[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54575-54576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21806]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project--Rate Order 
No. WAPA-159

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Order Temporarily Extending Transmission Service 
Rates.

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SUMMARY: This action is to extend the existing Pacific Northwest-
Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) transmission services 
rates through September 30, 2013. The existing rates under Rate 
Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 are set to expire September 30, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Murray, Rates Manager, Desert 
Southwest Customer Service Regional Office, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rate Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 for Rate 
Order No. WAPA-130 were approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) for a 5-year period through September 30, 2012.\1\ 
Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing to extend the 
existing rates under Rate Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 pursuant to 10 
CFR 903.23(b). Extending these rate schedules through September 30, 
2013, will provide time for Western to complete an on-going rate 
adjustment process. Western initiated a public process to adjust the 
Intertie transmission service rates via publication of a Federal 
Register notice on June 11, 2012 (77 FR 34381). Western is extending 
the existing transmission service rates to allow sufficient time to 
evaluate comments and determine if modifications to the proposed rates 
are warranted.
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    \1\ WAPA-130 was approved by FERC on a final basis on March 18, 
2008, in Docket No. EF08-5191-000 (122 FERC ] 62,236).
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    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the

[[Page 54576]]

Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power and 
transmission rates to Western's Administrator; (2) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis 
to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, 
approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand, or to 
disapprove such rates to FERC.
    Western did not have a consultation and comment period and did not 
hold public information and comment forums for this extension, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(b). Following review of Western's 
proposal with DOE, I hereby approve Rate Order No. WAPA-159, which 
temporarily extends Rate Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 for Intertie 
transmission service through September 30, 2013.

    Dated: August 27, 2012.
Daniel B. Poneman,
Deputy Secretary.

Department of Energy

Deputy Secretary

In the Matter of: Western Area Power Administration, Rate Extension for 
the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project, Transmission 
Services Rates; Rate Order No. WAPA-159; Order Confirming and Approving 
a Temporary Extension of the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest 
Intertie Project Transmission Service Rates
    Section 302(a) of the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act 
(42 U.S.C. 7152) transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy 
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 laws, 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 involved.
    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 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 of Energy; 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 pursuant to the Delegation Order and DOE rate 
extension procedures at 10 CFR part 903.23(b).

Background

    Rate Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 for Rate Order No. WAPA-130 
were approved for a 5-year period through September 30, 2012. FERC 
confirmed Rate Order No. WAPA-130 on a final basis on March 18, 2008, 
in Docket No. EF08-5191-000 (122 FERC ] 62,236).

Discussion

    Western proposes to extend the existing rates under Rate Schedules 
INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 pursuant to 10 CFR 903.23(b). The existing rates 
under Rate Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3 expire September 30, 2012. 
This temporary extension ensures these rates will remain effective 
until September 30, 2013, or until the rate schedules are superseded.
    Western has initiated a formal process to adjust the transmission 
service rates via publication of a Federal Register notice on June 11, 
2012 (77 FR 34381). The consultation and comment period will end 
September 10, 2012. Since the existing transmission service rates will 
expire on September 30, 2012, Western is extending the existing rates 
to allow sufficient time to evaluate comments and decide whether to 
revise the proposed rates.
    Western did not have a consultation and comment period and did not 
hold public information and comment forums for this extension, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(b).

[FR Doc. 2012-21806 Filed 9-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P