99-11864. Desert Southwest Customer Service Region Network Integration Transmission and Ancillary ServicesRate Order No. WAPA-84  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 25323-25334]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-11864]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    
    Western Area Power Administration
    
    
    Desert Southwest Customer Service Region Network Integration 
    Transmission and Ancillary Services--Rate Order No. WAPA-84
    
    AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
    
    ACTION: Notice of Rate Order.
    
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    SUMMARY: Notice is given of the confirmation and approval by the 
    Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) of Rate Order No. WAPA-84 
    and Rate Schedules DSW-SD1, DSW-RS1, DSW-FR1, DSW-EI1, DSW-SPR1, DSW-
    SUR1, PD-NTS1, and INT-NTS1 placing into effect provisional formula 
    rates for the Desert Southwest Customer Service Region (DSW) network 
    integration transmission services (NTS) for Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) 
    and Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) and 
    ancillary services for the Western Area Lower Colorado (WALC) control 
    area. The provisional formula rates will remain in effect on an interim 
    basis until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) confirms, 
    approves, and places them into effect on a final basis.
    
    DATES: The formula rates will be placed into effect from April 1, 1999, 
    through March 31, 2004.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Maher A. Nasir, Rates Team Lead, 
    telephone (602) 352-2768, or Mr. Tyler Carlson, Regional Manager, 
    telephone (602) 352-2453, Desert Southwest Customer Service Region, 
    Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-
    6457.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 7, 1998, the Administrator of 
    Western Area Power Administration (Western) approved formula rate 
    methodologies for short-term sales of NTS and ancillary services in the 
    Western Area Lower Colorado (WALC) control area of the Desert Southwest 
    Region. The six ancillary services include: scheduling, system control, 
    and dispatch service; reactive supply and voltage control service; 
    regulation and frequency response service; energy imbalance service; 
    spinning reserve service, and supplemental reserve service. The 
    provisional formula rates will replace the formula rates for short-term 
    sales.
    
    Provisional Rate Formula for Network Integration Transmission 
    Service
    
        NTS will be separately provided from P-DP and Intertie. The charge 
    for NTS is the product of the transmission customer's load-ratio share 
    times one-twelfth of the annual transmission revenue requirement. The 
    customer's load-ratio share is calculated on a rolling 12-month basis 
    (12-CP). The customer's load-ratio share is equal to the network 
    transmission customer's hourly load coincident with Western's 
    corresponding transmission system's monthly peak divided by the 
    resultant value of the corresponding transmission system's monthly peak 
    minus the coincident peak for all corresponding firm point-to-point 
    transmission service plus corresponding firm point-to-point 
    reservations.
    
    Provisional Rates for Ancillary Services
    
        Six ancillary services will be offered by DSW for WALC, two of 
    which are required to be purchased by the transmission customer. These 
    two are: (1) scheduling, system control, and dispatch service and (2) 
    reactive supply and voltage control service. The remaining four 
    ancillary services (3) regulation and frequency response service; (4) 
    energy imbalance service; (5) spinning reserve service; and (6) 
    supplemental reserve service will be offered, but are subject to 
    availability from DSW generation resources. If DSW is unable to provide 
    these services from its own resources, it will provide the services by 
    making market purchases and passing these costs directly to the 
    customer plus a 10 percent administrative charge.
        Scheduling, system control, and dispatch service costs are included 
    in transmission service provided by DSW. The scheduling, system 
    control, and dispatch formula rates apply only to non-transmission 
    customers, and depending on the type of service, will vary between 
    $34.10 and $56.20 per schedule per day.
    
    [[Page 25324]]
    
        Reactive supply and voltage control ancillary service is calculated 
    by dividing the combined revenue requirement for the service by the sum 
    of control area average firm power allocation, network transmission 12-
    CP and firm transmission reservations, yielding a rate of $0.07/
    kWmonth.
        Regulation and frequency response service is not available on a 
    long-term basis from DSW. If available for short-term sales, the price 
    will be equal to the firm-capacity rate of the specific power project 
    supplying the service.
        An energy imbalance account will be maintained for each customer 
    scheduling energy in the WALC control area at no charge. DSW reserves 
    the right to assess a penalty applied against deviations outside a 3 
    percent bandwidth (1.5 percent deviations), with a 2 MW 
    deviation minimum. A penalty charge of 100 mills/kWh may be assessed 
    for under-deliveries (negative excursion) greater than 1.5 percent and 
    occurring more than five times per month. Over-deliveries (positive 
    excursion) will be credited to the customer for 50 percent of the 
    market value of the over-delivery within 30 days, provided the over-
    deliveries do not impinge upon DSW operations.
        No reserves of either spinning or supplemental are available from 
    DSW resources.
        The formula rates for DSW NTS and ancillary services are developed 
    pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 
    et seq.), through which the power marketing functions of the Secretary 
    of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation Act 
    of 1902 (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.), as amended and supplemented by 
    subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation 
    Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)), and other acts specifically 
    applicable to the project involved, were transferred to and vested in 
    the Secretary of Energy.
        By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, published 
    November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary of Energy delegated (1) 
    the authority to develop long-term power and transmission rates on a 
    nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of Western; (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, to remand, or 
    to disapprove such rates to FERC. By subsequent Order effective April 
    15, 1999, the Secretary rescinded all delegations of authority to the 
    Deputy Secretary, whether contained in Delegation Orders, Departmental 
    Directives, or elsewhere, concerning the Department's Power Marketing 
    Administrations, including, but not limited to, authority delegated or 
    affirmed in Delegation Order No. 204-108, as amended.
        Rate Order No. WAPA-84 was prepared pursuant to Delegation Order 
    No. 0204-108, the Secretarial Order rescinding delegations to the 
    Deputy Secretary concerning the Power Marketing Administrations 
    effective April 15, 1999, existing DOE procedures for public 
    participation in power rate adjustments in 10 CFR part 903, and 
    procedures for approving power marketing administration rates by FERC 
    in 18 CFR part 300. Rate Order No. WAPA-84, confirming, approving, and 
    placing the provisional formula rates for DSW NTS and ancillary 
    services into effect on an interim basis, is issued, and the new Rate 
    Schedules DSW-SD1, DSW-RS1, DSW-FR1, DSW-EI1, DSW-SPR1, DSW-SUR1, PD-
    NTS1, and INT-NTS1 will be submitted promptly to FERC for confirmation 
    and approval on a final basis.
    
        Dated: April 29, 1999.
    Bill Richardson,
    Secretary.
    
    Order Confirming, Approving, and Placing the Desert Southwest 
    Customer Service Region Network Integration Transmission and 
    Ancillary Services Formula Rates Into Effect on an Interim Basis
    
    April 1, 1999.
        The Desert Southwest Customer Service Region (DSW) network 
    integration transmission services (NTS) and ancillary services formula 
    rates are developed pursuant to the Department of Energy (DOE) 
    Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), through which the power 
    marketing functions of the Secretary of the Interior and the Bureau of 
    Reclamation under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.), 
    as amended and supplemented by subsequent enactments, particularly 
    section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 
    485h(c)), and other acts specifically applicable to the project 
    involved, were transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy 
    (Secretary).
        By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, published 
    November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary delegated (1) the 
    authority to develop long-term power and transmission rates on a 
    nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of the Western Area Power 
    Administration (Western); (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, to remand, or to disapprove such 
    rates to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). By subsequent 
    Order effective April 15, 1999, the Secretary rescinded all delegations 
    of authority to the Deputy Secretary, whether contained in Delegation 
    Orders, Departmental Directives, or elsewhere, concerning the 
    Department's Power Marketing Administrations, including, but not 
    limited to, authority delegated or affirmed in Delegation Order No. 
    0204-108, as amended. Existing DOE procedures for public participation 
    in power rate adjustments are found at 10 CFR part 903. Procedures for 
    approving power marketing administration rates by FERC are found at 18 
    CFR part 300.
    
