[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 89 (Monday, May 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25061-25063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11581]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Mission Valley Power Utility, Montana Power Rate Adjustment

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 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 operation and maintenance of the 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 1999.

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: Stan Speaks, 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.

[[Page 25062]]

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.
    The Montana Power Company (MPC) raised its wholesale rates 
effective September 5, 1997, and September 5, 1998, based on 
adjustments in the Consumer Price Index. At the present time MPC 
supplies a portion of MVP's wholesale power requirements through a 
contract that will expire in the year 2015. 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 MPC. The 
impact of the wholesale rate change is indicated in the previous table. 
The planned effective date of the proposed rate adjustment will be June 
1, 1999.

Executive Order 12988

    The Department has certified to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) that this proposed rate adjustment meets the applicable standards 
provided in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Executive Order 12866

    This proposed rate adjustment is not a significant regulatory 
action and has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
under Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rate making is not a rule for the purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act because it is ``a rule of particular 
applicability relating to rates.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(2).

Executive Order 12630

    The Department has determined that this proposed rate adjustment 
does not have significant ``takings'' implications.

Executive Order 12612

    The Department has determined that this proposed rate adjustment 
does not have significant Federalism effects because it pertains solely 
to Federal-tribal relations and will not interfere with the roles, 
rights, and responsibilities of states.

NEPA Compliance

    The Department has determined that this proposed rate adjustment 
does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment and that no detailed statement is 
required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This proposed rate adjustment does not contain collections of 
information requiring approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995

    This proposed rate adjustment imposes no unfunded mandates on any 
governmental or private entity and is in compliance with the provisions 
of the Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995.

Rate Adjustment

    The following table illustrates the impact of the proposed rate 
adjustment:

                          Power Rate Adjustment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Rate class               Present rate          Proposed rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residential:
    Basic Rate..............  $5.00/mo............  Unchanged.
    Energy Rate.............  0.04725/kwh.........  $0.04739/kwh.
    Minimum Monthly Bill....  10.00/mo--May 1-      Unchanged.
                               October 31.          Unchanged.
                              20.00/mo--November 1-
                               April 30.
Small Commercial (without
 demand):
    Basic Rate..............  5.00/mo.............  Unchanged.
    Energy Rate.............  0.05495/kwh.........  0.05509/kwh.
Small Commercial with
 Demand:
    Basic Rate:
        Single Phase........  20.00/mo............  Unchanged.
        Three Phase.........  40.00/mo............  Unchanged.
        Demand Rate.........  4.50/kw.............  Unchanged.
        Energy Rate.........  0.04050/kwh.........  0.04064/kwh.
Large Commercial with
 Demand:
    Basic Rate..............  125.00/mo...........  Unchanged.
    Demand Rate.............  5.00/KW.............  Unchanged.
    Energy Rate.............  0.03115/kwh.........  0.03129/kwh.
Irrigation:
    Horsepower Rate.........  11.05/hp............  Unchanged.
    Energy Rate.............  0.03572/kwh.........  0.03586/kwh.
    Minimum Seasonal Rate...  132.00 or 6.00/hp     Unchanged.
                               whichever is
                               greater.
 
Area Lights Installed on          Monthly Rate          Monthly Rate
 Existing Pole or Structure:
 
    7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*.  6.85................  $6.87.
    20,000 lumen unit, M.V.*  9.80................  9.82.
    9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S.  6.35................  6.36.
    22,000 lumen unit, H.P.S  8.58................  8.60.
        *Continuing Service
         Only
Area Lights Installed with
 New Pole:
    7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*.  $8.60...............  $8.62.
    20,000 lumen unit, M.V.*  11.25...............  11.28.
    9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S.  8.10................  8.12.
    22,000 lumen unit, H.P.S  10.30...............  10.32.
        *Continuing Service
         Only
Street Lighting (Metered):
    Basic Rate..............  5.00/mo.............  Unchanged.

[[Page 25063]]

 
    Energy Rate.............  0.05495/kwh)........  Unchanged.
Street Lighting (Unmetered):
                              This rate class       Unchanged.
                               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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dated: April 29, 1999.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-11581 Filed 5-7-99; 845 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P