Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 91723 

Signed in Washington, DC, on November 

15, 2024. 

Jennifer Hartzell, 

Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, 

U.S. Department of Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2024–27102 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Energy Information Administration 

Agency Information Collection 

Proposed Extension 

AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information 

Administration (EIA), Department of 

Energy (DOE). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: EIA submitted an information 

collection request for the three-year 

extension, with changes, to the 

Petroleum Marketing Program (PMP) as 

required under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. EIA’s PMP 

collects volumetric and price 

information needed for determining the 

supply of and demand for crude oil and 

refined petroleum products. 

DATES: Comments on this information 

collection must be received no later 

than December 20, 2024. Written 

comments and recommendations for the 

proposed information collection should 

be sent within 30 days of publication of 

this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/ 

do/PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kenneth Pick, EIA Clearance Officer, at 

(202) 586–5562. The forms and 

instructions are available at https://

www.eia.gov/survey/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

information collection request contains: 

(1) OMB No.: 1905–0174; 

(2) Information Collection Request 

Title: Petroleum Marketing Program; 

(3) Type of Request: Three-year 

extension with changes; 

(4) Purpose: The surveys included in 

the Petroleum Marketing Program 

collect volume and price information 

needed for determining the supply of 

and demand for crude oil and refined 

petroleum products. These surveys 

provide a basic set of data pertaining to 

the structure, efficiency, and behavior of 

petroleum markets. These data are 

published by EIA on its website, at 

https://www.eia.gov. The Petroleum 

Marketing Program consists of the 

following surveys: Form EIA–14 

Refiners’ Monthly Cost Report; Form 

EIA–182 Domestic Crude Oil First 

Purchase Report; Form EIA–856 

Monthly Foreign Crude Oil Acquisition 

Report; Form EIA–877 Winter Heating 

Fuels Telephone Survey; Form EIA–878 

Motor Gasoline Price Survey; Form EIA– 

888 On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price 

Survey; 

(4a) Proposed Changes to Information 

Collection: 

Form EIA–888, On-Highway Diesel 

Fuel Price Survey (Potential Change 

to Data Collection Form and 

Instructions) 

EIA proposes modifying Form EIA– 

888, On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price 

Survey, to include a checkbox allowing 

stations to indicate that they do not sell 

diesel fuel. This designation will make 

it easier to identify stations that are no 

longer in scope for the survey but are 

still in operation. 

(4b) Proposed Survey 

Discontinuations: 

EIA is requesting the discontinuation 

and removal of the following four 

surveys from the Petroleum Marketing 

Program: 

Form EIA–863, Petroleum Product 

Sales Identification Survey 

The EIA–863, Petroleum Product 

Sales Identification Survey, has been 

suspended since 2011, with the last 

completed survey cycle occurring for 

2006 data. Surveys previously reliant on 

these data for sample design have 

implemented new sampling 

methodologies, which no longer require 

these data. EIA proposes formally 

discontinuing this survey. 

Form EIA–782A, Refiners’/Gas Plant 

Operators’ Monthly Petroleum Product 

Sales Report, Form EIA–782C, Monthly 

Report of Prime Supplier Sales of 

Petroleum Products Sold for Local 

Consumption, and Form EIA–821, 

Annual Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales 

Report 

To concentrate limited EIA and 

respondent resources on more timely 

products, EIA proposes eliminating the 

EIA–782A, Refiners’/Gas Plant 

Operators’ Monthly Petroleum Product 

Sales Report, the EIA–782C, Monthly 

Report of Prime Supplier Sales of 

Petroleum Products Sold for Local 

Consumption, and the EIA–821, Annual 

Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales Report, 

surveys. EIA remains committed to 

balancing the costs associated with 

collecting data (for both respondents 

and taxpayers) with the benefits of 

providing a more complete data set. The 

U.S. energy industry is dynamic, and 

our surveys and publications have and 

will continue to evolve to provide the 

best value to the American people in 

support of efficient energy markets. We 

continue to explore opportunities to 

incorporate similar data from other 

sources. 

(5) Annual Estimated Number of 

Respondents: 5,241; 

(6) Annual Estimated Number of 

Total Responses: 199,792; 

(7) Annual Estimated Number of 

Burden Hours: 28,557; 

(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $ 2,603,256 

(28,557 annual burden hours multiplied 

by $91.16 per hour), a reduction from $ 

5,147,216 (63,040 annual burden hours 

multiplied by $81.65 per hour) in 2021. 

EIA estimates that respondents will 

have no additional costs associated with 

the surveys other than the burden hours 

and the maintenance of the information 

during the normal course of business. 

Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 772(b) 

and 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on November 

14, 2024. 

Samson A. Adeshiyan, 

Director, Office of Statistical Methods and 

Research, U.S. Energy Information 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2024–27071 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Western Area Power Administration 

Loveland Area Projects—Rate Order 

No. WAPA–212 

AGENCY: Western Area Power 

Administration, DOE. 

ACTION: Notice of rate. 

SUMMARY: The formula rates for the 

Rocky Mountain (RM) region’s Loveland 

Area Projects (LAP) firm electric service 

and sale of surplus products have been 

confirmed, approved, and placed into 

effect on an interim basis (Provisional 

Formula Rates). LAP consists of the 

Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (Fry-Ark) 

and the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin 

Program (P–SMBP)—Western Division, 

which were integrated for marketing 

and ratemaking purposes in 1989. These 

new formula rates replace the existing 

formula rates for these services under 

Rate Schedules L–F12, Firm Electric 

Service; and L–M3, Sale of Surplus 

Products, which expire on December 31, 

2027. The LAP firm electric service 

composite rate is increasing over a 2- 

year period with an 8.8 percent increase 

on January 1, 2025, and an additional 

8.2 percent increase on January 1, 2026. 

There are no changes to the formula rate 

for sale of surplus products. 


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91724 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 

1Order Confirming and Approving Rate 

Schedules on a Final Basis, FERC Docket No. EF23– 

1–000 (2023). 

2 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 

(Feb. 21, 2019). 

1This Act transferred to, and vested in, the 

Secretary of Energy the power marketing functions 

of the Secretary of the Department 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 

laws, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation 

Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)) and section 

5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s); 

and other acts that specifically apply to the projects 

involved. 

2 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 

(Feb. 21, 2019). 

DATES: The Provisional Formula Rates 

under Rate Schedules L–F13, Firm 

Electric Service; and L–M4, Sale of 

Surplus Products, are effective on the 

first day of the first full billing period 

beginning on or after January 1, 2025, 

and will remain in effect through 

December 31, 2029, pending 

confirmation and approval by the 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

(FERC) on a final basis or until 

superseded. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Barton V. Barnhart, Regional Manager, 

Rocky Mountain Region, Western Area 

Power Administration, 5555 East 

Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO 

80538–8986, or email: lapfirmadj@

wapa.gov, or Sheila D. Cook, Rates 

Manager, Rocky Mountain Region, 

Western Area Power Administration, 

(970) 685–9562, or email: scook@

wapa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

September 12, 2023, FERC confirmed 

and approved Rate Schedules L–F12 

and L–M3 under Rate Order No. 

WAPA–202 on a final basis through 

December 31, 2027.1 Western Area 

Power Administration (WAPA) 

published a Federal Register notice 

(Proposed FRN) on June 28, 2024 (89 FR 

53992), proposing adjustments to 

increase the base component and 

decrease the drought adder component 

of the LAP firm electric service rate 

using a two-step rate adjustment where 

roughly 50 percent of the total increase 

is being applied in step 1 (January 2025) 

and the remaining 50 percent is being 

applied in step 2 (January 2026), and to 

put new 5-year rate schedules in place. 

The Proposed FRN also initiated a 60- 

day public consultation and comment 

period and set forth the dates and 

locations of the virtual public 

information and public comment 

forums. 

Legal Authority 

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 the WAPA 

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 FERC. By 

Delegation Order No. S1–DEL–S3–2024, 

effective August 30, 2024, 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– 

WAPA1–2023, effective April 10, 2023, 

the Under Secretary for Infrastructure 

further redelegated the authority to 

confirm, approve, and place such rates 

into effect on an interim basis to 

WAPA’s Administrator. This rate action 

is issued under Redelegation Order No. 

S3–DEL–WAPA1–2023 and Department 

of Energy procedures for public 

participation in rate adjustments set 

forth in 10 CFR part 903.2

Following review of RM’s proposal, 

Rate Order No. WAPA–212, which 

provides the formula rates for LAP firm 

electric service and sale of surplus 

products, is hereby confirmed, 

approved, and placed into effect on an 

interim basis. WAPA will submit Rate 

Order No. WAPA–212 to FERC for 

confirmation and approval on a final 

basis. 

Department of Energy 

Administrator, Western Area Power 

Administration 

In the Matter of: Western Area Power 

Administration, Rocky Mountain 

Region, Rate Adjustment for the 

Loveland Area Projects, Firm Electric 

Service and Sale of Surplus Products, 

Formula Rates, Rate Order No. 

WAPA–212 

Order Confirming, Approving, and 

Placing the Formula Rates for the 

Loveland Area Projects Into Effect on 

an Interim Basis 

The formula rates in Rate Order No. 

