The agreement will add IBM's broad capabilities in designing and implementing Intelligent Utility Networks to AEP's initiative.

IBM will provide AEP with support services across the program, including program management, business process design, systems planning, and system interfaces. The agreement also leverages IBM's unique capabilities in research, software and IT infrastructure, enabling AEP to take advantage of IBM's global investments in developing Intelligent Utility Network solutions.

AEP's gridSMART initiative is among the first in the industry to introduce intelligence across the entire transmission and distribution system. Among the benefits expected for customers are: fewer outages, improved service and reliability, and the ability to better manage their energy use. Benefits for AEP include: planning and operating its system more efficiently, increased service quality, proactive outage notification capabilities, and enabling future technology advancements as they develop.

IBM joins an AEP gridSMART team that will implement advanced customer service, energy delivery and metering technologies across the nation's largest electricity transmission system, and a distribution system that delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states.

"IBM's commitment to the development of a smarter electricity grid aligns with the activities we already have underway," said Michael G. Morris, AEP's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Combining our own expertise on utility operations with IBM's expertise and experience in systems integration will bring the implementation of systems that best meet our customers' needs."

Initially, the gridSMART initiative will focus on four projects:

--  A pilot of advanced metering, distribution grid management, and energy
efficiency technologies in South Bend, Ind., that as already begun.
--  Establishment of up to three model city demonstrations of approximately
100,000 customers each, where AEP can validate and refine its gridSMART
vision.
--  Completion of a five-year Application Portfolio Roadmap that will
outline how technology will transform AEP's future electricity distribution
business.
--  Mobilization of several innovative customer service and energy
conservation initiatives, including new online energy management tools.

"AEP's wide-ranging initiative is one of the world's best examples of how an Intelligent Utility Network can fundamentally transform the way power is distributed and used," says Guido Bartels, IBM's General Manager, Global Energy & Utilities Industries. "We also see it as a further demonstration of IBM's continued efforts to bring innovative solutions to the global challenges in energy and the environment."

Future phases of gridSMART will take AEP further towards the Intelligent Utility Network introducing additional enhancements to the network, including installation of smart meters for all AEP customers by 2015; development of fuel cells, large-scale batteries and other distributed energy technologies; and support for emerging electric hybrid vehicles.

About AEP

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP's transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

About IBM

For more information visit www.ibm.com. For more information on smart utilities click here.

Media Contacts:
Randy Zane
IBM Media Relations
917-472-3589
rzane@us.ibm.com

Emily Horn
IBM Media Relations
415-545-2634
horne@us.ibm.com

SOURCE: IBM

mailto:rzane@us.ibm.com
mailto:horne@us.ibm.com

b. Project Nos.: 1175-013 and 1290-011.

c. Dated Filed: August 14, 2008.

d. Submitted By: Appalachian Power Company.

e. Name of Project: London/Marmet and Winfield Hydroelectric Projects.

f. Location: The projects are located on the Kanawha River. The London/Marmet Project is located in Fayette and Kanawha Counties, West Virginia, and the Winfield Project is located in Kanawha and Putnam Counties, West Virginia. Both projects occupy federal lands (U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Lock and Dams).

g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's Regulations.

h. Potential Applicant Contact: Ms. Teresa P. Rogers, Process Supervisor I, Appalachian Power Company, 40 Franklin Road, Roanoke, VA 24011. Tel. (540) 985-2441.

i. FERC Contact: Kim Carter (202) 502-6486 or e-mail at Kim.Carter@ferc.gov.

j. We are asking federal, State, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph o below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See, 94 FERC [paragraph] 61,076 (2001).

k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: (a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR Part 402 and (b) the State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.

l. With this notice, we are designating Appalachian Power Company as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

m. Appalachian Power Company filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD) and a proposed process plan and schedule with the Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.

n. A copy of the PAD is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov), using the "eLibrary" link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in paragraph h.

Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified via e-mail of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to the address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and all communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits of the potential application (original and eight copies) must be filed with the Commission at the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the Commission must include on the first page, the project name(s) (London/Marmet Hydroelectric Project and/or Winfield Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-1175-013 and/or P-1290-011), and bear the heading "Comments on Pre-Application Document," "Study Requests," "Comments on Scoping Document 1," "Request for Cooperating Agency Status," or "Communications to and from Commission Staff." Any individual or entity interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so by December 12, 2008.

Comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and other permissible forms of communications with the Commission may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the "e-filing" link.

p. Although our current intent is to prepare an environmental assessment (EA), there is the possibility that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required. Nevertheless, this meeting will satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether an EA or EIS is issued by the Commission.

Scoping Meetings

Commission staff will hold two scoping meetings in the vicinity of the project at the time and place noted below. The daytime meeting will focus on resource agency, Indian tribes, and non-governmental organization concerns, while the evening meeting is primarily for receiving input from the public. We invite all interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to attend one or both of the meetings, and to assist staff in identifying particular study needs, as well as the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the environmental document. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows:

Daytime Scoping Meeting

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008.

Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (EST).

Location: Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 105 Alex Lane, Charleston, WV 25304,

Phone: (304) 925-4300.

Evening Scoping Meeting

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008.

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (EST).

Location: Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 105 Alex Lane, Charleston, WV 25304,

Phone: (304) 925-4300.

Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 will be available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the "eLibrary" link. Follow the directions for accessing information in paragraph n. Based on all oral and written comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may include a revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues, identified through the scoping process.

Site Visit

The licensee and Commission staff will conduct a site visit of the projects on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, starting at 8 a.m. (EST). All participants should meet at the parking lot of the Winfield powerhouse by 8 a.m. From there, we will continue on to the Marmet and London powerhouses, concluding site visits by noon. All participants are responsible for their own transportation to the powerhouse sites. Anyone with questions about the site visit should contact Teresa Rogers of Appalachian Power Company at (540) 985-2441 or by e-mail at tprogers@aep.com on or before November 5, 2008.

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008.

Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EST).

Location: Winfield at 3732 Winfield Road, Winfield, WV 25213.

Phone: (304) 348-4644.

Meeting Objectives

At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Initiate scoping of the issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions and resource management objectives; (3) review and discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and study needs; (4) review and discuss the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that incorporates the time frames provided for in Part 5 of the Commission's regulations and, to the extent possible, maximizes coordination of federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes; and (5) discuss the appropriateness of any federal or state agency or Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for development of an environmental document.

Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues and/or concerns. Please review the PAD in preparation for the scoping meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in item n. of this document.

Meeting Procedures

The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will become part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the project.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

Citation: "73 FR 62490"

Document Number: "Project Nos. 1175-013 and 1290-011"

Federal Register Page Number: "62490"

"Notices"

On May 27, 2008 Appalachian Power Company (licensee), filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) for non-project use of project lands and waters. The EA contains the staff's analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed project and concludes that approval of the Proposed Action, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

Copies of the EA are available for review in Public Reference Room 2-A of the Commission's offices at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC. The EA may also be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the "eLibrary" link. Enter the docket number (P-2210) excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at 1- 866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. E8-24658 Filed 10-16-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Vol. 73, No. 202

[Project No. 2210-175-VA]

Notices

On May 27, 2008 Appalachian Power Company (licensee), filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) for non-project use of project lands and waters. The EA contains the staff's analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed project and concludes that approval of the Proposed Action, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

Copies of the EA are available for review in Public Reference Room 2-A of the Commission's offices at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC. The EA may also be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the "eLibrary" link. Enter the docket number (P-2210) excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

Citation: "73 FR 61852"

Document Number: "Project No. 2210-175-VA"

Federal Register Page Number: "61852"

"Notices"