[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 128 (Thursday, July 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36133-36134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14499]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Desert Southwest Region and Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing 
Authority--Rate Order No. WAPA-200

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of formula rates.

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SUMMARY: The Desert Southwest Region (DSW) of the Western Area Power 
Administration (WAPA) proposes to extend existing formula rates for 
Network Integration Transmission Service (Network) on the Parker-Davis 
Project (P-DP) and Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project 
(Intertie), along with formula rates for ancillary services, 
transmission losses, and unreserved use penalties applicable to Western 
Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority. The existing formula rates 
under Rate Schedules PD-NTS4, INT-NTS4, DSW-SD4, DSW-RS4, DSW-FR4, DSW-
EI4, DSW-SPR4, DSW-SUR4, DSW-GI2, DSW-TL1, and DSW-UU1 expire on 
September 30, 2021. These rate schedules would remain unchanged and 
would be extended through September 30, 2026.

DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin July 8, 2021 and 
end July 23, 2021. DSW will accept written comments at any time during 
the consultation and comment period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed 
extension submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to: 
Jack D. Murray, Acting Regional Manager, Desert Southwest Region, 
Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-
6457, or email: [email protected]. DSW will post information about the 
proposed formula rate extension and written comments received to its 
website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/rates.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert 
Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration, (602) 605-2565 or 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2017, FERC approved and 
confirmed Rate Schedules P-DP Network (PD-NTS4), Intertie Network (INT-
NTS4), Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch (DSW-SD4), Reactive 
Supply and Voltage Control (DSW-RS4), Regulation and Frequency Response 
(DSW-FR4), Energy Imbalance (DSW-EI4), Generator Imbalance (DSW-GI2), 
Spinning Reserve (DSW-SPR4), Supplemental Reserve (DSW-SUR4), 
Transmission Losses (DSW-TL1), and Unreserved Use Penalties (DSW-UU1) 
under Rate Order No. WAPA-175 for a 5-year period through September 30, 
2021.\1\ These rate schedules also contain formula rates that are 
calculated each fiscal year to include the most recent financial, load, 
and schedule information, as applicable.
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    \1\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket Nos. EF16-6-000 and EF16-6-001, 158 FERC ] 62,027 
(2017).
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    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a),\2\ DSW is proposing to extend 
the existing formula rates under these Rate Schedules for Network, 
ancillary services, transmission losses, and unreserved use penalties 
for a 5-year period through September 30, 2026. The existing formula 
rates for these services were designed to recover the costs incurred 
for providing each service, which is consistent with the cost recovery 
criteria set forth in Department of Energy (DOE) Order No. RA 6120.2. 
These formula rates continue to provide sufficient revenue to cover 
expenses, and no adjustments are necessary.
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    \2\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
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    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), WAPA has determined it is not 
necessary to hold public information or public comment forums for this 
rate action, but is initiating a 15-day consultation and comment period 
to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed extension. 
DSW will review and consider all timely public comments at the 
conclusion of the consultation and comment period and adjust the 
proposal, if appropriate.

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 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, or to remand or 
disapprove such rates, to FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S4-2021, 
effective February 25, 2021, the Acting Secretary of Energy also 
delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into 
effect on an interim basis to the Under Secretary for Science (and 
Energy). By Redelegation Order No. S4-DEL-OE1-2021, effective March 25, 
2021, the Acting Under Secretary for Science (and Energy) redelegated 
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 redelegated the authority 
to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim 
basis to WAPA's Administrator. This redelegation order, despite 
predating the February 2021 and March 2021 delegations, remains valid.

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or 
if this

[[Page 36134]]

action can be categorically excluded from those requirements.\3\
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    \3\ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and 
Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021).
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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 June 28, 
2021, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Interim 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 July 1, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-14499 Filed 7-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P