WAPA–212 are established following 

section 302 of the Department of Energy 

(DOE) Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 

7152).1

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 the Western Area 

Power Administration (WAPA) 

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– 

2024, effective August 30, 2024, 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–WAPA1–2023, effective 

April 10, 2023, the Under Secretary for 

Infrastructure further redelegated the 

authority to confirm, approve, and place 

such rates into effect on an interim basis 

to WAPA’s Administrator. This rate 

action is issued under Redelegation 

Order No. S3–DEL–WAPA1–2023 and 

DOE procedures for public participation 

in rate adjustments set forth at 10 CFR 

part 903.2

Acronyms, Terms, and Definitions 

As used in this Rate Order, the 

following acronyms, terms, and 

definitions apply: 

Base: A component of the firm 

electric service rate design that is a fixed 

revenue requirement that includes 

operation and maintenance expenses 

(O&M), investments and replacements, 

interest on investments and 

replacements, normal timing power 

purchases, and transmission costs. 

Capacity: The electric capability of a 

generator, transformer, transmission 

circuit, or other equipment. It is 

expressed in kilowatts (kW) or 

megawatts (MW). 

Capacity Rate: The rate which sets 

forth the charges for capacity. It is 

expressed in dollars per kilowatt-month 

and applied to each kilowatt of the 

Contract Rate of Delivery or CROD. 

Composite Rate: The Power 

Repayment Study (PRS) rate for 

commercial firm power, which is the 

total annual revenue requirement for 

capacity and energy divided by the total 

annual energy sales. It is expressed in 

mills per kilowatt-hour (mills/kWh) and 

used only for comparison purposes. 

Corps of Engineers Annual Operating 

Plan (AOP): The United States Army 

Corps of Engineers (USACE) water 

management guidelines designed to 

meet the reservoir regulation objectives. 

Customer: An entity with a contract 

that is receiving Loveland Area Projects 

(LAP) firm electric service from WAPA. 

Customer Rate Brochure: A document 

prepared for public distribution 

explaining the rationale and background 

for the information contained in the 

Proposed FRN and in this rate order. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 91725 

Deficit(s): Deferred or unrecovered 

annual and/or interest expenses. 

Drought Adder: A component of the 

firm electric service rate design that is 

a formula-based revenue requirement 

that includes future power purchases 

above normal timing power purchases, 

previous purchase power droughtrelated Deficits, and interest on the 

purchase power drought-related 

Deficits. 

Energy: Measured in terms of the 

work it is capable of doing over a period 

of time. Electric energy is expressed in 

kilowatt-hours (kWh) or megawatt-hours 

(MWh). 

Energy Charge: The charge under the 

rate schedule for energy. It is expressed 

in mills per kilowatt-hour and applied 

to each kilowatt-hour delivered to each 

Customer. 

Firm: Power intended to be available 

at all times during the period covered by 

a guaranteed commitment to deliver, 

even under adverse conditions. 

FRN: Federal Register Notice—a 

document published in the Federal 

Register in order for WAPA to provide 

information of public interest. 

FY: WAPA’s fiscal year; October 1 to 

September 30. 

kW: Kilowatt—the electrical unit of 

capacity that equals 1,000 watts. 

kWh: Kilowatt-hour—the electrical 

unit of energy that equals 1,000 watts in 

1 hour. 

kW-month: Kilowatt-month—the 

electrical unit of the monthly amount of 

capacity. 

mills/kWh: Mills per kilowatt-hour— 

the unit of charge for energy (equal to 

one tenth of a cent or one thousandth 

of a dollar). 

Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is 

an online secure invite-only meeting 

platform used by WAPA. The general 

website is www.microsoft.com/en-us/ 

microsoft-teams/group-chat-software. 

NEPA: National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, as amended. 

Non-timing Power Purchases: Power 

purchases related to drought conditions, 

not related to operational constraints. 

Normal Timing Power Purchases: 

Power purchases related to operational 

constraints (e.g., management of 

endangered species habitat, water 

quality, navigation, balancing authority 

purposes, market events, etc.), not 

associated with drought conditions. 

O&M: Operation and maintenance 

expenses. 

Order RA 6120.2: DOE Order 

outlining Power Marketing 

Administration financial reporting and 

rate-making procedures. 

Power: Capacity and energy. 

Power Factor: The ratio of real to 

apparent power at any given point and 

time in an electrical circuit. Generally, 

it is expressed as a percentage. 

Power Repayment Study (PRS): 

Defined in Order RA 6120.2 as a study 

portraying the annual repayment of 

power production and transmission 

costs of a power system through the 

application of revenues over the 

repayment period of the power system. 

