Loveland Area Projects and Western Area Colorado Missouri Balancing Authority-Rate Order No. WAPA-197, 20688-20689 [2021-08192]

Download as PDF 20688 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 21, 2021 / Notices applicant and all other parties to the proceeding. Contact information for parties can be downloaded from the service list at the eService link on FERC Online. Service can be via email with a link to the document. All timely, unopposed 7 motions to intervene are automatically granted by operation of Rule 214(c)(1).8 Motions to intervene that are filed after the intervention deadline are untimely, and may be denied. Any late-filed motion to intervene must show good cause for being late and must explain why the time limitation should be waived and provide justification by reference to factors set forth in Rule 214(d) of the Commission’s Rules and Regulations.9 A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies (paper or electronic) of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. Tracking the Proceeding Throughout the proceeding, additional information about the project will be available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208– FERC, or on the FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link as described above. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. For more information and to register, go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp. Intervention Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 6, 2021. Dated: April 15, 2021. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–08240 Filed 4–20–21; 8:45 am] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 7 The applicant has 15 days from the submittal of a motion to intervene to file a written objection to the intervention. 8 18 CFR 385.214(c)(1). 9 18 CFR 385.214(b)(3) and (d). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Apr 20, 2021 Jkt 253001 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Loveland Area Projects and Western Area Colorado Missouri Balancing Authority—Rate Order No. WAPA–197 Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of proposed transmission, energy and generator imbalance, and losses formula rates for use under the Western Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS) Market. AGENCY: The Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes to convert its existing rates for short-term sales for RMR to use under the WEIS Market to new long-term formula rates for use October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2024. The existing formula rates (approved under the WAPA Administrator’s short-term rate authority) expire on September 30, 2021. No changes are being proposed to the existing formula rates under the rates for short-term sales Rate Schedules L–NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission), L–AS4 (energy imbalance), L–AS9 (generator imbalance), and L–AS7 (balancing authority real power losses). DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin April 21, 2021 and end May 21, 2021. RMR will accept written comments at any time during the 30-day consultation and comment period. SUMMARY: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed formula rates submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to: Mr. Timothy A. Vigil, Acting Regional Manager, Rocky Mountain Region, Western Area Power Administration, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO 80538–8986, or email: LAPtransadj@wapa.gov. RMR will post information about the proposed formula rates and written comments received to its website at: https://www.wapa.gov/ regions/RM/rates/Pages/2021-LongTerm-Rates---WEIS-Market.aspx. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Sheila D. Cook, Rates Manager, Rocky Mountain Region, Western Area Power Administration, (970) 685–9562 or email: scook@wapa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 9, 2017, FERC approved and confirmed LAP transmission and LAP, WACM, and Colorado River Storage Project ancillary services formula rates under Rate Schedules L–NT1 (network), L–FPT1 ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (firm point-to-point), L–NFPT1 (nonfirm point-to-point), L–UU1 (unreserved use), L–AS1 (scheduling and dispatch), L–AS2 (reactive supply and voltage control (VAR) support), L–AS3 (regulation), L–AS4 (energy imbalance), L–AS5 (spinning reserves), L–AS6 (supplemental reserves), L–AS7 (transmission losses), and L–AS9 (generator imbalance) under Rate Order No. WAPA–174 for a 5-year period through September 30, 2021.1 On December 29, 2020, WAPA’s Administrator approved rates for shortterm sales for RMR to use under the WEIS Market, which superseded the previously approved Rate Schedules L– AS4 (energy imbalance), L–AS9 (generator imbalance), and L–AS7 (transmission losses) and which created a new Rate Schedule, L–NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission), for the 8-month period February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. The existing formula rates under the rates for short-term sales provide sufficient revenue to recover annual costs within the cost recovery criteria set forth in Department of Energy (DOE) Order RA 6120.2. RMR proposes that the long-term formula-based rates would take effect October 1, 2021. The proposed formula rates would remain in effect until September 30, 2024, or until WAPA changes the formula rates through another public rate process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903, whichever occurs first. For more information on the proposed rates, please see the customer brochure located on RMR’s website at: https://www.wapa.gov/ regions/RM/rates/Pages/2021-LongTerm-Rates---WEIS-Market.aspx. Under a separate rate extension process, Rate Order No. WAPA–196, RMR is concurrently proposing to extend the remaining 5-year formula rates under Rate Schedules L–NT1 (network), L–FPT1 (firm point-to-point), L–NFPT1 (non-firm point-to-point), L– UU1 (unreserved use), L–AS1 (scheduling and dispatch), L–AS2 (VAR support), L–AS3 (regulation), L–AS5 (spinning reserves), and L–AS6 (supplemental reserves) for this same 3year period, October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2024. This 3-year period would allow RMR time to refine the WEIS Market implementation and investigate the potential expansion of and participation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in the Western Interconnection. 