[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 188 (Monday, September 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60779-60780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21336]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Central Arizona Project--Rate Order No. WAPA-193

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of rate order extending Central Arizona Project 
transmission service formula rates.

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

SUMMARY: The extension of existing Central Arizona Project (CAP) 
transmission service formula rates has been confirmed, approved, and 
placed into effect on an interim basis. The existing formula rates 
under Rate Schedules CAP-FT3, CAP-NFT3, and CAP-NITS3 were set to 
expire on December 31, 2020. This rate extension, which makes no change 
to the existing formula rates, extends them through December 31, 2025.

DATES: The extended formula rates under Rate Schedules CAP-FT3, CAP-
NFT3, and CAP-NITS3 will be placed into effect on an interim basis on 
January 1, 2021.

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 extension is issued under 
Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05 and the Department of Energy's 
(DOE) rate extension

[[Page 60780]]

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-193 into effect on an interim 
basis. This extends, without adjustment, existing Rate Schedules CAP-
FT3, CAP-NFT3, and CAP-NITS3 through December 31, 2025. WAPA will 
submit Rate Order No. WAPA-193 and the extended rate schedules to FERC 
for confirmation and approval on a final basis.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    WAPA 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.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on September 
22, 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 September 23, 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 
Central Arizona Project Transmission Service Formula Rates
Rate Order No. WAPA-193

Order Confirming, Approving, and Placing the Transmission Service 
Formula Rates for the Central Arizona Project Into Effect on an Interim 
Basis

    The transmission service formula rates in Rate Order No. WAPA-193 
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 
Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05 and DOE's rate extension 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 January 27, 2020, FERC approved and confirmed Rate Schedules 
CAP-FT3, CAP-NFT3, and CAP-NITS3 under Rate Order No. WAPA-172 on a 
final basis for a 5-year period beginning January 1, 2016 and ending 
December 31, 2020.\4\ These rate schedules apply to the Central Arizona 
Project transmission service formula rates. The existing transmission 
service formula rates provide adequate revenue to pay all annual costs, 
including interest expense, and to repay required 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 Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF19-6-000, 170 FERC ] 62,055 (2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discussion
    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), WAPA filed a notice in the 
Federal Register on June 26, 2020, proposing to extend, without 
adjustment, Rate Schedules CAP-FT3, CAP-NFT3, and CAP-NITS3 under Rate 
Order No. WAPA-193.\5\ WAPA determined it was not necessary to hold 
public information or public comment forums on the proposed formula 
rate 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 27, 2020, and WAPA 
received no comments on the proposed transmission service formula rate 
extension.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 85 FR 38368 (June 26, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
    The provisional transmission service formula 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-193, which extends the existing transmission 
service formula rates for the Central Arizona Project under Rate 
Schedules CAP-FT3, CAP-NFT3, and CAP-NITS3 through December 31, 2025. 
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 September 22, 2020.

Mark A. Gabriel

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 2020-21336 Filed 9-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P