The Central Valley Project-Rate Order No. WAPA-128, 45821-45830 [E6-13031]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
The Central Valley Project-Rate Order
No. WAPA–128
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Order Concerning
Reactive Power and Voltage Control
Revenue Requirement Component.
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Deputy Secretary of
Energy confirmed and approved Rate
Order No. WAPA–128 and Rate
Schedules CV–F12, CV–T2, CV–NWT4,
PACI–T2, and COTP–T2 that revise the
Transmission Revenue Requirement
(TRR) associated with Reactive Power
and Voltage Control from the Central
Valley Project (CVP) and other nonFederal Generation Sources Service
(VAR Support) and place new formula
rates into effect on an interim basis. The
provisional formula rates will be in
effect until the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission)
confirms, approves, and places them
into effect on a final basis or until
replaced by other rates. The provisional
rates will provide sufficient revenue to
pay all annual costs, including interest
expense, and repay power investment
and irrigation aid, within the allowable
periods.
DATES: Rate Schedules CV–F12, CV–T2,
CV–NWT4, PACI–T2, and COTP–T2
will be placed into effect on an interim
basis on the first day of the first full
billing period beginning on or after
September 1, 2006, and will be in effect
until the Commission confirms,
approves, and places the rate schedules
in effect on a final basis through
September 30, 2009, or until the rate
schedules are superseded.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
James D. Keselburg, Regional Manager,
Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region,
Western Area Power Administration,
114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA
95630–4710, (916) 353–4418, or Mr.
Sean Sanderson, Rates Manager, Sierra
Nevada Customer Service Region,
Western Area Power Administration,
114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA
95630–4710, (916) 353–4466, e-mail:
sander@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
current formula rates for transmission
service on the CVP (CV–T1 and CV–
NWT3), the Pacific Alternating Current
Intertie (PACI) (PACI–T1), and the
California-Oregon Transmission Project
(COTP) (COTP–T1) transmission
systems are based on a TRR that
includes CVP and other non-Federal
generator costs for providing VAR
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
Support. This rate adjustment will
remove the VAR Support (also known as
reactive power) costs from the TRR. The
Western Area Power Administration
(Western) will collect the revenue
requirement for CVP VAR Support costs
in the power revenue requirement (PRR)
under power rate schedule CV–F12.
The Deputy Secretary of Energy
approved existing Rate Schedules CV–
T1, CV–NWT3, PACI–T1, and COTP–T1
for transmission service and CV–F11 for
Base Resource and First Preference
Power on November 18, 2004 (Rate
Order No. WAPA–115, 69 FR 70510,
December 6, 2004), and the Commission
confirmed and approved the rate
schedules on October 11, 2005, under
FERC Docket No. EF0–5011–000 (113
FERC ¶ 61,026). The existing rate
schedules are effective from January 1,
2005, through September 30, 2009.
The April 1, 2006, update of the
approved transmission rates resulted in
annual CVP VAR Support costs of
$358,374. Western’s Sierra Nevada
Region (SNR) currently estimates its
annual costs associated with the CVP
and other non-Federal generator VAR
Support to be $1,221,240. This increase
in cost is attributable to the inclusion of
non-Federal generator VAR Support
costs that SNR began paying in
December 2005. VAR Support costs are
assigned pro rata to the respective
transmission systems on a capacity basis
and are one of the cost components
contained in Component 1 of the CVP,
PACI, and COTP formula rates.
In implementing Western’s Open
Access Transmission Tariff (OATT),
Western separated its merchant function
from Western’s reliability function. All
generators connected to Western’s
transmission system have an obligation
to provide reactive power within the
bandwidth (commonly referred to as the
deadband) as a part of their obligation
to maintain interconnected transmission
system reliability. By including CVP
reactive power and voltage control costs
in SNR’s TRR, SNR in certain
circumstances, may be treating its
merchant in a manner not comparable
with other transmission customers.
Under SNR’s current rates, all
transmission customers, including a
transmission customer with a generator
directly connected to SNR’s system, are
obligated to pay SNR for the cost of VAR
Support. As a result, a transmission
customer with a generation
interconnection with SNR that provides
VAR Support according to the Western
Electric Coordinating Council reliability
requirements would also be paying SNR
for CVP VAR Support; however, SNR
would not be paying such a
transmission customer. Western
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
45821
believes that both Federal generators
and non-Federal generators should be
treated comparably when they provide
VAR Support.
To mitigate the current comparability
discrepancy between Federal and nonFederal generators, SNR asked for
comments from interested parties on
whether SNR should:
(1) Take no action and continue with
the existing rate, (2) roll all VAR
Support costs from both types of
generators into SNR’s TRR, or (3)
exclude all VAR Support from both
types of generators from SNR’s TRR.
SNR proposed to exclude all VAR
Support costs from SNR’s TRR (71 FR
10666, March 2, 2006). After
considering comments received, SNR
recommended implementation of the
third option to the Deputy Secretary of
the Department of Energy (DOE).
As part of a settlement agreement
approved by the Commission on
February 29, 2006, in FERC Docket No.
ER05–912–000, Calpine Construction
Finance Company, L.P. (114 FERC ¶
61,217), SNR agreed to pay the Calpine
Construction Finance Company (CCFC)
for reactive power subject to the
outcome of this rate proceeding.
Currently, CCFC is the only nonFederal, interconnected generator being
compensated by SNR for VAR Support
under the settlement agreement. SNR
intends to mitigate this disparity and
treat every generator directly connected
to SNR’s transmission system in a
comparable fashion. One reason for this
decision is that SNR cannot determine
the cost that SNR would be required to
pay in the future for all the costs
associated with all such facilities. The
obligation to provide such payments
could create an open, indefinite, and
undefined future liability for SNR.
Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, 31
U.S.C. 1341, Western cannot commit to
paying an open, indefinite future
obligation. On the other hand, if SNR
excludes both the Federal and nonFederal generator costs for VAR Support
in the TRR, it would ultimately fall to
the customers who purchase power
from the generator to pay for such costs.
Customers who receive power from
SNR, through Rate Schedule CV–F11,
currently pay VAR Support costs in the
PRR including the VAR Support
associated with network service. Also
included are VAR Support costs
associated with the Rate Schedules
PACI–T1 and COTP–T1 if not recovered
from contracted sales. By excluding the
VAR Support component from the TRR,
SNR can accurately determine the costs
associated with transmission service.
Furthermore, Western has a statutory
duty to ensure that its rates are the
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
45822
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
lowest cost possible consistent with
sound business principles under
Delegation Order No. 00–037.00. While
SNR’s power customers would be
obligated to pay SNR for all costs
associated with reactive power from the
generators in its power rates, the overall
cost to SNR’s power customers would
be lower and more predictable since
they are paying for only the costs
associated with the Federal generators.
Excluding all reactive power costs for
SNR’s TRR is consistent with Western’s
statutory duties, therefore, SNR has
adopted option 3. SNR has compensated
CCFC beginning in December 2005 for
reactive power costs within the
deadband. This rate action will
terminate these payments.
This rate action is consistent with a
recent Commission order denying
rehearing in Entergy Services, Inc.,
Docket No. EL05–149–001 (114 FERC ¶
61,303). This order articulated the
Commission’s position that
compensation for reactive power is
based on comparability principles. The
Commission emphasized that an
interconnecting generator should not be
compensated for reactive power when
operating its generating facility within
the specified deadband (+/¥95 percent)
since it is only meeting its reliability
and interconnection obligations. The
transmission owner would be violating
the comparability standard only if it
compensated its own generating units
for providing reactive power and did
not compensate the third-party
generators. By excluding VAR Support
from the TRR, no transmission
customers, including third-party
generators, are required to pay for VAR
Support. Therefore, SNR does not plan
to compensate third-party generators
interconnected with its transmission
system for VAR Support. This outcome
is both consistent with Western’s
statutory duties and with the
Commission’s comparability standard.
CCFC and/or other generators that are or
may be interconnected with Western’s
transmission system will continue to
recover their costs (real and reactive) as
a bundled product or market-based rate
as CCFC did prior to its comparability
filing at the Commission.
Under the 2004 Power Marketing
Plan, Base Resource and First Preference
power is primarily CVP hydrogeneration
available subject to water conditions
and operating constraints. The Base
Resource and First Preference power
formula rates recover a PRR through an
allocation of percentages of costs to First
Preference and Base Resource
Customers.
Component 1 of the PRR for Base
Resource and First Preference Power, as
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
approved in the rate schedule (CV–F11),
includes operations and maintenance
(O&M), purchased power for project use
and First Preference Customer loads,
interest expense, annual expenses
(including any other statutorily required
costs or charges), investment repayment
for the CVP, and the Washoe Project
annual PRR that remains after project
use loads are met. Revenues from
project use, transmission, ancillary
services, and other services are applied
to the total PRR and the remainder is
collected from Base Resource and First
Preference Customers.
The provisional rate formula change
for CV–F12 for the Base Resource and
First Preference PRR results in a .04
percent decrease when compared to the
fiscal year (FY) 2006 PRR.
By Delegation Order No. 00–037.00,
effective December 6, 2001, the
Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The
authority to develop power and
transmission rates to Western’s
Administrator, (2) the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates
into effect on an interim basis to the
Deputy Secretary of Energy, and (3) the
authority to confirm, approve, and place
into effect on a final basis to remand or
to disapprove such rates to the
Commission. Existing DOE procedures
for public participation in power rate
adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were
published on September 18, 1985.
Under Delegation Order Nos. 00–
037.00 and 00–001.00B, and in
compliance with 10 CFR part 903, and
18 CFR part 300, I hereby confirm,
approve, and place Rate Order No.
WAPA–128, the CVP power, and CVP,
PACI, and COTP transmission service
formula rates into effect on an interim
basis. The new Rate Schedules CV–T2,
CV–NWT4, PACI–T2, COTP–T2, and
CV–F12 will be promptly submitted to
the Commission for confirmation and
approval on a final basis.
PO 00000
Dated: July 26, 2006.
Clay Sell,
Deputy Secretary.
Department of Energy, Deputy
Secretary
In the matter of: Western Area Power
Administration; Rate Adjustment for the
Central Valley Project, the California
Oregon Transmission Project, and the
Pacific Alternating Current Intertie
[Rate Order No. WAPA–128]
Order Confirming, Approving, and
Placing the Central Valley Project
Power Rates, the Central Valley Project,
the California-Oregon Transmission
Project, and the Pacific Alternating
Current Intertie Transmission Rates
Into Effect on an Interim Basis
This rate was established in
accordance with section 302 of the
Department of Energy (DOE)
Organization Act, (42 U.S.C. 7152). This
Act transferred to and vested in the
Secretary of Energy the power marketing
functions of the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) under the
Reclamation Act of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32
Stat. 388), as amended and
supplemented by subsequent laws,
particularly section 9(c) of the
Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43
U.S.C. 485h(c)), and other Acts that
specifically apply to the project
involved.
By Delegation Order No. 00–037.00,
effective December 6, 2001, the
Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The
authority to develop power and
transmission rates to Western’s
Administrator, (2) the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates
into effect on an interim basis to the
Deputy Secretary of Energy, and (3) the
authority to confirm, approve, and place
into effect on a final basis to remand or
to disapprove such rates to the
Commission. Existing DOE procedures
for public participation in power rate
adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were
published on September 18, 1985.
Acronyms and Definitions
As used in this Rate Order, the
following acronyms and definitions
apply:
2004 Power Marketing Plan: The 2004
CVP Power Marketing Plan (64 FR
34417) effective January 1, 2005.
Administrator: The Administrator of the
Western Area Power Administration.
Ancillary Services: Those services
necessary to support the transfer of
electricity while maintaining reliable
operation of the transmission
provider’s transmission system in
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
accordance with standard utility
practice.
Base Resource: The Central Valley and
Washoe Project power output and
existing power purchase contracts
extending beyond 2004 as determined
by Western to be available for
marketing after meeting the
requirements of Project Use and First
Preference Customers and any
adjustments for maintenance,
reserves, transformation losses, and
certain ancillary services.
