[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 16588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7743]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Loveland Area Projects-Rate Order No. WAPA-89

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of firm electric service rate.

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

SUMMARY: This action is a proposal to extend the existing Loveland Area 
Projects (LAP) firm electric service rate, Rate Order No. WAPA-51, 
through September 30, 2003. The existing firm electric service rate 
will expire January 31, 2001. This notice of proposed extension of the 
rate is issued pursuant to 10 CFR part 903.23(a)(1). In accordance with 
10 CFR part 903.23(a)(2), Western will not have a consultation and 
comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel T. Payton, Rates Manager, 
Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539-3003, (970) 490-7442, 
or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No. 
0204-108, published November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary of 
Energy delegated (1) the authority to develop long-term power and 
transmission rates on a non-exclusive basis to the Administrator of the 
Western Area Power Administration (Western); (2) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand, or 
to disapprove such rates to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(FERC). In Delegation Order No. 0204-172, effective November 24, 1999, 
the Secretary of Energy delegated the authority to confirm, approve, 
and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy 
Secretary.
    Pursuant to Delegation Order No. 0204-108 and existing Department 
of Energy procedures for public participation in firm electric service 
rate adjustments at 10 CFR part 903, Western's LAP firm electric 
service rate was submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on 
January 10, 1994. On July 14, 1994, in Docket No. EF94-5181-000 at 68 
FERC para. 62,040, FERC issued an order confirming, approving, and 
placing into effect on a final basis the firm electric service rate for 
LAP. LAP consists of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and the Pick-Sloan 
Missouri Basin Program, Western Division. The rate set forth in Rate 
Order No. WAPA-51 was approved for a 5-year period beginning February 
1, 1994, and ending January 31, 1999. On October 16, 1998, upon signing 
Rate Order No. WAPA-82, the Deputy Secretary extended the existing rate 
for a 2-year period beginning February 1, 1999, and ending January 31, 
2001.
    On January 31, 2001, the LAP firm electric service rate expires. 
This makes it necessary to extend the current rate pursuant to 10 CFR 
part 903. Upon its approval, Rate Order No. WAPA-51, previously 
extended under Rate Order No. WAPA-82, will be extended under Rate 
Order No. WAPA-89.
    Western proposes to extend the existing rate of $2.85/kilowattmonth 
for capacity and 10.85 mills/kilowatthour for energy which is 
sufficient to recover project expenses (including interest) and capital 
requirements through September 30, 2003. Increased revenue from good 
hydrologic conditions and lower operation and maintenance expenses over 
the cost evaluation period have made this possible. For the Pick Sloan 
Missouri Basin Program, the ratesetting study projected the deficit to 
peak at $178 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 1994 and to be repaid in FY 
2002. The deficit actually peaked at $171 million in FY 1993 and was 
totally repaid in FY 1997. The total annual revenue requirement of 
$44.3 million from firm power sales is sufficient to cover the expenses 
and capital requirements through September 30, 2003.
    All documents made or kept by Western for developing this notice 
for proposed extension of the firm electric service rate will be made 
available for inspection and copying at the Rocky Mountain Customer 
Service Region, located at 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, 
Colorado.
    Thirty days after publication of this notice, Rate Order No. WAPA-
89 will be submitted to the Deputy Secretary for approval through 
September 30, 2003.

    Dated: March 17, 2000.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-7743 Filed 3-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P