[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35805-35806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12682]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Southwestern Power Administration


Sam Rayburn Dam Power Rate

AGENCY: Southwestern Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of public review and comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration 
(Southwestern), has prepared Current and Revised 2002 Power Repayment 
Studies which show the need for a decrease in annual revenues to meet 
cost recovery criteria. Such decreased revenues are required primarily 
due to decreased investments and operations and maintenance expenses at 
the project. The Administrator has developed a proposed Sam Rayburn Dam 
rate schedule, which is supported by a power repayment study, to 
recover the required revenues. Beginning October 1, 2002, the proposed 
rates would decrease annual revenues approximately 3.1 percent from 
$2,077,632 to $2,013,024.

DATES: The consultation and comment period will begin on the date of 
publication of this Federal Register notice and will end August 19, 
2002.
    1. Public Information Forum-June 6, 2002, 9 a.m. central 
time,Tulsa, OK.
    2. Public Comment Forum-July 10, 2002, 9 a.m. central 
time,Tulsa, OK.

ADDRESSES: The forums will be held in Southwestern's offices, Room 
1402, Williams Center Tower I, One West Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 
74103. Ten copies of the written comments, together with a diskette in 
MS Word or Corel Word Perfect, regarding the proposed rate change 
should be submitted to the Administrator, Southwestern Power 
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, One West Third Street, 
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Forrest E. Reeves, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Corporate Operations, Southwestern Power 
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, One West Third Street, 
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, (918) 595-6696.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Energy was created by 
an Act of the U.S. Congress, Department of Energy Organization Act, 
Pub. L. 95-91, dated August 4, 1977, and Southwestern's power 
marketing activities were transferred from the Department of Interior 
to the Department of Energy, effective October 1, 1977. Guidelines for 
preparation of power repayment studies are included in DOE Order No. RA 
6120.2, Power Marketing Administration Financial Reporting. Procedures 
for Public Participation in Power and Transmission Rate Adjustments of 
the Power Marketing Administrations are found at title 10, part 903, 
subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 903).
    Southwestern markets power from 24 multi-purpose reservoir projects 
with hydroelectric power facilities constructed and operated by the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These projects are located in the states 
of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Southwestern's marketing 
area includes these States plus Kansas and Louisiana. The costs 
associated with the hydropower facilities of 22 of the 24 projects are 
repaid via revenues received under the Integrated System rates, as are 
Southwestern's transmission facilities which consist of 1,380 miles of 
high-voltage transmission lines, 23 substations, and 46 microwave and 
VHF radio sites. Costs associated with the Sam Rayburn and Robert D. 
Willis Dams, two projects that are isolated hydraulically, 
electrically, and financially from the Integrated System are repaid by 
separate rate schedules.
    Following Department of Energy guidelines, the Administrator, 
Southwestern, prepared a Current Power Repayment study using the 
existing Sam Rayburn Dam rate. The Study indicates that Southwestern's 
legal requirement to repay the the investment in the power generating 
facility for power and energy marketed by Southwestern will be over-
collected without a decrease in revenues. The need for decreased 
revenues is primarily due to the decreased costs for project 
investments, together with decreased costs for operations and 
maintenance expenses. The Revised Power Repayment Study shows that a 
reduction in annual revenue of $64,608 (a 3.1 percent decrease), 
beginning October 1, 2002, is needed to satisfy repayment criteria.
    Opportunity is presented for Southwestern customers and other 
interested parties to receive copies of the Sam Rayburn Dam Studies and 
the proposed rate schedule. If you desire a copy of the Sam Rayburn Dam 
Power Repayment Data Package with the proposed Rate Schedule, submit 
your request to Mr. Forrest E. Reeves, Assistant Administrator, Office 
of Corporate Operations, Southwestern Power Administration, One West 
Third Street, Tulsa, OK 74103, (918) 595-6696 or via e-mail to 
[email protected].
    A Public Information Forum is scheduled to be held on June 6, 2002, 
to explain to customers and the public

[[Page 35806]]

the proposed rate and supporting studies. The Forum will be conducted 
by a chairman who will be responsible for orderly procedure. Questions 
concerning the rate, studies, and information presented at the Forum 
will be answered, to the extent possible, at the Forum. Questions not 
answered at the Forum will be answered in writing, except that 
questions involving voluminous data contained in Southwestern's records 
may best be answered by consultation and review of pertinent records at 
Southwestern's offices.
    Persons interested in attending the Public Information Forum should 
indicate in writing by letter or facsimile transmission 
(918-595-6656) by May 31, 2002, their intent to appear at 
such Forum. If no one so indicates their intent to attend, no such 
Forum will be held.
    A Public Comment Forum is scheduled to be held on July 10, 2002, at 
which interested persons may submit written comments or make oral 
presentations of their views and comments related to the rate proposal. 
The Forum will be conducted by a chairman who will be responsible for 
orderly procedure. Southwestern's representatives will be present, and 
they and the chairman may ask questions of the speakers. Persons 
interested in attending the Public Comment Forum should indicate in 
writing by letter or facsimile transmission (918-595-6656) 
by July 3, 2002, their intent to appear at such Forum. If no one so 
indicates their intent to attend, no such Forum will be held. Persons 
interested in speaking at the Forum should submit a request to the 
Administrator, Southwestern, at least five (5) days prior to the Forum 
so that a list of speakers can be developed. The chairman may allow 
others to speak if time permits.
    A transcript of each Forum will be made. Copies of the transcripts 
may be obtained from the transcribing service. Copies of all documents 
introduced will be available from Southwestern upon request for a fee. 
Written comments, together with a diskette in MS Word or Corel Word 
Perfect, on the proposed Sam Rayburn Dam Rate are due on or before 
August 19, 2002. Ten copies of the written comments should be submitted 
to the Administrator, Southwestern, at the above-mentioned address for 
Southwestern's offices.
    Following review of the oral and written comments and the 
information gathered in the course of the proceedings, the 
Administrator will submit the amended Sam Rayburn Dam Rate Proposal, 
and Power Repayment Studies in support of the proposed rate to the 
Secretary of Energy for confirmation and approval on an interim basis, 
and subsequently to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for 
confirmation and approval on a final basis. The FERC will allow the 
public an opportunity to provide written comments on the proposed rate 
decrease before making a final decision.

    Issued in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this 6th day of May, 2002.
Michael A. Deihl,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-12682 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P