[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50941-50942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25748]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Colorado River Storage Project--Notice of Order Confirming and
Approving an Extension of the Firm Transmission Service Rate--WAPA-74
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of rate order
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SUMMARY: This action is to extend the existing Colorado River Storage
Project firm transmission rate until March 31, 1998. Without this
action, the existing firm transmission rate will expire September 30,
1997 and no rate will be in effect for this service.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Dave Sabo, CRSP Manager, CRSP
Customer Service Center, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box
11606, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0606, (801) 524-5493.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No.
0204-108, published November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary of
Energy delegated (1) the authority to develop long-term power and
transmission rates on a nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of
Western Area Power Administration (Western); (2) the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis
to the Deputy Secretary; and (3) the authority to confirm, approve, and
place into effect on a final basis, to remand, or to disapprove such
rates to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Pursuant to Delegation Order No. 0204-108 and existing Department
of Energy procedures for public
[[Page 50942]]
participation in power rate adjustments at 10 CFR Part 903, Western's
Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) firm transmission rate case was
submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for confirmation
and approval on August 13, 1992. On February 18, 1993, in Docket Nos.
EF92-5172-000 and EF92-5172-001, at 62 FERC para. 61,159, FERC issued
an order confirming, approving, and placing in effect on a final basis
Rate Schedule SP-FT4 for firm transmission service over the CRSP
transmission system. The rate was approved for the 4-year period
beginning October 1, 1992, and ending September 30, 1996. The Deputy
Secretary of Energy extended the rate through September 30, 1997, in an
Order published at 61 FR 52338, on October 7, 1996.
Following review of Western's proposal within the Department of
Energy, I approved rate order No. WAPA-74, which extends the existing
CRSP firm transmission Rate Schedule SP-FT4 until March 31, 1998.
Dated: September 19, 1997.
Elizabeth A. Moler,
Deputy Secretary.
Order Confirming and Approving an Extension of the Colorado River
Storage Project Firm Transmission Rate
October 1, 1997.
This firm transmission rate was established pursuant to Section
302(a) of the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act, 42 U.S.C.
Sec. 7152(a), through which the power marketing functions of the
Secretary of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
under the Reclamation Act of 1902, ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, as amended
and supplemented by subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of
the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, 43 U.S.C. Sec. 485h(c), and other
acts specifically applicable to the project system involved, were
transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy (Secretary).
By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, published
November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary delegated (1) the
authority to develop long-term power and transmission rates on a
nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of the Western Area Power
Administration (Western); (2) the authority to confirm, approve, and
place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy
Secretary; and (3) the authority to confirm, approve, and place into
effect on a final basis, to remand, or to disapprove such rates to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This rate extension is
issued pursuant to the Delegation Order and the DOE rate extension
procedures at 10 CFR Part 903.
Background
In the order issued February 18, 1993, at 62 FERC para. 61,159, in
Docket Nos. EF92-5172-000 and EF92-5172-001, the FERC confirmed,
approved, and placed in effect on a final basis Rate Schedule SP-FT4
for firm transmission service over the Colorado River Storage Project
(CRSP) transmission system. The rate was approved for the period from
October 1, 1992, through September 30, 1996. The Deputy Secretary of
Energy extended the rate through September 30, 1997, in an Order
published at 61 FR 52448, on October 7, 1996. During the last firm-
power rate adjustment for the Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects,
placed into effect on December 1, 1994 (SLIP-F5), the CRSP firm
transmission rate was also examined for possible adjustment. It was
determined that the existing firm transmission rate was adequate to
meet revenue requirements.
Discussion
On September 30, 1997, Western's CRSP firm transmission rate will
expire. This makes it necessary to extend the current Rate Schedule SP-
FT4 pursuant to 10 CFR 903.23.
Western proposes to extend the existing CRSP transmission rate
until March 31, 1998, to allow Western to develop transmission and
ancillary services rates consistent with those required of public
utilities under FERC Order No. 888 and the laws and regulations that
govern Western's actions. Western began a public rate adjustment
process with the publication of a notice in the Federal Register on
June 25, 1997. That public rate adjustment process will include the
proposal of transmission rates which are consistent with FERC Order No.
888. Western is developing open access tariffs consistent with FERC
Order No. 888.
We anticipate that process, which will provide opportunities for
public information and comment forums, will take several months to
complete, given the complex issues Western and its interested public
must address.
Order
In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the authority delegated to
me by the Secretary, I hereby extend for a period effective October 1,
1997, until March 31, 1998, the existing Rate Schedule SP-FT4 for firm
transmission service over the Colorado River Storage Project
transmission system.
Dated: September 19, 1997.
Elizabeth A. Moler,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-25748 Filed 9-26-97; 8:45 am]
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