CCFC: Calpine Construction Finance
Company.
COI: The California-Oregon Intertie—
Consists of three 500-kilovolt lines
linking California and Oregon, the
California-Oregon Transmission
Project, and the Pacific Alternating
Current Intertie. The Western
Electricity Coordinating Council
establishes the seasonal transfer
capability for the California-Oregon
Intertie.
COI Rating Seasons: COI rating seasons
are: summer, June through October;
winter, November through March; and
spring, April through May.
COTP: The California-Oregon
Transmission Project—A 500-kilovolt
transmission project in which
Western has part ownership.
CVP: The Central Valley Project is a
multipurpose Federal water
development project extending from
the Cascade Range in northern
California to the plains along the Kern
River south of Bakersfield, California.
Capacity: The electric capability of a
generator, transformer, transmission
circuit, or other equipment expressed
in kilowatts.
Commission: The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission.
Component 1: Part of a formula rate
which is used to recover the costs for
a specific service or product.
Customer: An entity with a contract that
receives service from Western’s Sierra
Nevada Customer Service Region.
Deficits: Unpaid or deferred annual
expenses.
DOE: United States Department of
Energy.
DOE Order RA 6120.2: A DOE order
outlining power marketing
administration financial reporting and
ratemaking procedures.
FERC: The Commission (to be used
when referencing Commission
Orders).
First Preference: A Customer or entity
qualified to use Preference power
within a county of origin (Trinity,
Calaveras, and Tuolumne) as
specified under the Trinity River
Division Act of August 12, 1955 (69
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
Stat. 719) and the Flood Control Act
of 1962 (76 Stat. 1173, 1191–1192).
FRN: Federal Register notice.
FY: Fiscal Year—October 1 to
September 30.
kV: Kilovolt—The electrical unit of
measure of electric potential that
equals 1,000 volts.
kW: Kilowatt—The electrical unit of
capacity that equals 1,000 watts.
kWh: Kilowatthour—The electrical unit
of energy that equals 1,000 watts in 1
hour.
Load: The amount of electric power or
energy delivered or required at any
specified point(s) on a transmission or
distribution system.
Mill: A monetary denomination of the
United States that equals one-tenth of
a cent or one-thousandth of a dollar.
Mills/kWh: Mills per kilowatthour—The
unit of charge for energy.
MW: Megawatt—The electrical unit of
capacity that equals 1 million watts or
1,000 kilowatts.
NEPA: National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.).
Net Revenue: Revenue remaining after
paying all annual expenses.
NITS: Network Integrated Transmission
Service.
Non-firm: A type of product and/or
service not always available at the
time requested by the customer.
O&M: Operation and Maintenance.
OATT: Open Access Transmission
Tariff.
PACI: Pacific Alternating Current
Intertie—A 500-kV transmission
project of which Western owns a
portion of the facilities.
Power: Capacity and Energy.
Preference: The provisions of
Reclamation Law which require
Western to first make Federal power
available to certain non-profit entities.
Project Use: Power used to operate CVP
facilities under Reclamation Law.
Provisional Rate: A rate which has been
confirmed, approved, and placed into
effect on an interim basis by the
Deputy Secretary.
PRR: Power Revenue Requirement—The
annual revenue that must be collected
to recover annual expenses such as
O&M, purchase power, transmission
service expenses, interest, deferred
expenses, and repay Federal
investments and other assigned costs.
PRS: Power Repayment Study.
Rate Brochure: A document dated
February 2006 explaining the
rationale and background for the rate
proposal contained in this Rate Order.
Reclamation: United States Department
of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
Reclamation Law: A series of Federal
laws. Viewed as a whole, these laws
create the originating framework
under which Western markets power.
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
45823
Revenue Requirement: The revenue
required to recover annual expenses
(such as O&M, purchase power,
transmission service expenses,
interest, deferred expenses) and repay
Federal investments and other
assigned costs.
SNR: The Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region of Western.
TRR: Transmission Revenue
Requirement.
VAR Support: Reactive power and
voltage control from the CVP and
other non-Federal Generation Sources
Service.
Washoe Project: A Reclamation project
located in the Lahontan Basin in westcentral Nevada and east-central
California.
WECC: Western Electricity Coordinating
Council.
Western: United States Department of
Energy, Western Area Power
Administration.
Effective Date
The new provisional rates will take
effect on the first day of the first full
billing period beginning on or after
September 1, 2006, and will remain in
effect until September 30, 2009, pending
approval by the Commission on a final
basis.
Public Notice and Comment
Western followed the Procedures for
Public Participation in Power and
Transmission Rate Adjustments and
Extensions (10 CFR part 903) in
developing these rates. The steps
Western took to involve interested
parties in the rate process were:
1. A Federal Register notice
published on March 2, 2006 (71 FR
10666), announced the proposed change
of the reactive power and voltage
control revenue requirement
component. This notice began the
public consultation and comment
period.
2. On March 2, 2006, Western emailed the Federal Register notice (71
FR 10666) to the SNR Preference
Customers and interested parties
explaining the fact that this was a minor
rate adjustment. Therefore, there was no
public information or comment forum
for this rate process. Western also
reiterated its availability to meet with
interested parties to explain the
rationale for the rate adjustment and to
discuss the studies that support the
proposal for the change to the revenue
requirement.
3. On March 2, 2006, Western also
mailed letters to the SNR Preference
Customers and interested parties
transmitting the Web site address to
obtain a copy of the FRN and providing
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
45824
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
instructions on how to receive a copy of
the Rate Brochure.
4. Western communicated clarifying
information on the proposed rate
adjustment with the following
Customers and/or interested parties.
This information is included in the
record.
Northern California Power Agency,
California, Port of Oakland,
California, Redding Electric Utility,
California, Sacramento Municipal
Utility District, California.
5. Western received three comment
letters during the consultation and
comment period, which ended on April
3, 2006. All formally submitted
comments have been considered in
preparing this Rate Order.
Comments: Written comments were
received from the following
organizations: Calpine Construction
Finance Company, L.P., California.
Redding Electric Utility, California.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District,
California.
Project Description
Initially authorized by Congress in
1935, the CVP is a large water and
power system that covers about onethird of the state of California.
Legislation set the purposes of the CVP
in priority order as: (1) Improvement of
navigation, (2) river regulation, (3) flood
control, (4) irrigation, and (5) power.
The CVP Improvement Act of 1992
added fish and wildlife mitigation as a
priority above power and added fish
and wildlife enhancement as a priority
equal to power.
The CVP is within the Central Valley
and Trinity River Basins of California. It
includes 18 dams and reservoirs with a
total storage capacity of 13 million acrefeet. The system includes 615 miles of
canals, 7 pumping facilities, 11
powerplants with a maximum operating
capability of about 2,074 MW, about 852
circuit-miles of high voltage
transmission lines, 15 substations, and
16 communication sites. Reclamation
operates the water control and delivery
system and all of the powerplants
except the San Luis Unit, which the
state of California operates for
Reclamation.
The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937
authorized Reclamation to build the
CVP, including Shasta and Keswick
Dams on the Sacramento River. The
initial authorization included
powerplants at Shasta and Keswick
Dams along with high-voltage
transmission lines to transmit power
from Shasta and Keswick Powerplants
to the Tracy Pumping Plant and to
integrate Federal hydropower into other
electric systems.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
Additional CVP facilities were
authorized by Congress through a series
of laws. The American River Division
was authorized in 1944 and includes the
Folsom Dam and Powerplant and the
Nimbus Dam and Powerplant on the
American River. The Trinity Dam and
Powerplant, Judge Francis Carr
Powerplant, and Whiskeytown Dam and
Spring Creek Powerplant were
authorized as part of the Trinity River
Division in 1955 and allocated up to 25
percent of the resulting energy to Trinity
County for use within Trinity County.
The San Luis Unit, authorized in 1960,
includes the B.F. Sisk San Luis Dam,
San Luis Reservoir and William R.
Gianelli Pump-Generating Plant, O’Neill
Pump-Generating Plant, and Dos
Amigos Pumping Plant. The Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1962 authorized the New
Melones Project and allocated up to 25
percent of the resulting energy to
Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties for
use within the counties.
Western’s SNR markets the surplus
hydropower generation of the CVP and
Washoe Project. Between 1967 and
2004, under the terms of Contract 14–
06–200–2948A (Contract 2948A) with
the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E), CVP resources, along with other
Western resources, were integrated with
PG&E resources. PG&E served the
combined PG&E/Western loads with the
integrated resources. When PG&E
informed Western that it planned to
terminate Contract 2948A on December
31, 2004, Western began working with
its Customers to develop and implement
the 2004 Power Marketing Plan. The
2004 Power Marketing Plan was
published in the Federal Register (64
FR 34417) on June 25, 1999. It
established the criteria for marketing
CVP and Washoe Project power output
for 20 years beginning on January 1,
2005, and ending on December 31, 2024.
The Base Resource is a fundamental
component and the primary power
product marketed through the 2004
Power Marketing Plan. Under previous
marketing plans, Preference Customers
received a fixed capacity and load factor
energy allocation. Under the 2004
Power Marketing Plan, Preference
Customers (other than First Preference)
receive an allocated percentage of the
Base Resource. The Base Resource is
defined as the CVP and Washoe Project
power output and any existing power
purchase contracts extending beyond
2004, determined by Western to be
available for marketing after meeting the
requirements of project use and First
Preference Customers, and any
adjustments for maintenance, reserves,
transformation losses, and certain
ancillary services. In 2000, each CVP
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Customer (other than First Preference
Customers) signed a contract with
Western that specifies how Base
Resource power will be made available
under the 2004 Power Marketing Plan.
Power generated from the CVP is first
dedicated to project use. The remaining
power is allocated to various Preference
Customers in California. Types of
Preference Customers include: (1)
Irrigation and water districts, (2) public
utility districts, (3) municipalities, (4)
Federal agencies, (5) state agencies, (6)
rural electric cooperatives, and (7)
Native American tribes.
In 1964, Congress authorized
construction of the 500-kV Pacific
Northwest-Pacific Southwest
Alternating Current Intertie. On July 31,
1967, Reclamation (Western’s power
marketing predecessor), PG&E, the
Southern California Edison Company,
and the San Diego Gas and Electric
Company entered into Contract 14–06–
200–2947A (Contract 2947A), an extra
high-voltage transmission service and
exchange agreement for the northern
portion of the PACI. Western, the
California Independent System Operator
Corporation, and PG&E initiated a
Transmission Exchange Agreement
(Contract No. 04–SNR–00788–A)
effective January 1, 2005, that provides
Western with a 400–MW entitlement of
transmission capacity on the PACI.
The COTP is a jointly owned 342mile, 500-kV transmission line that
connects the Captain Jack Substation in
southern Oregon to Tracy/Tesla
Substation in central California.
Operational since March 1993, COTP
provides a third high-voltage intertie
between the Pacific Northwest and
California. COTP owners other than
Western are non-Federal participants.
Power Repayment Study
Western prepares a PRS each FY to
determine if revenues will be sufficient
to repay, within the required time, all
costs assigned to the power function.
Repayment criteria are based on law,
applicable policies, including DOE
Order RA 6120.2, and authorizing
legislation.
Existing and Provisional Formula Rates
and Revenue Requirement
Under the 2004 Power Marketing
Plan, the PRR for First Preference and
Base Resource power includes O&M,
purchased power for project use and
First Preference Customer loads, interest
expense, annual expenses (including
any other statutorily required costs or
charges), investment repayment for the
CVP, and the Washoe Project annual
PRR that remains after project use loads
are met. Revenues from project use,
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
transmission, ancillary services, and
other services are applied to the total
PRR, and the remainder is collected
from Base Resource and First Preference
Customers.
The Base Resource and First
Preference power provisional formula
rates recover a PRR through percentages
for First Preference and Base Resource
Customers. Base Resource Customer
percentages were established through
the public process for the 2004 Power
Marketing Plan. The First Preference
45825
Customers’ percentages to be used for
billing purposes were developed as part
of the rate process for the existing rates.
