[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16588-16589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7744]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern Division--Order No. 
WAPA-90

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of firm power service and firm 
peaking power service rates.

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SUMMARY: This action is a proposal to extend the existing Pick-Sloan 
Missouri Basin Program-Eastern Division (P-SMBP-ED) firm power service 
and firm peaking power service rates, Rate Order No. WAPA-60, through 
September 30, 2003. The existing firm power service and firm peaking 
power service rates will expire January 31, 2001. This notice of 
proposed extension of rates 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. Robert F. Riehl, Rates Manager, 
Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 35800, Billings, MT 59107-5800, (406) 247-
7388, 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 nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of the 
Western Area Power Administration (Western); and (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

[[Page 16589]]

participation in firm power service rate adjustments at 10 CFR part 
903, Western's P-SMBP-ED firm power service and firm peaking power 
service rates were submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on 
January 10, 1994. On July 14, 1994, in Docket No. EF94-5031-000 at 68 
FERC 
para. 62,040, FERC issued an order confirming, approving, and placing 
into effect on a final basis the firm power service and the firm 
peaking power service rates for the P-SMBP-ED. The rates set forth in 
Rate Order No. WAPA-60 were 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-83, the Deputy Secretary extended the 
existing rates for a 2-year period beginning February 1, 1999, and 
ending January 31, 2001.
    On January 31, 2001, the P-SMBP-ED firm power service and firm 
peaking power service rates will expire. This makes it necessary to 
extend the current rates pursuant to 10 CFR part 903. Upon its 
approval, Rate Order No. WAPA-60, previously extended under Rate Order 
No. WAPA-83, will be extended under Rate Order No. WAPA-90.
    Western proposes to extend the existing rate of $3.20/kilowattmonth 
for capacity and the rate of 8.32 mills/kilowatthour for energy which 
are 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 $135.2 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 the proposed 
extension of the firm power service and firm peaking power service 
rates will be made available for inspection and copying at the Upper 
Great Plains Customer Service Region, located at 2900 4th Avenue North, 
Billings, Montana.
    Thirty days after publication of this notice, Rate Order No. WAPA-
90 will be submitted to the Deputy Secretary for approval through 
September 30, 2003.

    Dated: March 9, 2000.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-7744 Filed 3-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P