[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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