1 Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final Basis, FERC Docket Nos. EF16–5–000 and EF16–5–001, 158 FERC ¶ 62,181 (2017). E:\FR\FM\21APN1.SGM 21APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 21, 2021 / Notices The potential expansion of the SPP RTO would have significant impacts on the above rate methodologies. Putting rates in place for the next three years would also allow time for RMR to evaluate what changes would need to be made to these rates before conducting a major rate adjustment process and putting all the necessary formula rates in place for a new 5-year period that would begin on October 1, 2024. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Legal Authority DOE’s procedures for public participation in power and transmission rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were published in 1985 and 2019.2 The proposed action constitutes a minor rate adjustment, as defined by 10 CFR 903.2(e). In accordance with 10 CFR 903.15(a) and 10 CFR 903.16(a), WAPA has determined it is not necessary to hold public information and public comment forums for this rate action but is initiating a 30-day consultation and comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed formula rates. RMR will review and consider all timely public comments at the conclusion of the consultation and comment period and will make amendments or adjustments to the proposal as appropriate. Proposed rates would then be approved on an interim basis. WAPA is establishing the formula rates for LAP and WACM in accordance with section 302 of the DOE Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152).3 By Delegation Order No. 00–037.00B, effective November 19, 2016, the Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power and transmission rates to WAPA’s Administrator; (2) the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, or to remand or disapprove such rates to FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1–DEL–S4–2021, effective February 25, 2021, the Acting Secretary of Energy also delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Under Secretary for Science (and 2 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019). 3 This Act transferred to, and vested in, the Secretary of Energy the power marketing functions of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and the 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 section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s); and other acts that specifically apply to the projects involved. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Apr 20, 2021 Jkt 253001 Energy). By Redelegation Order No. 00– 002.10E, effective February 14, 2020, the Under Secretary of Energy (to whom such authority was delegated by the Secretary of Energy in Delegation Order No. 00–002.00S from January 15, 2020, until that delegation was rescinded on February 25, 2021) redelegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Assistant Secretary for Electricity. By Redelegation Order No. 00–002.10– 05, effective July 8, 2020, the Assistant Secretary for Electricity further redelegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to WAPA’s Administrator. The delegations and redelegations not affirmatively rescinded remain valid. Availability of Information All brochures, studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other documents that RMR initiates or uses to develop the proposed formula rates are available for inspection and copying at the Rocky Mountain Region, located at 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, Colorado. Many of these documents and supporting information are also available on WAPA’s website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/RM/ rates/Pages/2021-Long-Term-Rates--WEIS-Market.aspx. Ratemaking Procedure Requirements Environmental Compliance WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or if this action can be categorically excluded from those requirements.4 Determination Under Executive Order 12866 WAPA has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the Office of Management and Budget is required. Signing Authority This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 9, 2021, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Interim Administrator, Western Area Power Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document, with the original signature and date, is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, 4 In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4347); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021). PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 20689 and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register. Signed in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2021. Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2021–08192 Filed 4–20–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Loveland Area Projects, Western Area Colorado Missouri Balancing Authority, and Colorado River Storage Project—Rate Order No. WAPA–196 Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of transmission and ancillary services formula rates. AGENCY: The Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes to extend existing formula rates for the Loveland Area Projects (LAP), the Western Area Colorado Missouri Balancing Authority (WACM), and the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) through September 30, 2024. The extended formula rates are unchanged from the existing formula rates applicable to LAP transmission services under rate schedules L–NT1 (network), L–FPT1 (firm point-to-point), L–NFPT1 (non-firm point-to-point), and L–UU1 (unreserved use), and applicable to LAP, WACM, and CRSP ancillary services under rate schedules L–AS1 (scheduling and dispatch), L–AS2 (reactive supply and voltage control (VAR) support), L– AS3 (regulation), L–AS5 (spinning reserves), and L–AS6 (supplemental reserves) that expire on September 30, 2021. DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin April 21, 2021 and end May 21, 2021. RMR will accept written comments at any time during the consultation and comment period. ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed extension submitted by WAPA to FERC SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\21APN1.SGM 21APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20688-20689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08192]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Loveland Area Projects and Western Area Colorado Missouri 
Balancing Authority--Rate Order No. WAPA-197