    Acronyms and Definitions
    
        As used in this rate order, the following acronyms and definitions 
    apply:
    
        access: The contracted right to use an electrical system to 
    transfer electrical energy.
        ancillary services: Those services necessary to support the 
    transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while 
    maintaining reliable operation of the transmission provider's 
    transmission system in accordance with FERC Order Nos. 888 and 889 
    and Western's Tariff.
        Basin Fund: Upper Colorado River Basin Fund, established as part 
    of Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956, for 
    defraying the costs of operation, maintenance, and replacement of 
    and emergency expenditures for all facilities of the CRSP.
        BCP: Boulder Canyon Project.
        capacity: The rated continuous load-carrying ability, expressed 
    in megawatts (MW) or megavolt-amperes (MVA), of generation, 
    transmission, or other electrical equipment.
        control area: An electric system or systems, bounded by 
    interconnections metering and telemetry, capable of controlling 
    generation to maintain its interchange schedule with other control 
    areas and contributing to frequency regulation of the 
    interconnection.
        CRSP: Colorado River Storage Project (includes Seedskadee and 
    Dolores Projects).
        CRSP CSC: Western's Colorado River Storage Project Customer 
    Service Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
        customer: Any entity which receives transmission, or ancillary 
    services under this rate order.
        DOE: United States Department of Energy.
        demand: The rate at which electric energy is delivered to or by 
    a system or part of a system, generally expressed in kilowatts or 
    megawatts, at a given instant or average over any designated 
    interval of time.
        DSW: Desert Southwest Customer Service Region.
    
    [[Page 25325]]
    
        energy imbalance service: Is provided when a difference occurs 
    between the scheduled and actual delivery of energy to a load or 
    from a generation resource within a control area over a single 
    month.
        FERC: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
        firm point-to-point transmission service: Transmission service 
    that is reserved between points of receipt and delivery.
        FRN: Federal Register notice.
        FY: Fiscal Year.
        Glen Canyon: One of the storage units of the CRSP.
        Intertie: Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project.
        kW: Kilowatt; 1,000 watts.
        kWh: Kilowatt-hour; the common unit of electrical energy, equal 
    to a kW taken for a period of 1 hour.
         kWmonth: Kilowatt-month; the common unit of electrical energy, 
    equal to a kW taken for a period of 1 month.
         kWyear: Kilowatt-year; the common unit of electrical energy, 
    equal to a kW taken for a period of 1 year.
         load: An end-use device or customer that receives power from 
    the electric system.
         load-ratio share: Ratio of a transmission customer's network 
    load to the transmission provider's system peak load calculated on a 
    rolling twelve-month basis.
         mill: Unit of monetary value equal to .001 of a U.S. dollar; 
    i.e., 1/10th of a cent.
         mills/kWh: Mills per kilowatt-hour.
        MW: Megawatt; equal to 1,000 kW or 1,000,000 watts.
        NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
        NTS: Network integration transmission service.
        non-firm point-to-point transmission service: Point-to-point 
    transmission service under the Tariff that is scheduled on an as-
    available basis and is subject to curtailment or interruption.
        OASIS: Open Access Same Time Information System.
        operating reserve: Spinning reserve service and supplemental 
    reserve service.
        P-DP: Parker-Davis Project.
        PCF: Public comment forum.
        peak: Those hours or other periods defined by contract or other 
    agreements or guides as periods of higher electrical demand.
        PIF: Public information forum.
        PRS: Power repayment study.
        Rate Brochure: A document prepared for public distribution 
    explaining the background and purpose of this rate adjustment 
    proposal.
        reactive power: Portion of total power required to produce flux 
    necessary to the operation of electromagnetic devices (such as, 
    transformers). The unit of measurement is the VAR.
        reactive supply and voltage control: Provides reactive supply 
    through changes to generator reactive output to maintain 
    transmission line voltage and facilitate electricity transfers.
        Reclamation: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the 
    Interior.
        regulation and frequency response service: Provides for 
    following the moment-to-moment variations in the demand or supply in 
    a control area and maintaining scheduled interconnection frequency.
        RMR: Rocky Mountain Customer Service Region.
        SCADA: System Control and Data Acquisition.
        schedule: An agreed upon transaction for delivery and receipt of 
    power and energy between the contracting parties and the control 
    area(s) or transmission provider involved in the transaction.
        scheduling, system control, and dispatch service: Provides for 
    (a) scheduling; (b) confirming and implementing an interchange 
    schedule with other control areas, including intermediary control 
    areas providing transmission service; and (c) ensuring operational 
    security during the interchange transaction.
        SLCA/IP: The Salt Lake City Area/Integrated Projects, which are 
    the CRSP, Collbran, and Rio Grande projects.
        spinning reserve service: Providing capacity that is available 
    to serve load immediately in the event of a system contingency. 
    Spinning reserve may be provided by generating units that are on-
    line and loaded at less than maximum output.
        supplemental reserve service: Is needed to serve load in the 
    event of a system contingency. This service is not available 
    immediately to serve load but rather within a short period of time.
        system: An interconnected combination of generation, 
    transmission, and distribution components.
        Tariff: Open Access Transmission Service Tariff.
        transmission: The movement or transfer of electric energy 
    between points of supply and points at which it is transformed for 
    delivery to customers or is delivered to other electric systems.
        transmission customer: An eligible customer (or its designated 
    agent) that can or does execute a transmission service agreement or 
    can or does receive transmission service.
        transmission provider: Any public utility that owns, operates, 
    or controls facilities used for the transmission of electric energy 
    in interstate commerce.
        transmission service: Point-to-point transmission service 
    provided on a firm or non-firm basis.
        transmission system: The facilities owned, controlled, or 
    operated by the transmission provider that are used to provide 
    transmission service.
        WALC: Western Area Lower Colorado control area.
        WACM: Western Area Colorado Missouri control area.
    
    Effective Date
    
        The formula rates will become effective on the first day of the 
    billing period on or after April 1, 1999, and remain in effect until 
    March 31, 2004, pending FERC's approval of them or substitute rates or 
    until superseded. These formula rates will be applied to transmission 
    service agreements under the Tariff and conform with the spirit and 
    intent of FERC Order No. 888.
    
    Public Notice and Comments
    
        The following summarizes the steps taken by DSW to ensure the 
    involvement of interested parties in the rate process:
        1. During 1997 and the spring of 1998, DSW hosted a series of 
    meetings presenting alternatives for ancillary services and taking 
    comments from those who attended.
        2. A Federal Register notice was published on June 19, 1998 (63 FR 
    118), officially announcing the proposed NTS and ancillary services 
    rates adjustment, initiating the public consultation and comment 
    period, announcing the public information and public comment forums, 
    and outlining procedures for public participation.
        3. On June 16, 1998, DSW mailed a copy of the ``Parker-Davis 
    Project, Boulder Canyon Project, Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest 
    Intertie Project Transmission and Ancillary Services Rate Adjustment 
    Brochure'' to all firm transmission and power customers and interested 
    parties of those projects and to the Salt Lake City Area/ Integrated 
    Projects (SLCA/IP) firm power, and Colorado River Storage Project 
    (CRSP) transmission customers who receive services from DSW's control 
    area.
        4. On June 30, 1998, DSW held a public information forum (PIF) in 
    which the information contained in the Brochure was explained. After 
    the presentation, participants questioned DSW personnel on the 
    particulars of the proposed rates.
        5. On July 30, 1998, DSW held a public comment forum (PCF). 
    Participants gave statements of their concerns on the proposed rates.
        6. On August 28, 1998, DSW sent a letter to all participants in the 
    PCF and PIF answering any questions which were not answered in the PIF.
        7. The consultation and comment period ended on September 18, 1998.
    
    Project Description
    
        Western is a Federal power marketing administration. It was created 
    in 1977 by section 302(a)(1)(E) and (F) of the Department of Energy 
    Organization Act 42 U.S.C. 7152, to perform the power marketing and 
    transmission functions previously performed by the Bureau of 
    Reclamation (Reclamation) for the Secretary of the Interior. DSW 
    markets approximately 2,243 MW of generation capacity from its two 
    power projects--P-DP and BCP. DSW serves firm electric and transmission 
    customers in a three-State area, over a transmission system of 
    approximately 2,097 miles and 74 substations.
    
