67274 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2023 / Notices 

disposition under the FPA, whichever 

comes first. 

Dated: September 25, 2023. 

Debbie-Anne A. Reese, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21505 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Southwestern Power Administration 

Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project 

Rate Schedule 

AGENCY: Southwestern Power 

Administration, DOE. 

ACTION: Notice of rate order. 

SUMMARY: The Administrator, 

Southwestern Power Administration 

(Southwestern), has approved and 

placed into effect Rate Order No. 

SWPA–83, which provides a temporary 

extension of Southwestern’s current 

Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project 

rate schedule (RDW–15) through 

September 30, 2024, unless superseded. 

DATES: Extension of the rate schedule is 

effective October 1, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Fritha Ohlson, Senior Vice President, 

Chief Operating Officer, Office of 

Corporate Operations, (918) 595–6684, 

fritha.ohlson@swpa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rate Order 

No. SWPA–83, as contained herein, has 

been approved and placed into effect by 

the Administrator, Southwestern, and 

provides for the temporary extension, 

through September 30, 2024, unless 

superseded, of the Robert D. Willis 

Hydropower Project Rate Schedule 

RDW–15, Wholesale Rates for Hydro 

Power and Energy. 

United States of America 

Department of Energy 

Administrator, Southwestern Power 

Administration 

In the matter of: Southwestern Power 

Administration, Robert D. Willis 

Hydropower Project Rate Schedule, 

Rate Order No. SWPA–83 

Order Approving Extension of Rate 

Schedule on a Temporary Basis ( 9/25/ 

2023 ) 

Pursuant to Sections 301(b) and 

302(a) of the Department of Energy 

Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7151(b) and 

7152(a), the functions of the Secretary of 

the Interior and the Federal Power 

Commission under Section 5 of the 

Flood Control Act of 1944, 16 U.S.C. 

825s, relating to the Southwestern 

Power Administration (Southwestern), 

were transferred to and vested in the 

Secretary of Energy. By Delegation 

Order No. S1–DEL–RATES–2016, 

effective November 19, 2016, the 

Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) the 

authority to develop power and 

transmission rates to Southwestern’s 

Administrator; (2) the authority to 

confirm, approve, and place such rates 

into effect on an interim basis to the 

Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the 

authority to confirm, approve, and place 

into effect on a final basis, or to remand 

or disapprove such rates, to the Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 

By Delegation Order No. S1–DEL–S3– 

2023, effective April 10, 2023, the 

Secretary of Energy also delegated the 

authority to confirm, approve, and place 

such rates into effect on an interim basis 

to the Under Secretary for 

Infrastructure. By Redelegation Order 

No. S3–DEL–SWPA1–2023, effective 

April 10, 2023, the Under Secretary for 

Infrastructure redelegated the authority 

to confirm, approve, and place such 

rates into effect on an interim basis to 

the Southwestern Administrator. 

Background 

On December 17, 2015, in Rate Order 

No. SWPA–70, the Deputy Secretary of 

Energy placed into effect the current 

Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project 

(Robert D. Willis) rate schedule (RDW– 

15) on an interim basis for the period 

January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2019. 

FERC confirmed and approved RDW–15 

on a final basis on June 15, 2016 for a 

period ending September 30, 2019. On 

September 22, 2019, in Rate Order No. 

SWPA–76, the Assistant Secretary for 

Electricity extended RDW–15 for two 

years, for the period of October 1, 2019 

through September 30, 2021. On August 

30, 2021, in Rate Order No. SWPA–79, 

the Administrator, Southwestern, 

extended RDW–15 for two years, for the 

period of October 1, 2021 through 

September 30, 2023. 

Discussion 

Southwestern’s current rate schedule 

for the Robert D. Willis isolated rate 

system, RDW–15, is based on the 2015 

Power Repayment Study (PRS). Each 

subsequent annual PRS through 2022 

indicated the need for a revenue 

adjustment within a plus or minus five 

percent range of the current revenue 

estimate. It is Southwestern’s practice 

for the Administrator to defer, on a caseby-case basis, revenue adjustments for 

isolated rate systems that are within 

plus or minus five percent of the 

revenue estimated from the current rate 

schedule. Therefore, the Administrator 

deferred revenue adjustments annually 

for Robert D. Willis through 2022. The 

2023 PRS indicated a need for a revenue 

adjustment above five percent and 

therefore a new rate is needed. 

