[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 154 (Monday, August 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46798-46799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18793]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern Division--Rate Order 
No. WAPA-168

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Extension of Transmission and Ancillary 
Services Formula Rates.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power 
marketing administration within the Department of Energy (DOE), is 
proposing to extend the existing transmission and ancillary services 
rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program--Eastern Division (P-
SMB--ED) through December 31, 2016. The existing Rate Schedules UGP-
NT1, UGP-FPT1, UGP-NFPT1, UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, 
UGP-AS6, UGP-AS7, and UGP-TSP1 expire on December 31, 2014. Publication 
of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the 
proposed extension of the formulary rates.

DATES: A consultation and comment period will end on September 10, 
2014. Western will accept oral and written comments any time during the 
consultation and comment period. In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), 
Western has determined it is not necessary to hold a public information 
or public comment forum.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Mr. Robert J. Harris, Regional 
Manager, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 
2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, Montana 59101-1266; or email: 
[email protected]. Written comments may also be faxed to: (406) 255-
2900, attention: Linda Cady-Hoffman, Rates Manager. Western will post 
official comments received via letter, fax, and email to its

[[Page 46799]]

Web site at: http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/rates/default.htm after the close 
of the comment period. Western must receive written comments by the end 
of the consultation period to ensure they are considered in Western's 
decision process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Cady-Hoffman, Rates Manager, 
Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 2900 4th 
Avenue North, Billings, Montana 59101-1266; telephone: (406) 255-2920; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00A, 
effective October 25, 2013, 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.
    The existing rate schedules consist of separate rates for firm and 
non-firm transmission rates and ancillary services rates for the 
transmission facilities in the P-SMBP--ED, which are integrated with 
transmission facilities of Basin Electric Power Cooperative and 
Heartland Consumers Power District such that transmission services are 
provided over an Integrated System (IS). The rates are sometimes 
referred to as IS Rates. Rate Schedules UGP-NT1, UGP-FPT1, UGP-NFPT1, 
UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, UGP-AS6, UGP-AS7 and UGP-
TSP1 were approved under Rate Order Nos. WAPA-144 and WAPA-148 \1\ for 
a 5-year period beginning on January 1, 2010, and ending December 31, 
2014.
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    \1\ Rate Order Nos. WAPA-144 and WAPA-148, 74 FR 68820, December 
29, 2009; 132 FERC ] 61,257, FERC Docket No. EF10-3-000, September 
23, 2010.
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    The existing transmission and ancillary services rates provide 
adequate revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, 
and to repay investment within the allowable period. The rates are 
calculated annually to ensure repayment of the project within the cost 
recovery criteria set forth in DOE Order RA 6120.2.
    Western is proposing no change at this time to the rate formulas. 
Since no changes are anticipated to the formulas and the existing 
formulary rates provide sufficient revenue to recover all appropriate 
costs, Western proposes to extend the current rate schedules through 
December 31, 2016, pursuant to 10 CFR 903.23(a).
    All documents made or kept by Western for developing the proposed 
extension for the rate schedules are available for inspection and 
copying at the Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266. These 
documents are also available on Western's Web site at: http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/rates/default.htm.
    After review of public comments, Western will take further action 
on the proposed extension of formulary rates consistent with 10 CFR 
part 903.

    Dated: July 23, 2014.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-18793 Filed 8-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P