[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44013-44014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21721]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Mission Valley Power Utility, Montana Power Rate Adjustment, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior

ACTION: Notice of proposed rate adjustment.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) proposes to adjust the 
electric power rates for customers of Mission Valley Power (MVP), the 
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal entity operating the power 
facility of the Flathead Irrigation and Power Project of the Flathead 
Reservation under a Public Law 93-638 contract. The following table 
illustrates the impact of the rate adjustment:

                       Power Rate Revision for MVP                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Class                 Present rate          Proposed rate   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               RESIDENTIAL                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate..................  $11.00/mo. (includes  $5.00/mo.           
                               125 kwh).                                
Energy Rate.................  $0.04828/KWH (over    $0.04725/kwh.       
                               125 kwh).                                
Minimum Monthly Bill........  Not Applicable......  $10.00/mo--May 1    
                                                     thru October 31.   
                                                    $20.00/mo--November 
                                                     1 thru April 30.   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                #2 GENERAL                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate..................  $11.00/mo. (includes  This rate is being  
Energy Rate.................   107 kwh).             replaced by Small  
                              $0.05604/KWH (over     Commercial (without
                               107 kwh)              demand).           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SMALL COMMERCIAL (WITHOUT DEMAND)--RATE REPLACES #2 GENERAL ABOVE   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate..................  ....................  $5.00/mo.           
Energy Rate.................  ....................  $0.05495/kwh.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                SMALL AND LARGE COMMERCIAL (WITH DEMAND)                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate..................  None................  Rate Being Replaced.
Monthly Minimum.............  $38.00..............  See new Separate    
                                                     Rate.              
Demand Rate.................  $4.514/kw of billing  Structures for Small
Energy Rate.................   demand.               Commercial and     
                              $0.04345/kwh--First    Large Commercial.  
                               18,000 kwh                               
                              $0.03592/kwh--Over                        
                               18,000 kwh                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   SMALL COMMERCIAL WITH DEMAND--RATE REPLACES PREVIOUS SMALL AND LARGE 
                               COMMERCIAL                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate:                                                             
    Single Phase............  ....................  $20.00/mo.          
    Three Phase.............  ....................  $40.00/mo.          
Demand Rate.................  ....................  $4.50/kw.           
Energy Rate.................  ....................  $0.0405/kwh.        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  LARGE COMMERCIAL WITH DEMAND--RATE REPLACES PREVIOUS SMALL AND LARGE  
                               COMMERCIAL                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate..................  ....................  $125.00/mo.         
Monthly Minimum.............  ....................  None.               
Demand Rate.................  ....................  $5.00/KW.           
Energy Rate.................  ....................  $0.03115/kwh.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               IRRIGATION                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horsepower Rate.............  $11.30/hp...........  $11.05/hp.          
Energy Rate.................  $0.03642/kwh........  $0.03572/kwh.       
Minimum Seasonal Rate.......  $132.00 or $6.00/hp,  No Adjustment.      
                               whichever is                             
                               greater.                                 
Area Lights Installed on                                                
 Existing Pole or Structure:  Monthly Rate:         Monthly Rate:       

[[Page 44014]]

                                                                        
    7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*.    $7.00.............    $6.85             
    20,000 lumen unit, M.V.*    $10.00............    $9.80             
    9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S.    $6.50.............    $6.35             
    22,000 lumen unit,          $8.75.............    $8.58             
     H.P.S..                                                            
Area Lights Installed with    Monthly Rate:         Monthly Rate:       
 New Pole:                                                              
    7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*.    $8.75.............    $8.60             
    20,000 lumen unit, M.V.*    $11.50............    $11.25            
    9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S.    $8.25.............    $8.10             
    22,000 lumen unit,          $10.50............    $10.30            
     H.P.S..                                                            
Street Lighting (Metered):                                              
    Basic Rate..............  $11.00/mo. (includes  $5.00/mo.           
                               107 kwh).                                
    Energy Rate.............  $0.05615 (over 107    $0.05495/kwh.       
                               kwh).                                    
Street Lighting (Unmetered):                                            
    This rate class applies to municipalities or communities where there
     are ten or more lighting units billed in a group. This rate        
     schedule is subject to a negotiated contract with MVP and is       
     unchanged as part of this rate adjustment..                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on rate adjustments should be sent to: 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Attn: Branch of Irrigation and 
Power, MS#4513-MIB, Code 210, 1849 ``C'' Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 
20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Portland Area Office, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 
97232-4169, telephone (503) 231-6702; or, General Manager, Mission 
Valley Power, P. O. Box 1269, Polson, Montana 59860-1269, telephone 
(406) 883-5361.

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 
Departmental 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.
    MVP has been informed by its suppliers of wholesale power, 
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Montana Power Company (MPC), and 
the Louisiana Gas & Electric Company (LGE), that they are adjusting 
their rates to MVP. Accordingly, the BIA is proposing to adjust the 
rates at the recommendation of MVP to reflect the adjusted cost of 
service and power provided to MVP by the BPA, MPC, and LGE. The 
proposed rate change will impact MVP's Basic Rate, Demand Rate, 
Horsepower Rate and various other energy rates within each rate class.
    MVP is also proposing a general adjustment of electric rates. New, 
less expensive wholesale power rates from the Bonneville Power 
Administration, and the opportunity for additional savings available by 
purchasing a portion of the wholesale needs from an independent third-
party source, will result in annual purchased power savings of 
approximately $900,000 annually for the next five fiscal years. Through 
action by MVP's Board of Directors, the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
proposes to lower rates across all customer classes by an average of 
2.3% for the five year period, resulting in an effectual rebate to 
consumers of approximately 35% of the anticipated savings. The 
additional 65%, or approximately $600,000, will be retained by the 
utility for funding the construction of new office and operations 
facilities which are critically required for the utility to continue 
providing safe, efficient and cost effective service. The proposed rate 
structure is the result of a Cost of Service study by the MVP 
consultant, Economic and Engineering Services, Inc., public comments 
and formal recommendations from the Consumer Council and the Utility 
Board. The effective date of the proposed BPA rate change will be the 
first of the month following the publication date of the final notice 
of Rate Adjustment.

    Dated: August 8, 1997.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-21721 Filed 8-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P