[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 12308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04115]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Washoe Project-Rate Order No. WAPA-160

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Extension of Non-Firm Power Formula Rate.

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SUMMARY: This action is a proposal to extend the existing Washoe 
Project, Stampede Powerplant (Stampede) non-firm power formula rate, 
Schedule SNF-7, through September 30, 2017. The existing formula rate 
will expire July 31, 2013.

DATES: By July 31, 2013, Western Area Power Administration (Western) 
will publish in the Federal Register the final Notice of Extension and 
Rate Order.

ADDRESSES: All documents that Western used to develop the proposed 
Stampede non-firm power formula rate extension are available for 
inspection and copying at the Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, 
located at 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Regina Rieger, Rates Manager, 
Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, (916) 353-
4629, email: [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 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 the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC).
    FERC confirmed and approved the existing formula rate, contained in 
Rate Order No. WAPA-136,\1\ on a final basis for 5 years through July 
31, 2013.\2\ In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), Western proposes to 
extend the existing Stampede non-firm power formula rate without an 
adjustment. The formula rate is applied annually after determining 
Stampede's reimbursable expenses and revenue collected in accordance 
with the Stampede Energy Exchange Services contract. Since the project 
has no Federally-owned transmission, the contractor accepts delivery of 
Stampede generation to serve project use obligations and pays Western 
for energy received in excess of project use loads. Pursuant to Rate 
Order No. WAPA-136, any remaining reimbursable expenses are transferred 
to the Central Valley Project (CVP) for incorporation into the CVP 
power revenue requirement. The existing formula rate methodology 
collects annual revenue sufficient to recover annual expenses, 
including interest, capital requirements, and timely deficit recovery, 
thus ensuring repayment of the project within the cost recovery 
criteria set forth in DOE Order RA 6120.2.
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    \1\ 73 FR 42,565 (July 22, 2008).
    \2\ See U.S. Dept. of Energy, Western Area Power Admin., Docket 
No. EF08-5161-000, 127 FERC ] 62,043 (2009).
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    The formula rate provides sufficient revenue to recover all 
appropriate costs and the affiliated contract remains in effect through 
December 31, 2024. Western proposes to extend the current rate schedule 
through September 30, 2017, and will consider further extension as 
determined necessary. Consistent with 10 CFR 903.23(a) for proposals to 
extend but not otherwise change existing rates, Western will not hold a 
consultation and comment period.
    Thirty days after this notice is published, Western will take 
further action on the proposed formula rate extension consistent with 
10 CFR part 903.

    Dated: February 12, 2013.
Anita J. Decker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-04115 Filed 2-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P