[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 44013-44014] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-21721] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Mission Valley Power Utility, Montana Power Rate Adjustment, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior ACTION: Notice of proposed rate adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) proposes to adjust the electric power rates for customers of Mission Valley Power (MVP), the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal entity operating the power facility of the Flathead Irrigation and Power Project of the Flathead Reservation under a Public Law 93-638 contract. The following table illustrates the impact of the rate adjustment: Power Rate Revision for MVP ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class Present rate Proposed rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RESIDENTIAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Rate.................. $11.00/mo. (includes $5.00/mo. 125 kwh). Energy Rate................. $0.04828/KWH (over $0.04725/kwh. 125 kwh). Minimum Monthly Bill........ Not Applicable...... $10.00/mo--May 1 thru October 31. $20.00/mo--November 1 thru April 30. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ #2 GENERAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Rate.................. $11.00/mo. (includes This rate is being Energy Rate................. 107 kwh). replaced by Small $0.05604/KWH (over Commercial (without 107 kwh) demand). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SMALL COMMERCIAL (WITHOUT DEMAND)--RATE REPLACES #2 GENERAL ABOVE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Rate.................. .................... $5.00/mo. Energy Rate................. .................... $0.05495/kwh. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SMALL AND LARGE COMMERCIAL (WITH DEMAND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Rate.................. None................ Rate Being Replaced. Monthly Minimum............. $38.00.............. See new Separate Rate. Demand Rate................. $4.514/kw of billing Structures for Small Energy Rate................. demand. Commercial and $0.04345/kwh--First Large Commercial. 18,000 kwh $0.03592/kwh--Over 18,000 kwh ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SMALL COMMERCIAL WITH DEMAND--RATE REPLACES PREVIOUS SMALL AND LARGE COMMERCIAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Rate: Single Phase............ .................... $20.00/mo. Three Phase............. .................... $40.00/mo. Demand Rate................. .................... $4.50/kw. Energy Rate................. .................... $0.0405/kwh. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LARGE COMMERCIAL WITH DEMAND--RATE REPLACES PREVIOUS SMALL AND LARGE COMMERCIAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Basic Rate.................. .................... $125.00/mo. Monthly Minimum............. .................... None. Demand Rate................. .................... $5.00/KW. Energy Rate................. .................... $0.03115/kwh. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRRIGATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Horsepower Rate............. $11.30/hp........... $11.05/hp. Energy Rate................. $0.03642/kwh........ $0.03572/kwh. Minimum Seasonal Rate....... $132.00 or $6.00/hp, No Adjustment. whichever is greater. Area Lights Installed on Existing Pole or Structure: Monthly Rate: Monthly Rate: [[Page 44014]] 7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*. $7.00............. $6.85 20,000 lumen unit, M.V.* $10.00............ $9.80 9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S. $6.50............. $6.35 22,000 lumen unit, $8.75............. $8.58 H.P.S.. Area Lights Installed with Monthly Rate: Monthly Rate: New Pole: 7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*. $8.75............. $8.60 20,000 lumen unit, M.V.* $11.50............ $11.25 9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S. $8.25............. $8.10 22,000 lumen unit, $10.50............ $10.30 H.P.S.. Street Lighting (Metered): Basic Rate.............. $11.00/mo. (includes $5.00/mo. 107 kwh). Energy Rate............. $0.05615 (over 107 $0.05495/kwh. kwh). Street Lighting (Unmetered): This rate class applies to municipalities or communities where there are ten or more lighting units billed in a group. This rate schedule is subject to a negotiated contract with MVP and is unchanged as part of this rate adjustment.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 1997. ADDRESSES: Written comments on rate adjustments should be sent to: Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Attn: Branch of Irrigation and Power, MS#4513-MIB, Code 210, 1849 ``C'' Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Portland Area Office, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4169, telephone (503) 231-6702; or, General Manager, Mission Valley Power, P. O. Box 1269, Polson, Montana 59860-1269, telephone (406) 883-5361. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document is vested in the Secretary of the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301; the Act of August 7, 1946, c. 802, Section 3 (60 Stat. 895; 25 U.S.C. 385c); the Act of May 25, 1948 (62 Stat. 269); and the Act of December 23, 1981, section 112 (95 Stat. 1404). The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs pursuant to part 209 Departmental Manual, Chapter 8.1A and Memorandum dated January 25, 1994, from Chief of Staff, Department of the Interior, to Assistant Secretaries, and Heads of Bureaus and Offices. MVP has been informed by its suppliers of wholesale power, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Montana Power Company (MPC), and the Louisiana Gas & Electric Company (LGE), that they are adjusting their rates to MVP. Accordingly, the BIA is proposing to adjust the rates at the recommendation of MVP to reflect the adjusted cost of service and power provided to MVP by the BPA, MPC, and LGE. The proposed rate change will impact MVP's Basic Rate, Demand Rate, Horsepower Rate and various other energy rates within each rate class. MVP is also proposing a general adjustment of electric rates. New, less expensive wholesale power rates from the Bonneville Power Administration, and the opportunity for additional savings available by purchasing a portion of the wholesale needs from an independent third- party source, will result in annual purchased power savings of approximately $900,000 annually for the next five fiscal years. Through action by MVP's Board of Directors, the Bureau of Indian Affairs proposes to lower rates across all customer classes by an average of 2.3% for the five year period, resulting in an effectual rebate to consumers of approximately 35% of the anticipated savings. The additional 65%, or approximately $600,000, will be retained by the utility for funding the construction of new office and operations facilities which are critically required for the utility to continue providing safe, efficient and cost effective service. The proposed rate structure is the result of a Cost of Service study by the MVP consultant, Economic and Engineering Services, Inc., public comments and formal recommendations from the Consumer Council and the Utility Board. The effective date of the proposed BPA rate change will be the first of the month following the publication date of the final notice of Rate Adjustment. Dated: August 8, 1997. Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 97-21721 Filed 8-15-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-02-P