Western Area Power Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a Federal power marketing administration of the United States Department of Energy (DOE), will be responsible for the loan determination and administration of loan applications submitted to its Transmission Infrastructure Program (TIP or Program) for use of WAPA's borrowing authority. This Federal Register notice (FRN) announces WAPA's revised role in performing all activities related to loan determination and administration.

The Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes a new Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) fixed firm power rates for use December 1, 2021, through December 31, 2023. The existing rates for these services are not set to expire until September 30, 2025; however, CRSP MC is initiating this rate action in response to a 35-percent projected increase to the firm power composite rate caused by a large increase in purchased power costs due to on-going drought conditions and a small increase to Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement (OM&R) expenses. Based on the FY 2021 toll on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund (Basin Fund) and the drought-induced purchased power projections from the Reclamation May 24-Month Study, existing rates will not sustain a balance in the Basin Fund capable of supporting operations. CRSP MC proposes modifying how purchased power is calculated, and purchased power costs would be assessed on a pass-through-cost basis charged to each customer. CRSP MC proposes modifying language to implement the Cost Recovery Charge (CRC) throughout the year, if warranted, and would be able to implement a CRC if water levels drop below the intake structures at Glen Canyon Dam. Additionally, updated Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) transmission and ancillary services rate schedules are proposed for use December 1, 2021, through December 31, 2023, with no material change proposed other than updating effective dates.

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).

The Desert Southwest Region (DSW) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) is proposing an adjustment to the base charge and rates for fiscal year (FY) 2022 Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service under Rate Schedule BCP-F10. The proposal would increase the base charge 9 percent from $65.4 million in FY 2021 to $71.3 million in FY 2022. The change is primarily the result of an increase in Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) replacement costs, an increase in WAPA's operations and maintenance expenses and replacement costs, and a decrease in prior year carryover funds from FY 2021. The proposed base charge and rates would go into effect on October 1, 2021 and remain in effect through September 30, 2022. Publication of this Federal Register notice will initiate the public process.

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) has determined that it will implement the proposed action, or Project, as described in the Reauthorization of Maintenance and Vegetation Management on Western Area Power Administration Transmission Lines on Forest Service Lands, Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah final environmental impact statement (Final EIS) (DOE/EIS-0442). The proposed action includes changing WAPA's vegetation management and facility maintenance practices in some rights-of-way (ROWs) along approximately 273 miles of electrical transmission lines on National Forest System (NFS) lands in Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) was a joint lead agency on the EIS and proposes to authorize the changes through new Special Use Permits (SUPs) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Plans. This Record of Decision (ROD) was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA, and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NEPA regulations.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a three-year extension of Western Area Power Administration's (WAPA) Applicant Profile Data (APD), OMB Control Number 1910-5136. The proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of WAPA's functions. WAPA markets a limited amount of Federal hydropower. Due to the high demand for WAPA's power, WAPA needs the ability to collect information under the information collection request in order to evaluate who may receive an allocation of Federal power pursuant to specific marketing plans. This APD public process only determines the information WAPA will collect in its information collection request. The actual allocation of Federal power will be conducted through a separate marketing plan process outside the scope of this APD process.

The extension of existing Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project transmission service rates has been confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis. The existing transmission service rates under Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 were set to expire on September 30, 2020. This rate extension makes no change to the existing transmission service rates and extends them through September 30, 2023.

The fixed rate for the Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) firm power rate, the formula rates for the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) transmission and ancillary services, and the new formula rate for CRSP sales of surplus products (collectively, Provisional Rates) have been confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis. These Provisional Rates replace the existing firm power, transmission, and ancillary services rates under Rate Order No. WAPA-169 that expire on September 30, 2020.

The Assistant Secretary for Electricity confirms, approves, and places into effect, on an interim basis, the formula rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) transmission and ancillary services (Provisional Formula Rates). These rates will be used by Western Area Power Administration's (WAPA) Upper Great Plains Region (UGP) to provide rate data to Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP), the Regional Transmission Organization of which UGP is a member. These new formula rates replace the existing transmission and ancillary services formula rates under Rate Order No. WAPA-170 that expire on September 30, 2020.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) announces the re- opening of the comment period for the proposed Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) firm power rate and Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) transmission and ancillary services formula rates under Rate Order No. WAPA-190.

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for three years with ministerial changes. The current OMB control number 1910-5136 for WAPA's Applicant Profile Data (APD) form expires November 30, 2020. WAPA intends to extend the APD form under the OMB control number to November 30, 2023. WAPA is seeking comments on this proposed information collection extension.

The Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity, confirms, approves, and places into effect, on an interim basis, the firm power formula rate for the Provo River Project (Provisional Formula Rate). The existing firm power formula rate under Rate Schedule Provo River Formula Rate PR-1 is set to expire on March 31, 2020. This rate action makes no change to the existing formula rate.