A comparison of the power revenue
requirement for existing and provisional
formula rates follows:
COMPARISON OF POWER REVENUE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AND PROVISIONAL FORMULA RATES
Existing rates
(as of 4/1/06)
($000)
Rate Schedule ...........................................................................................................................
Base Resource and First Preference PRR ...............................................................................
Certification of Rates
Western’s Administrator certified that
the provisional CVP power and CVP,
PACI, and COTP transmission service
formula rates are the lowest possible
rates consistent with sound business
principles. The provisional formula
rates were developed following
administrative policies and applicable
laws.
PRR and CVP, PACI, and COTP
Transmission Service Formula Rates
Discussion
According to Reclamation Law,
Western must establish rates sufficient
to recover O&M, other annual and
interest expenses, and repay power
investment and irrigation aid.
Statement of Revenue and Related
Expenses
This rate adjustment constitutes a
minor rate adjustment in accordance
with 10 CFR part 903 because it
produces less than a 1 percent change
in the annual revenues of the power
system. The summary of projected
revenue and expense data from the PRS,
as well as the cost-of-service study that
supported the existing rates and the rate
design and rate methodology were
approved when the existing rates were
put into effect on November 18, 2004
(Rate Order No. WAPA–115, 69 FR
70510, December 6, 2004). The
Commission confirmed and approved
the rate schedules on October 11, 2005,
under FERC Docket No. EF05–5011–000
(113 FERC 61,026).
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Basis for Rate Development
This rate adjustment does not change
the rate design or methodology of the
existing rates. This rate adjustment
removes the VAR Support revenue
requirement from the TRRs associated
with Component 1 of the CVP, PACI,
and COTP transmission service. These
provisional rates include the CVP VAR
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
CV–F11
$53,003
Support in Component 1 of the Base
Resource and First Preference PRR.
Comments
The comments and responses
regarding change of VAR Support
revenue requirement component,
paraphrased for brevity when not
affecting the meaning of the
statement(s), are discussed below. Direct
quotes from comment letters are used
for clarification where necessary.
A. Comment: A Customer supported
Western’s recommendation to remove
all VAR Support costs from Western’s
TRR and recover CVP Western generator
VAR Support costs from the PRR. The
customer indicated that this action will
‘‘allocate costs associated with CVP
generation to the CVP power rate base,
which is much more appropriate and
consistent with cost causation than
allocating these generator costs to the
TRR.’’
Response: Western appreciates the
supportive comment.
B. Comment: A Customer supported
Western’s proposal to revise Component
1 of its TRR to exclude the costs
associated with VAR Support. The
Customer indicated that ‘‘Western’s
proposal will ensure that VAR support
costs from CVP generation are paid by
those entities that are benefiting from
the associated generation.’’
Response: Western appreciates the
supportive comment.
C. Comment: A Customer referenced
an open FERC docket (114 FERC
¶ 61,303, issued March 23, 2006)
regarding Entergy Services, Inc., and
expressed concern over Western’s
intentions to transfer VAR Support costs
from the TRR to the PRR; thereby,
avoiding additional VAR Support costs
from non-Federal generators. The
Customer indicated that ‘‘while there
may be an argument that comparability
would permit Western to ‘‘zero out’’ the
VAR Support component of the TRR
and not compensate either Federal or
non-Federal generators, it is not
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Provisional rates
(effective 9/1/06)
($000)
CV–F12
$52,983
Percent
change
................
¥.04%
comparable treatment to manipulate the
rate structure to deprive non-affiliate
(non-Federal) generators of
compensation while assuring affiliate
(Federal) generators of compensation.’’
Response: Western understands that
the Commission’s policy for
compensation is one of comparability.
In Order No. 2003 (68 FR 49,845), the
Commission emphasized that an
interconnecting utility should not be
compensated for providing reactive
power within the established power
factor range since it is only meeting its
contractual obligation. Generators need
only be compensated where they are
directed to operate outside the
deadband (68 FR 49891). In Order No.
2003A (69 FR 15,932), the Commission
addressed comparability. It added that if
a transmission provider pays its own or
affiliated generator for reactive power
within the established range, then it
must also pay interconnected customers
(69 FR 15935).
Western notes that in the Entergy
Services, Inc. case cited above, Entergy
Services, Inc., established a rate
schedule for reactive power. Entergy
included its revenue requirement for
reactive power in the rate schedule. As
part of the Commission proceeding,
Entergy sought to zero out the Rate
Schedule and thus Entergy maintained
that it met the comparability
requirements of Order No. 2003A, and
the Commission agreed (114 FERC
¶ 61,303) (2006).
Western’s rate actions are reviewed by
the Commission under the provisions of
18 CFR part 300 and Delegation Order
No. 00–037.00. Western strives to abide
by Commission precedent, consistent
with our mission and statutory
authorities, and, as such, has voluntarily
published an OATT and initiated this
rate adjustment in an effort to maintain
comparability. Like Entergy, Western is
removing the costs from the TRR to
meet the comparability test established
by the Commission. By law, Western
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
45826
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
must recover all of its costs. To meet its
statutory obligations and remain
consistent with Western’s OATT,
Western must recover its costs from
either transmission users or power
users. Western may not forgo recovery.
As described above, the removal of the
reactive power component is the option
which is most consistent with Western’s
statutory duties. Based on Western’s rate
design all transmission customers are
treated comparably since no
transmission customer pays for reactive
power within the deadband. In other
words, all transmission customers,
including Western and interconnected
utilities, pay the same transmission
rates. Given Western’s position as a
Federal agency, Western believes this is
consistent with the Commission’s
position that compensation within the
deadband is based solely on the
comparability provision in Order No.
2003A (114 FERC ¶ 61,303, slip op 5–6)
(2006).
Comment: A Customer expressed
concern that Western is shifting a cost
component that has traditionally been
associated with transmission service to
its power rate and believes that this shift
‘‘obfuscates the costs associated with
providing transmission service by
allocating costs traditionally allocated
in transmission rates to other rates.’’
This Customer believes that Western’s
proposal ‘‘did not meet the principle of
comparability and is therefore
discriminatory and inconsistent with
Western’s reciprocity obligations under
its tariff.’’
Response: Prior to FERC Order No.
888 (61 FR 21,540), Western
traditionally bundled the costs for
power, transmission, and ancillary
services. Western did not maintain a
separate rate component for an ancillary
service such as reactive power. FERC
Order No. 888 unbundled power,
transmission, and ancillary services.
After FERC Order No. 888, ancillary
services were seen as a new commodity
with a different pricing mechanism.
Within the confines of Western’s
statutory requirements, Western
voluntarily promulgated an OATT and
unbundled some of its power,
transmission, and ancillary services.
When Western became aware of a
possible non-comparability issue
regarding compensation for reactive
power, Western initiated this rate
process to remedy that problem.
Western was concerned that
compensating non-Federal generators
under its existing rates and requiring
these same generators to pay for VAR
Support in Western transmission service
rates created duplicative charges and
unequal treatment for Federal and non-
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
Federal generators. Western rectified
this situation with this rate process. As
discussed above, Western’s final
decision is consistent with its statutory
duties and with the comparability
provisions of the Commission.
Availability of Information
Information about this rate
adjustment, including power repayment
studies, comments, letters,
memorandums, and other supporting
material made and kept by Western and
used to develop the provisional rates, is
available for public review in the Sierra
Nevada Regional Office, Western Area
Power Administration, 114 Parkshore
Drive, Folsom, California.
Regulatory Procedure Requirements
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 final 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 (NEPA) of
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.; the
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40
CFR parts 1500–1508); and DOE NEPA
Implementing Procedures and
Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), Western
has determined that this action is
categorically excluded from preparing
an environmental assessment or an
environmental impact statement.
Determination Under Executive Order
12866
Western has an exemption from
centralized regulatory review under
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no
clearance of this notice by the Office of
Management and Budget is required.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act
Western has determined that this rule
is exempt from congressional
notification requirements under 5 U.S.C.
801 because the action is a rulemaking
of particular applicability relating to
rates or services and involves matters of
procedure.
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Submission to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission
The provisional rates herein
confirmed, approved, and placed into
effect, together with supporting
documents, will be submitted to the
Commission for confirmation and final
approval.
Order
In view of the foregoing and under the
authority delegated to me, I confirm and
approve on an interim basis, effective
September 1, 2006, Rate Schedules CV–
F12, CV–T2, CV–NWT4, PACI–T2 and
COTP–T2 for the Central Valley and the
California-Oregon Transmission Projects
and the Pacific Alternating Current
Intertie of the Western Area Power
Administration. The rate schedules
shall remain in effect on an interim
basis, pending the Commission’s
confirmation and approval of them or
substitute rates on a final basis through
September 30, 2009.
Dated: July 26, 2006.
Clay Sell,
Deputy Secretary.
Rate Schedule CV–F12 (Supersedes
Schedule CV–F11)
Central Valley Project; Schedule of
Rates for Base Resource and First
Preference Power
Effective: September 1, 2006, through
September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area
served by the Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region.
Applicable: To the Base Resource (BR)
and First Preference (FP) power
Customers.
Character and Conditions of Service:
Alternating current, 60 hertz, threephase, delivered and metered at the
voltages and points established by
contract. This service includes the
Central Valley Project (CVP)
transmission (to include reactive supply
and voltage control from Federal
generation sources needed to support
the transmission service), spinning, and
non-spinning reserve services.
Power Revenue Requirement: Western
will develop the Power Revenue
Requirement (PRR) prior to the start of
each fiscal year (FY). The PRR will be
divided into two 6-month periods,
October through March and April
through September. A monthly PRR will
be calculated by dividing each 6-month
PRR by six. The PRR for the April
through September period will be
reviewed in March of each year. The
review will analyze financial data from
the October through February period, to
the extent information is available, as
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
45827
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
well as forecasted data for the March
through September period. If there is a
change of $5 million or more, the PRR
for the April through September period
will be recalculated.
First Preference Power Formula Rate:
FP Customer Percentage =
FP Customer Charge = FP Customer
Percentage × MRR.
Component 1:
FP Customer Load
Gen + Power Purchases − Pr oject Use
FP CUSTOMERS’ MAXIMUM
PERCENTAGES
Where:
FP Customer Load = An FP Customer’s
forecasted annual load in megawatthours
(MWh).
Gen = The forecasted annual CVP and
Washoe generation (MWh).
Power Purchases = Power purchases for
project use and FP loads (MWh).
Project Use = The forecasted annual project
use loads (MWh).
MRR = Monthly Power Revenue
Requirement.
Maximum FP
customer’s
percentage
applied to the
MRR
FP customers
3.49
9.21
Total .................................
Western will develop the FP
Customer percentage prior to the start of
each FY. During March of each FY, each
FP Customer’s percentage will be
reviewed. If, as a result of the review,
there is a change in the FP Customer’s
percentage of more than one-half of 1
percent, the percentage will be revised
for the April through September period.
The percentages in the table below are
the maximum percentages for each FP
Customer that will be applied to the
MRR. The maximum percentages were
determined based on a critically dry
year where there are hydrologic
conditions that result in low CVP
generation and, consequently, low
levels of BR. These maximum
percentages are not used in instances
where individual FP Customer
percentages increase due to load growth.
If these maximum percentages are used
for determining the FP Customer’s
charges for more than 1 year, Western
will evaluate their percentage from the
formula rate versus the maximum
percentage and make adjustments as
appropriate.
Sierra Conservation Center ....
Calaveras Public Power Agency .........................................
Trinity Public Utility District .....
Tuolumne Public Power Agency .........................................
1.39
17.51%
3.42
Below is a sample calculation for an
FP Customer monthly charge for power.
FP CUSTOMER MONTHLY CHARGE
SAMPLE CALCULATION
Example: First Preference
Customer Charge Calculation
FP Customer Load—MWh ...
Washoe generation—MWh ..
CVP generation—MWh ........
Project Use Load—MWh ......
Project Use purchase—MWh
FP Customer percentage .....
MRR ......................................