The study shows, among other items, 

estimated revenues and expenses, year 

by year, over the remainder of the power 

system’s repayment period (based upon 

conditions prevailing over the cost 

evaluation period), the estimated 

amount of Federal investment amortized 

during each year, and the total 

estimated amount of Federal investment 

remaining to be amortized. 

Preference: The provisions of 

Reclamation Law that require WAPA to 

first make Federal Power available to 

certain entities. For example, section 

9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 

1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)) states that 

preference in the sale of Federal Power 

shall be given to municipalities and 

other public corporations or agencies 

and also to cooperatives and other 

nonprofit organizations financed in 

whole or in part by loans made under 

the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. 

Provisional Formula Rates: Formula 

rates confirmed, approved, and placed 

into effect on an interim basis by the 

Secretary of Energy or his/her designee. 

Rate-setting PRS: The PRS used for 

the rate adjustment. 

Regions: WAPA’s Rocky Mountain 

(RM) region, WAPA’s Upper Great 

Plains (UGP) region. 

Revenue Requirement: The revenue 

required by the PRS to recover annual 

expenses (such as O&M, purchase 

power, transmission service expenses, 

interest, and deferred expenses) and 

repay Federal investments and 

replacements and other assigned costs. 

Effective Date 

The Provisional Formula Rate 

Schedules L–F13, Firm Electric Service; 

and L–M4, Sale of Surplus Products, 

will take effect on the first day of the 

first full billing period beginning on or 

after January 1, 2025, and will remain in 

effect through December 31, 2029, 

pending approval by FERC on a final 

basis or until superseded. 

Public Notice and Comment 

RM followed the Procedures for 

Public Participation in Power and 

Transmission Rate Adjustments and 

Extensions, 10 CFR part 903, in 

developing these formula rates. RM took 

the following steps to involve interested 

parties in the rate process: 

1. On June 28, 2024, a Federal 

Register notice (89 FR 53992) (Proposed 

FRN) announced the proposed formula 

rates and initiated a 60-day public 

consultation and comment period. 

2. On July 1, 2024, RM notified 

Preference Customers and interested 

parties of the proposed rates and 

provided a copy of the published 

Proposed FRN. 

3. On August 7, 2024, RM held a 

public information forum via Microsoft 

Teams. RM’s representatives explained 

the proposed formula rates, answered 

questions, and gave notice that more 

information was available in the 

Customer Rate Brochure. 

4. On August 7, 2024, RM held a 

public comment forum via Microsoft 

Teams to provide an opportunity for 

Customers and other interested parties 

to comment for the record. 

5. RM established a public website to 

post information about the rate process. 

The website is located at: 

www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/rm/ 

rm-rates/2025-rate-adjustment-firmelectric-service. 

6. During the 60-day consultation and 

comment period, which ended on 

August 27, 2024, RM received three oral 

comment submissions and one written 

comment letter. The comments and 

RM’s responses are addressed in the 

‘‘Comments’’ section. All comments 

have been considered in the preparation 

of this Rate Order. 

Oral comments were received from 

the following organizations: 

City of Orange City, Iowa (member 

utility) 

Mid-West Electric Consumers 

Association, Colorado (customer 

association) 

Missouri River Energy Services, South 

Dakota (action agency) 

Written comments were received from 

the following organization: 

Mid-West Electric Consumers 

Association, Colorado (customer 

association) 

Power Repayment Study—Firm Electric 

Service Rate Discussion 

PRSs are prepared each FY to 

determine if revenues will be sufficient 

to repay, within the required time, all 

costs assigned to the Pick-Sloan 

Missouri Basin Program (P–SMBP) and 

the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (FryArk). Repayment criteria are based on 

applicable laws and legislation, as well 

as policies including Order RA 6120.2. 

To meet the Cost Recovery Criteria 

outlined in Order RA 6120.2, RM 

developed a rate adjustment to 

demonstrate that sufficient revenues 

will be collected under the Provisional 


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91726 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 

Formula Rate to meet future obligations. 