ConnectGen Albany County LLC applied to interconnect their proposed Rail Tie Wind Project (Project) with the Western Area Power Administration's (WAPA) existing Ault-Craig 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in Albany County, Wyoming. WAPA will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposal to interconnect the Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NEPA Implementing Procedures, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA. Portions of the proposed Project may affect floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice of Intent (NOI) also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action in accordance with DOE floodplain and wetland environmental review requirements.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes new formula rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P- SMBPED) transmission and ancillary services. These rates will be used by WAPA's Upper Great Plains Region (UGP) to provide rate data to the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP), the Regional Transmission Organization of which UGP is a member. The existing rates for services expire on September 30, 2020. The proposed rates should not result in increased overall costs to customers compared to the current formula rates because the increase to the Operating Reserves rate is expected to be offset by a similar reduction in the transmission rate.

The Under Secretary of Energy confirms, approves, and places into effect, on an interim basis, the extension of the existing Central Valley Project power, transmission, and ancillary service; California- Oregon Transmission Project transmission; Pacific Alternating Current Intertie transmission; and third-party transmission formula rates. Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) will submit them to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for confirmation and approval on a final basis. The existing formula rates are set to expire on September 30, 2019. This rate extension makes no changes to the existing formula rates and extends them through September 30, 2024.

The Under Secretary of Energy approves, on an interim basis, the extension of the existing Falcon and Amistad Projects' (Projects) firm power formula rate through June 7, 2024 and will submit them to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for confirmation and approval on a final basis. The existing firm power formula rate is set to expire June 7, 2019. This rate extension makes no change to the existing formula rate.

The Under Secretary of Energy extends the existing formula rates for non-firm point-to-point transmission service provided under the WestConnect PA and will submit them to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for confirmation and approval on a final basis. The existing formula rates under Rate Schedule WC-8 are scheduled to expire on May 31, 2019. This rate extension makes no change to the existing formula rates.

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (DOE/EIS-0483) for the Estes to Flatiron Transmission Lines Rebuild Project (Project) on April 13, 2018. The Agency Preferred Alternative developed by WAPA through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and described in the Final EIS is summarized in this Record of Decision (ROD). This alternative is also the Environmentally Preferred Alternative for the Project. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have been adopted. WAPA has selected the Agency Preferred Alternative identified in the Final EIS for implementation.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy approves, on a final basis, the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) base charge and rates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 under Rate Schedule BCP-F10. Under Rate Schedule BCP-F10, the BCP base charge and rates are calculated annually.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) announces the conclusion of the 2021 Resource Pool provided for in a Notice of procedures and call for 2021 Resource Pool applications published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2018. WAPA determined there were no eligible new preference customers in the 2021 Resource Pool. Therefore, no allocations will be made as part of the 2021 Resource Pool.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy extends the existing Parker- Davis Project (P-DP) formula rates and will submit them to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for confirmation and approval on a final basis. The existing formula rates were scheduled to expire on September 30, 2018, for firm electric and transmission service under Rate Schedules PD-F7, PD-FT7, PD-FCT7, and PD-NFT7. The Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) approved the use of the existing P-DP rates beyond September 30, 2018, under his authority to set rates for short-term sales. The short-term rates cover the period between October 1, 2018, and the date this rate extension goes into effect.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy extends, on an interim basis, the existing Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) transmission service rates through September 30, 2020. Existing Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4 expired on April 30, 2018. The Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) approved rates for short-term sales of firm and non-firm transmission service on April 26, 2018, to cover the period between May 1, 2018, and the date this rate extension goes into effect or October 31, 2018, whichever occurs first. The extended transmission service rates will be in effect on an interim basis until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) confirms, approves, and places them into effect on a final basis, or until they are replaced by other rates.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) is proposing to calculate formula rates for fiscal year (FY) 2019 Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service. The expiration of the FY 2018 base charge and rates on September 30, 2018, requires this action. The proposed base charge will provide sufficient revenue to recover all annual costs and repay investment obligations within the allowable period. The proposed base charge and rates are scheduled to become effective on October 1, 2018, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2019. Publication of this Federal Register notice will initiate the public process.

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a Federal power marketing administration of the Department of Energy (DOE), published the Call for 2025 Resource Pool Applications (Call for 2025 Applications), on March 8, 2018, in the Federal Register. In the Call for 2025 Applications, WAPA stated all applications were due by 4:00 p.m., PDT, on May 7, 2018. This notice reopens the period during which DOE will accept applications and deems any application submitted by 4 p.m., PDT, on August 13, 2018 to be timely submitted.

The Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a Federal power marketing administration of DOE, is publishing procedures and calling for applications from new preference entities interested in an allocation of Federal power. WAPA published its 2021 Power Marketing Initiative (2021 PMI) for the Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region (UGPR) in the Federal Register on November 16, 2011. The 2021 PMI specifies the terms and conditions under which WAPA will market power from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) beginning January 1, 2021, continuing through December 31, 2050. The 2021 PMI established resource pools for 2021, 2031, and 2041. Each resource pool is comprised of up to 1 percent (approximately 20 megawatts) of the long- term marketable resource of the P-SMBPED. Therefore, as required by the 2021 PMI, WAPA is issuing a call for applications for UGPR's 2021 Resource Pool. New preference entities interested in applying for an allocation of power from WAPA's UGPR must submit a formal application using the Applicant Profile Data (APD) form and must meet the General Eligibility Criteria, General Allocation Criteria, and General Contract Principles.