    [[Page 25326]]
    
    Parker-Davis Project
    
        In 1954, the Parker Dam Project and the Davis Dam Project were 
    consolidated to form the Parker-Davis Project (P-DP). The major works 
    include Davis Dam and Powerplant, Parker Dam and Powerplant, a high-
    voltage transmission system, and substations which sectionalize the 
    long transmission lines.
        Lake Havasu, formed by Parker Dam, provides a forebay and desilting 
    basin from which the Metropolitan Water District pumps water into its 
    Colorado River Aqueduct. Parker Dam Powerplant was added to provide 
    low-cost electrical energy to Arizona and southern California. Davis 
    Dam provides re-regulation of the Colorado River below Hoover Dam and 
    facilitates water delivery beyond the boundary of the United States as 
    required by treaty with Mexico. The Davis Dam portion of the project 
    also provides for production and transmission of electrical energy, 
    contributes to flood control, irrigation and municipal water supplies, 
    navigation improvement, recreation, and wild waterfowl protection and 
    related conservation purposes.
        The firm point-to-point transmission service rate for P-DP 
    calculated under rate schedule PD-FT6 is $12.99/kWyear. The non-firm 
    point-to-point transmission service rate for P-DP calculated under rate 
    schedule PD-NFT6 is 2.47 mills/kWh.
    
    Boulder Canyon Project
    
        Authorized by the Act of December 21, 1928 (45 Stat. 1057), subject 
    to the terms of the Colorado River Compact, the Boulder Canyon Project 
    (BCP) was conceived for the regulation of the Colorado River to relieve 
    the constantly recurring cycles of flood and drought for the residences 
    of the Southwest. Hoover Dam facilities include a 1,344,800-kilowatt 
    powerplant. The dam and high-voltage switchyards are located in the 
    Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the Arizona-Nevada State line. 
    Lake Mead, the reservoir behind Hoover Dam, will hold the entire flow 
    of the river for 2 years. This storage, in addition to providing for 
    improvement of navigation, river regulation, and flood control, 
    provides for the delivery of stored water for irrigation and other 
    beneficial consumptive uses, and for the generation of electrical 
    energy.
    
    Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project
    
        The Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) 
    was authorized as part of a much larger alternating current and direct 
    current combined transmission system, by Section 8 of the Act of August 
    31, 1964, 16 U.S.C. 837g. The basic purpose of the combined 
    transmission system was to provide, through power transmission system 
    interconnections, maximum use of the total power resources to meet the 
    Nation's growing demands. This purpose was to be accomplished through: 
    (1) the exchange of summer-winter surplus peaking capacity between the 
    northwest and southwest to reduce capital expenditures for new 
    generating capacity, (2) the sale of northwest secondary energy to the 
    southwest, (3) the sale of southwest energy to the northwest to 
    ``firm'' peaking hydroelectric sources during critical water years, (4) 
    conservation of significant amounts of fuel through the use of surplus 
    hydroelectric energy, and (5) increased efficiency in the operation of 
    hydroelectric and thermal resources.
        The Intertie facilities extend from Mead Substation in southern 
    Nevada near Boulder City and Hoover Dam, southeast through Arizona, to 
    the Phoenix area. The major features of the system are the Mead and 
    Liberty Substations, a 260-mile Mead-Phoenix 500-kV AC Transmission 
    Line from the Marketplace Substation to Perkins Substation, a 238-mile 
    Mead-Liberty 345-kV Transmission Line, a 31-mile Liberty-Westwing 230-
    kV Transmission Line, and the 22-mile Westwing-Pinnacle Peak 230-kV 
    Transmission Line.
        The firm point-to-point transmission service rate for the Intertie 
    calculated under rate schedule INT-FT2 is $6.58/kWyear for service on 
    the 230/345-kV transmission system and $17.23/kWyear for service on the 
    500-kV transmission system. The non-firm point-to-point transmission 
    service rate for the Intertie calculated under rate schedule INT-NFT2 
    is 2.00 mills/kWh.
    
    Discussion
    
    Control Area Consolidation
    
        On April 1, 1998, the Western Area Upper Colorado control area, 
    within which SLCA/IP generation and most of the CRSP transmission 
    system lies, was divided between with two other control areas, the 
    Western Area Colorado Missouri (WACM) operated by Western's Rocky 
    Mountain Customer Service Region (RMR), and the Western Area Lower 
    Colorado (WALC), operated by DSW. SLCA/IP generation is consolidated by 
    the DSW operations, and the transmission lines were divided at Four 
    Corners Substation.
    
    Network Integration Transmission Service
    
        DSW will offer NTS to all eligible transmission customers. NTS is 
    subject to availability. NTS will be offered separately for P-DP and 
    Intertie. Annual power repayment studies (PRS), prepared separately for 
    P-DP and Intertie, are used to derive the annual transmission revenue 
    requirement for NTS. Annual transmission costs used to determine this 
    revenue requirement are operation and maintenance expense, 
    administrative and general expense, principal expense, and interest 
    expense.
        The monthly charge for NTS is the product of the transmission 
    customer's load-ratio share times one-twelfth of the annual 
    transmission revenue requirement. The customer's load-ratio share is 
    calculated on a rolling twelve-month basis (12-CP). As outlined in 
    DSW's rate adjustment brochure, the customer's load-ratio share is 
    equal to the network transmission customer's hourly load coincident 
    with the corresponding transmission system's monthly peak hour divided 
    by the resultant value of the corresponding transmission system's 
    monthly peak minus the monthly coincident peak for all corresponding 
    firm point-to-point transmission service plus corresponding firm point-
    to-point reservations. In order to ensure the collection of the 
    transmission systems' annual revenue requirement, the difference 
    between the first two components of the resultant value outlined above 
    constitutes the network transmission systems' monthly peak and is 
    anticipated to be metered. Thus, an NTS customer, based on its 12-CP 
    load, will pay its proportionate share of the revenue requirement for 
    the month. Since DSW's point-to-point transmission customers are 
    charged on a reservation and not a usage basis, for the purposes of 
    determining the NTS charge, the transmission systems' monthly peak will 
    coincide with the network transmission systems' monthly peak.
        Based on updated financial and load data a recalculated revenue 
    requirement will go into effect on October 1 of each year during the 
    effective rate schedule period.
    
    Ancillary Services
    
        DSW has marketed the maximum practical amount of power from each of 
    its projects, leaving little or no flexibility for provision of 
    additional electric services from the projects. Changes in water 
    conditions frequently affect the ability of hydroelectric projects to 
    meet obligations on a short-term basis. The unique characteristics of
    
    [[Page 25327]]
    
    the hydro resource, Western's marketing plans, and the limitations of 
    the resource due to changing water conditions limit Western's ability 
    to provide generation-related services, including ancillary services 
    using Federal hydro resources.
        Six ancillary services will be offered by DSW, two of which are 
    required to be purchased by the transmission customer. These two are: 
    (1) scheduling, system control, and dispatch service and (2) reactive 
    supply and voltage control services. The remaining four ancillary 
    services (3) regulation and frequency response service; (4) energy 
    imbalance service; (5) spinning reserve service; and (6) supplemental 
    reserve service--will be offered but are subject to availability from 
    DSW generation resources. If DSW is unable to provide these services 
    from its own resources, it will provide the services by making market 
    purchases and passing these costs directly to the customer plus a 10 
    percent administrative charge.
        The provisional formula rates for ancillary services are designed 
    to recover only the costs incurred for providing the service(s). The 
    rates for ancillary services are based on WALC control area costs. The 
    formula rates will be recalculated every year, effective October 1, 
    based on the approved formula and updated financial and load data. DSW 
    will provide customer notice of changes in rates no later than 
    September 1 of each year.
        The six ancillary services are as follows:
    
    Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch Service
    
        Scheduling, system control, and dispatch costs are included in the 
    existing firm point-to-point transmission, firm power, and provisional 
    network integration transmission service rates. The provisional 
    scheduling, system control, and dispatch rate formulas apply only to 
    non-transmission customers.
        The formula rates for scheduling, system control, and dispatch are 
    based on an annual cost of all capital costs (such as the dispatch 
    center building) and labor costs associated with the service. The 
    ancillary service is charged on a per schedule basis shown on Table 1 
    (below).
        The cost per schedule per day was determined by multiplying the 
    labor cost per minute, times the average number of minutes it takes to 
    accomplish each type of schedule and adding the associated capital cost 
    amortized over 32 years divided by the average number of schedules in a 
    year. DSW will allow up to five schedule changes per transaction per 
    day at no additional charge. The sixth schedule change will be charged 
    as a new schedule.
        The rates charged for scheduling, system control, and dispatch 
    ancillary service are contingent on the type of service required (i.e., 
    new versus existing schedule, SCADA versus no SCADA programming, and 
    intra-bus transfer versus no intra-bus transfer). The rates are shown 
    in the table below.
    
