[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47695-47696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18953]


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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 current Sam Rayburn Dam Project rate was approved by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on March 30, 2009, Docket 
No. EF09-4021-000, 126 FERC ] 62,224. These rates became effective for 
the period January 1, 2009, through September 30, 2012. The rate was 
extended by the Deputy Secretary of Energy for the period October 1, 
2012 through September 30, 2013 (77 FR 67813, November. 14, 2012). The 
Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has 
prepared Current and Revised 2013 Power Repayment Studies which show 
the need for an increase in annual revenues of $280,248 (7.1 percent) 
to meet cost recovery criteria. Such increased revenues are needed 
primarily to recover cost increases to investments and replacements in 
the hydroelectric generating facilities and small increases to annual 
operations and maintenance costs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 
The Administrator of Southwestern has developed a proposed Sam Rayburn 
Dam rate to recover the required revenues. The Revised 2013 Study 
indicates that the proposed rates would increase annual system revenues 
approximately 7.1 percent, from $3,949,872 to $4,230,120, effective

[[Page 47696]]

October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2017.

DATES: The consultation and comment period will begin on the date of 
publication of this Federal Register notice and will end on September 
5, 2013. If requested, a combined Public Information and Comment Forum 
(Forum) will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 9:00 a.m. on August 27, 
2013. Persons desiring the Forum to be held must send a written request 
for such Forum to Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) by August 13, 2013. If no request is received, the Forum will 
not be held.

ADDRESSES: Requests for the Forum to be held may be sent by letter, 
email or facsimile transmission to: Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). If requested, the Forum will be held in 
Southwestern's offices, Room 1460, Williams Center Tower I, One West 
Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James K. McDonald, Vice President 
for Corporate Operations/Chief Operating Officer, Southwestern Power 
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, One West Third Street, 
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, (918) 595-6690 (office), 918-595-6656 (fax), 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Originally established by Secretarial Order 
No. 1865, dated August 31, 1943, Southwestern is an agency within the 
U.S. Department of Energy created by the Department of Energy 
Organization Act, Public Law 95-91, dated August 4, 1977. Guidelines 
for preparation of power repayment studies are included in DOE Order 
No. RA 6120.2 entitled 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). Procedures for the confirmation and approval 
of rates for the Federal Power Marketing Administrations are found at 
title 18, subchapter L, part 300, of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(18 CFR 300).
    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 that consist of 
1,380 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 25 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, Southwestern prepared a 
2013 Current Power Repayment Study using the existing Sam Rayburn Dam 
rate. This study indicates that Southwestern's legal requirement to 
repay the investment in the power generating facility for power and 
energy marketed by Southwestern will not be met without an increase in 
revenues. The need for increased revenues is primarily due to increases 
in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' replacement investment in the 
hydroelectric generating facilities and small increases to operations 
and maintenance expenses at the project. The 2013 Revised Power 
Repayment Study shows that an increase in annual revenue of $280,248 
(7.1 percent), beginning October 1, 2013, is needed to satisfy 
repayment criteria.
    Southwestern customers and other interested parties may receive 
copies of the Sam Rayburn Dam Power Repayment 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. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    A Public Information and Comment Forum (Forum) is tentatively 
scheduled to be held on August 27, 2013 to explain to customers and 
interested parties the proposed rate and supporting studies and to 
allow for comment. A chairman, who will be responsible for orderly 
procedure, will conduct the Forum if a Forum is requested. 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. 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 requesting a Forum be held should indicate in writing to 
Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) by letter, 
email, or facsimile transmission by August 13, 2013, their request for 
such a Forum. If no request is received, the Forum will not be held.
    Persons interested in speaking at the Forum, if held, should submit 
a request to Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT), at least seven (7) calendar 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 the Forum, if held, will be made. Copies of the 
transcript and all documents introduced will be available for review at 
Southwestern's offices (see ADDRESSES) during normal business hours. 
Copies of the transcript and all documents introduced may be obtained, 
for a fee, directly from the transcribing service.
    All written comments on the proposed Sam Rayburn Dam Rate are due 
on or before September 5, 2013. Comments should be submitted to Mr. 
James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Following review of the oral and written comments and the 
information gathered during the course of the proceedings, the 
Administrator will submit the final Sam Rayburn Dam Rate Proposal and 
power repayment studies in support of the proposed rate to the Deputy 
Secretary of Energy for confirmation and approval on an interim basis, 
and subsequently to the 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 increase before making a final decision.

    Dated: July 30, 2013.
Christopher M. Turner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-18953 Filed 8-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P