[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35404-35406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14950]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern Division--Order 
Confirming and Approving an Extension of the Transmission Service Rate 
Schedules--Rate Order No. WAPA-100

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of rate order.

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

SUMMARY: This action is to extend the existing Pick-Sloan Missouri 
Basin Program--Eastern Division (P-SMBP-ED) Transmission Service Rate 
Schedules (UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-
FTP1, UGP-NFPT1, and UGP-NT1 of Rate Order No. WAPA-79, through 
September 30, 2005. The existing Transmission Service Rate Schedules 
will expire on July 31, 2003. These Transmission Service Schedules 
contain formulary rates that are recalculated from yearly updated 
financial and load data. Rate Order No. WAPA-79 is extended under Rate 
Order No. WAPA-100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert F. Riehl, Power Marketing 
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 Delegation Order No. 00-037.00 effective 
December 6, 2001, the Secretary of Energy delegated (1) The authority 
to develop power and transmission rates on a non-exclusive basis to 
Western's Administrator; (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).
    Pursuant to Delegation Order No. 0204-108 and existing Department 
of

[[Page 35405]]

Energy procedures for public participation in rate adjustments at 10 
CFR part 903, Western's P-SMBP-ED Transmission Service Rate Schedules 
were submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on August 3, 1998. 
On November 25, 1998, in Docket No. EF98-5031-000 at 85 FERC ] 61,273, 
the FERC issued an order confirming, approving, and placing into effect 
on a final basis the current Transmission Service Rate Schedules for 
the P-SMBP-ED. The FERC issued an order denying rehearing and rejecting 
an untimely request for rehearing on the Transmission Service Rate 
Schedules on April 12, 2002, in Docket No. EF98-5031-001 at 99 FERC ] 
61,055. The Transmission Service Rate Schedules, Rate Order No. WAPA-
79, were approved for 5 years beginning August 1, 1998, and ending July 
31, 2003.
    Western is currently evaluating several options for joining a FERC-
approved Regional Transmission Organization. That decision could 
redefine our current rate provisions. Therefore, Western believes it is 
premature to proceed with a formal rate process at this time. Extending 
the existing Transmission Service Rate Schedules UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-
AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-FTP1, UGP-NFPT1, and UGP-NT1 to 
September 30, 2005, should provide enough time to complete our 
evaluation process. Western proposes to extend the current rate 
schedules pursuant to 10 CFR part 903.23. Upon its approval, Rate Order 
No. WAPA-79 will be extended under Rate Order No. WAPA-100.
    Western's existing formulary Transmission Service Rate Schedules, 
which are recalculated annually, would sufficiently recover project 
expenses (including interest) and capital requirements through 
September 30, 2005.
    Consistent with 10 CFR 903.23(a), Western did not have a 
consultation and comment period. The notice of an extension of the 
Transmission Service Rate Schedules was published in the Federal 
Register on March 4, 2003.
    Following review of Western's proposal within the Department of 
Energy, I approved Rate Order No. WAPA-100, which extends the existing 
Transmission Service Rate Schedules UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, 
UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-FTP1, UGP-NFPT1, and UGP-NT1 on an interim basis 
through September 30, 2005. Rate Order No. WAPA-100 will be submitted 
to FERC for confirmation and approval on a final basis.

    Dated: June 4, 2003.
Kyle E. McSlarrow,
Deputy Secretary.
In the matter of: Western Area Power Administration Rate Extension for 
Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program-Eastern Division Transmission Service 
Rate Schedules

    This rate extension was established following section 302(a) of the 
Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7152(a), (Act). 
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 seciton 9(c) and 
other acts that specifically apply to the project involved.
    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00 effective December 6, 2001, the 
Secretary of Energy delegated (1) the authority to develop long-term 
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). This rate extension is issued following the Delegation Order 
and the DOE rate extension procedures at 10 CFR part 903.

Background

    On November 25, 1998, in Docket No. EF98-5031-000 at 85 FERC ] 
61,273, the FERC issued an order confirming, approving, and placing 
into effect on a final basis the Transmission Service Rate Schedules 
UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-FTP1, UGP-
NFPT, and UGP-NT1 for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern 
Division (P-SMBP-ED). The Transmission Service Rate Schedules, Rate 
order No. WAPA-79, were approved for 5 years beginning August 1, 1998, 
through July 31, 2003. The FERC issued an order denying rehearing and 
rejecting an untimely request for rehearing on the Transmission Service 
Rate Schedules on April 12, 2002, in Docket No. EF98-5031-001 at 99 
FERC ] 61,055. On July 31, 2003, the P-SMBP-ED Transmission Service 
Rate Schedules will expire. This makes it necessary to extend the 
current rates pursuant to 10 CFR part 903. With this approval, Rate 
Order No. WAPA-79 will be extended under Rate Order WAPA-100. A notice 
of an extension of the Transmission Service Rate Schedules was 
published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2003. Therefore, Western 
is extending P-SMBP-ED Transmission Service Rate Schedules under Rate 
Order No. WAPA-100.

Discussion

    On July 31, 2003, the Western's P-SMBP-ED Transmission Service Rate 
Schedules expire. This makes it necessary to extend the current Rate 
Schedules , UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-
FTP1, UGP-NFPT1, and UGP-NT1, under 10 CFR part 903.23(a). Western's 
existing formulary Transmission Service Rate Schedules, which are 
recalculated annually, would sufficiently recover project expenses 
(including interest) and capital requirements through September 30, 
2005.
    Western proposes to extend the existing the P-SMBP-ED Transmission 
Service Rate Schedules through September 30, 2005. Western is currently 
evaluating several options for joining a FERC-approved Regional 
Transmission Organization. That decision could redefine our current 
rate provisions. Therefore, Western believes it is premature to proceed 
with a formal rate process at this time. Extending the existing 
Transmission Service Rate Schedules to September 30, 2005, should 
provide enough time to complete our evaluation process.
    Consistent with 10 CFR part 903.23(a), Western did not have a 
consultation and comment period. The notice of proposed extension of 
the Transmission Service Rate Schedules was published in the Federal 
Register on March 4, 2003.

Order

    In view of the above and under the authority delegated to me by the 
Secretary, I hereby extend for a period effective from August 1, 2003, 
and ending September 30, 2005, the existing Transmission Rate Schedules 
UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-FTP1, UGP-
NFPT1, and UGP-NT1 on an interim basis for transmission service for the 
P-SMBP-ED. The existing Transmission Rate Schedules UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, 
UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-FTP1, UGP-NFPT1, and UGP-NT1 
for transmission service for the P-SMBP-ED, shall remain in effect 
pending FERC confirmation and approval of their extension or substitute

[[Page 35406]]

rates on a final basis through September 30, 2005.

    Dated: June 4, 2003.
Kyle E. McSlarrow,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-14950 Filed 6-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-M