[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 108 (Monday, June 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35630-35632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13967]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


2005 Resource Pool

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed power allocations.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal 
power marketing administration of DOE, published its 2004 Power 
Marketing Plan (Marketing Plan) for the Sierra Nevada Customer Service 
Region (Sierra Nevada Region) in the Federal Register. The Marketing 
Plan specifies terms and conditions under which Western will market 
power from the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the Washoe Project 
beginning January 1, 2005. The Marketing Plan sets aside a portion of 
the Sierra Nevada Region's marketable power resources to establish a 
2005 Resource Pool for new power allocations. Western published a Call 
for 2005 Resource Pool Applications and a Notice of Extension to file 
applications in the Federal Register. This notice sets forth Western's 
proposed allocations of power from the 2005 Resource Pool.

DATES: Entities interested in commenting on proposed allocations must 
submit written comments to Western's Sierra Nevada Customer Service 
Regional Office at the address below. Western must receive written 
comments by 4 p.m., PDT, on July 5, 2000. Entities are encouraged to 
hand-deliver or use certified or electronic mail for delivery of 
comments. Western will accept comments received via regular mail 
through the United States Postal Service if postmarked at least 3 days 
before July 5, 2000, and received no later than July 10, 2000. Western 
will not consider comments that are received after the prescribed date 
and time. Western will publish a Notice of Final 2005 Resource Pool 
Allocations in the Federal Register after evaluating all comments.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Howard Hirahara, Power 
Marketing Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Sierra Nevada 
Customer Service Region, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, or 
by electronic mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Hirahara, Power Marketing 
Manager, (916) 353-4421, or by electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authorities

    Pursuant to its authorities under the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101-7352); the Reclamation Act of June 17, 
1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388) as amended and supplemented by subsequent 
enactments, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 
1939 (43 U.S.C. 485(c)); and other acts specifically applicable to the 
projects involved, Western established the Marketing Plan for sale of 
power by the Sierra Nevada Region after 2004. On June 25, 1999, Western 
published the Marketing Plan in the Federal Register (64 FR 34417). 
Pursuant to Western's authorities under the above acts and applying the 
rules developed in the Marketing Plan, with this notice, Western sets 
forth and seeks comments on its proposed allocations of power from the 
2005 Resource Pool.

Regulatory Procedural Requirements

    Western addressed the regulatory procedure requirements in its 
rulemaking for the Marketing Plan (64 FR 34417). The proposed 
allocation of power in this notice is an application of the Marketing 
Plan and is not a separate rulemaking.

Background

    On October 19, 1999, Western published the Call for 2005 Resource 
Pool Applications in the Federal Register (64 FR 56343). On December 9, 
1999, Western published a Notice of Extension in the Federal Register 
(64 FR 69018). The Call for 2005 Resource Pool

[[Page 35631]]

Applications required that applications be submitted by December 20, 
1999, and the Notice of Extension extended the filing date by 30 days 
to January 19, 2000.
    CVP power facilities are operated by the United States Department 
of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and include 11 
powerplants with a maximum operating capability of about 2,044 
megawatts (MW), and an estimated average annual generation of 4.6 
million megawatthours (MWh). Western markets and transmits power 
available from the CVP.
    The Washoe Project's Stampede Powerplant is also operated by 
Reclamation and has a maximum operating capability of 3.65 MW with an 
estimated annual generation of 10,000 MWh. The Sierra Pacific Power 
Company owns and operates the only transmission system available for 
access to the Stampede Powerplant.
    Western owns the 94 circuit-mile Malin-Round Mountain 500-kilovolt 
(kV) transmission line (an integral section of the Pacific Northwest-
Pacific Southwest Intertie), 803 circuit miles of 230-kV transmission 
line, 7 circuit miles of 115-kV transmission line, and 44 circuit miles 
of 69-kV and below transmission line. Western also has part ownership 
in the 342-mile California-Oregon Transmission Project. Many of 
Western's existing customers have no direct access to Western's 
transmission lines and receive service over transmission lines owned by 
other utilities.
    The Marketing Plan describes how the Sierra Nevada Region will 
market its power resources beginning January 1, 2005, through December 
31, 2024. Western proposes to allocate portions of the 2005 Resource 
Pool to applicants meeting the eligibility criteria listed in the 
Marketing Plan. Once the 2005 Resource Pool allocations have been 
finalized, Western will offer contracts to allottees for a percentage 
of the Base Resource. If requested, Western will work with customers to 
develop a customized product to meet their needs, as more fully 
described in the Marketing Plan. Western will also establish a 2015 
Resource Pool for new allocations under a separate public process.

