Word 6 format, and is redlined to highlight changes from the previous version (Version J).

   Version J was submitted to FERC by the industry's How Working Group on July 3, 1996. FERC received significant comments on the Standards and Communication protocols from the JTSIN group and APPA. FERC and EPRI agreed that EPRI should try and resolve issues as outlined by JTSIN, then another draft version of the Standards and Communications Protocols document will be posted. All interested parties will be asked to comment.

   ---

   July 3, 1996

   EPRI sends Corrected Version of Standards and Comunications Protocols Document to FERC

   Today, EPRI mailed the modified version of OASIS S&CP document (RM95-9J) . It includes minor changes to correct inconsistencies or omissions between the templates, the data element dictionary, and the samples. The downloadable file includes redline versions of both the S&CP document and data dictionary to aid in the comparison of Version RM95-9H and Version95-9I.

   JSTIN Group Files Comments with FERC

   The Joint Transmission Services Information Network (JTSIN) participants, comprised of ECAR, MAPP, MAIN, and SPP Regions and NEPOOL, sent comments to the FERC regarding the How Group's Standards and Communications Protocols document. The comments are based on the RM95-9H document and do not include any of the corrections from RM95-9I. A red-lined version of the S&CP is included in two formats, Word 7 and WordPerfect 5.1.
   

   ---

   July 2, 1996

   FERC Clarifies Order 888 and 889 Compliance Issues

   FERC issued its Order Clarifying Order Nos. 888 and 889 Compliance Matters, today. Essentially, the Order directs public utilitites to provide electronic copies o4f their compliance tariff filings to eligible customers upon request. FERC now gives these entities 30 days to respond to the compliance filings compared to 15 days stated in Order 888.

   The Order does not directly affect OASIS, nor does it respond to issues for rehearing submitted by the How Working Group.

   ---

   June 12, 1996

   FERC Cancels Technical Conference Planned for June 17

   FERC today said it was cancelling its Technical Conference scheduled to discuss the Standards and Communications Protocols document recently submitted by the How Working Group. The Notice of Cancellation follows:

                                                              UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
                                                        FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION 
   
   Open Access Same-time Information  )
   Docket No. RM95-9-000System       )    
   
                                                NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF TECHNICAL CONFERENCE                       
                                                                 AND NOTICE OF FILING OF COMMENTS   
                                                                                     (June 11, 1996)	
   
   The Commission previously announced that it would hold a  technical conferenceon June 17, 1996 to discuss 
   any remaining issues in this proceeding. 1/  The Commissionscheduled the technical conference to follow the 
   submission of an additional report from the How Group correcting any deficiencies in the standards and protocols 
   document (Standards and Protocols) that accompanied the OASIS Final Rule. The How Group submitted the
   requested report to the Commission on June 7, 1996. 
   
   After a review of this report, the Commission has concluded that the technical conference scheduled for 
   June 17, 1996 is unnecessary and is hereby cancelled.
   	
   The June 7, 1996 report is available for inspection and copying in the Commission'sPublic Reference
   Room and is accessible through the Commission Issuance Posting System. Interested persons may s
   ubmit comments on this report on or before [insert date 20 days after publication of this notice in  the 
   Federal Register].
                                 
   
                    Lois D. Cashell 
                    Secretary
   
   /1  Open Access Same-time Information System and Standards of Conduct (OASIS FinalRule), Order No. 889,
   FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,037, 61 FR 21737(May 10, 1996).

   ---

   June 6, 1996

   Revised Standards and Protocols Document Submitted to FERC

   Version RM95-9h, the How Working Group's Standards and Communications Protocols Document for OASIS (TSIN) was submitted to FERC this afternoon (2:30 p.m. PDT). This document incorporates comments receivedon Version RM95-9f and RM95-9g and other sources.

   ---

   May 28, 1996

   FERC Extends Filing Deadline

   FERC has granted a request made by the industry's HOW Working Group to extend the deadline for filing a revised Standards and Communication Protocols document to June 7, 1996.

   The HOW Group requested the extension in order to provide the FERC with a Standards and Protocols document that reflects the concensus of the industry.

   ---

   May 8, 1996

   May 6-7, 1996 TSIN Open Industry Workshop Highlights

   A broad cross-section of the industry -- transmission owners, customers, and vendors -- attended this meeting to discuss the continuing development of TSINs (OASISs).

   Version 1.0 of the TSIN Requirements Documents was discussed as a strawman proposal for a TSIN Management Process to facilitate the ongoing development of TSINs.

   
   [Strawman for Proposed TSIN Management Process] Word 6

   ---