However, finalization of the 2023 PRS, 

development of a rate adjustment plan 

including a new rate schedule (RDW– 

23), and the associated procedures for 

public participation in accordance with 

10 CFR part 903 will not be completed 

in time for the new rate schedule to be 

placed into effect prior to the September 

30, 2023, expiration of the current rate 

schedule and thus temporary extension 

of the current rate schedule is necessary. 

Pursuant to 10 CFR 903.23(b) and 

Redelegation Order No. S3–DEL– 

SWPA1–2023, Southwestern’s 

Administrator may extend existing rates 

on a temporary basis without advance 

notice or comment pending further 

action. In such a circumstance, the 

Administrator shall publish notice of 

said extension in the Federal Register 

and promptly advise FERC of the 

extension. The revenue collection 

associated with the extension of the 

current rate will be considered in the 

development of the new rate based on 

the 2023 PRS such that repayment 

obligations are met consistent with the 

provisions of U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE) Order No. RA 6120.2. 

Availability of Information 

Information regarding the extension of 

the rate schedule is available for public 

review in the offices of Southwestern 

Power Administration, Williams Tower 

I, One West Third Street Suite 1500, 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103. The rate 

schedule is available on the 

Southwestern website at 

www.energy.gov/swpa/rates-andrepayment. 

Order 

In view of the foregoing and pursuant 

to the authority delegated to me by the 

Secretary of Energy, I hereby extend, 

effective October 1, 2023, Robert D. 

Willis Rate Schedule RDW–15, 

Wholesale Rates for Hydro Power and 

Energy. The rate schedule shall remain 

in effect on a temporary basis through 

September 30, 2024, unless superseded. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on September 25, 

2023, by Mike Wech, Administrator for 

Southwestern Power Administration, 

pursuant to delegated authority from the 

Secretary of Energy. That document, 

with the original signature and date, is 

maintained by DOE. For administrative 

purposes only, and in compliance with 

requirements of the Office of the Federal 

Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 

Register Liaison Officer has been 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2023 / Notices 67275 

authorized to sign and submit the 

document in electronic format for 

publication, as an official document of 

DOE. This administrative process in no 

way alters the legal effect of this 

document upon publication in the 

Federal Register. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on September 

26, 2023. 

Treena V. Garrett, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 

Department of Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2023–21453 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Southwestern Power Administration 

Integrated System Rate Schedules 

AGENCY: Southwestern Power 

Administration, DOE. 

ACTION: Notice of rate order. 

SUMMARY: The Administrator, 

Southwestern Power Administration 

(Southwestern), has approved and 

placed into effect Rate Order No. 

SWPA–81, which provides a temporary 

extension of Southwestern’s current 

Integrated System rate schedules (P– 

13B, NFTS–13A, and EE–13) through 

September 30, 2024, unless superseded. 

DATES: Extension of the rate schedules 

is effective October 1, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Fritha Ohlson, Senior Vice President, 

Chief Operating Officer, Office of 

Corporate Operations, (918) 595–6684, 

fritha.ohlson@swpa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rate Order 

No. SWPA–81, as contained herein, has 

been approved and placed into effect by 

the Administrator, Southwestern, and 

provides for the temporary extension, 

through September 30, 2024, unless 

superseded, of the Integrated System 

Rate Schedule P–13B, Wholesale Rates 

for Hydro Peaking Power; Rate Schedule 

NFTS–13A, Wholesale Rates for NonFederal Transmission/Interconnection 

Facilities Service; and Rate Schedule 

EE–13, Wholesale Rates for Excess 

Energy. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

ADMINISTRATOR, SOUTHWESTERN 

POWER ADMINISTRATION 

In the matter of: Southwestern Power 

Administration Integrated System 

Rate Schedules 

Rate Order No. SWPA–81 

ORDER APPROVING EXTENSION OF 

RATE SCHEDULES ON A 

TEMPORARY BASIS 

(9/25/2023) 

Pursuant to Sections 301(b) and 

302(a) of the Department of Energy 

Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7151(b) and 

7152(a), the functions of the Secretary of 

the Interior and the Federal Power 

Commission under Section 5 of the 

Flood Control Act of 1944, 16 U.S.C. 

825s, relating to the Southwestern 

Power Administration (Southwestern), 

were transferred to and vested in the 

Secretary of Energy. By Delegation 

Order No. S1–DEL–RATES–2016, 

effective November 19, 2016, the 

Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) the 

authority to develop power and 

transmission rates to Southwestern’s 

Administrator; (2) the authority to 

confirm, approve, and place such rates 

into effect on an interim basis to the 

Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the 

authority to confirm, approve, and place 

into effect on a final basis, or to remand 

or disapprove such rates, to the Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). 

