[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45976-45977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18870]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


2005 Resource Pool

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of final power allocations.

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

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, a Notice of Extension to file 
applications, and Proposed 2005 Resource Pool Allocations in the 
Federal Register. The formal comment period on the proposed power 
allocations from the 2005 Resource Pool ended on July 5, 2000. A 
discussion of comments received is included in this notice. After 
considering all comments, Western has decided to finalize the proposed 
power allocations. This notice sets forth Western's final allocations 
of power from the 2005 Resource Pool.

DATES: The final 2005 Resource Pool allocations will become effective 
on August 25, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Hirahara, Power Marketing 
Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Sierra Nevada Customer 
Service Region, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, (916) 353-
4421, [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), 
describing how the Sierra Nevada Region will market its power resources 
beginning January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2024. Pursuant to 
Western's authorities under the above acts and applying the rules 
developed in the Marketing Plan, Western publishes its final 
allocations of power from the 2005 Resource Pool in this notice.

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 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. On 
June 5, 2000, Western published the Proposed 2005 Resource Pool 
Applications in the Federal Register (65 FR 35630).
    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

[[Page 45977]]

transmission lines owned by other utilities.

Responses to Comments Received on the Notice of Proposed 2005 Resource 
Pool Allocations (65 FR 35630, June 5, 2000)

    During the comment period, Western received one letter commenting 
on the proposed allocations from the 2005 Resource Pool. Western 
reviewed and considered all comments made in this letter.
    Comment: The commentor said that it was unclear in the notice what 
method Western used in determining how much allocation each eligible 
applicant received. Also, the commentor requested that an existing 
customer receive a greater allocation based on ``the ratio of an 
existing customer's load not served by its current CRD allocation.''
    Response: Under the Marketing Plan, Western used its discretion to 
allocate power to applicants that meet the eligibility and allocation 
criteria set forth in the Marketing Plan. The amount of power each 
eligible existing customer currently receives from Western was a 
consideration.
    Comment: The commentor stated that new customers should not have a 
larger percentage of their load served by CVP than an existing 
customer.
    Response: Artificially constraining allocations to new customers 
would defeat the purpose of the Power Marketing Initiative under the 
Energy Planning and Management Program (60 FR 54151, October 20, 1995), 
which led to establishing the Resource Pool. One of the primary reasons 
for establishing a Resource Pool was to promote the widespread use of 
Federal hydroelectric power among preference entities.

Final 2005 Resource Pool Allocations

    Allocations are expressed as a percentage of the marketable 
resource. For illustrative purposes only, megawatt amounts are given 
assuming variable amounts of Base Resource. 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 listed here:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Base resource
                                                                          --------------------------------------
                          Allottees                             Percent                   1000 MW      1500 MW
                                                                           500 MW (MW)      (MW)         (MW)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bay Area Rapid Transit District.............................        0.147        0.735        1.470        2.205
California State Universities (11 campuses).................        0.221        1.105        2.210        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       13.750       27.500       41.250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contracting Process

    After the effective date of this notice, Western will begin the 
contracting process with allottees who are not currently customers. 
Existing customers who received power allocations from the 2005 
Resource Pool will receive a revised Exhibit A to their electric 
service Base Resource contracts, increasing their percentage of the 
Base Resource. Allottees must execute an electric service contract to 
purchase the Base Resource no later than December 31, 2000, unless 
otherwise agreed to in writing by Western. If requested, Western will 
work with customers to develop a custom product to meet their needs. 
Custom products are described in the Marketing Plan. Allottees must 
execute a contract to purchase the custom product, if desired, no later 
than December 31, 2002, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by 
Western. The date of initial service under these contracts is January 
1, 2005. Contracts will remain in effect until midnight of December 31, 
2024. Western will also establish a 2015 Resource Pool for new 
allocations under a separate public process.

    Dated: July 17, 2000.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-18870 Filed 7-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P