Southwestern Power Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) proposes to revise the existing Integrated System rate schedules to meet the identified average annual revenue need of $237,821,129, an increase of $44,230,649 (22.8 percent), effective April 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Interested persons may review the proposed rate and supporting studies on Southwestern's website, request to participate in a public forum, and submit comments. Southwestern will evaluate all comments received in this process.

The Administrator of the Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) has approved and implemented Rate Order No. SWPA-85, which grants a temporary extension of Southwestern's current Integrated System rate schedules (P-13B, NFTS-13A, and EE-13) through September 30, 2025, unless superseded.

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

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has approved and placed into effect Rate Order No. SWPA-81, which provides a temporary extension of Southwestern's current Integrated System rate schedules (P-13B, NFTS-13A, and EE-13) through September 30, 2024, unless superseded.

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-80 (Rate Order), which provides the following Integrated System Wholesale Rates for Hydro Peaking Power (P-13B) Rate Schedule: Rate Schedule P-13B, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Peaking Power (Rate Schedule P-13B).

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-77, which extends the following existing Southwestern Integrated System rate schedules: Rate Schedule P-13A, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Peaking Power; Rate Schedule NFTS-13A, Wholesale Rates for Non-Federal Transmission/Interconnection Facilities Service; and Rate Schedule EE-13, Wholesale Rates for Excess Energy. This is an interim rate action effective October 1, 2021, extending for a period of two years through September 30, 2023.

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-78, which extends the following existing Southwestern Sam Rayburn Dam Hydropower Project rate schedule: Rate Schedule SRD-15, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Power and Energy. This is an interim rate action effective October 1, 2021, extending for a period of two years through September 30, 2023.

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), is proposing a two-year extension to the currently approved rate schedules for the Integrated System, the Sam Rayburn Dam, and the Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Robert D. Willis) for the period of October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023. Southwestern's current Integrated System rate schedules (P-13A, NFTS-13A, and EE-13), the Sam Rayburn Dam rate schedule (SRD-15), and the Robert D. Willis rate schedule (RDW-15), expire September 30, 2021.

The Assistant Secretary for Electricity has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-76, which extends the following existing Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project rate schedule for the Southwestern Power Administration: Rate Schedule RDW- 15, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Power and Energy. This is an interim rate action effective October 1, 2019, extending for a period of two years through September 30, 2021.

The Assistant Secretary for Electricity has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-74, which extends the following existing Integrated System rate schedules for the Southwestern Power Administration: Rate Schedule P-13A, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Peaking Power; Rate Schedule NFTS-13A, Wholesale Rates for Non-Federal Transmission/Interconnection Facilities Service; Rate Schedule EE-13, Wholesale Rates for Excess Energy. This is an interim rate action effective October 1, 2019, extending for a period of two years through September 30, 2021.

The Assistant Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-73, which provides the following Integrated System Wholesale Rates for Hydro Peaking Power (P-13A) Rate Schedule: Rate Schedule P-13A, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Peaking Power.

The Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-72 which extends the existing rate schedules for the Integrated System:

The Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-71, which provides the following Integrated System Non-Federal Transmission Service (NFTS) Rate Schedule: Rate Schedule NFTS-13A, Wholesale Rates for Non-Federal Transmission Service.

Pursuant to Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00A, effective October 25, 2013, and 00-001.00F, effective November 17, 2014, the Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-69, which increases the power rate for the Sam Rayburn Dam Project (Rayburn) pursuant to the Rayburn Rate Schedule (SRD-15) to supersede the existing rate schedule.

The Acting Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has prepared Current and Revised 2015 Power Repayment Studies for the Sam Rayburn Dam project which show the need for an increase in annual revenues to meet cost recovery criteria. Such increased revenues are needed primarily to cover the costs associated with increased operations and maintenance costs and increased interest expense associated with investments and replacements in the hydroelectric generating facilities. The Acting Administrator of Southwestern has developed a proposed Sam Rayburn Dam Rate Schedule, which is supported by power repayment studies, to recover the required revenues. The Revised 2015 Power Repayment Study indicates that the proposed Rate Schedule would increase annual revenues approximately 7.9 percent from $4,230,120 to $4,563,792 effective January 1, 2016 through September 30, 2019.

Pursuant to Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00A, effective October 25, 2013, and 00-001.0OE, effective June 6, 2013, the Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-68, which increases the power rate for the Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project (Willis) pursuant to the Willis Rate Schedule which supersedes the existing rate schedule.

The U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-66, which increases the power rates for the Integrated System pursuant to the Integrated System Rate Schedules to supersede the existing rate schedules.

The current Sam Rayburn Dam Project rate was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on March 30, 2009, Docket No. EF09-4021-000, 126 FERC ] 62,224. These rates became effective for the period January 1, 2009, through September 30, 2012. The rate was extended by the Deputy Secretary of Energy for the period October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013 (77 FR 67813, November. 14, 2012). The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has prepared Current and Revised 2013 Power Repayment Studies which show the need for an increase in annual revenues of $280,248 (7.1 percent) to meet cost recovery criteria. Such increased revenues are needed primarily to recover cost increases to investments and replacements in the hydroelectric generating facilities and small increases to annual operations and maintenance costs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Administrator of Southwestern has developed a proposed Sam Rayburn Dam rate to recover the required revenues. The Revised 2013 Study indicates that the proposed rates would increase annual system revenues approximately 7.1 percent, from $3,949,872 to $4,230,120, effective October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2017.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-65.

