[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51106-51107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24986]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration


Boulder Canyon Project--Notice of Firm Power Service Base Charge

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of base charge.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given of the confirmation and approval by the Deputy 
Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Base Charge and its 
components for the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) firm power service. The 
Fiscal Year (FY) 1997 Base Charge and its components for BCP firm power 
are based on an Annual Revenue Requirement of $44,437,488. The Base 
Charge consists of a rounded energy dollar of $22,976,823 and a rounded 
capacity dollar of $21,460,664. This Base Charge and its components are 
used for calculating the monthly charges and forecast rates pursuant to 
Rate Schedule BCP-F5 as approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) on April 19, 1996 (Rate Order No. WAPA-70).

DATES: The Base Charge and its components, used in calculating the 
monthly charges and forecast rates pursuant to Rate Schedule BCP-F5, 
will be effective on the first day of the first full billing period 
beginning on or after October 1, 1996, and will be in effect through FY 
1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. J. Tyler Carlson, Regional Manager, Desert Southwest Customer 
Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, 
Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, (602) 352-2453.
Mr. Joel K. Bladow, Assistant Administrator for Power Marketing 
Liaison, Western Area Power Administration, Room 8G-027, Forrestal 
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0001, 
(202) 586-5581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Base Charge and its components were 
calculated in accordance with the methodology approved under Rate Order 
WAPA-70. The Procedures for Public Participation in Power and 
Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions, 10 CFR Part 903, have 
been followed by Western Area Power Administration (Western) in 
determining the Base Charge and its components. The following 
summarizes the steps taken by Western to ensure involvement of all 
interested parties in the determination of the Base Charge and its 
components:
    1. Discussion of the proposed Base Charge and its components was 
initiated at an informal BCP Contractor meeting held on May 9, 1996, in 
Phoenix, Arizona. At this informal meeting, representatives from 
Western and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) explained the basis 
for estimates used in the calculation of the Base Charge and its 
components. A question and answer session was convened for those 
persons attending.
    2. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) was published on May 22, 1996 
(61 FR 25664), officially announcing the proposed Base Charge 
adjustment process, initiating the public consultation and comment 
period, announcing the public information and public comment forums, 
and presenting procedures for public participation.
    3. On June 7, 1996, a letter was mailed from Western's Desert 
Southwest Customer Service Regional Office to all BCP customers and 
other interested parties. The letter provided a copy of the BCP 
Proposed Rate Adjustment data, dated June 1996, which included a copy 
of the FRN of May 22, 1996.
    4. At the public information forum held on June 13, 1996, in 
Phoenix, Arizona. Western and Reclamation representatives explained the 
proposed Base Charge and its components for Rate Year 1997 in greater 
detail. A question and answer session was convened for those persons 
attending.
    5. A public comment forum was held on July 15, 1996, in Phoenix, 
Arizona, to give the public an opportunity to comment for the record. 
Five persons representing customers and customer groups made oral 
comments.
    6. Ten comment letters were received during the 92-day consultation 
and comment period. The consultation and comment period ended August 
22, 1996. All formally submitted comments have been considered in the 
preparation of this FRN.
    Most of the comments received during the public meetings or in the 
written correspondence dealt with the Visitor Facilities, hydrology, 
and the BCP Initial Audit.
    All comments were considered in developing the Base Charge for FY 
1997. The comments and responses, paraphrased for brevity, are 
presented below.

Hydrology

    Issue: A request was made, asking that if the Master Schedule for 
FY 97 is revised to reflect excess energy prior to the end of the rate 
process, that it be used as the final Master Schedule for determining 
the monthly energy ratios used to calculate the monthly energy charge.
    Response: If Reclamation notifies Western of changes which result 
in a revision of the Master Schedule for FY 97 prior to the start of 
the fiscal year, Western will use the revised Master Schedule to 
determine the monthly energy ratios used to calculate the monthly 
energy charge.

