[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41101-41102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13368]



[[Page 41101]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project and Parker-
Davis Project--Rate Order No. WAPA-210

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of transmission and firm electric 
service rates.

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

SUMMARY: The Desert Southwest Region (DSW) of the Western Area Power 
Administration (WAPA) proposes to extend the existing transmission 
service rates for the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie 
Project (Intertie) and the existing transmission and firm electric 
service formula rates for the Parker-Davis Project (PDP) through 
September 30, 2024. The existing rates and formula rates remain 
unchanged under Rate Schedules INT-FT5, INT-NFT4, PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-
FCT7, and PD-NFT7, which expire on September 30, 2023.

DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin June 23, 2023 and 
end July 24, 2023. 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, 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 rate 
extensions and written comments received to its website at: 
www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/intertie-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: 

Intertie Project Transmission Service

    On August 22, 2013, FERC approved and confirmed Rate Schedules INT-
FT5 and INT-NFT4 under Rate Order No. WAPA-157 for five years through 
April 30, 2018.\1\ WAPA's Administrator subsequently approved the use 
of the existing Intertie transmission service rates for short-term 
sales for the period between May 1, 2018, and October 31, 2018, or the 
date the extension of the Intertie transmission service rates went into 
effect, whichever occurred first. On September 11, 2018, the Deputy 
Secretary of Energy approved the extension of the Intertie transmission 
service rates on an interim basis.\2\ 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.\3\ On 
March 2, 2021, FERC approved and confirmed the extension of Rate 
Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 under Rate Order No. WAPA-192 through 
September 30, 2023.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF13-4-000.
    \2\ 83 FR 47921 (Sept. 21, 2018).
    \3\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF18-5-000.
    \4\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF20-9-000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a),\5\ DSW is proposing to extend 
the existing Intertie transmission service rates under Rate Schedules 
INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 for one year, through September 30, 2024. The 
existing rates provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, 
including interest expense, and repay investment within the allowable 
period consistent with the cost recovery criteria set forth in 
Department of Energy (DOE) Order RA 6120.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parker-Davis Project Transmission and Firm Electric Service

    On September 18, 2014, FERC approved and confirmed Rate Schedules 
PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 under Rate Order No. WAPA-162 for a 
5-year period through September 30, 2018.\6\ On January 31, 2019, FERC 
approved and confirmed the extension of Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, 
PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 under Rate Order No. WAPA-184 through September 
30, 2023.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF14-4-000.
    \7\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF19-1-000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), DSW is proposing to extend the 
existing PDP transmission and firm electric service formula rates under 
Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7 for a one-year 
period, through September 30, 2024. The existing formula rates provide 
sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, 
and repay investment within the allowable period consistent with the 
cost recovery criteria set forth in DOE Order RA 6120.2.

Intertie Project and Parker-Davis Project Services

    Concurrent with this proposed rate extension, WAPA will be 
initiating a public process to combine the transmission service rates 
and facilities use charge on Federal projects located within DSW, which 
includes Intertie and PDP. Extending the existing Intertie rates and 
PDP formula rates through September 30, 2024, will provide WAPA 
additional time to engage with the public and its customers and further 
evaluate the proposed combined transmission rate.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), WAPA has determined that it is 
unnecessary to hold public information or public comment forums for 
this rate action but is initiating a 30-day consultation and comment 
period allowing the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed 
extension.

Legal Authority

    By Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-RATES-2016, effective November 19, 
2016, the Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) the authority to develop 
power and transmission rates to the 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 disapprove such rates, to FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1-
DEL-S3-2023, effective April 10, 2023, 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 for Infrastructure. 
By Redelegation Order No. S3-DEL-WAPA1-2023, effective April 10, 2023, 
the Under Secretary for Infrastructure further redelegated the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an 
interim basis to WAPA's Administrator.

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    WAPA determined that this action fits within the following 
categorical exclusions listed in appendix B to subpart D of 10 CFR part 
1021.410: B4.3 (Electric power marketing rate changes). Categorically 
excluded projects and activities do not require preparation of either 
an environmental impact statement or an environmental

[[Page 41102]]

assessment.\8\ A copy of the categorical exclusion determination is 
available on WAPA's website at www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Environment/Pages/environment.aspx. Look for file entitled, ``Rate Order WAPA-
210.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ The determination was done 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 2, 
2023, by Tracey A. LeBeau, 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 June 20, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-13368 Filed 6-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P