By Delegation Order No. S1–DEL–S3– 

2023, effective April 10, 2023, the 

Secretary of Energy also delegated the 

authority to confirm, approve, and place 

such rates into effect on an interim basis 

to the Under Secretary for 

Infrastructure. By Redelegation Order 

No. S3–DEL–SWPA1–2023, effective 

April 10, 2023, the Under Secretary for 

Infrastructure redelegated the authority 

to confirm, approve, and place such 

rates into effect on an interim basis to 

the Southwestern Administrator. 

BACKGROUND 

On September 30, 2013, in Rate Order 

No. SWPA–66, the Deputy Secretary of 

Energy placed into effect 

Southwestern’s Integrated System rate 

schedules (P–13, NFTS–13, and EE–13) 

on an interim basis for the period 

October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2017. 

FERC confirmed and approved 

Southwestern’s interim Integrated 

System rates on a final basis on January 

9, 2014 for a period ending September 

30, 2017. 

Southwestern re-designated Integrated 

System rate schedule ‘‘NFTS–13’’ as 

‘‘NFTS–13A’’ with no revenue 

adjustment. In Rate Order No. SWPA– 

71, the Deputy Secretary of Energy 

placed into effect Southwestern’s rate 

schedule NFTS–13A on an interim basis 

beginning January 1, 2017. FERC 

confirmed and approved NFTS–13A on 

a final basis on March 9, 2017. 

On September 13, 2017, in Rate Order 

No. SWPA–72, the Deputy Secretary of 

Energy extended all of Southwestern’s 

Integrated System rate schedules (P–13, 

NTFS–13A, and EE–13) for two years, 

for the period of October 1, 2017 

through September 30, 2019. 

Southwestern re-designated Integrated 

System rate schedule ‘‘P–13’’ as ‘‘P– 

13A’’ with no revenue adjustment to 

incorporate a new section regarding 

requirements for the peaking energy 

schedule submission time. In Rate Order 

No. SWPA–73, the Assistant Secretary 

for Electricity placed into effect 

Southwestern’s rate schedule for P–13A 

on an interim basis beginning July 1, 

2019. FERC confirmed and approved P– 

13A on a final basis on August 29, 2019. 

On September 22, 2019, in Rate Order 

No. SWPA–74, the Assistant Secretary 

for Electricity extended all of 

Southwestern’s Integrated System rate 

schedules (P–13A, NFTS–13A, EE–13) 

for two years, for the period of October 

1, 2019 through September 30, 2021. 

On August 30, 2021, in Rate Order 

No. SWPA–77, the Administrator, 

Southwestern, extended all of 

Southwestern’s Integrated System rate 

schedules (P–13A, NFTS–13A, EE–13) 

for two years, for the period of October 

1, 2021 through September 30, 2023. 

Southwestern re-designated Integrated 

System rate schedule ‘‘P–13A’’ as ‘‘P– 

13B’’ with no revenue adjustment to 

update the peaking energy schedule 

submission time requirements. In Rate 

Order No. SWPA–80, the Administrator, 

Southwestern, placed into effect 

Southwestern’s rate schedule for P–13B 

on an interim basis beginning July 15, 

2023. The P–13B rate schedule has been 

submitted to FERC for confirmation and 

approval on a final basis. 

DISCUSSION 

Southwestern’s current Integrated 

System rate schedules (P–13B, NFTS– 

13A, and EE–13) are based on its 2013 

Power Repayment Study (PRS). 

Southwestern has conducted PRSs 

annually thereafter through 2023. Each 

PRS from 2014 through 2022 indicated 

a need for a revenue adjustment within 

a plus or minus two percent range of the 

revenue estimate based on the current 

rate schedules. It is Southwestern’s 

practice for the Administrator to defer, 

on a case-by-case basis, revenue 

adjustments for the Integrated System 

within plus or minus two percent from 

the revenue estimate based on the 

current rate schedules. Thus, the 

Administrator has deferred revenue 

adjustments annually through 2022. The 

2023 PRS indicated a need for a revenue 

adjustment above two percent and 

therefore Southwestern is working 

towards finalization of the 2023 PRS 

and development of a rate adjustment 

plan including design of a new set of 


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