[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33119-33120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13856]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Loveland Area Projects--Order Confirming and Approving an 
Extension of the Firm Electric Service Rate--Rate Order WAPA No. 103

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of rate order.

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SUMMARY: This action is to extend the existing Loveland Area Projects 
(LAP) firm electric service rate through March 31, 2004. Without this 
action, the existing firm electric service rate will expire September 
30, 2003, and no rate will be in effect for this service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Daniel T. Payton, Rates Manager, 
Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, PO Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539-3003, (970) 461-7442, 
or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00 approved 
December 6, 2001, the Secretary delegated: (1) The authority to develop 
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 such rates into effect on 
an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary; and (3) 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).
    The existing rate, Rate Order No. WAPA-61, was approved for a 5-
year period, beginning February 1, 1994, and ending January 31, 1999. 
Rate Order No. WAPA-82 extended the existing rate for a 2-year period, 
beginning February 1, 1999, through January 31, 2001. Rate Order No. 
WAPA-89 extended the rate again through September 30, 2003.
    Western's Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region is entering a 
public process to modify the firm electric service rate for Loveland 
Area Projects. Western seeks this extension to provide more time to 
evaluate cost and revenue projections and to assess the impact of the 
ongoing drought in the West. The evaluation period and public process 
will take more than 6 months to complete, including both informal and 
formal public forums. Therefore, time requirements make it necessary to 
extend the current rate pursuant to 10 CFR part 903.23. Upon its 
approval, Rate Order No. WAPA-61, previously extended under Rate Order 
No. WAPA-82 and Rate Order No. WAPA-89, will be extended under Rate 
Order No. WAPA-103.
    I approved Rate Order No. WAPA-103 after DOE reviewed Western's 
proposal. My approval extends the existing LAP firm electric service 
rate, Rate Schedule L-F4, through March 31, 2004.

    Dated: May 14, 2003.
Kyle E. McSlarrow,
Deputy Secretary.

    This firm electric service rate was established following section 
302(a) of the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 
7152(a). This act transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy 
(Secretary) the power marketing functions of the Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation under the 
Reclamation Act of 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. 485h(c), and other acts that 
specifically apply to the project system involved.
    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00 approved December 6, 2001, the 
Secretary delegated: (1) The authority to develop power and 
transmission rates on a non-exclusive basis to the Administrator of the 
Western Area Power Adminstration (Western); (2) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis 
to the Deputy Secretary; and (3) 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). This rate 
extension is issued following the Delegation Order and the DOE rate 
extension procedures at 10 CFR part 903.23(b).

Background

    The existing rate, Rate Order No. WAPA-61, was approved for 5 
years, beginning February 1, 1994, and ending January 31, 1999. Rate 
Order No. WAPA-82 extended the existing rate for 2 years, beginning 
February 1, 1999, through January 31, 2001. Rate Order No. WAPA-89 
extended the rate again beginning February 1, 2001, through September 
30, 2003.

Discussion

    Western's Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region is entering a 
public process to modify the firm electric service rate for Loveland 
Area Projects. Western seeks this extension to provide more time to 
evaluate cost and revenue projections and to assess the impact of the 
ongoing drought in the West on energy production and purchase power 
expenses. The evaluation period and public process will take more than 
6 months to complete, including both informal and formal public forums. 
Therefore, time requirements make it necessary to extend the current 
rate pursuant to 10 CFR part 903.23. Upon its approval, Rate Order No. 
WAPA-61, previously extended under Rate Order No. WAPA-82 and Rate 
Order No.

[[Page 33120]]

WAPA-89 will be extended under Rate Order No. WAPA-103.

Order

    In view of the above and under the authority delegated to me by the 
Secretary, I hereby extend the existing Rate Schedule L-F4 for firm 
electric service from October 1, 2003, through March 31, 2004.

    Dated: May 14, 2003.
Kyle E. McSlarrow,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-13856 Filed 6-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P