FP Customer monthly charge
10,000
2,500
3,700,000
1,200,000
47,000
0.39%
$3,333,333
$13,000
Component 2: Any charges or credits
associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any
tariff, contract, or schedule accepted or
approved by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission)
or other regulatory body will be passed
on to each appropriate Customer. The
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
apply to the service to which this rate
methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass
through directly to the appropriate
Customer, the Commission or other
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits in the same manner
Western is charged or credited. If the
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the charges or
credits will be passed through using
Component 1 of the FP power formula
rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits
from the Host Control Area (HCA)
applied to Western for providing this
service will be passed through directly
to the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
to the extent possible. If the HCA costs
or credits cannot be passed through to
the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the FP
power formula rate.
BR Formula Rate:
Component 1:
BR Customer Charges = (BR RR × BR %)
Where:
BR RR = BR Monthly Revenue Requirement
BR % = BR percentage for each Customer as
indicated in the BR contract after
adjustments for hourly exchange energy.
BR Customers will pay for exchange
energy by adjusting the BR percentage
that is applied to the BR RR.
Adjustments to a Customer’s BR
percentage for seasonal exchanges will
be reflected in the Customer’s BR
contract.
An illustration of the adjustment to a
Customer’s BR percentage for hourly
Exchange Energy (EE) is shown in the
table below.
EXAMPLE OF BASE RESOURCE PERCENTAGE ADJUSTMENTS FOR EXCHANGE ENERGY
BR
percentage
from contract
Hourly
BR = 30
MWh
Customer’s
BR in excess
of load
Customers
receiving EE
BR delivered
(adjusting for
EE)
Customer A ................................................................
Customer B ................................................................
Customer C ................................................................
20
10
70
6
3
21
3
0
0
0
1
2
3
4
23
Total 100 .............................................................
30
3
3
30
Revised BR
percentage
100
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
10
13.33
76.67
EN10AU06.013
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
BR customer
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
After the FP Customers’ share of the
annual PRR has been determined, the
remainder of the annual PRR is
recovered from the BR Customers. The
BR RR will be collected in two 6-month
periods. For October through March, 25
percent of the BR RR will be collected.
For April through September, 75
percent of the BR RR will be collected.
A BR RR is calculated by dividing the
BR 6-month revenue requirement by six.
The revenues from the sale of surplus
BR will be applied to the annual BR RR
for the following FY.
Component 2: Any charges or credits
associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any
tariff, contract, or schedule accepted or
approved by the Commission or other
regulatory body will be passed on to
each appropriate Customer. The
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
apply to the service to which this rate
methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass
through directly to the appropriate
Customer, the Commission or other
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits in the same manner
Western is charged or credited. If the
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the charges or
credits will be passed through using
Component 1 of the BR formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits
from the HCA applied to Western for
providing this service will be passed
through directly to the appropriate
Customer in the same manner Western
is charged or credited, to the extent
possible. If the HCA costs or credits
cannot be passed through to the
appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the BR
formula rate.
Billing: Billing for BR and FP power
will occur monthly using the respective
formula rate.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses will be
accounted for under this rate schedule
as stated in the service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments:
Financial audit adjustments that apply
to the revenue requirement under this
rate schedule will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis to determine the
appropriate treatment for repayment
and cash flow management.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
Rate Schedule CV–T2 (Supersedes
Schedule CV–T1)
Central Valley Project; Schedule of Rate
for Transmission Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through
September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area
served by the Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers receiving
Central Valley Project (CVP) firm and/or
non-firm transmission service.
Character and Conditions of Service:
Transmission service for three-phase,
alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered
and metered at the voltages and points
of delivery or receipt, adjusted for
losses, and delivered to points of
delivery. This service includes
scheduling and system control and
dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for
CVP firm and non-firm transmission
service includes three components:
Component 1:
CVP TRR
TTc + NITSc
Where:
CVP TRR = Transmission Revenue
Requirement is the costs associated with
facilities that support the transfer
capability of the CVP transmission
system, excluding generation facilities
and radial lines.
TTc = Total Transmission Capacity is the
total transmission capacity under longterm contract between the Western Area
Power Administration (Western) and
other parties.
NITSc = Average 12-month coincident peaks
of network integrated transmission
service (NITS) Customers at the time of
the monthly CVP transmission system
peak. For rate design purposes,
Western’s use of the transmission system
to meet its statutory obligations is treated
as NITS.
Western will revise the rate from
Component 1 based on either of the
following two conditions: (a) Updated
financial data available in March of each
year and (b) a change in the numerator
or denominator that results in a rate
change of at least $0.05 per
kilowattmonth. Rate change
notifications will be posted on the Open
Access Same-Time Information System.
Component 2: Any charges or credits
associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any
tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body
will be passed on to each appropriate
Customer. The Commission or other
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits apply to the service to
which this rate methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass
through directly to the appropriate
Customer, the Commission or other
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits in the same manner
Western is charged or credited. If the
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the CVP
transmission service formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits
from the Host Control Area (HCA)
applied to Western for providing this
service will be passed through directly
to the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
to the extent possible. If the HCA costs
or credits cannot be passed through to
the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the CVP
transmission service formula rate.
Billing: The formula rate above
applies to the maximum amount of
capacity reserved for periods ranging
from 1 hour to 1 month, payable
whether used or not. Billing will occur
monthly.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses
incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed
to by the parties in accordance with the
service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments:
Financial audit adjustments that apply
to the revenue requirement under this
rate schedule will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis to determine the
appropriate treatment for repayment
and cash flow management.
Rate Schedule CV–NWT4 (Supersedes
Schedule CV–NWT3)
Central Valley Project; Schedule of Rate
for Network Integration Transmission
Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through
September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area
served by the Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers who
receive Central Valley Project (CVP)
Network Integration Transmission
Service (NITS), to points of delivery and
receipt as specified in the service
agreement.
Character and Conditions of Service:
Transmission service for three-phase,
alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
EN10AU06.014
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
45828
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Where:
NITS Customer’s load ratio share = The NITS
Customer’s hourly load (including
behind the meter generation minus the
NITS Customer’s hourly Base Resource)
coincident with the monthly CVP
transmission system peak minus the
coincident peak for all firm CVP
(including reserved transmission
capacity) transmission service, expressed
as a ratio.
Annual Network TRR = Total CVP
transmission revenue requirement, less
revenues from long-term contracts for
CVP transmission between the Western
Area Power Administration (Western)
and other parties.
The Annual Network TRR will be
revised when the rate from Component
1 of the CVP transmission rate under
Rate Schedule CV-T1 is revised.
Component 2: Any charges or credits
associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any
tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the
Commission or other regulatory body
will be passed on to each appropriate
Customer. The Commission accepted or
approved charges or credits apply to the
service to which this rate methodology
applies.
When possible, Western will pass
through directly to the appropriate
Customer, the Commission or other
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits in the same manner
Western is charged or credited. If the
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the CVP
NITS formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits
from the Host Control Area (HCA)
applied to Western for providing this
service will be passed through directly
to the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
to the extent possible. If the HCA
charges or credits cannot be passed
VerDate Aug<31>2005
00:08 Aug 10, 2006
Jkt 208001
through to the appropriate Customer in
the same manner Western is charged or
credited, the charges or credits will be
passed through using Component 1 of
the CVP NITS formula rate.
Billing: NITS will be billed monthly
under the formula rate.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses
incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed
to by the parties in accordance with the
service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments:
Financial audit adjustments that apply
to the revenue requirement under this
rate schedule will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis to determine the
appropriate treatment for repayment
and cash flow management.
Western will update the rate from
Component 1 of the formula rate for
COTP firm transmission service at least
15 days before the start of each COI
rating season. Rate change notifications
will be posted on the Open Access
Same-Time Information System.
Rate Schedule COTP–T2 (Supersedes
Schedule COTP–T1)
When possible, Western will pass
through directly to the appropriate
Customer, the Commission or other
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits in the same manner
Western is charged or credited. If the
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the
COTP transmission service formula rate.
California-Oregon Transmission Project;
Schedule of Rate for Transmission
Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through
September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area
served by the Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers receiving
California-Oregon Transmission Project
(COTP) firm and/or non-firm
transmission service.
Character and Conditions of Service:
Transmission service for three-phase,
alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered
and metered at the voltages and points
of delivery or receipt, adjusted for
losses, and delivered to points of
delivery. This service includes
scheduling and system control and
dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for
COTP firm and non-firm transmission
service includes three components:
Component 1:
COTP TRR
Western’s COTP Seasonal Capacity
Where:
COTP TRR = COTP Seasonal Transmission
Revenue Requirement (the Western Area
Power Administration’s (Western) costs
associated with facilities that support the
transfer capability of the COTP).
Western’s share of COTP Seasonal Capacity
= Western’s share of COTP capacity
(subject to curtailment) under the then
current California-Oregon Intertie (COI)
transfer capability for the season.
Seasonal definitions for summer, winter,
and spring are June through October,
November through March, and April
through May, respectively.
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Component 2: Any charges or credits
associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any
tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body
will be passed on to each appropriate
Customer. The Commission accepted or
approved charges or credits apply to the
service to which this rate methodology
applies.
Component 3: Any charges or credits
from the Host Control Area (HCA)
applied to Western for providing this
service will be passed through directly
to the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
to the extent possible. If the HCA
charges or credits cannot be passed
through to the appropriate Customer in
the same manner Western is charged or
credited, the charges or credits will be
passed through using Component 1 of
the COTP transmission service formula
rate.
Billing: The formula rate above
applies to the maximum amount of
capacity reserved for periods ranging
from 1 hour to 1 month, payable
whether used or not. Billing will occur
monthly.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses
incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed
to by the parties in accordance with the
service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments:
Financial audit adjustments that apply
to the revenue requirement under this
rate schedule will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis to determine the
appropriate treatment for repayment
and cash flow management.
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
EN10AU06.015
and metered at the voltages and points
of delivery or receipt, adjusted for
losses, and delivered to points of
delivery. This service includes
scheduling and system control and
dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for
CVP NITS includes three components:
Component 1:
NITS Customer’s monthly demand
charge = NITS Customer’s load ratio
share times one-twelfth (1/12) of the
Annual Network TRR.
45829
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 154 / Thursday, August 10, 2006 / Notices
Rate Schedule PACI–T2 (Supersedes
Schedule PACI–T1)
Pacific Alternating Current Intertie
Project; Schedule of Rate for
Transmission Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through
September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area
served by the Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers receiving
the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie
(PACI) firm and/or non-firm
transmission service.
Character and Conditions of Service:
Transmission service for three-phase,
alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered
and metered at the voltages and points
of delivery or receipt, adjusted for
losses, and delivered to points of
delivery. This service includes
scheduling and system control and
dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for
PACI firm and non-firm transmission
service includes three components:
Component 1:
PACI TRR
Western’s PACI Seasonal Capacity
rwilkins on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Where:
PACI TRR = PACI Seasonal Transmission
Revenue Requirement, the Western Area
Power Administration’s (Western) costs
associated with facilities that support the
transfer capability of the PACI.
Western’s PACI Seasonal Capacity =
Western’s share of PACI capacity (subject
to curtailment) under the then current
California-Oregon Intertie (COI) transfer
capability for the season. Seasonal
definitions for summer, winter, and
spring are June through October,
November through March, and April
through May, respectively.
Western will update the rate from
Component 1 of the formula rate for
PACI firm transmission service at least
15 days before the start of each COI
rating season. Rate change notifications
will be posted on the Open Access
Same-Time Information System.
Component 2: Any charges or credits
associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any
tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body
will be passed on to each appropriate
Customer. The Commission accepted or
approved charges or credits apply to the
service to which this rate methodology
applies.
When possible, Western will pass
through directly to the appropriate
Customer, the Commission or other
VerDate Aug<31>2005
21:27 Aug 09, 2006
Jkt 208001
regulatory body accepted or approved
charges or credits in the same manner
Western is charged or credited. If the
Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits
cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed
through using Component 1 of the PACI
transmission service formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits
from the Host Control Area (HCA)
applied to Western for providing this
service will be passed through directly
to the appropriate Customer in the same
manner Western is charged or credited,
to the extent possible. If the HCA costs
or credits cannot be passed through to
the appropriate Customer, the charges or
credits will be passed through using
Component 1 of the PACI transmission
service formula rate.