                                     Table 1
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Maximum
                                                                   Cost ($)
                            Schedule type                             per
                                                                   schedule
                                                                    per day
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Existing schedule, requires no SCADA programming or intra-         34.10
     bus transfer \1\...........................................
    New schedule, requires SCADA programming, no intra-bus             37.50
     transfer...................................................
    Existing schedule, requires no SCADA programming, requires         46.85
     intra-bus transfer.........................................
    New schedule, requires SCADA programming, and intra-bus           56.20
     transfer...................................................
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Multiple exchange of ownership in an interchange schedule is known
      as intra-bus transfer schedule.
    
    Reactive Supply and Voltage Control Service From Generation Sources
    
        The transmission provider must offer this service to the 
    transmission customer for each transaction on the transmission 
    provider's transmission facilities. The transmission customer must 
    purchase this service from the transmission provider or the control 
    area operator. The rate for reactive supply and voltage control 
    ancillary service is calculated by dividing the combined revenue 
    requirement for the service of P-DP, BCP, and SLCA/IP, by the sum of 
    the control area's average firm-power allocation transmission 
    reservations, network transmission (12-CP) and average firm 
    transmission reservations, yielding a rate of $0.07/kWmonth. Revenues 
    from this service will be allocated to each project based on a 
    relationship to reactive power produced.
        The rate presented at the PIF was $.08/kWmonth. The difference in 
    the two rates is due to the addition of the Intertie transmission 
    reservations, which had been inadvertently excluded, to the denominator 
    of the equation.
    
    Regulation and Frequency Response Service
    
        The transmission provider must offer this service when the 
    transmission service is used to serve load within its control area. The 
    transmission customer must either purchase this service from the 
    transmission provider or make alternative comparable arrangements to 
    satisfy its regulation and frequency response service (Regulation) 
    obligation. Regulation is not available from DSW resources on a long-
    term firm basis.
        Initially, DSW proposed a single control area charge. However, 
    based on comments received and further analysis, DSW has determined, if 
    available, it will charge the firm-capacity rate of the project 
    providing the regulation. The effective firm-capacity rate for BCP is 
    found under rate schedule BCP-F5. The effective firm-capacity rate for 
    P-DP is found under rate schedule PD-F6. The effective firm-capacity 
    rate for SLCA/IP is found under rate schedule SP-FR1. If unavailable, 
    DSW, upon request, will obtain the service on the open market for the 
    customer and pass through the cost of the service, plus a 10 percent 
    administrative charge.
    
    Energy Imbalance Service
    
        An energy imbalance account will be maintained for each customer 
    scheduling energy in the WALC control area. There will be no charge for 
    maintaining an energy imbalance account. The transmission provider must 
    offer this service when the transmission service is used to serve load 
    within its control area. The transmission customer must either request 
    this service from the transmission provider or make alternative 
    comparable arrangements to satisfy its energy imbalance service 
    obligation. DSW established guidelines for energy imbalance service as 
    deviations outside a 3 percent bandwidth ( 1.5 percent 
    hourly deviations), with a 2 MW deviation minimum. These guidelines are 
    consistent with FERC for this service. DSW reserves the right to assess 
    a penalty applied against under-delivery (negative excursion) greater 
    than 1.5 percent and occurring more than five times per month may be 
    assessed a penalty charge of 100 mills/kWh; e.g., the sixth time an 
    under-delivery occurs within a month, the 100 mills/kWh charge will be 
    applied.
        Any over-delivery (positive excursion) will be credited to the 
    customer for 50 percent of the market value of the over-delivery within 
    30 days, provided the over-deliveries do not impinge upon DSW 
    operations. Deviation accounting will be completed monthly on an hour-
    to-hour basis. The market value determinant will be the average monthly 
    nonfirm price from DSW merchants operating within the WALC control 
    area.
    
    [[Page 25328]]
    
    Operating Reserves--Spinning Reserve Service
    
        Spinning reserves are unavailable from WALC resources. DSW, upon 
    request, will obtain reserves on the open market for the customer and 
    pass through the cost of those reserves, plus a 10 percent 
    administrative charge. Transmission customers will be responsible for 
    the transmission service to get these reserves to their destination.
    
    Operating Reserves--Supplemental Reserve Service
    
        Supplemental reserves are unavailable from WALC resources. DSW, 
    upon request, will obtain reserves on the open market for the customer 
    and pass through the cost of those reserves, plus a 10 percent 
    administrative charge. Transmission customers will be responsible for 
    the transmission service to get these reserves to their destination.
    
    Existing and Provisional Rates
    
        This rate order seeks to place DSW's first NTS formula rates and 
    ancillary service formula rates for long-term sales, and as such, no 
    existing rates for comparative purposes can be displayed. The following 
    table is a summary of the formula rates for NTS and ancillary services 
    and rates for April 1, 1999, to September 30, 1999, based on these 
    formulas:
    
                                                         Table 2
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Formula rate with rate for April 1, 1999 to
                Service type                  Service Description                   September 30, 1999.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Scheduling, System Control, and       Required to schedule the    Included in appropriate transmission rates.
     Dispatch.                             movement of power           For non-transmission customers, rate per
                                           through, out of, within,    schedule per day is between $34.10 for
                                           or into a control area.     existing schedule and $56.20 for new with
                                                                       intra-bus schedule and SCADA programming.
    Reactive Supply and Voltage Control.  Reactive power support      $0.07/kWmonth. Combined revenue requirement
                                           provided from generation    for service/WALC average firm transmission
                                           facilities that is          reservations, (includes electric service
                                           necessary to maintain       reservations and network reservations).
                                           transmission voltages
                                           within acceptable system
                                           limits.
    Regulation and Frequency Response...  Necessary for providing     Not available from DSW resources. If available
                                           generation to match         on short-term it will be priced at the
                                           resources and loads on a    capacity rate of the project supplying the
                                           real-time continuous        service. If not available, the service will
                                           basis. Rate will be         be purchased on the open market and the cost
                                           applied to resources        passed to the customer plus a 10 percent
                                           reserved for this service.  administrative charge.
    Energy Imbalance....................  Provided when a difference  No charge for maintaining an energy imbalance
                                           occurs between the          account. Under-deliveries outside a 3 percent
                                           scheduled and the actual    bandwidth with a 2 MW deviation minimum may
                                           delivery of energy to a     be assessed a penalty. Over-deliveries may be
                                           load located within a       credited 50 percent of market within 30 days.
                                           control area over a
                                           single hour.
    Spinning Reserve....................  Needed to serve load        Not available from DSW resources. If
                                           immediately in the event    requested, DSW will obtain on the open market
                                           of a system contingency.    and pass on cost plus a 10 percent
                                                                       administrative charge.
    Supplemental Reserve................  Needed to serve load        Not available from DSW resources. If requested
                                           immediately in the event    DSW will obtain on the open market and pass
                                           of a system contingency;    on cost plus a 10 percent administrative
                                           however, it is not          charge.
                                           available immediately to
                                           serve load but, rather
                                           within a short period of
                                           time.
    Network Integration Transmission      Transmission service based  Revenue Requirement/12 x customer's load-ratio
     Service.                              on customer's load-ratio    share.
                                           share.                        P-DP = $23,001,589.
                                                                         Intertie = $21,943,150.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Certification of Rates
    
        Western's Administrator has certified that the DSW NTS and 
    ancillary services formula rates placed into effect on an interim basis 
    herein are the lowest possible consistent with sound business 
    principles. The formula rates have been developed in accordance with 
    agency administrative policies and applicable laws.
    
