[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58303-58304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23054]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Parker-Davis Project--Rate Order No. WAPA-162

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Firm Electric and Transmission Service 
Formula Rates.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the existing Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) 
firm electric and transmission service formula rates through September 
30, 2018. The existing Firm Electric and Transmission Service Rate 
Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 were set to expire on 
September 30, 2013. These firm electric and transmission service rate 
schedules contain formula rates that are calculated annually using 
updated financial and sales data.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Darrick Moe, Regional Manager, 
Desert Southwest Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, (602) 605-2453, 
email [email protected], or Mr. Jack Murray, Rates Manager, Desert Southwest 
Customer Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 
6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, (602) 605-2442, 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 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).
    The existing Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7

[[Page 58304]]

under Rate Order No. WAPA-138 \1\ were approved for a 5-year period 
beginning on October 1, 2008, and ending September 30, 2013.
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    \1\ FERC confirmed and approved the rate schedules on a final 
basis through delegated order on February 27, 2009, in Docket No. 
EF08-5041-000 (126 FERC ] 62,157).
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    Western proposed extending the current rate schedules pursuant to 
10 CFR 903.23(a) under Rate Order No. WAPA-162. The notice of proposed 
extension was published in the Federal Register on June 11, 2013 (78 FR 
35022). As allowed by 10 CFR 903.23(a), Western provided for a 
consultation and comment period, but did not conduct public information 
forums or public comment forums. The consultation and comment period 
ended on July 11, 2013.
    Following review of Western's proposal within the Department of 
Energy, I hereby approve Rate Order No. WAPA-162, which extends the 
existing Firm Electric and Transmission Service Rate Schedules PD-F7, 
PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 through September 30, 2018. Rate Order No. 
WAPA-162 will be submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on a 
final basis.

    Dated: September 16, 2013.
Daniel B. Poneman,
Deputy Secretary.

Deputy Secretary

Rate Order No. WAPA-162
In the Matter of: Western Area Power Administration Rate Extension for 
Parker-Davis Project Firm Electric and Transmission Service Formula 
Rate Schedules

Order Confirming and Approving an Extension of the Parker-Davis Project 
Firm Electric and Transmission Service Formula Rate Schedules

    Section 302 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 
extension is issued pursuant to the Delegation Order and DOE rate 
extension procedures at 10 CFR 903.23(a).

Background

    On February 27, 2009, in Docket No. EF08-5041-000 at 126 FERC ] 
62,157, FERC issued an order confirming, approving, and placing into 
effect on a final basis the Firm Electric and Transmission Service Rate 
Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 for the Parker-Davis 
Project (P-DP). The firm electric and transmission service rate 
schedules under Rate Order No. WAPA-138 were approved for 5 years 
beginning October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2013.
    On June 11, 2013, pursuant to 10 CFR 903.23(a), Western published a 
notice in the Federal Register proposing to extend Rate Schedules PD-
F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7, as Rate Order No. WAPA-162 (78 FR 
35022). Western provided for a consultation and comment period, but did 
not conduct public information forums or public comment forums. The 
consultation and comment period ended on July 11, 2013.

Comments

    All formally submitted comments have been considered in preparing 
this Rate Order. A written comment was received during the consultation 
and comment period from the Irrigation & Electrical Districts 
Association of Arizona, Arizona. The comment and response regarding the 
rate extension, paraphrased for brevity when not affecting the meaning 
of the statement, is discussed below.
    Comment: The commenter wrote that it supports the proposal to 
extend the existing firm electric and transmission service formula 
rates. Further, the commenter expressed its belief that the proposal is 
evidence of a successful relationship between Western and the P-DP 
customers.
    Response: Western appreciates the commenter's feedback.

Discussion

    On September 30, 2013, the existing Firm Electric and Transmission 
Service Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 will expire. 
This makes it necessary to extend the existing rate schedules under 10 
CFR 903.23(a). The existing firm electric and transmission service 
formula rates provide adequate revenue to pay all annual costs, 
including interest expense, and to repay investment within the cost 
recovery criteria set forth in DOE Order RA 6120.2. Rate Order No. 
WAPA-162 extends the existing rate schedules through September 30, 
2018, thereby continuing to ensure project repayment within the cost 
recovery criteria.

Order

    In view of the forgoing and under the authority delegated to me, I 
hereby extend from October 1, 2013, and ending September 30, 2018, the 
existing Firm Electric and Transmission Service Rate Schedules PD-F7, 
PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 on an interim basis for service for the 
Parker-Davis Project. The existing Firm Electric and Transmission 
Service Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 for service 
for the Parker-Davis Project, shall remain in effect pending FERC 
confirmation and approval of their extension or substitute rates on a 
final basis through September 30, 2018.

    Dated: September 16, 2013.

Daniel B. Poneman,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-23054 Filed 9-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P