[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47695-47696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18953]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Southwestern Power Administration
Sam Rayburn Dam Power Rate
AGENCY: Southwestern Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of public review and comment.
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SUMMARY: 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
[[Page 47696]]
October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2017.
DATES: The consultation and comment period will begin on the date of
publication of this Federal Register notice and will end on September
5, 2013. If requested, a combined Public Information and Comment Forum
(Forum) will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 9:00 a.m. on August 27,
2013. Persons desiring the Forum to be held must send a written request
for such Forum to Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT) by August 13, 2013. If no request is received, the Forum will
not be held.
ADDRESSES: Requests for the Forum to be held may be sent by letter,
email or facsimile transmission to: Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). If requested, the Forum will be held in
Southwestern's offices, Room 1460, Williams Center Tower I, One West
Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James K. McDonald, Vice President
for Corporate Operations/Chief Operating Officer, Southwestern Power
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, One West Third Street,
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, (918) 595-6690 (office), 918-595-6656 (fax),
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Originally established by Secretarial Order
No. 1865, dated August 31, 1943, Southwestern is an agency within the
U.S. Department of Energy created by the Department of Energy
Organization Act, Public Law 95-91, dated August 4, 1977. Guidelines
for preparation of power repayment studies are included in DOE Order
No. RA 6120.2 entitled Power Marketing Administration Financial
Reporting. Procedures for public participation in power and
transmission rate adjustments of the Power Marketing Administrations
are found at title 10, part 903, subpart A of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR 903). Procedures for the confirmation and approval
of rates for the Federal Power Marketing Administrations are found at
title 18, subchapter L, part 300, of the Code of Federal Regulations
(18 CFR 300).
Southwestern markets power from 24 multi-purpose reservoir
projects, with hydroelectric power facilities constructed and operated
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These projects are located in the
states of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Southwestern's
marketing area includes these states plus Kansas and Louisiana. The
costs associated with the hydropower facilities of 22 of the 24
projects are repaid via revenues received under the Integrated System
rates, as are Southwestern's transmission facilities that consist of
1,380 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 25 substations, and 46
microwave and VHF radio sites. Costs associated with the Sam Rayburn
and Robert D. Willis Dams, two projects that are isolated
hydraulically, electrically, and financially from the Integrated
System, are repaid by separate rate schedules.
Following Department of Energy guidelines, Southwestern prepared a
2013 Current Power Repayment Study using the existing Sam Rayburn Dam
rate. This study indicates that Southwestern's legal requirement to
repay the investment in the power generating facility for power and
energy marketed by Southwestern will not be met without an increase in
revenues. The need for increased revenues is primarily due to increases
in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' replacement investment in the
hydroelectric generating facilities and small increases to operations
and maintenance expenses at the project. The 2013 Revised Power
Repayment Study shows that an increase in annual revenue of $280,248
(7.1 percent), beginning October 1, 2013, is needed to satisfy
repayment criteria.
Southwestern customers and other interested parties may receive
copies of the Sam Rayburn Dam Power Repayment Studies and the proposed
rate schedule. If you desire a copy of the Sam Rayburn Dam Power
Repayment Data Package with the proposed Rate Schedule, submit your
request to Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
A Public Information and Comment Forum (Forum) is tentatively
scheduled to be held on August 27, 2013 to explain to customers and
interested parties the proposed rate and supporting studies and to
allow for comment. A chairman, who will be responsible for orderly
procedure, will conduct the Forum if a Forum is requested. Questions
concerning the rate, studies, and information presented at the Forum
will be answered, to the extent possible, at the Forum. Questions not
answered at the Forum will be answered in writing. Questions involving
voluminous data contained in Southwestern's records may best be
answered by consultation and review of pertinent records at
Southwestern's offices.
Persons requesting a Forum be held should indicate in writing to
Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) by letter,
email, or facsimile transmission by August 13, 2013, their request for
such a Forum. If no request is received, the Forum will not be held.
Persons interested in speaking at the Forum, if held, should submit
a request to Mr. James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT), at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the Forum so that a
list of speakers can be developed. The chairman may allow others to
speak if time permits.
A transcript of the Forum, if held, will be made. Copies of the
transcript and all documents introduced will be available for review at
Southwestern's offices (see ADDRESSES) during normal business hours.
Copies of the transcript and all documents introduced may be obtained,
for a fee, directly from the transcribing service.
All written comments on the proposed Sam Rayburn Dam Rate are due
on or before September 5, 2013. Comments should be submitted to Mr.
James K. McDonald (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Following review of the oral and written comments and the
information gathered during the course of the proceedings, the
Administrator will submit the final Sam Rayburn Dam Rate Proposal and
power repayment studies in support of the proposed rate to the Deputy
Secretary of Energy for confirmation and approval on an interim basis,
and subsequently to the FERC for confirmation and approval on a final
basis. The FERC will allow the public an opportunity to provide written
comments on the proposed rate increase before making a final decision.
Dated: July 30, 2013.
Christopher M. Turner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-18953 Filed 8-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P