    Comments
    
        During the public consultation and comment period, Western received 
    19 written comments on the rate adjustment. In addition, customer 
    representatives from 10 organizations asked questions during the June 
    30, 1998, PIF or commented during the July 30, 1998, PCF. All comments 
    received during the consultation and comment period were reviewed and 
    considered in preparing this rate order.
        Representatives from the following organizations made oral comments 
    during either the PIF or the PCF:
    
    Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Arizona
    Arizona Power Authority, Arizona
    Arizona Public Service Company, Arizona
    Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, Arizona
    Irrigation & Electrical District Association of Arizona, and others
    K.R. Saline & Associates, Arizona
    Metropolitan Water District, Arizona
    Meyer, Hendricks, Phoenix, Arizona
    Resource Management International, Phoenix, Arizona
    Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, Arizona
    
        Representatives from the following organizations submitted written 
    comments:
    
    Aguila Irrigation District, Arizona
    Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Arizona
    Arizona Power Authority, Arizona
    Arizona Public Service Company, Arizona
    Buckeye Water Conservation & Drainage District, Arizona
    Colorado River Commission, Nevada
    Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, Arizona
    Electrical District No. 2, Pinal County, Arizona
    Electrical District No. 3, Maricopa County, Arizona
    Electrical District No. 4, Pinal County, Arizona
    Electrical District No. 6, Pinal County, Arizona
    Electrical District No. 8, Maricopa County, Arizona
    Harquahala Valley Power District, Arizona
    Irrigation & Electrical District Association of Arizona, and others
    Maricopa Water District, Arizona
    McMullen Valley Water Conservation & Drainage District, Arizona
    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, California
    Roosevelt Irrigation District, Arizona
    Salt River Project, Arizona
    San Tan Irrigation District, Arizona
    City of Stafford, Arizona
    
        The following comments were received during the public comment
    
    [[Page 25329]]
    
    period. DSW paraphrased and combined comments when it did not affect 
    the meaning. Several comments are outside the scope of this rate order. 
    In response to these comments, DSW has either indicated the proper 
    forum for the comment or generalized DSW policy for clarification. 
    DSW's response follows each comment.
    
    Network Integration Transmission Service
    
        Comment: Several commentors want to know the level of NTS that 
    Western expects to have available in P-DP and Intertie, and if Western 
    has received any requests for that service. A commentor stated that 
    Western should offer NTS.
        Response: At the time this rate order was published, DSW had not 
    received any requests for NTS and no studies have been done to 
    determine availability of NTS for any customers.
        Comment: A commentor expressed concern about the effect NTS will 
    have on dispatch of SLCA/IP, P-DP, and BCP generation resources (e.g., 
    redispatch obligation during a transmission constraint). A commentor 
    requests explanation of the process to be undertaken when assessing 
    NTS, and is concerned whether or not Western will consider potential 
    legal, environmental, and operational issues related to providing NTS 
    as part of the impact study prepared for requests for NTS. A commentor 
    questions if the process to assess NTS is in a descriptive form and can 
    it be accessed through the OASIS.
        Response: This question is outside the scope of this rate order 
    process because it does not speak to the pricing of the service. 
    Redispatch is discussed in section III of the Tariff. Requests for NTS 
    will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The process for this 
    evaluation is discussed in the Tariff, which is available by hot links 
    in the OASIS. Furthermore, Western will evaluate its ability to provide 
    NTS under section 32 of the Tariff and will continue to meet its firm 
    contractual obligations. Western will not enter into any agreements 
    which cause it to operate outside its operational, legal, and 
    environmental parameters.
        Comment: A commentor wants clarification of how Western will 
    allocate the cost of a load across two systems when the delivery is 
    from a receipt point to a delivery point for a customer taking NTS.
        Response: Each project is treated as a separate transmission 
    system. A customer requesting NTS from two different transmission 
    systems, would have to make separate requests for this service from the 
    respective transmission system's provider, and each transmission system 
    would have to be evaluated for its capability to provide network 
    service. If both transmission systems have the availability to provide 
    NTS, then the transmission customer would have to pay for the network 
    service on each of the transmission systems. DSW's NTS formula rates 
    for the P-DP and Intertie transmission systems are the same, but the 
    variable values for annual revenue requirement and loads are unique for 
    each project. Therefore, a transmission customer receiving NTS on both 
    the P-DP and Intertie transmission systems would receive monthly 
    charges from each project based on the resultant formula calculation 
    for each individual project.
    
    Ancillary Services
    
    Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch
    
        Comment: A commentor stated that the rate for scheduling, system 
    control, and dispatch service is too high.
        Response: Scheduling, system control, and dispatch service costs 
    are included in all types of transmission service provided by DSW. The 
    formula rate presented in this rate order uses an incremental cost 
    approach and is applicable to non-transmission customers.
        Comment: A commentor believes that using a per schedule instead of 
    a rate based on megawatts discriminates against small customers and is 
    not comparable to what DSW is charging under its bundled services to 
    its statutory service customers since firm customers are charged on a 
    per kilowatt basis.
        Response: DSW's methodology for developing a rate for scheduling, 
    system control, and dispatch service applies incremental cost recovery 
    for services supplied to non-transmission customers. It allows DSW to 
    differentiate between requests that require no programming or intra-bus 
    transfers from those that do. Ultimately, DSW's intent is to recover 
    the costs for providing the service. This intent is consistent with 
    what DSW charges under its bundled services.
    
    Reactive Supply and Voltage Control
    
        Comment: A commentor does not know how Western will determine power 
    factor for customers passing through the system as opposed to serving 
    loads within the control area.
        Response: This comment is outside the scope of this rate order 
    process. However, the power factor may be measured at the customer's 
    demarcation points to the WALC control area provided that they can be 
    discretely identified.
    
    Regulation
    
        Comment: A commentor wants to know how and under what conditions 
    does Western expect to have regulation service available to offer on a 
    long-term and short-term basis.
        Response: This question is outside the scope of the rate order. DSW 
    has stated in this rate order that it does not expect to have 
    regulation available for sale from its project generation on a long-
    term basis. However, there may be short-term, hourly regulation 
    available which would be priced at the firm-capacity rate of the 
    project providing the service.
        Comment: A commentor wants clarification on how Western plans to 
    price regulation provided by SLCA/IP resources (CRSP CSC rate or DSW 
    rate) and to credit revenues to SLCA/IP resources for regulation 
    provided (CRSP CSC rate or DSW rate).
        Response: This comment is addressed in the CRSP CRC rate process. 
    Initially, DSW proposed single control area rate which included SLCA/
    IP, P-DP, and BCP generation costs. Since that time, DSW has determined 
    it will apply the firm-capacity rate of the generation project 
    providing the regulation service. If unavailable, DSW, upon request, 
    will purchase this service from the market, plus a 10 percent 
    administrative charge.
        As approved by FERC at 84 FERC 61 para. 039 in the CRSP CSC rate 
    process, the price for regulation will be determined under the SP-FR1 
    rate schedule. The rate schedule provides for CRSP CSC to ``. . . 
    obtain regulation on the open market for the customer and pass through 
    the costs, plus a 10 percent administrative charge, if unavailable from 
    SLCA/IP resources. If available for sale, the SLCA/IP firm-power 
    capacity rate, currently in effect, will be charged.''
        If a transmission customer purchases this service from SLCA/IP 
    generation, those revenues will go directly to the Basin Fund.
        Comment: A commentor expressed a preference for regulation revenue 
    being allocated to the unit (or at least the project) that supplies the 
    service rather than having an allocation based on the installed 
    capacity. A commentor gave an example that if Hoover is providing the 
    regulation, revenue should be credited toward the Hoover project. 
    Another commentor requests that Western consider allocating the 
    revenues assigned to DSW on the same basis as they are allocated 
    between DSW and CRSP CSC, that is, based on the capacity used to 
    provide the service.
        Response: Western considered these comments and agrees. Western has
    
    [[Page 25330]]
    
    changed the basis for the regulation service charge. The regulation 
    service rate will be equal to the capacity charge for the project which 
    supplies the service and revenues will be credited to that project.
    