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed transmission, energy and generator 
imbalance, and losses formula rates for use under the Western Energy 
Imbalance Service (WEIS) Market.

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

SUMMARY: The Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) of the Western Area Power 
Administration (WAPA) proposes to convert its existing rates for short-
term sales for RMR to use under the WEIS Market to new long-term 
formula rates for use October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2024. The 
existing formula rates (approved under the WAPA Administrator's short-
term rate authority) expire on September 30, 2021. No changes are being 
proposed to the existing formula rates under the rates for short-term 
sales Rate Schedules L-NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission), L-AS4 
(energy imbalance), L-AS9 (generator imbalance), and L-AS7 (balancing 
authority real power losses).

DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin April 21, 2021 and 
end May 21, 2021. RMR will accept written comments at any time during 
the 30-day consultation and comment period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed 
formula rates submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to: 
Mr. Timothy A. Vigil, Acting Regional Manager, Rocky Mountain Region, 
Western Area Power Administration, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, 
Loveland, CO 80538-8986, or email: [email protected]. RMR will post 
information about the proposed formula rates and written comments 
received to its website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/RM/rates/
Pages/2021-Long-Term-Rates_-WEIS-Market.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Sheila D. Cook, Rates Manager, 
Rocky Mountain Region, Western Area Power Administration, (970) 685-
9562 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 9, 2017, FERC approved and 
confirmed LAP transmission and LAP, WACM, and Colorado River Storage 
Project ancillary services formula rates under Rate Schedules L-NT1 
(network), L-FPT1 (firm point-to-point), L-NFPT1 (non-firm point-to-
point), L-UU1 (unreserved use), L-AS1 (scheduling and dispatch), L-AS2 
(reactive supply and voltage control (VAR) support), L-AS3 
(regulation), L-AS4 (energy imbalance), L-AS5 (spinning reserves), L-
AS6 (supplemental reserves), L-AS7 (transmission losses), and L-AS9 
(generator imbalance) under Rate Order No. WAPA-174 for a 5-year period 
through September 30, 2021.\1\ On December 29, 2020, WAPA's 
Administrator approved rates for short-term sales for RMR to use under 
the WEIS Market, which superseded the previously approved Rate 
Schedules L-AS4 (energy imbalance), L-AS9 (generator imbalance), and L-
AS7 (transmission losses) and which created a new Rate Schedule, L-
NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission), for the 8-month period February 1, 
2021, through September 30, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedules on a Final 
Basis, FERC Docket Nos. EF16-5-000 and EF16-5-001, 158 FERC ] 62,181 
(2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The existing formula rates under the rates for short-term sales 
provide sufficient revenue to recover annual costs within the cost 
recovery criteria set forth in Department of Energy (DOE) Order RA 
6120.2. RMR proposes that the long-term formula-based rates would take 
effect October 1, 2021. The proposed formula rates would remain in 
effect until September 30, 2024, or until WAPA changes the formula 
rates through another public rate process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903, 
whichever occurs first. For more information on the proposed rates, 
please see the customer brochure located on RMR's website at: https://
www.wapa.gov/regions/RM/rates/Pages/2021-Long-Term-Rates_-WEIS-
Market.aspx.
    Under a separate rate extension process, Rate Order No. WAPA-196, 
RMR is concurrently proposing to extend the remaining 5-year formula 
rates under Rate Schedules L-NT1 (network), L-FPT1 (firm point-to-
point), L-NFPT1 (non-firm point-to-point), L-UU1 (unreserved use), L-
AS1 (scheduling and dispatch), L-AS2 (VAR support), L-AS3 (regulation), 
L-AS5 (spinning reserves), and L-AS6 (supplemental reserves) for this 
same 3-year period, October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2024.
    This 3-year period would allow RMR time to refine the WEIS Market 
implementation and investigate the potential expansion of and 
participation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission 
Organization (RTO) in the Western Interconnection.

