[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6955-6956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02559]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Boulder Canyon Project--Rate Order No. WAPA-171

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of electric service rate-setting 
formula and adjustment to base charge and rates.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing 
to extend the existing rate-setting formula for the Boulder Canyon 
Project (BCP) through September 30, 2020, and adjust the annual 
calculation for fiscal year (FY 2016) Base Charge and Rates under 
proposed Rate Schedule BCP-F9 (Proposed Base Charge and Rates). The 
existing Rate Schedule BCP-F8 expires on September 30, 2015. This 
notice of proposed extension of the electric service rate-setting 
formula and adjustment of the base charge and rates is issued pursuant 
to 10 CFR part 903.23(a) and 10 CFR part 904. Publication of this 
Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed 
extension of the electric service rate-setting formula and the annual 
calculation of the base charge and rates.

DATES: The consultation and comment period begins today and will end 
May 11, 2015. Western will hold a public information forum on April 1, 
2015, beginning at 10:30 a.m. MST, in Phoenix, Arizona. Western will 
accept oral and written comments at a public comment forum on April 29, 
2015, beginning at 10:30 a.m. MST, in Phoenix, Arizona. Western will 
also accept written comments any time during the consultation and 
comment period.

ADDRESSES: The public information forum and public comment forum will 
be held at the Desert Southwest Regional Customer Service Office, 
located at 615 South 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, on the dates cited 
above. Written comments should be sent to Mr. Ronald E. Moulton, Desert 
Southwest Regional Manager, Desert Southwest Customer Service Region, 
Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-
6457, email [email protected]. Written comments may also be faxed to 
(602) 605-2490, attention: Jack Murray, Rates Manager. Western will 
post comments received via letter, fax, and email to its Web site at 
http://www.wapa.gov/dsw/pwrmkt/BCP/RateAdjust.htm after the close of 
the comment period. Western must receive written comments by the end of 
the consultation and comment period to ensure they are considered in 
Western's decision making process. For details regarding access to 
Western facilities, see the Attendance at the Forum section in 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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: The existing Rate Schedule BCP-F8, Rate 
Order No. WAPA-150 was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) for the period beginning October 1, 2010, and ending 
September 30, 2015.\1\ The existing rate schedule consists of a Base 
Charge and Rates for electric service. The base charge and rates 
provide adequate revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest 
expense, and repay investment within the allowable period. The base 
charge and rates are calculated annually to ensure repayment of the 
project within the cost recovery criteria set forth in DOE Order RA 
6120.2.
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    \1\ WAPA-150 was approved by the Deputy Secretary of Energy on 
September 16, 2010 (75 FR 57912 (September 23, 2010)), and confirmed 
and approved by FERC on a final basis on December 9, 2010, in Docket 
No. EF10-7-000 (133 FERC ] 62,229).
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    Western proposes to extend the existing electric service rate-
setting formula through September 30, 2020, under Rate Order No. WAPA-
171, and seek approval of the annual calculation for the FY 2016 
Proposed Base Charge and Rates. Under Rate Schedule BCP-F9, Rate Order 
No. WAPA-171, the Proposed Base Charge and Rates for BCP electric 
service are expected to increase as a result of projected replacements 
costs and visitor center costs. The following table lists the Proposed 
Base Charge and Rates, however, these amounts will change based on 
actual data published in the FY 2014 financial statements, which are 
not yet available.

                           Table 1--Summary of Electric Service Base Charge and Rates
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                                                              Existing base     Proposed base
                                                             charge & rates    charge & rates
                                                                effective         effective      Percent change
                                                             October 1, 2014   October 1, 2015
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Composite (mills/kWh).....................................             16.28             19.77             21.43
Base Charge ($)...........................................       $61,008,518       $69,276,468             13.55
Energy Rate (mills/kWh)...................................              8.14              9.89             21.43
Capacity Rate ($/kWmonth).................................             $1.61             $1.82             13.41
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Legal Authority

    Since the proposed rates constitute a major adjustment as defined 
by 10 CFR part 903, Western will hold both a public information forum 
and a public comment forum. Western will review all timely public 
comments and make amendments or adjustment to the proposal, as 
appropriate, consistent

[[Page 6956]]

with 10 CFR 903.23(a) and 10 CFR part 904.
    Western is establishing the electric service Base Charge and Rates 
for BCP under the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 
7152); 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 projects involved.
    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 the Administrator of 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 FERC. Existing Department of Energy 
(DOE) procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments (10 
CFR part 903) were published on September 18, 1985.

Attendance at the Forum

    Access to Western facilities is controlled. If you are a U.S. 
citizen, please be sure to bring an official form of picture 
identification (that meets the requirement of the Real ID Act), such as 
a driver's license, U.S. passport, U.S. Government ID, or U.S. Military 
ID, which you will be asked to show prior to signing in at Western.
    If you are a foreign national and plan to attend, please contact 
Mr. Jack Murray, Rates Manager, (602) 605-2442, email [email protected], 
immediately to obtain the necessary form for admittance at Western. To 
allow time for background checks this form must be completed at least 
30 days in advance for visitors from non-sensitive countries; and 45 
days in advance for visitors from sensitive countries. Failure to 
complete this approval process may result in denial of visit.

Availability of Information

    All brochures, studies, comments, letters, memorandums, and other 
documents that Western initiated or used to develop the proposed base 
charge and rates are available for inspection and copying at the Desert 
Southwest Customer Service Regional Office, located at 615 South 43rd 
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. Many of these documents and supporting 
information are also available on Western's Web site at: http://www.wapa.gov/dsw/pwrmkt/BCP/RateAdjust.htm.

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR 
part 1021), Western is in the process of determining whether an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement should be 
prepared or if this action can be categorically excluded from those 
requirements.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the 
Office of Management and Budget is required.

    Dated: January 6, 2015.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-02559 Filed 2-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P