    Energy Imbalance
    
        Comment: A commentor expressed concern that it may be risky for 
    Western to allow up to five ``free'' energy imbalance deviations based 
    on deviation during the most costly hours of the month.
        Response: DSW has included in its energy imbalance compensation 
    methodology a provision which allows the transmission customer to 
    exceed the 1.5 percent bandwidth ``five times'' per month without 
    penalty. DSW included this provision in its proposed methodology 
    because it believes it is fair and reasonable. If DSW determines that 
    exceeding the bandwidth more than ``five times'' without penalty is not 
    reasonable, it may revise its rate schedule to include a more 
    appropriate penalty. However, given that five times results in 5 hours 
    out of an average of 730 hours in a month, DSW does not believe this is 
    unreasonable and would not result in a significant risk.
        Comment: A commentor suggests Western's assessment for under-
    delivery should be based on the greater of 100 mills/kWh or the real-
    time cost of dealing with the imbalance and requests that DSW consider 
    imposing a penalty upon entities which continually under-deliver their 
    schedule, even if they remain within the proposed 1.5 percent 
    allowance.
        Response: DSW believes 100 mills/kWh is adequate to cover costs. 
    The energy will be returned in addition to the penalty, if DSW 
    determines it should be assessed. Within normal operations, it is 
    reasonable to expect some amount of under-delivery throughout a month.
    
    Spinning and Supplemental Reserves
    
        Comment: A commentor wants to know if Western intends to provide 
    short-term spinning and supplemental reserve services. If so, at what 
    rate?
        Response: DSW does not expect to have short-term spinning and 
    supplemental reserve services. DSW will offer to purchase this service 
    for a transmission customer, and pass through the cost, plus a 10 
    percent administrative charge.
        Comment: A commentor requested clarification that Western would 
    obtain reserves only upon the request of specific customers and that 
    those costs would be borne entirely by the requesting customers.
        Response: This is correct. The costs to the requesting customer 
    will also include a 10 percent administrative charge.
    
    General
    
        Comment: A commentor wants to know how Western will determine what 
    excess ancillary services are available for the market.
        Response: This comment is outside the scope of this rate process. 
    The method for determining excess ancillary services will be determined 
    in the implementation process.
        Comment: Several commentors questioned Western's ability to account 
    for and properly allocate across the DSW projects the costs incurred in 
    providing ancillary services.
        Response: DSW believes it has allocated costs appropriately among 
    all projects. Costs are in the rates expressed as the revenue 
    requirement. The method for accounting for the costs was developed in 
    an informal work group.
        Comment: A commentor suggests that the rate order should document 
    Western's limited ability to provide NTS and ancillary services and 
    recommends adoption of language previously stated by CRSP CSC.
        Response: Western recognizes its limited ability to provide 
    generation-related services from all its projects, as reflected in its 
    Tariff which states, ``Western has marketed the maximum practical 
    amount of power from each of its projects, leaving little or no 
    flexibility for provision of additional power services.''
        DSW recognizes the fact that it has limited ability to provide NTS 
    and ancillary services and has stated this fact in this rate order. For 
    those ancillary services that DSW is unable to provide from its own 
    resources, DSW, upon customer request, will purchase the service and 
    pass through the costs to the customer plus a 10 percent administrative 
    charge.
        Comment: A commentor stated Western does not have any services 
    available because of its legal and statutory obligations. Several 
    commentors questioned Western's ability to provide these services 
    without contracting away resources which contractually belong to its 
    statutory customers.
        Response: As stated in Western's Tariff, Western is, at the request 
    of the Secretary of DOE, undertaking to comply with the principles of 
    FERC Order Nos. 888 and 889 to the extent consistent with applicable 
    law, and accordingly will provide NTS and ancillary services to the 
    extent it has the capability to do so. As stated in the Tariff, 
    ``Nothing in this tariff shall alter, amend, or abridge the statutory 
    or contractual obligations of Western to market and deliver Federal 
    power resources and to repay the Federal investment in such projects.''
        Comment: A commentor wants to know what role the current customers 
    will have when applications for services are entertained. A commentor 
    suggests Western adopt specific processes which would include something 
    like notification of current customers so they can protect their 
    interests by some monitoring function. A commentor requests that 
    Western consider ways to best use existing customer processes.
        Response: These questions are outside the scope of this rate order. 
    However, DSW will not implement a new process for customer input on 
    individual requests for firm or non-firm transmission. DSW believes 
    that existing processes (such as Joint Planning) are still the best 
    mechanisms for continuing customer communication.
        Comment: A commentor requests Western maintain a record of 
    transactions to identify how the ancillary services are identified and 
    provided, and how the revenues and costs are allocated. A commentor 
    requests clarification on how Western plans to track the services 
    provided by each office and allocate the revenues appropriately. Some 
    recommendations made were that Western adopt a process which documents 
    provider, cost, recipient, and revenue flow, and that there be a record 
    that clearly identifies the flow of these revenues into the Basin Fund. 
    Several commentors questioned Western's ability to properly allocate 
    any revenues that may be received from ancillary service sales.
        Response: The comments are outside the scope of this rate order. 
    However, Western has the ability and knowledge to properly allocate any 
    revenues received from the sale of ancillary services to the 
    appropriate project account. For each transaction, Western's financial 
    records will indicate the entity that received the service, the type of 
    service provided, the amount of revenues received, and which fund 
    received the revenues. Western has established a separate code for each 
    transmission and ancillary service. The flow of funds into the Basin 
    Fund will be clearly identified in Western's financial records.
        Comment: A commentor requests that Western's OASIS postings and 
    operating procedures reflect the nature of the availability of 
    services.
        Response: This request is outside the scope of this rate order. 
    However, the
    
    [[Page 25331]]
    
    Tariff outlines Western's limited ability to provide generation-related 
    services, and the Tariff is the governing document under which all 
    OASIS transactions will be conducted.
        Comment: Several commentors questioned what policies, procedures, 
    or guidelines has Western developed to ensure that if these additional 
    services are marketed and provided that they will have no adverse 
    operational or financial effect on CRSP CSC customers.
        Response: This comment is outside the scope of this rate order. DSW 
    does not anticipate having a substantial amount of ancillary service 
    sales from its Federal generation. Because Western recognizes this 
    fact, and is committed to its statutory obligations, Western has 
    included in its Tariff provisions for purchases from other sources to 
    satisfy requests for specific ancillary services.
        DSW will continue to operate in the same manner as it has in the 
    past. That is, it will continue to meet its firm-power obligations and 
    its firm-transmission obligations, all within allowable operational 
    constraints. DSW will continue to review individual requests taking 
    these factors into consideration. Western will also continue to not 
    make any sales of generation-related services from the Federal 
    generators if it does not have the capability to do so.
        Western will identify and track services provided by SLCA/IP and 
    ensure that SLCA/IP is being compensated for those services 
    appropriately.
        Comment: A commentor wants to know the revenue potential and 
    overhead incurred if Western segregates the merchant function.
        Response: This comment is outside the scope of the rate order 
    because, the rate proposal does not include merchant function costs. It 
    is unknown at this time what costs may be incurred for overhead or what 
    revenue potential exists if Western should separate the function.
        Comment: A commentor observed that many questions and comments at 
    both the PIF and PCF were about the marketing of services, and not the 
    pricing. A commentor requests Western address the questions related to 
    marketing and marketing activities. A commentor recognizes that many of 
    the questions will not be answered in final decision on rates.
        Response: Western agrees that many comments are outside the subject 
    of this rate order but DSW has, when possible, addressed those 
    questions and comments which relate to the marketing of NTS and 
    ancillary services. Those questions or comments which were not 
    addressed will be resolved as Western implements its Tariff, within the 
    limits of its marketing plan.
        Comment: A commentor noted that the revenue stream from NTS and 
    ancillary services seem to apply to a revenue requirement which is 
    already being covered by existing DSW customers and appears to be 
    profitable.
        Response: For the immediate future, these revenue streams were not 
    included in the rate study projections. However at the end of each 
    year, money from NTS and ancillary services will be included as ``other 
    revenue'' in the PRS, thus offsetting the revenue requirement.
        Comment: A commentor requests that DSW take into consideration the 
    importance of looking at current commitments, and statutory obligations 
    under existing arrangements to understand Western's ability to provide 
    the proposed services.
        Response: This rate order presents a methodology for determining 
    rates for each service if it were to be sold. As part of implementing 
    Western's Tariff, it will be determined if resources exist to supply 
    any individual request. All requests will be looked at thoroughly to 
    determine viability in a manner not detrimental to present commitments.
        Comment: A commentor questions Western's ability to provide NTS 
    since Western would have to integrate loads and other generators into 
    its control area, causing a change in the operation of its generators. 
    A commentor asserts that integration would result in the violation of a 
    generation project's environmental assessment and marketing plan, and 
    that a change in the operations has not been studied in any of 
    Western's marketing plans. As a result, the commentor requests Western 
    state clearly in its documentation that it cannot provide NTS or 
    ancillary services. A commentor expressed similar concerns. A commentor 
    is concerned about any additional marketing by Western of generation-
    related services because of the potential increase and magnitude of 
    violations of operating criteria established for Glen Canyon Dam. A 
    commentor is concerned that Western has some unique obligations and 
    legal requirements, particularly related to operations at Glen Canyon 
    Dam, that the commentor wants to ensure are not impinged upon.
        Response: Western has committed to providing NTS, to the extent it 
    has the capability to do so. When an application for NTS is received by 
    Western, Western must evaluate its ability to provide the service 
    considering existing contractual firm obligations.
        The CRSP CSC, in its Notice of Rate Order, stated, ``Western has 
    allocated most of its SLCA/IP power resources to preference entities 
    under long-term commitments. Western will determine if any of its SLCA/
    IP resources are available to provide the ancillary service requested 
    at the time of the request. If Western does not have the resources 
    available from the SLCA/IP, the CRSP CSC will offer to purchase the 
    resource from the open market or from a control area operator, and pass 
    the cost through to the customer.'' Since Glen Canyon Dam is a large 
    component of SLCA/IP, no additional sales of generation-related 
    services will be made from Glen Canyon Dam if the resources are not 
    available.
        Operational constraints at Glen Canyon Dam will not be violated to 
    provide sales of ancillary or transmission services. DSW and 
    Reclamation ensure that operational constraints are adhered to and when 
    resources are required beyond the operational capability of those 
    facilities, purchases of supplemental resources are made by Western. In 
    recognition of the resource limitations and restrictions of the 
    generation facilities, Western included a provision in its Tariff, that 
    provides Western the option to purchase ancillary services and pass 
    through the cost to the transmission customer.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
    
