Western Area Power Administration November 3, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration within the Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing new formula transmission and ancillary services rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED). The proposed formula rates would become effective October 1, 2015, and remain in effect until September 30, 2020, or until Western changes the formula rates through another public rate process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903, whichever is sooner. Western's Upper Great Plains Region (Western-UGP) has joined the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) contingent upon Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval of Western-UGP's negotiated provisions in the SPP Membership Agreement, Bylaws, and Tariff (SPP Governing Documents). Transmission and ancillary services will be provided over Western-UGP facilities under the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff (Tariff) by SPP as the transmission service provider upon Western-UGP transferring functional control to SPP. Western-UGP needs to adopt new formula rates for these transmission and ancillary services so Western-UGP's costs can be recovered under the SPP Tariff. These formula rates will provide Western sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expenses, and repay required investments within the allowable periods. Western-UGP's membership in SPP and the functional control of its facilities will be in accordance with the SPP Governing Documents and other contractual arrangements with SPP. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rates.