[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26433-26434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12037]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project--Notice of
Order Confirming and Approving an Extension of the Existing Step One
Firm and Nonfirm Transmission Service Rate
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice is given of Rate Order No. WAPA-69 extending until
October 1, 1996, Rate Schedules INT-FT1 and INT-NFT1 for firm and
nonfirm transmission service over the Western Area Power Administration
(Western) Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (AC
Intertie) transmission system.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. J. Tyler Carlson, Area Manager, Phoenix Area Office, Western Area
Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005, (602) 352-2521.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 in
effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary; 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). Existing Department Of Energy (DOE) procedures for
public participation in rate adjustments (10 CFR Part 903) became
effective on September 18, 1985 (50 FR 37837). Pursuant to Delegation
Order No. 0204-108, FERC, in the order issued March 24, 1994, in Docket
No. EF93-5191-000, confirmed and approved Rate Schedules INT-FT1 and
INT-NFT1 for firm and nonfirm transmission service by the AC Intertie
administered by Western's Phoenix Area Office (66 FERC para.62,180).
The existing step one rate was approved for the period August 1, 1993,
through September 30, 1995. The existing step two rate was approved for
the period October 1, 1995, through July 31, 1998.
The existing step two rates were to be automatically implemented on
October 1, 1995. However, Western will not implement the existing step
two rates at this time. A Stipulation Agreement was executed by Western
and the customers and filed with FERC on December 28, 1993, agreeing to
re-examine the issues from the last rate adjustment. In addition to re-
examining these issues, Western is also investigating different rate
design alternatives since two new transmission line segments will be
energized on January 1, 1996. Western needs additional time for
resolution of these issues along with current customer issues.
Therefore, Western proposes to extend the existing step one AC Intertie
transmission service rates until October 1, 1996. During this time,
Western will be holding a series of public meetings with the AC
Intertie customers.
The purpose of Rate Order No. WAPA-69 is to extend Rate Schedules
INT-FT1 and INT-NFT1 until October 1, 1996, to allow time for the
coordination and resolution of these issues and other rate adjustment
processes.
Issued in Washington, DC, April 28, 1995.
Bill White,
Deputy Secretary.
Rate Order No. WAPA-69
In the matter of: Western Area Power Administration, Rate
Adjustment for Phoenix Area Office AC Intertie Project
Order Confirming and Approving an Extension of the AC Intertie Project
Firm and Nonfirm Transmission Service Rate
April 28, 1995.
Transmission rates for the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest
Intertie Project (AC Intertie) are established pursuant to the
Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.); and
the Reclamation Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 388 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 section
8 of the Act of August 31, 1964 (16 U.S.C. 837g), and other acts
specifically applicable to the project system 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 Western; (2) the
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates in effect on an
interim basis to the Deputy Secretary; and (3) the authority to
[[Page 26434]] confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final
basis, to remand, or to disapprove such rates to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC). Existing the Department of Energy
(DOE) procedures for public participation in rate adjustments (10
CFR Part 903) became effective on September 18, 1985 (50 FR 37837).
This rate extension is issued pursuant to the Delegation Order and
the rate extension procedures in 10 CFR Part 903. FERC is not
required to confirm and approve this rate extension by reason of 10
CFR Part 903.23(b), which states that existing rates may be extended
on a temporary basis by the Deputy Secretary.
Background
Pursuant to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, FERC, in the order
issued July 14, 1993, in Docket No. EF93-4151-000, confirmed and
approved Rate Schedule INT-FT1 for firm transmission service and
INT-NFT1 for nonfirm transmission service in the AC Intertie
administered by Western's Phoenix Area Office (PAO). The step one
and step two rates were approved for the period from August 1, 1993,
through July 31, 1998.
Discussion
On July 14, 1993, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of DOE, approved the existing
rates on an interim basis for firm and nonfirm transmission service.
The existing step one and step two rates for firm and nonfirm
transmission service were placed in effect on August 1, 1993. Step
one of the firm transmission service rate was approved to be in
effect through September 30, 1995, and step two of the existing
rates was to become effective on October 1, 1995, and continue
through July 31, 1998. The FERC confirmed and approved the rates on
a final basis for both firm and nonfirm transmission service on
March 24, 1994.
During the last AC Intertie rate adjustment process (WAPA-56),
the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, the Arizona Power
Authority, the Arizona Subcontractor Group, the Arizona Power
Pooling Association, Inc., and Salt River Project Agricultural
Improvement and Power District filed Motions to Intervene and
Protest FERC's confirmation and approval of the AC Intertie rates
described in Rate Order No. WAPA-56, in Docket No. EF93-4191-000. On
December 28, 1993, Western filed a Stipulation Agreement signed by
Western and these customers in which the intervenors withdrew their
protests and Western agreed to re-examine the issues raised as well
as commence a new rate adjustment process during fiscal year 1995.
Western proposes to extend the existing step one AC Intertie
transmission service rates until October 1, 1996. Western is
investigating different rate design alternatives since two new
transmission line segments will be energized on January 1, 1996.
Western needs additional time for resolution of these issues along
with current customer issues. Even though it is anticipated that the
firm transmission service rate adjustment will be placed in effect
by December 31, 1995, the extension of the existing step one AC
Intertie firm and nonfirm transmission service rates is through
March 1, 1996, to allow for flexibility in the upcoming rate
adjustment process. During this time, Western will be holding a
series of public meetings with AC Intertie customers.
Order
In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the authority delegated
to me by the Secretary, I hereby confirm and approve for a period
effective October 1, 1995, until October 1, 1996, the existing step
one Rate Schedules INT-FT1 and INT-NFT1 for firm and nonfirm
transmission service over the AC Intertie transmission system.
Issued in Washington, DC, April 28, 1995.
Bill White,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-12037 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