Billing: The formula rate above
applies to the maximum amount of
capacity reserved for periods ranging
from 1 hour to 1 month, payable
whether used or not. Billing will occur
monthly.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses
incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed
to by the parties in accordance with the
service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments:
Financial audit adjustments that apply
to the revenue requirement under this
rate schedule will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis to determine the
appropriate treatment for repayment
and cash flow management.
[FR Doc. E6–13031 Filed 8–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–8207–8]
Meeting of the Local Government
Advisory Committee
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Local Government
Advisory Committee (LGAC) will meet
on Thursday, September 14, 2006, by
conference call from 1–3 eastern
daylight time. The conference call in
number is (866) 299–3188 and the
conference code, when prompted, is
‘‘2025642791.’’ The Committee will be
discussing the agenda for the full LGAC
meeting on October 31–November 2,
2006.
The Committee will hear comments
from the public between 2:15–2:30 p.m.
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
on the conference call. Each individual
or organization wishing to address the
LGAC meeting on the conference call
will be allowed a maximum of five
minutes to present their point of view.
Please contact the Designated Federal
Officer (DFO) at the number listed
below to schedule agenda time. Time
will be allotted on a first come, first
serve basis, and the total period for
comments may be extended, if the
number of requests requires it.
This is an open meeting and all
interested persons are invited to
participate in the conference call. LGAC
meeting minutes will be available after
the meeting and can be obtained by an
E-mail or written request to the DFO.
Members of the public are requested to
call the DFO at the number listed below
if planning to participate.
DATES: The Local Government Advisory
Committee will meet on September 14,
2006, by conference call from 1–3
eastern daylight time. The conference
call in number is (866) 299–3188 and
the conference code, when prompted, is
‘‘2025642791.’’
ADDRESSES: Additional information can
be obtained by writing the DFO at 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., (1301A),
Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Roy Simon, Designated Federal
Officer for the Local Government
Advisory Committee (LGAC) at (202)
564–3868, or by E-mail at
Simon.Roy@epa.gov.
Information on Services for the
Disability: For information on access or
services for individuals with disability,
or to request accommodation for a
disability, please contact Roy Simon at
(202) 564–3868. Please place requests at
least 5 days prior to the meeting, to give
EPA as much time as possible to process
your request.
Dated: August 1, 2006.
Roy Simon,
Designated Federal Officer, Local Government
Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E6–13034 Filed 8–9–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–8207–7]
Tentative Approval and Solicitation of
Request for a Public Hearing for Public
Water Supply Supervision Program
Revision for the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
EN10AU06.016
45830
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45821-45830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13031]
[[Page 45821]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
The Central Valley Project-Rate Order No. WAPA-128
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Order Concerning Reactive Power and Voltage Control
Revenue Requirement Component.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate
Order No. WAPA-128 and Rate Schedules CV-F12, CV-T2, CV-NWT4, PACI-T2,
and COTP-T2 that revise the Transmission Revenue Requirement (TRR)
associated with Reactive Power and Voltage Control from the Central
Valley Project (CVP) and other non-Federal Generation Sources Service
(VAR Support) and place new formula rates into effect on an interim
basis. The provisional formula rates will be in effect until the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) confirms, approves,
and places them into effect on a final basis or until replaced by other
rates. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all
annual costs, including interest expense, and repay power investment
and irrigation aid, within the allowable periods.
DATES: Rate Schedules CV-F12, CV-T2, CV-NWT4, PACI-T2, and COTP-T2 will
be placed into effect on an interim basis on the first day of the first
full billing period beginning on or after September 1, 2006, and will
be in effect until the Commission confirms, approves, and places the
rate schedules in effect on a final basis through September 30, 2009,
or until the rate schedules are superseded.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James D. Keselburg, Regional
Manager, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western Area Power
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, (916) 353-
4418, or Mr. Sean Sanderson, Rates Manager, Sierra Nevada Customer
Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive,
Folsom, CA 95630-4710, (916) 353-4466, e-mail: sander@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current formula rates for transmission
service on the CVP (CV-T1 and CV-NWT3), the Pacific Alternating Current
Intertie (PACI) (PACI-T1), and the California-Oregon Transmission
Project (COTP) (COTP-T1) transmission systems are based on a TRR that
includes CVP and other non-Federal generator costs for providing VAR
Support. This rate adjustment will remove the VAR Support (also known
as reactive power) costs from the TRR. The Western Area Power
Administration (Western) will collect the revenue requirement for CVP
VAR Support costs in the power revenue requirement (PRR) under power
rate schedule CV-F12.
The Deputy Secretary of Energy approved existing Rate Schedules CV-
T1, CV-NWT3, PACI-T1, and COTP-T1 for transmission service and CV-F11
for Base Resource and First Preference Power on November 18, 2004 (Rate
Order No. WAPA-115, 69 FR 70510, December 6, 2004), and the Commission
confirmed and approved the rate schedules on October 11, 2005, under
FERC Docket No. EF0-5011-000 (113 FERC ] 61,026). The existing rate
schedules are effective from January 1, 2005, through September 30,
2009.
The April 1, 2006, update of the approved transmission rates
resulted in annual CVP VAR Support costs of $358,374. Western's Sierra
Nevada Region (SNR) currently estimates its annual costs associated
with the CVP and other non-Federal generator VAR Support to be
$1,221,240. This increase in cost is attributable to the inclusion of
non-Federal generator VAR Support costs that SNR began paying in
December 2005. VAR Support costs are assigned pro rata to the
respective transmission systems on a capacity basis and are one of the
cost components contained in Component 1 of the CVP, PACI, and COTP
formula rates.
In implementing Western's Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT),
Western separated its merchant function from Western's reliability
function. All generators connected to Western's transmission system
have an obligation to provide reactive power within the bandwidth
(commonly referred to as the deadband) as a part of their obligation to
maintain interconnected transmission system reliability. By including
CVP reactive power and voltage control costs in SNR's TRR, SNR in
certain circumstances, may be treating its merchant in a manner not
comparable with other transmission customers. Under SNR's current
rates, all transmission customers, including a transmission customer
with a generator directly connected to SNR's system, are obligated to
pay SNR for the cost of VAR Support. As a result, a transmission
customer with a generation interconnection with SNR that provides VAR
Support according to the Western Electric Coordinating Council
reliability requirements would also be paying SNR for CVP VAR Support;
however, SNR would not be paying such a transmission customer. Western
believes that both Federal generators and non-Federal generators should
be treated comparably when they provide VAR Support.
To mitigate the current comparability discrepancy between Federal
and non-Federal generators, SNR asked for comments from interested
parties on whether SNR should:
(1) Take no action and continue with the existing rate, (2) roll
all VAR Support costs from both types of generators into SNR's TRR, or
(3) exclude all VAR Support from both types of generators from SNR's
TRR. SNR proposed to exclude all VAR Support costs from SNR's TRR (71
FR 10666, March 2, 2006). After considering comments received, SNR
recommended implementation of the third option to the Deputy Secretary
of the Department of Energy (DOE).
As part of a settlement agreement approved by the Commission on
February 29, 2006, in FERC Docket No. ER05-912-000, Calpine
Construction Finance Company, L.P. (114 FERC ] 61,217), SNR agreed to
pay the Calpine Construction Finance Company (CCFC) for reactive power
subject to the outcome of this rate proceeding. Currently, CCFC is the
only non-Federal, interconnected generator being compensated by SNR for
VAR Support under the settlement agreement. SNR intends to mitigate
this disparity and treat every generator directly connected to SNR's
transmission system in a comparable fashion. One reason for this
decision is that SNR cannot determine the cost that SNR would be
required to pay in the future for all the costs associated with all
such facilities. The obligation to provide such payments could create
an open, indefinite, and undefined future liability for SNR. Under the
Anti-Deficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341, Western cannot commit to paying an
open, indefinite future obligation. On the other hand, if SNR excludes
both the Federal and non-Federal generator costs for VAR Support in the
TRR, it would ultimately fall to the customers who purchase power from
the generator to pay for such costs. Customers who receive power from
SNR, through Rate Schedule CV-F11, currently pay VAR Support costs in
the PRR including the VAR Support associated with network service. Also
included are VAR Support costs associated with the Rate Schedules PACI-
T1 and COTP-T1 if not recovered from contracted sales. By excluding the
VAR Support component from the TRR, SNR can accurately determine the
costs associated with transmission service. Furthermore, Western has a
statutory duty to ensure that its rates are the
[[Page 45822]]
lowest cost possible consistent with sound business principles under
Delegation Order No. 00-037.00. While SNR's power customers would be
obligated to pay SNR for all costs associated with reactive power from
the generators in its power rates, the overall cost to SNR's power
customers would be lower and more predictable since they are paying for
only the costs associated with the Federal generators. Excluding all
reactive power costs for SNR's TRR is consistent with Western's
statutory duties, therefore, SNR has adopted option 3. SNR has
compensated CCFC beginning in December 2005 for reactive power costs
within the deadband. This rate action will terminate these payments.
This rate action is consistent with a recent Commission order
denying rehearing in Entergy Services, Inc., Docket No. EL05-149-001
(114 FERC ] 61,303). This order articulated the Commission's position
that compensation for reactive power is based on comparability
principles. The Commission emphasized that an interconnecting generator
should not be compensated for reactive power when operating its
generating facility within the specified deadband (+/-95 percent) since
it is only meeting its reliability and interconnection obligations. The
transmission owner would be violating the comparability standard only
if it compensated its own generating units for providing reactive power
and did not compensate the third-party generators. By excluding VAR
Support from the TRR, no transmission customers, including third-party
generators, are required to pay for VAR Support. Therefore, SNR does
not plan to compensate third-party generators interconnected with its
transmission system for VAR Support. This outcome is both consistent
with Western's statutory duties and with the Commission's comparability
standard. CCFC and/or other generators that are or may be
interconnected with Western's transmission system will continue to
recover their costs (real and reactive) as a bundled product or market-
based rate as CCFC did prior to its comparability filing at the
Commission.
Under the 2004 Power Marketing Plan, Base Resource and First
Preference power is primarily CVP hydrogeneration available subject to
water conditions and operating constraints. The Base Resource and First
Preference power formula rates recover a PRR through an allocation of
percentages of costs to First Preference and Base Resource Customers.
Component 1 of the PRR for Base Resource and First Preference
Power, as approved in the rate schedule (CV-F11), includes operations
and maintenance (O&M), purchased power for project use and First
Preference Customer loads, interest expense, annual expenses (including
any other statutorily required costs or charges), investment repayment
for the CVP, and the Washoe Project annual PRR that remains after
project use loads are met. Revenues from project use, transmission,
ancillary services, and other services are applied to the total PRR and
the remainder is collected from Base Resource and First Preference
Customers.
The provisional rate formula change for CV-F12 for the Base
Resource and First Preference PRR results in a .04 percent decrease
when compared to the fiscal year (FY) 2006 PRR.
By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the
Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power and
transmission rates to Western's Administrator, (2) the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis
to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, and (3) the authority to confirm,
approve, and place into effect on a final basis to remand or to
disapprove such rates to the Commission. Existing DOE procedures for
public participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were
published on September 18, 1985.
Under Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00 and 00-001.00B, and in
compliance with 10 CFR part 903, and 18 CFR part 300, I hereby confirm,
approve, and place Rate Order No. WAPA-128, the CVP power, and CVP,
PACI, and COTP transmission service formula rates into effect on an
interim basis. The new Rate Schedules CV-T2, CV-NWT4, PACI-T2, COTP-T2,
and CV-F12 will be promptly submitted to the Commission for
confirmation and approval on a final basis.
Dated: July 26, 2006.
Clay Sell,
Deputy Secretary.