        The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
    requires Federal agencies to perform a regulatory flexibility analysis 
    if a proposed rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities and there is a legal requirement 
    to issue a general notice of proposed rulemaking. Western has 
    determined that this action does not require a regulatory flexibility 
    analysis since it is a rulemaking of particular applicability involving 
    rates or services applicable to public property.
    
    Environmental Compliance
    
        In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
    42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.; Council On Environmental Quality Regulations, 
    40 CFR parts 1500-1508; and DOE NEPA Regulations, 10 CFR part 1021, 
    Western has determined that this action is categorically excluded from 
    the preparation of an environmental assessment or of an environmental 
    impact statement.
    
    Determination Under Executive Order 12866
    
        Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
    Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no
    
    [[Page 25332]]
    
    clearance of this notice by the Office of Management and Budget is 
    required.
    
    Submission to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
    
        The 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 approval on a final basis.
    
    Order
    
        In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the authority vested in me 
    as the Secretary of Energy, I confirm, approve, and place into effect 
    on an interim basis, effective April 1, 1999, formula rates for 
    transmission and ancillary services under Rate Schedules DSW-SD1, DSW-
    RS1, DSW-FR1, DSW-EI1, DSW-SPR1, DSW-SUR1, PD-NTS1, and INT-NTS1. The 
    rate schedules shall remain in effect on an interim basis, pending FERC 
    confirmation and approval of them or substitute formula rates on a 
    final basis through March 31, 2004.
    
        Dated: April 29, 1999.
    Bill Richardson,
    Secretary.
    
    Rate Schedule DSW-SD1; Schedule 1 to Tariff--Scheduling, System 
    Control, and Dispatch Service
    
    Effective
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        This service is required to schedule the movement of power through, 
    out of, within, or into the Western Area Lower Colorado control area 
    (WALC). The charges for scheduling, system control, and dispatch 
    service are to be based on the rate referred to below. The formula rate 
    used to calculate the charges for service under this schedule was 
    promulgated and may be modified pursuant to applicable Federal laws, 
    regulations, and policies.
        This formula rate is applicable to transactions with entities not 
    taking transmission service in WALC. Charges for scheduling, system 
    control, and dispatch service are included in the transmission rate. 
    The Desert Southwest Customer Service Region's charges for scheduling, 
    system control, and dispatch service may be modified upon written 
    notice to the customer and any change to the charges for the service 
    shall be as set forth in a revision to this rate schedule promulgated 
    pursuant to applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies and made 
    part of the applicable service agreement.
    
    Formula Rate
    
        Cost per schedule = annual capital costs per schedule + (hourly 
    labor rate  x  avg time to execute schedule).
    
    Rate
    
        The rates charged for the scheduling, system control, and dispatch 
    service are contingent on the type of service required. The maximum 
    rates that can be charged for the various schedule types are shown in 
    the table below:
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Maximum
                                                                   cost ($)
                            Schedule Type                             per
                                                                   schedule
                                                                    per day
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Existing schedule, requires no SCADA programming or intra-         34.10
     bus transfer \1\...........................................
    New schedule, requires SCADA programming, no intra-bus             37.50
     transfer...................................................
    Existing schedule, requires no SCADA programming, requires         46.85
     intra-bus transfer.........................................
    New schedule, requires SCADA programming, and intra-bus          56.201
     transfer...................................................
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Multiple exchange of ownership in an interchange schedule is known
      as intra-bus transfer schedule.
    
        The above rates are based on FY 1997 financial and load data, and 
    will be in effect April 1, 1999, through September 30, 1999. Based on 
    updated financial and load data, a recalculated rate will go into 
    effect on October 1 of each year during the effective rate period.
    
    Rate Schedule DSW-RS1; Schedule 2 to Tariff--Reactive Supply and 
    Voltage Control From Generation Sources Service
    
    Effective
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        In order to maintain transmission voltages on all transmission 
    facilities within acceptable limits, generation facilities under the 
    control of the Western Area Lower Colorado control area (WALC) are 
    operated to produce or absorb reactive power. Thus, reactive supply and 
    voltage control from generation sources service (VAR Support) must be 
    provided for each transaction on the transmission provider's 
    transmission facilities. Generation sources under WALC are the Parker-
    Davis Project, the Boulder Canyon Project and the Salt Lake City Area/
    Integrated Projects. This service is required to be offered to the 
    transmission customer by the transmission provider in order to maintain 
    transmission voltages on the transmission provider's transmission 
    facilities within acceptable limits.
        The customer must purchase this service from the WALC operator. The 
    charges for such service will be based upon the rate referred to below.
        The formula rate used to calculate the charges for service under 
    this schedule was promulgated and may be modified pursuant to 
    applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies. The Desert 
    Southwest Customer Service Region (DSW) charges for VAR Support may be 
    modified upon written notice to the customer. Any change to the charges 
    for VAR Support shall be as set forth in a revision to this rate 
    schedule promulgated pursuant to applicable Federal laws, regulations, 
    and policies and made part of the applicable service agreement. DSW 
    shall charge the customer in accordance with the rate then in effect.
    
    Formula Rate
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MY99.007
    
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11MY99.008
    
    
    [[Page 25333]]
    
    
        TACRRS is determined by combining, for each generation project, the 
    product of the percentage of resource capability used for reactive 
    supply and the total generation projects revenue requirement.
    
    Rate
    
        The rate to be in effect April 1, 1999, through September 30, 1999, 
    is:
    
    Monthly: $0.07/kWmonth.
    Weekly: $0.02/kWweek.
    Daily: $0.00237/kWday.
    Hourly: 0.0986 mills/kWh.
    
        This rate is based on the above formula and on FY 97 financial and 
    load data. Based on updated financial and load data, a recalculated 
    rate will go into effect on October 1 of each year during the effective 
    rate period.
    