The current Sam Rayburn Dam Project rate was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on March 30, 2009, Docket No. EF09-4021-000. These rates became effective for the period January 1, 2009, through September 30, 2012. The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has prepared Current and Revised 2012 Power Repayment Studies which show the need for an increase in annual revenues of $193,896 (4.9 percent) to meet cost recovery criteria. In accordance with Southwestern's isolated project rate adjustment threshold, signed September 8, 2003, the Administrator, Southwestern, may determine, on a case by case basis, that for a revenue decrease or increase in the magnitude of five percent or less, deferral of a formal rate filing is in the best interest of the Government. The Deputy Secretary of Energy has the authority to extend rates, previously confirmed and approved by FERC, on an interim basis, pursuant to title 10, part 903, subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR part 903), sections 903.22(h) and 903.23(a)(3) . In accordance with these authorities, Southwestern proposes to defer the rate adjustment and proposes that the current rates be extended for a one-year period effective through September 30, 2013.

Pursuant to Delegation Order Nos. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, and 00-001.00C, effective January 31, 2007, the Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-63, which increases the power rates for the Integrated System pursuant to the Integrated System Rate Schedules which supersede the existing rate schedules.

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has prepared Current and Revised 2011 Power Repayment Studies which show the need for an increase in annual revenues to meet cost recovery criteria. Such increased revenues are needed primarily to cover increased costs associated with compliance requirements of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and to cover increased investments and replacements in hydroelectric generating facilities. The Administrator has developed proposed Integrated System rates, which are supported by a rate design study, to recover the required revenues. The June 2011 Revised Study indicates that the proposed rates would increase annual system revenues approximately 5.4 percent from $177,191,800 to $186,761,225 effective November 1, 2011 through September 30, 2015.

The Department of Energy (DOE or Department), acting through the Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western), both power marketing administrations (PMAs) within the Department, is seeking Project Proposals from entities that are interested in providing contributed funds under section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) for Southwestern or Western's participation in the upgrade of existing transmission facilities owned by either PMA, or the construction of new transmission lines in the states in which either PMA operates.

The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), has prepared Current and Revised 2009 Power Repayment Studies which show the need for an increase in annual revenues to meet cost recovery criteria. Such increased revenues are needed primarily to cover increased investments and replacements in hydroelectric generating facilities and increased operation and maintenance expenses. The Administrator has developed proposed Integrated System rates, which are supported by a rate design study, to recover the required revenues. The June 2009 Revised Study indicates that the proposed rates would increase annual system revenues approximately 10.8 percent from $160,255,300 to $177,586,158.

Section 132 of Public Law 109-103 (2005) authorized and directed the Secretary of the Army to implement alternatives BS-3 and NF-7, as described in the White River Minimum Flows Reallocation Study Report, Arkansas and Missouri, dated July 2004. The law states that the Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), in consultation with the project licensee and the relevant state public utility commissions, shall determine any impacts on electric energy and capacity generated at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 2221 caused by the storage reallocation at Bull Shoals Lake. Further, the licensee of Project No. 2221 shall be fully compensated by the Corps of Engineers for those impacts on the basis of the present value of the estimated future lifetime replacement costs of the electrical energy and capacity at the time of implementation of the White River Minimum Flows project. The law also states that losses to the Federal hydropower purpose of the Bull Shoals and Norfork Projects shall be offset by a reduction in the costs allocated to the Federal hydropower purpose. Further, such reduction shall be determined by the Administrator of Southwestern on the basis of the present value of the estimated future lifetime replacement cost of the electrical energy and capacity at the time of implementation of the White River Minimum Flows project. Southwestern's draft determination was published by Federal Register Notice (73 FR 6717) dated February 5, 2008. Written comments were invited through March 6, 2008. All public comments received were considered, and Southwestern's draft determination was revised as necessary to incorporate the public comments. Since there were significant changes to Southwestern's draft determination, Southwestern published a proposed determination for additional public review and comment prior to its final determination. Southwestern's proposed determination was published by Federal Register Notice (73 FR 38198) on July 3, 2008. Written comments were invited through August 4, 2008. After receiving several requests for additional time to provide public comments, Southwestern reopened the public comment period through September 18, 2008. All public comments received were considered in revising the proposed determination, and Southwestern is publishing notification of its final determination. Southwestern's final determination is fully documented in its Final Determination Report dated January 2009, which was prepared in consultation with the licensee and the relevant public service commissions. Southwestern's Final Determination Report documents the procedure to be used to calculate the present value of the future lifetime replacement cost of the electrical energy and capacity lost due to the White River Minimum Flows project at the non-Federal FERC Project No. 2221 and the Federal Bull Shoals and Norfork projects. The actual hydropower compensation values are to be calculated using the method presented in the final determination and current values for the specified parameters based on the official implementation date. Assuming a January 1, 2011, date of implementation for the White River Minimum Flows project and November 2008 values for the specified parameters, Southwestern's determination results in a present value for the estimated future lifetime replacement costs of the electrical energy and capacity at FERC Project No. 2221 of $41,319,400. Southwestern's determination results in a present value for the estimated future lifetime replacement costs of the electrical energy and capacity for Federal hydropower of $109,920,200. An electronic copy of Southwestern's Final Determination Report is available on Southwestern's Web site at https://www.swpa.gov/pdfs/WRMF_ SWPA_FinalDeterminationReport.pdf.