Department of Energy, Deputy Secretary
In the matter of: Western Area Power Administration; Rate Adjustment
for the Central Valley Project, the California Oregon Transmission
Project, and the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie
[Rate Order No. WAPA-128]
Order Confirming, Approving, and Placing the Central Valley Project
Power Rates, the Central Valley Project, the California-Oregon
Transmission Project, and the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie
Transmission Rates Into Effect on an Interim Basis
This rate was established in accordance with section 302 of the
Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act, (42 U.S.C. 7152). This Act
transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy the power
marketing functions of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) under the Reclamation Act
of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388), as amended and supplemented by
subsequent laws, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project
Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)), and other Acts that specifically apply
to the project involved.
By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the
Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power and
transmission rates to Western's Administrator, (2) the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis
to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, and (3) the authority to confirm,
approve, and place into effect on a final basis to remand or to
disapprove such rates to the Commission. Existing DOE procedures for
public participation in power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were
published on September 18, 1985.
Acronyms and Definitions
As used in this Rate Order, the following acronyms and definitions
apply:
2004 Power Marketing Plan: The 2004 CVP Power Marketing Plan (64 FR
34417) effective January 1, 2005.
Administrator: The Administrator of the Western Area Power
Administration.
Ancillary Services: Those services necessary to support the transfer of
electricity while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission
provider's transmission system in
[[Page 45823]]
accordance with standard utility practice.
Base Resource: The Central Valley and Washoe Project power output and
existing power purchase contracts extending beyond 2004 as determined
by Western to be available for marketing after meeting the requirements
of Project Use and First Preference Customers and any adjustments for
maintenance, reserves, transformation losses, and certain ancillary
services.
CCFC: Calpine Construction Finance Company.
COI: The California-Oregon Intertie--Consists of three 500-kilovolt
lines linking California and Oregon, the California-Oregon Transmission
Project, and the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie. The Western
Electricity Coordinating Council establishes the seasonal transfer
capability for the California-Oregon Intertie.
COI Rating Seasons: COI rating seasons are: summer, June through
October; winter, November through March; and spring, April through May.
COTP: The California-Oregon Transmission Project--A 500-kilovolt
transmission project in which Western has part ownership.
CVP: The Central Valley Project is a multipurpose Federal water
development project extending from the Cascade Range in northern
California to the plains along the Kern River south of Bakersfield,
California.
Capacity: The electric capability of a generator, transformer,
transmission circuit, or other equipment expressed in kilowatts.
Commission: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Component 1: Part of a formula rate which is used to recover the costs
for a specific service or product.
Customer: An entity with a contract that receives service from
Western's Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region.
Deficits: Unpaid or deferred annual expenses.
DOE: United States Department of Energy.
DOE Order RA 6120.2: A DOE order outlining power marketing
administration financial reporting and ratemaking procedures.
FERC: The Commission (to be used when referencing Commission Orders).
First Preference: A Customer or entity qualified to use Preference
power within a county of origin (Trinity, Calaveras, and Tuolumne) as
specified under the Trinity River Division Act of August 12, 1955 (69
Stat. 719) and the Flood Control Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 1173, 1191-
1192).
FRN: Federal Register notice.
FY: Fiscal Year--October 1 to September 30.
kV: Kilovolt--The electrical unit of measure of electric potential that
equals 1,000 volts.
kW: Kilowatt--The electrical unit of capacity that equals 1,000 watts.
kWh: Kilowatthour--The electrical unit of energy that equals 1,000
watts in 1 hour.
Load: The amount of electric power or energy delivered or required at
any specified point(s) on a transmission or distribution system.
Mill: A monetary denomination of the United States that equals one-
tenth of a cent or one-thousandth of a dollar.
Mills/kWh: Mills per kilowatthour--The unit of charge for energy.
MW: Megawatt--The electrical unit of capacity that equals 1 million
watts or 1,000 kilowatts.
NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et
seq.).
Net Revenue: Revenue remaining after paying all annual expenses.
NITS: Network Integrated Transmission Service.
Non-firm: A type of product and/or service not always available at the
time requested by the customer.
O&M: Operation and Maintenance.
OATT: Open Access Transmission Tariff.
PACI: Pacific Alternating Current Intertie--A 500-kV transmission
project of which Western owns a portion of the facilities.
Power: Capacity and Energy.
Preference: The provisions of Reclamation Law which require Western to
first make Federal power available to certain non-profit entities.
Project Use: Power used to operate CVP facilities under Reclamation
Law.
Provisional Rate: A rate which has been confirmed, approved, and placed
into effect on an interim basis by the Deputy Secretary.
PRR: Power Revenue Requirement--The annual revenue that must be
collected to recover annual expenses such as O&M, purchase power,
transmission service expenses, interest, deferred expenses, and repay
Federal investments and other assigned costs.
PRS: Power Repayment Study.
Rate Brochure: A document dated February 2006 explaining the rationale
and background for the rate proposal contained in this Rate Order.
Reclamation: United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation.
Reclamation Law: A series of Federal laws. Viewed as a whole, these
laws create the originating framework under which Western markets
power.
Revenue Requirement: The revenue required to recover annual expenses
(such as O&M, purchase power, transmission service expenses, interest,
deferred expenses) and repay Federal investments and other assigned
costs.
SNR: The Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region of Western.
TRR: Transmission Revenue Requirement.
VAR Support: Reactive power and voltage control from the CVP and other
non-Federal Generation Sources Service.
Washoe Project: A Reclamation project located in the Lahontan Basin in
west-central Nevada and east-central California.
WECC: Western Electricity Coordinating Council.
Western: United States Department of Energy, Western Area Power
Administration.
Effective Date
The new provisional rates will take effect on the first day of the
first full billing period beginning on or after September 1, 2006, and
will remain in effect until September 30, 2009, pending approval by the
Commission on a final basis.
Public Notice and Comment
Western followed the Procedures for Public Participation in Power
and Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions (10 CFR part 903) in
developing these rates. The steps Western took to involve interested
parties in the rate process were:
1. A Federal Register notice published on March 2, 2006 (71 FR
10666), announced the proposed change of the reactive power and voltage
control revenue requirement component. This notice began the public
consultation and comment period.
2. On March 2, 2006, Western e-mailed the Federal Register notice
(71 FR 10666) to the SNR Preference Customers and interested parties
explaining the fact that this was a minor rate adjustment. Therefore,
there was no public information or comment forum for this rate process.
Western also reiterated its availability to meet with interested
parties to explain the rationale for the rate adjustment and to discuss
the studies that support the proposal for the change to the revenue
requirement.
3. On March 2, 2006, Western also mailed letters to the SNR
Preference Customers and interested parties transmitting the Web site
address to obtain a copy of the FRN and providing
[[Page 45824]]
instructions on how to receive a copy of the Rate Brochure.
4. Western communicated clarifying information on the proposed rate
adjustment with the following Customers and/or interested parties. This
information is included in the record.
Northern California Power Agency, California, Port of Oakland,
California, Redding Electric Utility, California, Sacramento Municipal
Utility District, California.
5. Western received three comment letters during the consultation
and comment period, which ended on April 3, 2006. All formally
submitted comments have been considered in preparing this Rate Order.
Comments: Written comments were received from the following
organizations: Calpine Construction Finance Company, L.P., California.
Redding Electric Utility, California. Sacramento Municipal Utility
District, California.
Project Description
Initially authorized by Congress in 1935, the CVP is a large water
and power system that covers about one-third of the state of
California. Legislation set the purposes of the CVP in priority order
as: (1) Improvement of navigation, (2) river regulation, (3) flood
control, (4) irrigation, and (5) power. The CVP Improvement Act of 1992
added fish and wildlife mitigation as a priority above power and added
fish and wildlife enhancement as a priority equal to power.
The CVP is within the Central Valley and Trinity River Basins of
California. It includes 18 dams and reservoirs with a total storage
capacity of 13 million acre-feet. The system includes 615 miles of
canals, 7 pumping facilities, 11 powerplants with a maximum operating
capability of about 2,074 MW, about 852 circuit-miles of high voltage
transmission lines, 15 substations, and 16 communication sites.
Reclamation operates the water control and delivery system and all of
the powerplants except the San Luis Unit, which the state of California
operates for Reclamation.
The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937 authorized Reclamation to build
the CVP, including Shasta and Keswick Dams on the Sacramento River. The
initial authorization included powerplants at Shasta and Keswick Dams
along with high-voltage transmission lines to transmit power from
Shasta and Keswick Powerplants to the Tracy Pumping Plant and to
integrate Federal hydropower into other electric systems.
Additional CVP facilities were authorized by Congress through a
series of laws. The American River Division was authorized in 1944 and
includes the Folsom Dam and Powerplant and the Nimbus Dam and
Powerplant on the American River. The Trinity Dam and Powerplant, Judge
Francis Carr Powerplant, and Whiskeytown Dam and Spring Creek
Powerplant were authorized as part of the Trinity River Division in
1955 and allocated up to 25 percent of the resulting energy to Trinity
County for use within Trinity County. The San Luis Unit, authorized in
1960, includes the B.F. Sisk San Luis Dam, San Luis Reservoir and
William R. Gianelli Pump-Generating Plant, O'Neill Pump-Generating
Plant, and Dos Amigos Pumping Plant. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1962
authorized the New Melones Project and allocated up to 25 percent of
the resulting energy to Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties for use within
the counties.
Western's SNR markets the surplus hydropower generation of the CVP
and Washoe Project. Between 1967 and 2004, under the terms of Contract
14-06-200-2948A (Contract 2948A) with the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E), CVP resources, along with other Western resources, were
integrated with PG&E resources. PG&E served the combined PG&E/Western
loads with the integrated resources. When PG&E informed Western that it
planned to terminate Contract 2948A on December 31, 2004, Western began
working with its Customers to develop and implement the 2004 Power
Marketing Plan. The 2004 Power Marketing Plan was published in the
Federal Register (64 FR 34417) on June 25, 1999. It established the
criteria for marketing CVP and Washoe Project power output for 20 years
beginning on January 1, 2005, and ending on December 31, 2024.
The Base Resource is a fundamental component and the primary power
product marketed through the 2004 Power Marketing Plan. Under previous
marketing plans, Preference Customers received a fixed capacity and
load factor energy allocation. Under the 2004 Power Marketing Plan,
Preference Customers (other than First Preference) receive an allocated
percentage of the Base Resource. The Base Resource is defined as the
CVP and Washoe Project power output and any existing power purchase
contracts extending beyond 2004, determined by Western to be available
for marketing after meeting the requirements of project use and First
Preference Customers, and any adjustments for maintenance, reserves,
transformation losses, and certain ancillary services. In 2000, each
CVP Customer (other than First Preference Customers) signed a contract
with Western that specifies how Base Resource power will be made
available under the 2004 Power Marketing Plan.
Power generated from the CVP is first dedicated to project use. The
remaining power is allocated to various Preference Customers in
California. Types of Preference Customers include: (1) Irrigation and
water districts, (2) public utility districts, (3) municipalities, (4)
Federal agencies, (5) state agencies, (6) rural electric cooperatives,
and (7) Native American tribes.
In 1964, Congress authorized construction of the 500-kV Pacific
Northwest-Pacific Southwest Alternating Current Intertie. On July 31,
1967, Reclamation (Western's power marketing predecessor), PG&E, the
Southern California Edison Company, and the San Diego Gas and Electric
Company entered into Contract 14-06-200-2947A (Contract 2947A), an
extra high-voltage transmission service and exchange agreement for the
northern portion of the PACI. Western, the California Independent
System Operator Corporation, and PG&E initiated a Transmission Exchange
Agreement (Contract No. 04-SNR-00788-A) effective January 1, 2005, that
provides Western with a 400-MW entitlement of transmission capacity on
the PACI.
The COTP is a jointly owned 342-mile, 500-kV transmission line that
connects the Captain Jack Substation in southern Oregon to Tracy/Tesla
Substation in central California. Operational since March 1993, COTP
provides a third high-voltage intertie between the Pacific Northwest
and California. COTP owners other than Western are non-Federal
participants.
Power Repayment Study
Western prepares a PRS each FY to determine if revenues will be
sufficient to repay, within the required time, all costs assigned to
the power function. Repayment criteria are based on law, applicable
policies, including DOE Order RA 6120.2, and authorizing legislation.