[[Page 20689]]

The potential expansion of the SPP RTO would have significant impacts 
on the above rate methodologies. Putting rates in place for the next 
three years would also allow time for RMR to evaluate what changes 
would need to be made to these rates before conducting a major rate 
adjustment process and putting all the necessary formula rates in place 
for a new 5-year period that would begin on October 1, 2024.

Legal Authority

    DOE's procedures for public participation in power and transmission 
rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were published in 1985 and 2019.\2\ 
The proposed action constitutes a minor rate adjustment, as defined by 
10 CFR 903.2(e). In accordance with 10 CFR 903.15(a) and 10 CFR 
903.16(a), WAPA has determined it is not necessary to hold public 
information and public comment forums for this rate action but is 
initiating a 30-day consultation and comment period to give the public 
an opportunity to comment on the proposed formula rates. RMR will 
review and consider all timely public comments at the conclusion of the 
consultation and comment period and will make amendments or adjustments 
to the proposal as appropriate. Proposed rates would then be approved 
on an interim basis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    WAPA is establishing the formula rates for LAP and WACM in 
accordance with section 302 of the DOE Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 
7152).\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ This Act transferred to, and vested in, the Secretary of 
Energy the power marketing functions of the Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior and the 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 section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 
825s); and other acts that specifically apply to the projects 
involved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00B, effective November 19, 2016, 
the Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power 
and transmission rates to WAPA's Administrator; (2) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis 
to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, 
approve, and place into effect on a final basis, or to remand or 
disapprove such rates to FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S4-2021, 
effective February 25, 2021, the Acting Secretary of Energy also 
delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into 
effect on an interim basis to the Under Secretary for Science (and 
Energy). By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10E, effective February 14, 
2020, the Under Secretary of Energy (to whom such authority was 
delegated by the Secretary of Energy in Delegation Order No. 00-002.00S 
from January 15, 2020, until that delegation was rescinded on February 
25, 2021) redelegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such 
rates into effect on an interim basis to the Assistant Secretary for 
Electricity. By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05, effective July 8, 
2020, the Assistant Secretary for Electricity further redelegated the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an 
interim basis to WAPA's Administrator. The delegations and 
redelegations not affirmatively rescinded remain valid.

Availability of Information

    All brochures, studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other 
documents that RMR initiates or uses to develop the proposed formula 
rates are available for inspection and copying at the Rocky Mountain 
Region, located at 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, Colorado. 
Many of these documents and supporting information are also available 
on WAPA's website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/RM/rates/Pages/2021-
Long-Term-Rates_-WEIS-Market.aspx.

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or 
if this action can be categorically excluded from those 
requirements.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347); the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); 
and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 
1021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    WAPA has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the 
Office of Management and Budget is required.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 9, 
2021, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Interim Administrator, Western Area Power 
Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of 
Energy. That document, with the original signature and date, is 
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance 
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-08192 Filed 4-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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