Western Area Power Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Deputy Secretary of Energy approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Base Charge and Rates (Rates) for Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service provided by the Western Area Power Administration (Western). The Rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay investments, within the allowable period.

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.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (Western) intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for its proposal to participate with Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (Tri-State), to construct the proposed Eastern Plains Transmission Project (Project). Western's participation with Tri-State would be in exchange for capacity rights on the transmission lines. These rights would provide Western with approximately 275 megawatts (MW) of capacity on the proposed transmission system. Western needs this additional transmission capacity to provide more economical, reliable, diverse, and flexible power delivery to its customers. The EIS will address the construction, operation, and maintenance of approximately 1,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and ancillary facilities. In addition, the EIS will address expansions of existing substations and construction of new substations, access roads, and fiber optic communication facilities. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures. Because the Project could involve action in a floodplain, the EIS will address floodplain and wetlands impacts under DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing adjustments to the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) rates for firm transmission service on the 230/345-kilovolt (kV) transmission system, firm transmission service on the 500-kV transmission system, and nonfirm transmission service on the 230/345/ 500-kV transmission system. The existing rates, under Rate Schedules INT-FT2, INT-FT3, and INT-NFT2, expire December 31, 2006. The proposed rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay required investment within the allowable period. Western will prepare a brochure that provides detailed information on the rates to all interested parties. Western expects the proposed rates to go into effect on January 1, 2007, and remain in effect through December 31, 2011. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rates.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-127 and Rate Schedules PD-NTS2 and INT-NTS2, placing rates for Network Integration Transmission Service (Network Service) for the Parker-Davis Project (PDP) and the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The Deputy Secretary of Energy also confirmed Rate Schedules DSW-SD2, DSW-RS2, DSW-FR2, DSW-EI2, DSW-SPR2, and DSW-SUR2, placing ancillary services rates from the PDP, Boulder Canyon Project (BCP), Central Arizona Project (CAP), and that part of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) located in the Western Area Lower Colorado (WALC) Balancing Authority and Transmission Operations Area (BATO) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional 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 they are 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.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region, and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Department of Defense, as cooperating agencies, announce the availability of the Draft Big Stone II Power Plant and Transmission Project (Project) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review and comment. The draft EIS addresses the environmental impacts of constructing and operating the proposed Project. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Western to make the Draft EIS available to interested members of the public, groups, and Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies for review and comment to assure they have an opportunity to provide input to the Federal decision making process. Comments on the Draft EIS may be provided in writing or at one of three hearings scheduled during the review period.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), Department of Energy (DOE), intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to construct and operate a transmission line for the Sacramento Area Voltage Support (SVS) Project (Project) in California. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and the City of Roseville (Roseville) will participate in a joint SEIS and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address the proposed construction and operation of about 38 miles of 230-kilovolt (kV), new double- circuit transmission line in the Sacramento, California, area. Western prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the SVS in November 2002 and a final EIS in September 2003. A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed on January 12, 2004. In the ROD, Western made commitments to conduct air, biological, and cultural surveys after funding was secured. SMUD and Roseville have since committed to share in conducting more detailed Project studies and are negotiating funding a voltage support project. Additional alternatives will be analyzed in this SVS SEIS and EIR.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing to revise the transmission revenue requirement (TRR) for existing formula rates associated with Reactive Power and Voltage Control from the Central Valley Project (CVP) and other non-Federal Generation Sources Service (VAR Support). The TRRs for transmission service from the CVP transmission system, the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie (PACI), and the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP) are assigned a portion of the VAR Support costs under Rate Schedules CV-T1, CV-NWT3, PACI-T1, and COTP-T1 which extend through September 30, 2009. The proposed revision to the TRRs will remove the VAR Support costs from the TRRs. This formula rate will provide sufficient revenue to repay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay required investment within the allowable period. Western will prepare a rate brochure that provides detailed information on the impact of this rate adjustment to all interested parties. This proposal is scheduled to go into effect on September 1, 2006, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2009. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed revisions to the applicable revenue requirements.

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Western Area Power Administration (Western) and Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) intend to conduct public scoping meetings and to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct new international transmission facilities and to connect those facilities with Western's transmission system at its Gila Substation east of Yuma, Arizona. The EIS will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and applicable regulations, including DOE NEPA implementing regulations. The EIS is being prepared in response to Generadora del Desierto S.A. de C.V. (GDD) applying to DOE for a Presidential permit to construct two 500,000-volt (500-kilovolt (kV)) electric transmission lines across the United States border from Mexico, and North Branch Resources, LLC (NBR) applying to interconnect with Western's transmission system. With this Notice of Intent, DOE invites public participation in the EIS scoping process and solicits public comments to help establish the scope and content of the EIS. Because the project involves action in a floodplain, the EIS will address floodplain and wetlands impacts per DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain and wetlands environmental review.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), announces the Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) Post-2008 Resource Pool Allocation Procedures, developed under the requirements of the Energy Planning and Management Program (EPAMP). EPAMP provides for the establishment of project-specific resource pools and power allocations from these pools to new preference customers. Western, under EPAMP, is finalizing procedures for use in allocating power from the P-DP Post-2008 Resource Pool that will become available October 1, 2008. Western originally proposed allocation procedures in the October 1, 2004, Federal Register. Responses to public comments received on the proposed procedures are included in this notice. In accordance with this notice, Western plans to announce proposed allocations in the Federal Register after April 1, 2006.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-125 and Rate Schedule L-F6, placing firm electric service rates from the Loveland Area Projects (LAP) of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional 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 they are replaced by other rates. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expenses, and repay power investment and irrigation aid, within the allowable periods.