Existing and Provisional Formula Rates and Revenue Requirement
Under the 2004 Power Marketing Plan, the PRR for First Preference
and Base Resource power includes O&M, purchased power for project use
and First Preference Customer loads, interest expense, annual expenses
(including any other statutorily required costs or charges), investment
repayment for the CVP, and the Washoe Project annual PRR that remains
after project use loads are met. Revenues from project use,
[[Page 45825]]
transmission, ancillary services, and other services are applied to the
total PRR, and the remainder is collected from Base Resource and First
Preference Customers.
The Base Resource and First Preference power provisional formula
rates recover a PRR through percentages for First Preference and Base
Resource Customers. Base Resource Customer percentages were established
through the public process for the 2004 Power Marketing Plan. The First
Preference Customers' percentages to be used for billing purposes were
developed as part of the rate process for the existing rates. A
comparison of the power revenue requirement for existing and
provisional formula rates follows:
Comparison of Power Revenue Requirements for Existing and Provisional Formula Rates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing rates (as of 4/1/ Provisional rates (effective 9/ Percent
06) ($000) 1/06) ($000) change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate Schedule........................ CV-F11 CV-F12 .........
Base Resource and First Preference $53,003 $52,983 -.04%
PRR.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certification of Rates
Western's Administrator certified that the provisional CVP power
and CVP, PACI, and COTP transmission service formula rates are the
lowest possible rates consistent with sound business principles. The
provisional formula rates were developed following administrative
policies and applicable laws.
PRR and CVP, PACI, and COTP Transmission Service Formula Rates
Discussion
According to Reclamation Law, Western must establish rates
sufficient to recover O&M, other annual and interest expenses, and
repay power investment and irrigation aid.
Statement of Revenue and Related Expenses
This rate adjustment constitutes a minor rate adjustment in
accordance with 10 CFR part 903 because it produces less than a 1
percent change in the annual revenues of the power system. The summary
of projected revenue and expense data from the PRS, as well as the
cost-of-service study that supported the existing rates and the rate
design and rate methodology were approved when the existing rates were
put into effect on November 18, 2004 (Rate Order No. WAPA-115, 69 FR
70510, December 6, 2004). The Commission confirmed and approved the
rate schedules on October 11, 2005, under FERC Docket No. EF05-5011-000
(113 FERC 61,026).
Basis for Rate Development
This rate adjustment does not change the rate design or methodology
of the existing rates. This rate adjustment removes the VAR Support
revenue requirement from the TRRs associated with Component 1 of the
CVP, PACI, and COTP transmission service. These provisional rates
include the CVP VAR Support in Component 1 of the Base Resource and
First Preference PRR.
Comments
The comments and responses regarding change of VAR Support revenue
requirement component, paraphrased for brevity when not affecting the
meaning of the statement(s), are discussed below. Direct quotes from
comment letters are used for clarification where necessary.
A. Comment: A Customer supported Western's recommendation to remove
all VAR Support costs from Western's TRR and recover CVP Western
generator VAR Support costs from the PRR. The customer indicated that
this action will ``allocate costs associated with CVP generation to the
CVP power rate base, which is much more appropriate and consistent with
cost causation than allocating these generator costs to the TRR.''
Response: Western appreciates the supportive comment.
B. Comment: A Customer supported Western's proposal to revise
Component 1 of its TRR to exclude the costs associated with VAR
Support. The Customer indicated that ``Western's proposal will ensure
that VAR support costs from CVP generation are paid by those entities
that are benefiting from the associated generation.''
Response: Western appreciates the supportive comment.
C. Comment: A Customer referenced an open FERC docket (114 FERC ]
61,303, issued March 23, 2006) regarding Entergy Services, Inc., and
expressed concern over Western's intentions to transfer VAR Support
costs from the TRR to the PRR; thereby, avoiding additional VAR Support
costs from non-Federal generators. The Customer indicated that ``while
there may be an argument that comparability would permit Western to
``zero out'' the VAR Support component of the TRR and not compensate
either Federal or non-Federal generators, it is not comparable
treatment to manipulate the rate structure to deprive non-affiliate
(non-Federal) generators of compensation while assuring affiliate
(Federal) generators of compensation.''
Response: Western understands that the Commission's policy for
compensation is one of comparability. In Order No. 2003 (68 FR 49,845),
the Commission emphasized that an interconnecting utility should not be
compensated for providing reactive power within the established power
factor range since it is only meeting its contractual obligation.
Generators need only be compensated where they are directed to operate
outside the deadband (68 FR 49891). In Order No. 2003A (69 FR 15,932),
the Commission addressed comparability. It added that if a transmission
provider pays its own or affiliated generator for reactive power within
the established range, then it must also pay interconnected customers
(69 FR 15935).
Western notes that in the Entergy Services, Inc. case cited above,
Entergy Services, Inc., established a rate schedule for reactive power.
Entergy included its revenue requirement for reactive power in the rate
schedule. As part of the Commission proceeding, Entergy sought to zero
out the Rate Schedule and thus Entergy maintained that it met the
comparability requirements of Order No. 2003A, and the Commission
agreed (114 FERC ] 61,303) (2006).
Western's rate actions are reviewed by the Commission under the
provisions of 18 CFR part 300 and Delegation Order No. 00-037.00.
Western strives to abide by Commission precedent, consistent with our
mission and statutory authorities, and, as such, has voluntarily
published an OATT and initiated this rate adjustment in an effort to
maintain comparability. Like Entergy, Western is removing the costs
from the TRR to meet the comparability test established by the
Commission. By law, Western
[[Page 45826]]
must recover all of its costs. To meet its statutory obligations and
remain consistent with Western's OATT, Western must recover its costs
from either transmission users or power users. Western may not forgo
recovery. As described above, the removal of the reactive power
component is the option which is most consistent with Western's
statutory duties. Based on Western's rate design all transmission
customers are treated comparably since no transmission customer pays
for reactive power within the deadband. In other words, all
transmission customers, including Western and interconnected utilities,
pay the same transmission rates. Given Western's position as a Federal
agency, Western believes this is consistent with the Commission's
position that compensation within the deadband is based solely on the
comparability provision in Order No. 2003A (114 FERC ] 61,303, slip op
5-6) (2006).
Comment: A Customer expressed concern that Western is shifting a
cost component that has traditionally been associated with transmission
service to its power rate and believes that this shift ``obfuscates the
costs associated with providing transmission service by allocating
costs traditionally allocated in transmission rates to other rates.''
This Customer believes that Western's proposal ``did not meet the
principle of comparability and is therefore discriminatory and
inconsistent with Western's reciprocity obligations under its tariff.''
Response: Prior to FERC Order No. 888 (61 FR 21,540), Western
traditionally bundled the costs for power, transmission, and ancillary
services. Western did not maintain a separate rate component for an
ancillary service such as reactive power. FERC Order No. 888 unbundled
power, transmission, and ancillary services. After FERC Order No. 888,
ancillary services were seen as a new commodity with a different
pricing mechanism. Within the confines of Western's statutory
requirements, Western voluntarily promulgated an OATT and unbundled
some of its power, transmission, and ancillary services. When Western
became aware of a possible non-comparability issue regarding
compensation for reactive power, Western initiated this rate process to
remedy that problem. Western was concerned that compensating non-
Federal generators under its existing rates and requiring these same
generators to pay for VAR Support in Western transmission service rates
created duplicative charges and unequal treatment for Federal and non-
Federal generators. Western rectified this situation with this rate
process. As discussed above, Western's final decision is consistent
with its statutory duties and with the comparability provisions of the
Commission.
Availability of Information
Information about this rate adjustment, including power repayment
studies, comments, letters, memorandums, and other supporting material
made and kept by Western and used to develop the provisional rates, is
available for public review in the Sierra Nevada Regional Office,
Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom,
California.
Regulatory Procedure Requirements
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 final 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 (NEPA) of
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE
NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), Western
has determined that this action is categorically excluded from
preparing an environmental assessment or an environmental impact
statement.
Determination Under Executive Order 12866
Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the
Office of Management and Budget is required.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
Western has determined that this rule is exempt from congressional
notification requirements under 5 U.S.C. 801 because the action is a
rulemaking of particular applicability relating to rates or services
and involves matters of procedure.
Submission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
The provisional rates herein confirmed, approved, and placed into
effect, together with supporting documents, will be submitted to the
Commission for confirmation and final approval.
Order
In view of the foregoing and under the authority delegated to me, I
confirm and approve on an interim basis, effective September 1, 2006,
Rate Schedules CV-F12, CV-T2, CV-NWT4, PACI-T2 and COTP-T2 for the
Central Valley and the California-Oregon Transmission Projects and the
Pacific Alternating Current Intertie of the Western Area Power
Administration. The rate schedules shall remain in effect on an interim
basis, pending the Commission's confirmation and approval of them or
substitute rates on a final basis through September 30, 2009.
Dated: July 26, 2006.
Clay Sell,
Deputy Secretary.
Rate Schedule CV-F12 (Supersedes Schedule CV-F11)
Central Valley Project; Schedule of Rates for Base Resource and First
Preference Power
Effective: September 1, 2006, through September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area served by the Sierra Nevada
Customer Service Region.
Applicable: To the Base Resource (BR) and First Preference (FP)
power Customers.
Character and Conditions of Service: Alternating current, 60 hertz,
three-phase, delivered and metered at the voltages and points
established by contract. This service includes the Central Valley
Project (CVP) transmission (to include reactive supply and voltage
control from Federal generation sources needed to support the
transmission service), spinning, and non-spinning reserve services.
Power Revenue Requirement: Western will develop the Power Revenue
Requirement (PRR) prior to the start of each fiscal year (FY). The PRR
will be divided into two 6-month periods, October through March and
April through September. A monthly PRR will be calculated by dividing
each 6-month PRR by six. The PRR for the April through September period
will be reviewed in March of each year. The review will analyze
financial data from the October through February period, to the extent
information is available, as
[[Page 45827]]
well as forecasted data for the March through September period. If
there is a change of $5 million or more, the PRR for the April through
September period will be recalculated.
First Preference Power Formula Rate:
Component 1:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10AU06.013
FP Customer Charge = FP Customer Percentage x MRR.
Where:
FP Customer Load = An FP Customer's forecasted annual load in
megawatthours (MWh).
Gen = The forecasted annual CVP and Washoe generation (MWh).
Power Purchases = Power purchases for project use and FP loads
(MWh).
Project Use = The forecasted annual project use loads (MWh).
MRR = Monthly Power Revenue Requirement.
Western will develop the FP Customer percentage prior to the start
of each FY. During March of each FY, each FP Customer's percentage will
be reviewed. If, as a result of the review, there is a change in the FP
Customer's percentage of more than one-half of 1 percent, the
percentage will be revised for the April through September period.
The percentages in the table below are the maximum percentages for
each FP Customer that will be applied to the MRR. The maximum
percentages were determined based on a critically dry year where there
are hydrologic conditions that result in low CVP generation and,
consequently, low levels of BR. These maximum percentages are not used
in instances where individual FP Customer percentages increase due to
load growth. If these maximum percentages are used for determining the
FP Customer's charges for more than 1 year, Western will evaluate their
percentage from the formula rate versus the maximum percentage and make
adjustments as appropriate.
FP Customers' Maximum Percentages
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum FP
customer's
FP customers percentage
applied to
the MRR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sierra Conservation Center................................ 1.39
Calaveras Public Power Agency............................. 3.49
Trinity Public Utility District........................... 9.21
Tuolumne Public Power Agency.............................. 3.42
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................. 17.51%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a sample calculation for an FP Customer monthly charge for
power.