Proposed 2005 Resource Pool Allocations

    Under the Marketing Plan, a two-step process was undertaken by 
Western in determining proposed power allocations. First, Western 
determined which applicants met the eligibility criteria. Next, Western 
used the allocation criteria to determine allocation amounts. Western 
used its discretion to determine which eligible entities received a 
proposed allocation and the amount of the proposed allocation. Western 
received 34 applications for 442.861 MW of power from entities who are 
not currently customers and 24 applications for 610.761 MW of power 
from existing customers. Western's Base Resource is a variable amount 
based on actual generation that is surplus to project needs. Therefore, 
allocations are expressed as a percentage of the marketable resource. 
Megawatt amounts are given, assuming variable amounts of Base Resource, 
for illustrative proposes only.
    The proposed 2005 Resource Pool allocations are preliminary and may 
be changed based on comments received. This notice formally requests 
comments related to the proposed allocations. Western will respond to 
comments received on the proposed allocations and publish its final 
2005 Resource Pool allocations after the end of the public comment 
period.
    Proposed allottees to receive power from the 2005 Resource Pool, 
allocations expressed as percentages of the Base Resource, and the 
megawatt amount of each allocation assuming a Base Resource of 500 MW, 
1000 MW, and 1500 MW are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Base resource
                                                                          --------------------------------------
                     Proposed allottees                         Percent       500 MW      1000 MW      1500 MW
                                                                               (MW)         (MW)         (MW)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bay Area Rapid Transit District.............................        0.147        0.735        1.470        2.205
California State Universities (11 campuses).................        0.221        1.100       52.210        3.315
California State University, Sacramento.....................        0.092        0.460        0.920        1.380
Cawelo Water District.......................................        0.029        0.145        0.290        0.435
Coyote Valley Tribe of Pomo Indians.........................        0.055        0.275        0.550        0.825
East Bay Municipal Utility District.........................        0.054        0.270        0.540        0.810
Fallon, City of.............................................        0.221        1.105        2.210        3.315
Healdsburg, City of.........................................        0.087        0.435        0.870        1.305
Lassen Municipal Utility District...........................        0.105        0.525        1.050        1.575
Lodi, City of...............................................        0.147        0.735        1.470        2.205
Lompoc, City of.............................................        0.120        0.600        1.200        1.800
Modesto Irrigation District.................................        0.147        0.735        1.470        2.205
Placer County Water Agency..................................        0.039        0.195        0.390        0.585
Reclamation District No. 108................................        0.043        0.215        0.430        0.645
Redding Rancheria...........................................        0.037        0.185        0.370        0.555
San Francisco, City and County of...........................        0.147        0.735        1.470        2.205
Sonoma County Water Agency..................................        0.028        0.140        0.280        0.420
Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District.............        0.037        0.185        0.370        0.555
Susanville Indian Rancheria.................................        0.103        0.515        1.030        1.545
Table Mountain Rancheria....................................        0.147        0.735        1.470        2.205
Truckee Donner Public Utility District......................        0.220        1.100        2.200        3.300
Turlock Irrigation District.................................        0.128        0.640        1.280        1.920
University of California, Berkeley..........................        0.221        1.105        2.210        3.315
University of California, San Francisco.....................        0.175        0.875        1.750        2.625
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................        2.750        13.75       27.500       41.250
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[[Page 35632]]

Contracting Process

    Pursuant to the Marketing Plan, Western will begin the contracting 
process with allottees after publishing the final allocations in the 
Federal Register. Publication is tentatively scheduled for the summer 
of 2000. Allottees must execute an electric service contract to 
purchase the Base Resource no later than December 31, 2000, and the 
Custom Product, if desired, no later than December 31, 2002, unless 
otherwise agreed to in writing by Western. Electric service contracts 
will be effective upon execution by Western, and service will begin on 
January 1, 2005.

    Dated: May 23, 2000.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-13967 Filed 6-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-U