    Rate Schedule DSW-FR1; Schedule 3 to Tariff--Regulation and 
    Frequency Response Service
    
    Effective:
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        Regulation and frequency response service (Regulation) is necessary 
    to provide for the continuous balancing of resources, generation, and 
    interchange, with load and for maintaining scheduled interconnection 
    frequency at sixty cycles per second (60 Hz). Regulation is 
    accomplished by committing on-line generation whose output is raised or 
    lowered, predominantly through the use of automatic generating control 
    equipment, as necessary to follow the moment-by-moment changes in load. 
    The obligation to maintain this balance between resources and load lies 
    with the transmission provider. The transmission customers and 
    customers on others' transmission systems within WALC must either 
    purchase this service from WALC or make alternative comparable 
    arrangements to satisfy its Regulation obligation. The charges for 
    Regulation are referred to below. The amount of Regulation will be set 
    forth in the service agreement.
        The formula rate used to calculate the charges for service under 
    this schedule was promulgated and may be modified pursuant to 
    applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies.
        The Desert Southwest Customer Service Region's (DSW) charges for 
    Regulation may be modified upon written notice to the Customer. Any 
    change to the Regulation charges shall be as set forth in a revision to 
    this rate schedule promulgated pursuant to applicable Federal laws, 
    regulations, and policies and made part of the applicable service 
    agreement. DSW shall charge the customer in accordance with the rate 
    then in effect.
    
    Formula Rate:
    
        Regulation will not be available on a long-term basis from DSW 
    resources. If this service is requested, and DSW determines that it is 
    available on a short-term basis, it will be priced at the firm-capacity 
    rate in effect for the generation project supplying the service. 
    Otherwise, DSW, upon request, will obtain Regulation on the open market 
    for the customer and pass through the cost, plus a 10 percent 
    administrative charge.
    
    Rate
    
    DSW Regulation Rate = market price + 10 percent
          OR
    =Capacity Rate of Generation Project Supplying Service (depending upon 
    availability)
    
        The effective firm-capacity rate for Parker-Davis Project is found 
    under rate schedule PD-F6. For Boulder Canyon Project, the effective 
    firm-capacity rate is found under BCP-F5. For Salt Lake City Area/
    Integrated Projects, the effective firm-capacity rate is found under 
    rate schedule SP-FR1.
    
    Rate Schedule DSW-EI1; Schedule 4 to Tariff--Energy Imbalance 
    Service
    
    Effective
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        Energy imbalance service is provided when a difference occurs 
    between the scheduled and the actual delivery of energy to a load 
    located within the Western Area Lower Colorado control area (WALC) over 
    a single hour. The transmission customer and customers on others' 
    transmission system within WALC must either obtain this service from 
    WALC or make alternative comparable arrangements to satisfy its energy 
    imbalance service obligation.
        The WALC shall establish a deviation band width of 1.5 
    percent (with a minimum of 2 MW) of the scheduled transaction to be 
    applied hourly to any energy imbalance that occurs as a result of the 
    customer's scheduled transaction(s). Deviation accounting will be 
    completed monthly on an hour-to-hour basis.
        The formula rate used to calculate the charges for service under 
    this schedule was promulgated and may be modified pursuant to 
    applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies.
        The energy imbalance service compensation may be modified upon 
    written notice to the customer. Any change to the customer compensation 
    for energy imbalance service shall be as set forth in a revision to 
    this schedule promulgated pursuant to applicable Federal laws, 
    regulations, and policies and made part of the applicable service 
    agreement. The Desert Southwest Customer Service Region (DSW) shall 
    charge the customer in accordance with the rate then in effect.
    
    Formula Rate
    
        For negative excursions (under-deliveries) outside the bandwidth 
    and occurring more than five times per month, DSW reserves the right to 
    assess a penalty charge of 100 mills/kWh.
        For positive excursions (over-deliveries) outside the bandwidth, 
    the customer will be credited on the customer's bill, lagged by 1 
    month. The credit will be 50 percent of the market value of the over-
    delivery, provided the over-deliveries do not impinge upon WALC 
    operations. For example, during times of high water or operating 
    constraints, DSW reserves the right to eliminate credits for over-
    deliveries.
    
    Rate
    
        The bandwidth in effect is 3 percent (1.5 percent 
    hourly deviation) with a 2 MW deviation minimum.
    
    Rate Schedule DSW-SPR1; Schedule 5 to Tariff--Operating Reserve--
    Spinning Reserve Service
    
    Effective
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        Spinning reserve service (Reserves) is needed to serve load 
    immediately in the event of a system contingency. Reserves may be 
    provided by generating units that are on-line and loaded at less than 
    maximum output. The transmission customer must either purchase this 
    service from the Western Area Lower Colorado control area (WALC), or 
    make alternative comparable arrangements to satisfy its Reserves 
    requirements. The charges for Reserves are referred to below. The 
    amount of Reserves will be set forth in the service agreement.
    
    Formula Rate
    
        No long-term Reserves are available from WALC resources. The Desert 
    Southwest Customer Service Region, upon request, will obtain the 
    Reserves on the open market for the customer and
    
    [[Page 25334]]
    
    pass through the cost, plus a 10 percent administrative charge.
    
    Rate
    
    Cost for Reserves = market price + 10 percent.
    
    Rate Schedule PD-NTS1; Attachment H-1 to Tariff--Schedule of Rate 
    for Network Integration Transmission Service on the Parker-Davis 
    Project
    
    Effective
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        The transmission customer shall compensate the Parker-Davis Project 
    each month for network integration transmission service (NTS) pursuant 
    to the applicable Network Integration Transmission Service Agreement 
    and annual revenue requirement referred to below. The formula for the 
    annual revenue requirement used to calculate the charges for this 
    service under this schedule was promulgated and may be modified 
    pursuant to applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies.
        The Desert Southwest Customer Service Region (DSW) may modify the 
    charges for NTS upon written notice to the transmission customer. Any 
    change to the charges to the transmission customer for NTS shall be as 
    set forth in a revision to this rate schedule promulgated pursuant to 
    applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies and made part of the 
    applicable service agreement. DSW shall charge the transmission 
    customer in accordance with the revenue requirement then in effect.
    
    Formula Rate
    
    Monthly Charge = Transmission Customer's Load-Ratio Share  x  (Revenue 
    Requirement/12)
    
    Rate
    
        The projected annual revenue requirement allocated to transmission 
    for FY 1999 for the Parker-Davis Project is $23,001,589. Based on 
    updated financial and load data, a recalculated revenue requirement 
    will go into effect on October 1 of each year during the effective rate 
    schedule period.
    
    Rate Schedule INT-NTS1; Attachment H-2 to Tariff--Schedule of Rate 
    for Network Integration Transmission Service on the Pacific 
    Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project
    
    Effective
    
        The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or 
    after April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
    
    Applicable
    
        The transmission customer shall compensate the Pacific Northwest-
    Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) each month for network 
    transmission service (NTS) pursuant to the applicable Network 
    Integration Transmission Service Agreement and annual revenue 
    requirement referred to below. The formula for the annual revenue 
    requirement used to calculate the charges for this service under this 
    schedule was promulgated and may be modified pursuant to applicable 
    Federal laws, regulations, and policies.
        The Desert Southwest Customer Service Region (DSW) may modify the 
    charges for NTS upon written notice to the transmission customer. Any 
    change to the charges to the transmission customer for NTS shall be as 
    set forth in a revision to this rate schedule promulgated pursuant to 
    applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies and made part of the 
    applicable service agreement. DSW shall charge the transmission 
    customer in accordance with the revenue requirement then in effect.
    
    Formula Rate
    
    Monthly Charge = Transmission Customer's Load-Ratio Share  x  (Revenue 
    Requirement/12)
    
    Rate
    
        The projected annual revenue requirement for FY 1999 for the 
    Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project is $21,943,150. 
    Based on updated financial and load data, a recalculated revenue 
    requirement will go into effect on October 1 of each year during the 
    effective rate schedule period.
    
    [FR Doc. 99-11864 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
4/1/1999
Published:
05/11/1999
Department:
Western Area Power Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Rate Order.
Document Number:
99-11864
Dates:
The formula rates will be placed into effect from April 1, 1999, through March 31, 2004.
Pages:
25323-25334 (12 pages)
PDF File:
99-11864.pdf