[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17156-17157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08277]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Central Arizona Project, Colorado River Storage Project, Loveland 
Area Projects, Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project, 
and Parker-Davis Project--Rate Order No. WAPA-187

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

[[Page 17157]]


ACTION: Extension of formula rates for use under the WestConnect Point-
to-Point Regional Transmission Service Participation Agreement 
(WestConnect PA).

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SUMMARY: The Under Secretary of Energy extends the existing formula 
rates for non-firm point-to-point transmission service provided under 
the WestConnect PA and will submit them to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) for confirmation and approval on a final 
basis. The existing formula rates under Rate Schedule WC-8 are 
scheduled to expire on May 31, 2019. This rate extension makes no 
change to the existing formula rates.

DATES: The extended formula rates under Rate Schedule WC-8 will be 
placed into effect on an interim basis on June 1, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Hackett, Rates Manager, 
Colorado River Storage Project, (801) 524-5503 or email 
[email protected]; Ms. Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert Southwest 
Region, (602) 605-2525 or email [email protected]; or Mrs. Sheila D. 
Cook, Rates Manager, Rocky Mountain Region, (970) 461-7211 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 the Western Area 
Power Administration's (WAPA) 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, or to remand or to 
disapprove such rates, to FERC. In Delegation Order No. 00-002.00Q, 
effective November 1, 2018, the Secretary of Energy also delegated to 
the Under Secretary of Energy the authority to confirm, approve, and 
place into effect on an interim basis power and transmission rates for 
WAPA.
    Following DOE's review of WAPA's proposal, I hereby approve Rate 
Order No. WAPA-187 on an interim basis, extending existing Rate 
Schedule WC-8 through May 31, 2024. Rate Order No. WAPA-187 will be 
submitted to FERC for confirmation and approval on a final basis.

    Dated: April 17, 2019.
Mark W. Menezes,
Under Secretary of Energy.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

DEPUTY SECRETARY

In the Matter of:

Western Area Power Administration
Extension of
Loveland Area Projects
Colorado River Storage Project
Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project
Central Arizona Project
Parker-Davis Project Transmission Service
Formula Rates
Rate Order No. WAPA-187
ORDER CONFIRMING, APPROVING, AND PLACING THE WESTERN AREA POWER 
ADMINISTRATION'S TRANSMISSION SERVICE FORMULA RATES FOR USE UNDER THE 
WESTCONNECT POINT-TO-POINT REGIONAL TRANSMISSION SERVICE PARTICIPATION 
AGREEMENT INTO EFFECT ON AN INTERIM BASIS
    The transmission service formula rates set forth in this Rate Order 
are established in accordance with Section 302 of the Department of 
Energy (DOE) Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152). This Act 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 
section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s); and other 
acts that specifically apply to the projects involved.
    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 the Western Area Power Administration's 
(WAPA) Administrator; (2) the authority to confirm, approve, and place 
such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of 
Energy; \1\ and (3) the authority to confirm, approve, and place into 
effect on a final basis, or to remand or to disapprove such rates, to 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This extension is 
issued under the Delegation Order and DOE rate extension procedures 
found at 10 CFR 903.23(a).
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    \1\ In Delegation Order No. 00-002.00Q, effective November 1, 
2018, the Secretary of Energy also delegated to the Under Secretary 
of Energy the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect 
on an interim basis power and transmission rates for WAPA.
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BACKGROUND

    On December 15, 2014, FERC approved Rate Schedule WC-8 under Rate 
Order No. WAPA[dash]163 \2\ for a five-year period through May 31, 
2019. This schedule applies to WestConnect Regional, Non-Firm, Point-
to-Point Transmission Service that uses one or more of the following 
WAPA transmission projects: Central Arizona Project, Colorado River 
Storage Project, Loveland Area Projects, Pacific Northwest-Pacific 
Southwest Intertie Project, and Parker-Davis Project. In accordance 
with 10 CFR 903.23(a), WAPA is extending the existing formula rates 
under Rate Schedule WC[dash]8 for the period of June 1, 2019, through 
May 31, 2024. This rate extension makes no change to the existing 
formula rates.
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    \2\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF14-8-000, 149 FERC ]62,196 (2014).
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DISCUSSION

    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), WAPA filed a notice in the 
Federal Register on March 18, 2019, proposing to extend Rate Schedule 
WC-8 under Rate Order No. WAPA-187 (84 FR 9771). WAPA determined it was 
not necessary to hold public information or public comment forums on 
the proposed formula rate extension, but provided a 14-day consultation 
and comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the 
proposed extension. The consultation and comment period ended on April 
1, 2019, and WAPA received no comments on the proposed formula rate 
extension.

ORDER

    In view of the above and under the authority delegated to me, I 
hereby extend, on an interim basis, WAPA's existing formula rates under 
Rate Schedule WC-8, for use under WestConnect's Point-to-Point Regional 
Transmission Service Participation Agreement through May 31, 2024. This 
rate schedule shall remain in effect on an interim basis pending FERC's 
confirmation and approval of this extension, or substitute rates, on a 
final basis.

Dated: April 17, 2019.

Mark W. Menezes,

Under Secretary of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2019-08277 Filed 4-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P