FP Customer Monthly Charge Sample Calculation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example: First Preference Customer Charge Calculation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FP Customer Load--MWh................................... 10,000
Washoe generation--MWh.................................. 2,500
CVP generation--MWh..................................... 3,700,000
Project Use Load--MWh................................... 1,200,000
Project Use purchase--MWh............................... 47,000
FP Customer percentage.................................. 0.39%
MRR..................................................... $3,333,333
FP Customer monthly charge.............................. $13,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component 2: Any charges or credits associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any tariff, contract, or schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body will be passed on to each
appropriate Customer. The Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits apply to the service to which this rate
methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits in the same manner Western is charged or
credited. If the Commission or other regulatory body accepted or
approved charges or credits cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the charges or credits will be passed through
using Component 1 of the FP power formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits from the Host Control Area
(HCA) applied to Western for providing this service will be passed
through directly to the appropriate Customer in the same manner Western
is charged or credited, to the extent possible. If the HCA costs or
credits cannot be passed through to the appropriate Customer in the
same manner Western is charged or credited, the charges or credits will
be passed through using Component 1 of the FP power formula rate.
BR Formula Rate:
Component 1:
BR Customer Charges = (BR RR x BR %)
Where:
BR RR = BR Monthly Revenue Requirement
BR % = BR percentage for each Customer as indicated in the BR
contract after adjustments for hourly exchange energy.
BR Customers will pay for exchange energy by adjusting the BR
percentage that is applied to the BR RR. Adjustments to a Customer's BR
percentage for seasonal exchanges will be reflected in the Customer's
BR contract.
An illustration of the adjustment to a Customer's BR percentage for
hourly Exchange Energy (EE) is shown in the table below.
Example of Base Resource Percentage Adjustments for Exchange Energy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BR
percentage Hourly BR Customer's Customers BR delivered Revised BR
BR customer from = 30 MWh BR in excess receiving EE (adjusting percentage
contract of load for EE)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Customer A..................... 20 6 3 0 3 10
Customer B..................... 10 3 0 1 4 13.33
Customer C..................... 70 21 0 2 23 76.67
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 100.................. 30 3 3 30 100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 45828]]
After the FP Customers' share of the annual PRR has been
determined, the remainder of the annual PRR is recovered from the BR
Customers. The BR RR will be collected in two 6-month periods. For
October through March, 25 percent of the BR RR will be collected. For
April through September, 75 percent of the BR RR will be collected.
A BR RR is calculated by dividing the BR 6-month revenue
requirement by six. The revenues from the sale of surplus BR will be
applied to the annual BR RR for the following FY.
Component 2: Any charges or credits associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any tariff, contract, or schedule
accepted or approved by the Commission or other regulatory body will be
passed on to each appropriate Customer. The Commission or other
regulatory body accepted or approved charges or credits apply to the
service to which this rate methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits in the same manner Western is charged or
credited. If the Commission or other regulatory body accepted or
approved charges or credits cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the charges or credits will be passed through
using Component 1 of the BR formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits from the HCA applied to Western
for providing this service will be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same manner Western is charged or credited,
to the extent possible. If the HCA costs or credits cannot be passed
through to the appropriate Customer in the same manner Western is
charged or credited, the charges or credits will be passed through
using Component 1 of the BR formula rate.
Billing: Billing for BR and FP power will occur monthly using the
respective formula rate.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses will be accounted for under this rate
schedule as stated in the service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments: Financial audit adjustments that
apply to the revenue requirement under this rate schedule will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the appropriate
treatment for repayment and cash flow management.
Rate Schedule CV-T2 (Supersedes Schedule CV-T1)
Central Valley Project; Schedule of Rate for Transmission Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area served by the Sierra Nevada
Customer Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers receiving Central Valley Project (CVP)
firm and/or non-firm transmission service.
Character and Conditions of Service: Transmission service for
three-phase, alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered and metered at
the voltages and points of delivery or receipt, adjusted for losses,
and delivered to points of delivery. This service includes scheduling
and system control and dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for CVP firm and non-firm
transmission service includes three components:
Component 1:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10AU06.014
Where:
CVP TRR = Transmission Revenue Requirement is the costs associated
with facilities that support the transfer capability of the CVP
transmission system, excluding generation facilities and radial
lines.
TTc = Total Transmission Capacity is the total transmission capacity
under long-term contract between the Western Area Power
Administration (Western) and other parties.
NITSc = Average 12-month coincident peaks of network integrated
transmission service (NITS) Customers at the time of the monthly CVP
transmission system peak. For rate design purposes, Western's use of
the transmission system to meet its statutory obligations is treated
as NITS.
Western will revise the rate from Component 1 based on either of
the following two conditions: (a) Updated financial data available in
March of each year and (b) a change in the numerator or denominator
that results in a rate change of at least $0.05 per kilowattmonth. Rate
change notifications will be posted on the Open Access Same-Time
Information System.
Component 2: Any charges or credits associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body will be passed on to each
appropriate Customer. The Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits apply to the service to which this rate
methodology applies. When possible, Western will pass through directly
to the appropriate Customer, the Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits in the same manner Western is
charged or credited. If the Commission or other regulatory body
accepted or approved charges or credits cannot be passed through
directly to the appropriate Customer in the same manner Western is
charged or credited, the charges or credits will be passed through
using Component 1 of the CVP transmission service formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits from the Host Control Area
(HCA) applied to Western for providing this service will be passed
through directly to the appropriate Customer in the same manner Western
is charged or credited, to the extent possible. If the HCA costs or
credits cannot be passed through to the appropriate Customer in the
same manner Western is charged or credited, the charges or credits will
be passed through using Component 1 of the CVP transmission service
formula rate.
Billing: The formula rate above applies to the maximum amount of
capacity reserved for periods ranging from 1 hour to 1 month, payable
whether used or not. Billing will occur monthly.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed to by the parties in
accordance with the service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments: Financial audit adjustments that
apply to the revenue requirement under this rate schedule will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the appropriate
treatment for repayment and cash flow management.
Rate Schedule CV-NWT4 (Supersedes Schedule CV-NWT3)
Central Valley Project; Schedule of Rate for Network Integration
Transmission Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area served by the Sierra Nevada
Customer Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers who receive Central Valley Project (CVP)
Network Integration Transmission Service (NITS), to points of delivery
and receipt as specified in the service agreement.
Character and Conditions of Service: Transmission service for
three-phase, alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered
[[Page 45829]]
and metered at the voltages and points of delivery or receipt, adjusted
for losses, and delivered to points of delivery. This service includes
scheduling and system control and dispatch service needed to support
the transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for CVP NITS includes three
components:
Component 1:
NITS Customer's monthly demand charge = NITS Customer's load ratio
share times one-twelfth (1/12) of the Annual Network TRR.
Where:
NITS Customer's load ratio share = The NITS Customer's hourly load
(including behind the meter generation minus the NITS Customer's
hourly Base Resource) coincident with the monthly CVP transmission
system peak minus the coincident peak for all firm CVP (including
reserved transmission capacity) transmission service, expressed as a
ratio.
Annual Network TRR = Total CVP transmission revenue requirement,
less revenues from long-term contracts for CVP transmission between
the Western Area Power Administration (Western) and other parties.
The Annual Network TRR will be revised when the rate from Component
1 of the CVP transmission rate under Rate Schedule CV-T1 is revised.
Component 2: Any charges or credits associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Commission or other regulatory body will be
passed on to each appropriate Customer. The Commission accepted or
approved charges or credits apply to the service to which this rate
methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits in the same manner Western is charged or
credited. If the Commission or other regulatory body accepted or
approved charges or credits cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed through using Component 1 of the
CVP NITS formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits from the Host Control Area
(HCA) applied to Western for providing this service will be passed
through directly to the appropriate Customer in the same manner Western
is charged or credited, to the extent possible. If the HCA charges or
credits cannot be passed through to the appropriate Customer in the
same manner Western is charged or credited, the charges or credits will
be passed through using Component 1 of the CVP NITS formula rate.
Billing: NITS will be billed monthly under the formula rate.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed to by the parties in
accordance with the service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments: Financial audit adjustments that
apply to the revenue requirement under this rate schedule will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the appropriate
treatment for repayment and cash flow management.
Rate Schedule COTP-T2 (Supersedes Schedule COTP-T1)
California-Oregon Transmission Project; Schedule of Rate for
Transmission Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area served by the Sierra Nevada
Customer Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers receiving California-Oregon Transmission
Project (COTP) firm and/or non-firm transmission service.
Character and Conditions of Service: Transmission service for
three-phase, alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered and metered at
the voltages and points of delivery or receipt, adjusted for losses,
and delivered to points of delivery. This service includes scheduling
and system control and dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for COTP firm and non-firm
transmission service includes three components:
Component 1:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10AU06.015
Where:
COTP TRR = COTP Seasonal Transmission Revenue Requirement (the
Western Area Power Administration's (Western) costs associated with
facilities that support the transfer capability of the COTP).
Western's share of COTP Seasonal Capacity = Western's share of COTP
capacity (subject to curtailment) under the then current California-
Oregon Intertie (COI) transfer capability for the season. Seasonal
definitions for summer, winter, and spring are June through October,
November through March, and April through May, respectively.
Western will update the rate from Component 1 of the formula rate
for COTP firm transmission service at least 15 days before the start of
each COI rating season. Rate change notifications will be posted on the
Open Access Same-Time Information System.
Component 2: Any charges or credits associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body will be passed on to each
appropriate Customer. The Commission accepted or approved charges or
credits apply to the service to which this rate methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits in the same manner Western is charged or
credited. If the Commission or other regulatory body accepted or
approved charges or credits cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in the same manner Western is charged or credited,
the charges or credits will be passed through using Component 1 of the
COTP transmission service formula rate.
Component 3: Any charges or credits from the Host Control Area
(HCA) applied to Western for providing this service will be passed
through directly to the appropriate Customer in the same manner Western
is charged or credited, to the extent possible. If the HCA charges or
credits cannot be passed through to the appropriate Customer in the
same manner Western is charged or credited, the charges or credits will
be passed through using Component 1 of the COTP transmission service
formula rate.
Billing: The formula rate above applies to the maximum amount of
capacity reserved for periods ranging from 1 hour to 1 month, payable
whether used or not. Billing will occur monthly.
Adjustment for Losses: Losses incurred for service under this rate
schedule will be accounted for as agreed to by the parties in
accordance with the service agreement.
Adjustment for Audit Adjustments: Financial audit adjustments that
apply to the revenue requirement under this rate schedule will be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the appropriate
treatment for repayment and cash flow management.
[[Page 45830]]
Rate Schedule PACI-T2 (Supersedes Schedule PACI-T1)
Pacific Alternating Current Intertie Project; Schedule of Rate for
Transmission Service
Effective: September 1, 2006, through September 30, 2009.
Available: Within the marketing area served by the Sierra Nevada
Customer Service Region.
Applicable: To Customers receiving the Pacific Alternating Current
Intertie (PACI) firm and/or non-firm transmission service.
Character and Conditions of Service: Transmission service for
three-phase, alternating current at 60 hertz, delivered and metered at
the voltages and points of delivery or receipt, adjusted for losses,
and delivered to points of delivery. This service includes scheduling
and system control and dispatch service needed to support the
transmission service.
Formula Rate: The formula rate for PACI firm and non-firm
transmission service includes three components:
Component 1:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN10AU06.016
Where:
PACI TRR = PACI Seasonal Transmission Revenue Requirement, the
Western Area Power Administration's (Western) costs associated with
facilities that support the transfer capability of the PACI.
Western's PACI Seasonal Capacity = Western's share of PACI capacity
(subject to curtailment) under the then current California-Oregon
Intertie (COI) transfer capability for the season. Seasonal
definitions for summer, winter, and spring are June through October,
November through March, and April through May, respectively.
Western will update the rate from Component 1 of the formula rate
for PACI firm transmission service at least 15 days before the start of
each COI rating season. Rate change notifications will be posted on the
Open Access Same-Time Information System.
Component 2: Any charges or credits associated with the creation,
termination, or modification to any tariff, contract, or rate schedule
accepted or approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) or other regulatory body will be passed on to each
appropriate Customer. The Commission accepted or approved charges or
credits apply to the service to which this rate methodology applies.
When possible, Western will pass through directly to the
appropriate Customer, the Commission or other regulatory body accepted
or approved charges or credits in the same manner Western is charged or
credited. If the Commission or other regulatory body accepted or
approved charges or credits cannot be passed through directly to the
appropriate Customer in t