[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 172 (Thursday, September 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55010-55011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19513]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project--Rate Order 
No. WAPA-192

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of rate order extending Pacific Northwest-Pacific 
Southwest Intertie Project transmission service rates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The extension of existing Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest 
Intertie Project transmission service rates has been confirmed, 
approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis. The existing 
transmission service rates under Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 
were set to expire on September 30, 2020. This rate extension makes no 
change to the existing transmission service rates and extends them 
through September 30, 2023.

DATES: The extended transmission service rates under Rate Schedules 
INT-FT5 and NFT-4 will be placed into effect on an interim basis on 
October 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracey A. LeBeau, Regional Manager, 
Desert Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 
6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, telephone (602) 605-2525, or email: 
[email protected]; or Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert Southwest 
Region, Western Area Power Administration, telephone (602) 605-2565, or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Legal Authority

    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 on a final basis, 
remand, or disapprove such rates to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC). In Delegation Order No. 00-002.00S, effective 
January 15, 2020, the Secretary of Energy also delegated the authority 
to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim 
basis to the Under Secretary of Energy. By Redelegation Order No. 00-
002.10E, effective February 14, 2020, the Under Secretary of Energy 
further delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such 
rates into effect on an interim basis to the Assistant Secretary for 
Electricity. By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05, effective July 8, 
2020, the Assistant Secretary for Electricity further delegated the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an 
interim basis to WAPA's Administrator. This rate action is issued under 
the Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05 and Department of Energy's 
(DOE) rate extension procedures set forth at 10 CFR 903.23(a).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Following DOE's review of WAPA's proposal, I hereby confirm, 
approve, and place Rate Order No. WAPA-192 into effect on an interim 
basis. This extends, without adjustment, existing Rate Schedules INT-
FT5 and INT-NFT4 through September 30, 2023. WAPA will submit Rate 
Order No. WAPA-192 and the extended rate schedules to FERC for 
confirmation and approval on a final basis.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 25, 
2020, by Mark A. Gabriel, Administrator, Western Area Power 
Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of 
Energy. That document, with the original signature and date, is 
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance 
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.

Department of Energy Administrator, Western Area Power Administration

    In the Matter of: Western Area Power Administration Extension of 
Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project Transmission 
Service Rate Schedules, Rate Order No. WAPA-192.

ORDER CONFIRMING, APPROVING, AND PLACING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE 
RATES FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST-PACIFIC SOUTHWEST INTERTIE PROJECT 
INTO EFFECT ON AN INTERIM BASIS

    The transmission service rates in Rate Order No. WAPA-192 are 
established following section 302 of the Department of Energy (DOE) 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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 
(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 
into effect such rates on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of 
Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, approve on a final basis, 
remand, or disapprove such rates to the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC). By Delegation Order No. 00-002.00S, effective 
January 15, 2020, the Secretary of Energy also delegated the authority 
to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim 
basis to the Under Secretary of Energy. By Redelegation Order No. 00-
002.10E, effective February 14, 2020, the Under Secretary of Energy 
further delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such 
rates into effect on an interim basis to the Assistant Secretary for 
Electricity. By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05, effective July 8, 
2020, the Assistant Secretary for Electricity further delegated the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an 
interim basis to WAPA's Administrator. This extension is issued under 
the Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05 and DOE's rate extension

[[Page 55011]]

procedures set forth at 10 CFR 903.23(a).\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    On August 22, 2013, FERC approved and confirmed Rate Schedules INT-
FT5 and INT-NFT4 under Rate Order No. WAPA-157 on a final basis for a 
5-year period beginning May 1, 2013 and ending April 30, 2018.\4\ These 
rate schedules apply to the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest 
Intertie Project firm transmission service rates. WAPA's Administrator 
approved the use of existing Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest 
Intertie Project rates under his authority to set rates for short-term 
sales to cover the period between May 1, 2018 and October 31, 2018. On 
December 3, 2018, FERC approved and confirmed the extension of Rate 
Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 under Rate Order No. WAPA-181 through 
September 30, 2020.\5\ The existing rates provide adequate revenue to 
recover annual expenses, including interest expense, and repay capital 
investments within allowable time periods. This ensures repayment 
within the cost recovery criteria set forth in DOE Order RA 6120.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF13-4-000, 144 FERC ] 61,143 (2013).
    \5\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF18-5-000, 165 FERC ] 62,137 (2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discussion

    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), WAPA filed a notice in the 
Federal Register on June 22, 2020, proposing to extend, without 
adjustment, Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 under Rate Order No. 
WAPA-192.\6\ WAPA determined it was not necessary to hold public 
information or public comment forums on the proposed transmission 
service rates extension but provided a 30-day consultation and comment 
period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed 
extension. The consultation and comment period ended on July 22, 2020, 
and WAPA received no comments on the proposed transmission service 
rates extension.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 85 FR 37450 (Jun. 22, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

    The provisional transmission service rates herein confirmed, 
approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis, together with 
supporting documents, will be submitted to FERC for confirmation and 
final approval.

Order

    In view of the above and under the authority delegated to me, I 
hereby confirm, approve, and place into effect, on an interim basis, 
Rate Order No. WAPA-192, which extends the existing transmission 
service rates under Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 through 
September 30, 2023. The rates will remain in effect on an interim basis 
until: (1) FERC confirms and approves this extension on a final basis; 
(2) subsequent rates are confirmed and approved; or (3) such rates are 
superseded.

    Signed in Lakewood, CO, on August 25, 2020.

Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.

[FR Doc. 2020-19513 Filed 9-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P