Visitor Facilities

    Issue: Concern was expressed regarding the potential for the BCP 
customers being required to pay as much as $31 million as a result of 
the suit filed in the Federal Claims Court by the PCL Company. Several 
commentors stated that they believed that the BCP rates should not be 
required to recover these costs.
    Response: The Engineering and Operations Committee (E&OC) has 
agreed to include the cost of defending the Government's position 
regarding the PCL claim as part of the total Visitor Facilities costs. 
Western, Reclamation, and BCP Contractors will address the issue of any 
settlement or judgement costs if they are incurred by the Government.

Cost Containment

    Issue: A request was made that the O&M expenses for both Western 
and Reclamation be thoroughly reviewed by the E&OC and the Ten Year 
Planning Committees. A goal of the review should be to see if high cost 
activities could be spread out over more than 2 years and that these 
costs are accounted for in the proper category (i.e., O&M, 
replacements, etc).
    Response: Western and Reclamation are committed to working with the 
E&OC and the Ten Year Planning Committees to thoroughly review all O&M 
and replacement activities. During the review of O&M and replacement 
activities, Western and Reclamation will attempt to spread out the 
expenditure schedules for high cost activities where feasible.
    Issue: Western and Reclamation were cautioned that even though the 
water forecasts project a water surplus condition over the next 5 
years, they should not stop their efforts in cost containment and 
finding alternative revenues.
    Response: Western and Reclamation have committed to continue with 
the various partnership activities with the BCP Contractors in keeping 
the BCP costs down.

BCP Initial Audit

    Issue: Concern was expressed over when the various recommendations

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from the BCP Initial Audit were going to be implemented. When was the 
power repayment spreadsheet study going to be modified? All parties 
were encouraged to accomplish this as soon as possible.
    Response: Western and Reclamation are working with the BCP 
Contractors and the auditors to resolve and implement the 
recommendations from the BCP Initial Audit. There has been an on-going 
effort in researching and reconciling the financial records with the 
PRSS. Until the research is completed for such items as revenues, 
expenses and cash, adjustments to the PRSS and the financial records 
cannot be accomplished. It is Western's intent to have all research, 
reconciliations, adjustments to financial records, and modifications to 
the PRSS accomplished by the end of the FY 1997 rate process.

Project Partnership

    Issue: Several commentors expressed their appreciation to Western 
and Reclamation for their cooperative efforts in keeping the costs as 
low as possible. They stated that they hoped that Western and 
Reclamation would continue with those efforts.
    Response: Western and Reclamation reaffirmed their commitment to 
maintaining the cooperative spirit and partnership with the BCP 
customers.

Power Repayment Spreadsheet Study

    Issue: A request was made, asking that supporting schedules 
separate Reclamation's O&M costs attributable to Hoover Dam and 
appurtenances, from the O&M costs attributable to the power plant.
    Response: As stated in the data request response mailed July 2, 
1996, Reclamation's O&M cost accounts are set up to reflect the FERC 
classifications. Reclamation's accounting system does not distinguish 
between costs associated with the dam and appurtenances, and costs 
associated with the power plant; therefore, this information cannot be 
provided.
    By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, published 
November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) 
delegated (1) the authority to develop long-term power and transmission 
rates on a nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of Western; (2) the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an 
interim basis to the Deputy Secretary; and (3) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand, or 
to disapprove such rates to FERC. Existing DOE procedures for public 
participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR Part 903) became 
effective on September 18, 1985 (50 FR 37835).
    These charges and rates are established pursuant to section 302(a) 
of the DOE Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7152(a), through which the power 
marketing functions of the Secretary of the Interior and Reclamation 
under the Reclamation Act of 1902, 43 U.S.C. 371 et seq., as amended 
and supplemented by subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of 
the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, 43 U.S.C. 485h(c), and other acts 
specifically applicable to the project system involved, were 
transferred to and vested in the Secretary.

    Issued in Washington, DC, September 23, 1996.
Charles B. Curtis,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-24986 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P