[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84318-84320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26629]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Southwestern Power Administration


Sam Rayburn Dam Power Rate

AGENCY: Southwestern Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rate.

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SUMMARY: Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) proposes to 
revise the existing Sam Rayburn Dam Rate Schedule to increase annual 
revenues by approximately 21.10% from $4,563,792 to $5,526,588 
effective May 1, 2024, through September 30, 2028. Interested persons 
may review the proposed rate and supporting studies on Southwestern's 
website, request to participate in a

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public forum, and submit comments. Southwestern will evaluate all 
comments received in this process.

DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin December 5, 2023 
and end March 4, 2024. Written comments are due on or before March 4, 
2024. If requested, a public information and comment forum (Forum) will 
be held on January 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. to no later than 4:00 p.m. 
Central Standard Time (CST). The Forum will be conducted via Microsoft 
Teams. Persons desiring to attend the Forum should notify Southwestern 
by January 10, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CST, so that a list of Forum 
participants can be prepared. Persons desiring to speak at the Forum 
should specify this in their notification to Southwestern; others may 
speak if time permits. If Southwestern does not receive a request for a 
Forum, the Forum will not be held.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Fritha Ohlson, 
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Office of Corporate 
Operations, Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department of 
Energy, One West Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 or emailed to 
[email protected]. The Forum for the increase in annual revenue for 
Sam Rayburn Dam will be by Microsoft Teams. Please register your intent 
to attend, including name, address, phone number, and email address, 
with Southwestern's Division of Resources and Rates, 
[email protected], to receive updates on the meeting status of the 
Forum.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Corker, Director, Division of 
Resources and Rates, Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department 
of Energy, One West Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, (918) 595-
6682, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2015, in Rate Order No. 
SWPA-69, the Deputy Secretary of Energy placed into effect the current 
Sam Rayburn Dam rate schedule (SRD-15) on an interim basis for the 
period January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2019. FERC confirmed and 
approved SRD-15 on a final basis on June 30, 2016 for a period ending 
September 30, 2019. On September 22, 2019, in Rate Order No. SWPA-75, 
the Assistant Secretary for Electricity extended SRD-15 for two years, 
for the period of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2021. On August 
30, 2021, in Rate Order No. SWPA-78, the Administrator, Southwestern, 
extended SRD-15 for two years, for the period of October 1, 2021 
through September 30, 2023. On September 20, 2023, the Administrator, 
Southwestern, extended SRD-15 on a temporary basis through September 
30, 2024, unless superseded.
    Guidelines for preparation of power repayment studies are included 
in DOE Order No. RA 6120.2 entitled Power Marketing Administration 
Financial Reporting. Following these guidelines, Southwestern prepared 
a 2023 Current Power Repayment Study using the existing Sam Rayburn Dam 
Rate Schedule. This study indicates that Southwestern's legal 
requirement to repay the investment in the power generating facility 
for power and energy marketed by Southwestern will not be met without 
an increase in revenues. The need for increased revenues is primarily 
due to increased operations and maintenance costs and increased cost 
associated with investments and replacements in the Corps hydroelectric 
generating facility. Southwestern prepared a 2023 Revised Power 
Repayment Study to address the revenue shortfall and inform development 
of the proposed rate schedule. The 2023 Revised Power Repayment Study 
indicates that the proposed Rate Schedule will increase annual revenues 
approximately 21.10% from $4,563,792 to $5,526,588 and be effective 
from May 1, 2024, through September 30, 2028.
    Southwestern will continue to perform its Power Repayment Studies 
annually, and if the results of any future Power Repayment Studies 
indicate the need for a change in revenues, Southwestern will proceed 
with appropriate action at that time.

Public Participation

    Procedures for public participation in power and transmission rate 
adjustments of the Power Marketing Administrations are found at title 
10, part 903, subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR part 
903). The proposed action is a major rate adjustment, as defined by 10 
CFR 903.2(d). In accordance with 10 CFR 903.14, the public consultation 
and comment period is 90 days. In accordance with 10 CFR 903.15(a) and 
903.16(a), Southwestern will hold a Forum for this proposed rate 
adjustment if requested. Southwestern will review and consider all 
timely public comments at the conclusion of the consultation and 
comment period and adjust the proposal as appropriate. The Sam Rayburn 
Dam Rate Schedule will then be approved on an interim basis.

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 Southwestern'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-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-SWPA1-2023, effective April 10, 2023, 
the Under Secretary for Infrastructure redelegated the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis 
to the Administrator, Southwestern.

Availability of Information

    The 2023 Sam Rayburn Dam Power Repayment Studies and the proposed 
Sam Rayburn Dam Rate Schedule are available on Southwestern's website 
at: https://www.energy.gov/swpa/rate-schedule-actions. At the 
conclusion of the consultation and comment period, Southwestern will 
post all comments received at the same website location. If a Forum is 
held, the transcript of the Forum and any other documents introduced 
during the Forum will also be made available on Southwestern's website.

Environmental Impact

    Southwestern is in the process of determining whether an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement should be 
prepared or if this action can be categorically excluded from those 
requirements.\1\
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    \1\ 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

    Southwestern 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 November 
28, 2023, by Mike Wech, Administrator for Southwestern Power 
Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of 
Energy. That document, with the original signature and date, is

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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 DOE. This administrative process in no way 
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on November 30, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-26629 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P