The electricity corridor between southeastern Wyoming and northeastern Colorado has experienced a transmission constraint for a number of years. This constraint is designated in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council's Path Rating Catalog and referenced in this notice as ``TOT 3.'' To examine possibilities for relieving the TOT 3 constraint, the Western Area Power Administration (Western) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority (WIA) and Trans-Elect, Inc. (Trans-Elect). Under this MOU, Western is soliciting expressions of interest from entities desiring transmission rights on a new line potentially to be built across TOT 3.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-122 and Rate Schedules UGP-FPT1, UGP-NFPT1, UGP-NT1, UGP-AS1, UGP-AS2, UGP-AS3, UGP-AS4, UGP-AS5, and UGP-AS6 placing the Integrated System (IS) Transmission and Ancillary Services rate into effect on an interim basis. The provisional 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 they are replaced by other rates. The provisional rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repayment of required investment, within the allowable periods.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-120 and Rate Schedule BCP-F7, placing the electric service ratesetting formula and fiscal year (FY) 2006 base charge and rates from the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional base charge and 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 they are replaced by other rates. The provisional base charge and rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repayment of power investment within the allowable periods.

This notice advises the public that the Western Area Power Administration (Western), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is extending the scoping period for the Construction and Operation of the Proposed Big Stone II Power Plant and Transmission Project, South Dakota and Minnesota, Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to August 29, 2005.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing an adjustment for its Regulation and Frequency Response Service (Regulation) rate. The current rate, Rate Schedule No. L-AS3, will expire February 28, 2009. Western is undertaking this rate adjustment in response to anticipated load and resource growth and the corresponding impact on the Western Area Colorado Missouri (WACM) Balancing Authority (WACM Balancing Authority). Prior to April 1, 2005, the WACM Balancing Authority was known as the WACM Control Area. This proposed rate adjustment will ensure that users of Regulation service within the WACM Balancing Authority are appropriately assessed for their Regulation usage and that sufficient revenue is collected to cover provision of the service. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rate adjustment.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing revised rates for Loveland Area Projects (LAP) firm electric service. LAP consists of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramWestern Division, which were integrated for marketing and rate-making purposes in 1989. Current rates, under Rate Schedule L-F5, expire on December 31, 2008, but are not sufficient to meet the LAP revenue requirements. Proposed rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay required investment within the allowable period. Western will prepare a brochure that provides detailed information on the rates to all interested parties. Proposed rates, under Rate Schedule L-F6, are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2006, and will remain in effect through December 31, 2010. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rate adjustment.

This action is to revise the existing Parker-Davis Project (P- DP) Wholesale Firm Power Service Rate Schedule PD-F6 to include language pertinent to the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund surcharge, which the Western Area Power Administration (Western) is legislatively required to assess to P-DP power service customers in the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada beginning June 1, 2005. Title I, section 102(c) of the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984 specifies that beginning June 1, 2005, and until the end of the repayment period for the Central Arizona Project, the Secretary of Energy shall provide for surplus revenues to the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund by including the equivalent of 4\1/2\ mills per kilowatthour in the rates set by the Secretary of Energy that are charged to Arizona purchasers and 2\1/2\ mills per kilowatthour in rates charged to California and Nevada purchasers of P-DP power.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing a minor transmission and ancillary services rate adjustment for the Pick- Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED). The P- SMBPED transmission and ancillary service rate schedules will expire on September 30, 2005. The proposed rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repayment of required investment within the allowable periods. Western will prepare a brochure providing detailed information on the rates to all interested parties. Western intends to conduct the public participation according to the minor rate adjustment process as defined in the Department of Energy's (DOE) Procedures for Public Participation in Power and Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions. Western expects the proposed rates to go into effect October 1, 2005, and remain in effect through September 30, 2010. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rates.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) initiated a rate adjustment process for a multi-system transmission rate (MSTR) which would have applied to the Parker-Davis Project (P-DP), the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie), and the Central Arizona Project (CAP). Western is extending the rate process to allow sufficient time to propose a methodology for the MSTR allowing customers to choose between a single system transmission service and a multi-system transmission service (customer choice model). Western will hold an additional Public Information Forum and Public Comment Forum.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is initiating a rate adjustment process for Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service. Western proposes to extend the existing rate-setting formula, and approve the proposed base charge and rates for FY 2006. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process to extend the existing rate-setting formula and the proposed base charge and rates. The proposed base charge and rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repayment of required investment within the allowable period.