[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13242]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]


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Part X





Department of the Interior





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Bureau of Indian Affairs



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Power Rate Adjustment: Mission Valley Power Utility, MT; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

 
Power Rate Adjustment: Mission Valley Power Utility, MT

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice increases the cost of electric power to customers 
of Mission Valley Power (MVP), the entity operating the power facility 
of the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project of the Flathead Reservation. 
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has been informed that the Montana 
Power Company (MPC), which sells electric power to MVP, has raised its 
wholesale power rates by 3.0%. The MPC increase, which went into effect 
on September 1, 1993, is based on adjustments in the Consumer Price 
Index pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license for 
MPC's Kerr Dam Hydroelectric Facility. Accordingly, the BIA is 
adjusting the local retail power rates charged by MVP to reflect the 
increased cost of purchased power.

DATES: MVP will adjust its rates to account for increased power costs, 
effective on June 3, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Attention: Stanley Speaks, Area 
Director, Portland Area Office, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 
97232-4169.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Indian Affairs; Attention: 
Stanley Speaks, Area Director, Portland Area Office, 911 NE. 11th 
Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4169, (503) 231-6702; or Bill Rauch, 
General Manager, Mission Valley Power, P.O. Box 890, Polson, Montana 
59860-0890, (406) 833-5361, or 1-800-823-3758 (In-State Watts).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document is 
vested in the Secretary of the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301; the Act of 
August 7, 1946, c. 802, section 3 (60 Stat. 895; 25 U.S.C. 385c); the 
Act of May 25, 1948 (62 Stat. 269); and the Act of December 23, 1981, 
section 112 (95 Stat. 1404). The Secretary has delegated this authority 
to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs pursuant to part 209 
Department Manual, Chapter 8.1A and Memorandum dated January 25, 1994, 
from Chief of Staff, Department of the Interior, to Assistant 
Secretaries, and Heads of Bureaus and Offices.
    The Notice increasing the MVP rate was published on September 15, 
1993 (58 FR 48426). The affected public and interested parties were 
provided the opportunity to submit written comments during the 30-day 
period subsequent to September 15, 1993. No comments were received 
during this comment period.
    This adjustment is the result of an increase in the electric power 
rates charged by MPC, one of three sources of electric power marketed 
by MVP. Pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license 
for the Kerr Dam Hydroelectric Facility, MPC is allowed to adjust its 
electric power rates annually based on the Consumer Price Index. On 
August 3, 1993, MPC announced the rate increase of 3.0 percent, 
effective September 1, 1993. The following table illustrates CPI-U 
increases, mill/kwh increases, and the financial impact of the new 
retail rates on the various rate classes.

                 Changes to Retail Rates by Rate Classes                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Increase   
       Rate class             Present           New           charge    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residential:                                                            
  Basic charge..........  $11.00/mo.....  $11.00/mo.....  None.         
  (Includes KWH)........  127 kwh.......  127 kwh.......  None.         
  Energy charge.........  $0.04709......  $0.04719......  $0.000010.    
#2 General:                                                             
  Basic charge..........  $11.00........  $11.00........  None.         
  (Includes KWH)........  109 kwh.......  109 kwh.......  None.         
  Energy charge.........  $0.05495......  $0.05505......  $0.000010.    
Irrigation:                                                             
  Horsepower charge (/    $10.84/HP.....  $10.84/HP.....  None.         
   HP).                                                                 
  Energy charge.........  $0.03590......  $0.03600......  $0.00010.     
Small and large                                                         
 commercial:                                                            
  Basic charge..........  None..........  None..........  None.         
  Minimum charge........  $38.00........  $38.00........  None.         
  Demand charge.........  4.34..........  4.34..........  None.         
Energy charge:                                                          
  First 18,000 KWH......  0.04255.......  0.04264.......  $0.00009.     
  Over 18,000 KWH.......  0.03538.......  0.03547.......  $0.00009.     
------------------------------------------------------------------------

FUTURE ACTION: Notice of the final retail rate, along with the Table 
illustrating the rate increases and their impact on retail rates, will 
be published in local newspapers within the MVP service area. A 
household mailer to each MVP customer will detail the specific rate 
impacts per rate class.

Regulatory Analysis

Executive Order 12866

    In accordance with the criteria of Executive Order 12866, the 
Department of the Interior has determined that this rule is not major 
and does not require a regulatory impact analysis.

Paperwork Reduction Action

    This rule does not contain information collection requirements that 
require approval by the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
3501.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This rule will not significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment under section (2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (hereinafter NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and is 
categorically excluded from the NEPA process pursuant to Part 516 
Department Manual, Chapter 2. appendix 1(1.5).

Authorship Statement

    The principal author of this rule is Stanley Speaks, Area Director, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Portland Area Office, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, 
Portland, Oregon 97232-4169.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the rates charged for 
electric power by the Mission Valley Power Utility are to be increased 
as set forth above.

List of Subjects

    Indians, Electric power.

    Dated: May 6, 1994.
John W. Tippeconnic,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
Ada E. Deer,
Acting for Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-13242 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P