[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 10475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04797]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project--Rate Order 
No. WAPA-181

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of transmission service rates.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes to 
extend the existing Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie 
Project transmission service rates through September 30, 2020. The 
existing Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 expire April 30, 2018.

DATES: A consultation and comment period starts with the publication of 
this notice and will end on April 9, 2018. WAPA will accept written 
comments any time during the consultation and comment period.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Mr. Ronald E. Moulton, Regional 
Manager, Desert Southwest Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, or email 
[email protected]. WAPA will post information about the proposed 
transmission service rate extension and written comments received on 
its website at https://www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/intertie-rates.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert 
Southwest Customer Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, 
P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, (602) 605-2565, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 for Rate 
Order No. WAPA-157 were approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) for a 5-year period through April 30, 2018.\1\ The 
existing rates provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, 
including interest expense, and repay required investment within the 
allowable period consistent with the cost recovery criteria set forth 
in DOE Order RA 6120.2. In accordance with 10 CFR part 903.23(a), WAPA 
is proposing to extend the existing rates under Rate Schedules INT-FT5 
and INT-NFT4 for the period from May 1, 2018 through September 30, 
2020. Extending these rate schedules through September 30, 2020 will 
provide WAPA and its customers time to evaluate the potential benefits 
of combining transmission service rates on Federal transmission 
projects in the Desert Southwest Region.
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    \1\ FERC confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-157 on 
August 22, 2013, in Docket No. EF13-4-000. See Order Confirming and 
Approving Rate Schedules on a Final Basis, 144 FERC ] 61,143.
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    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00B, effective November 19, 2016, 
the Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power 
and transmission rates to WAPA'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 FERC.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a)(2), WAPA will not hold public 
information or public comment forums but is providing a 30-day 
consultation and comment period to receive comments on the proposed 
rate extension. Comments must be received by the end of the 
consultation and comment period to be considered by WAPA in its 
decision process. WAPA will post comments received to its website, 
https://www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/intertie-rates.aspx. After 
considering public comments, WAPA will take further action on the 
proposed rate extension consistent with 10 CFR 903.23(a).

    Dated: January 25, 2018.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-04797 Filed 3-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P