The Revenue Requirement of the FryArk PRS is combined with the P– 

SMBP—Western Division (WD) Revenue 

Requirement, derived from the P–SMBP 

PRS, to develop one rate for LAP firm 

electric service. The Revenue 

Requirement and composite rate for 

LAP firm electric service are being 

increased using a two-step adjustment, 

where roughly 50 percent of the total 

increase is being applied in step 1 

(January 2025) and the remaining 50 

percent is being applied in step 2 

(January 2026), as indicated in Table 1: 

TABLE 1—COMPARISON OF EXISTING AND PROVISIONAL REVENUE REQUIREMENTS AND COMPOSITE RATE

LAP 

firm electric service 

Existing 

under L–F12 

as of 

Jan. 1, 2023 

Provisional 

under L–F13 

first step 

as of 

Jan. 1, 2025 

First step 

percent 

change 

Provisional 

under L–F13 

second step 

as of 

Jan. 1, 2026 

Second step 

percent 

change 

Total Revenue Requirement 1 (in million $) ......................... $74.6 $81.3 9.0 $87.9 8.1 

Pick-Sloan—WD 1 2 ..............................................................

Fry-Ark .................................................................................

(in million $). $58.5 

$16.1 

$62.6 

$18.7 

7.0 

16.1 

$66.3 

$21.6 

5.9 

15.5 

LAP Composite Rate 1 (mills/kWh) ...................................... 36.61 39.84 8.8 43.10 8.2 

1Provisional values are estimates only based on using set/final Base and estimated Drought Adder components. 

2Additional information on the overall P–SMBP PRS and charge components can be found in Rate Order No. WAPA–213 and on the UGP’s

website at: www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/ugp/ugp-rates/2025-firm-rate-adjustment. 

Firm Electric Service—Existing and 

Provisional Formula Rates 

Under the existing and provisional 

rate methodology, rates for LAP firm 

electric service are designed to recover 

an annual Revenue Requirement that 

includes investment and replacement 

repayment (including aid to irrigation), 

interest, purchase power, O&M, and 

other expenses within the allowable 

period. The annual Revenue 

Requirement continues to be allocated 

equally between capacity and energy. 

Base and Drought Adder Components 

As a part of the existing and 

provisional rate schedule, RM provides 

for a formula-based adjustment of the 

Drought Adder component, with an 

annual increase of up to 2mills/kWh 

each year. The 2 mills/kWh cap places 

a limit on the amount the Drought 

Adder component can be adjusted 

upward relative to associated drought 

costs included in the Drought Adder 

formula rate for any 1-year cycle. The 

Drought Adder component may be 

adjusted downward by any amount. 

Continuing to identify the firm electric 

service Revenue Requirement using 

Base and Drought Adder components 

will assist the Regions in presenting the 

future impacts of droughts, demonstrate 

repayment of drought-related costs in 

the PRSs, and allow the Regions to be 

more responsive to changes caused by 

drought-related expenses. RM will 

continue to charge and bill its customers 

firm electric service rates for energy and 

capacity, which are the sum of the Base 

and Drought Adder components. 

Under Rate Schedule L–F13, RM will 

continue to identify its LAP firm electric 

service Revenue Requirement using 

Base and Drought Adder components. 

The Base component is a fixed Revenue 

Requirement from each PRS that 

includes annual O&M, investment and 

replacement repayment, and associated 

interest, Normal Timing Power 

Purchases, and transmission costs. RM 

cannot adjust the Base component 

without a public process. The Drought 

Adder component is a formula-based 

Revenue Requirement from each PRS 

that includes costs attributable to 

drought conditions in the Regions. The 

Drought Adder component includes 

costs associated with future Non-timing 

Power Purchases to meet firm electric 

service contractual obligations not 

covered with available system 

generation due to a drought, previously 

incurred Deficits due to purchased 

power debt that resulted from Nontiming Power Purchases made during a 

drought, and the interest associated 

with drought-related Deficits. The 

Drought Adder component is designed 

to repay drought-related Deficits within 

10 years from the time the Deficit was 

incurred, using balloon-payment 

methodology. For example, a droughtrelated Deficit incurred in FY2024 

would be repaid by FY2034. 

The annual Revenue Requirement 

calculation will continue to be 

summarized by the following formula: 

Annual Revenue Requirement = Base 

Revenue Requirement + Drought Adder 

Revenue Requirement. 

Annual Drought Adder Adjustment 

Process 

RM reviews the inputs for the P– 

SMBP and Fry-Ark PRS Base and 

Drought Adder components after the 

annual PRSs are complete, generally in 

the first quarter of the calendar year. If 

an adjustment to the LAP Base 

component is necessary, or if an 

incremental upward adjustment to the 

LAP Drought Adder component greater 

than the equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to 

the LAP Rate is necessary, RM will 

initiate a public process pursuant to 10 

CFR part 903 prior to making an 

adjustment. 

In accordance with the approved 

annual Drought Adder adjustment 

process, the PRS Drought Adder 

components are reviewed annually in 

early summer to determine if drought 

costs differ from those projected in the 

PRSs. In October, RM will determine if 

a change to the LAP Drought Adder 

component is necessary, either 

incremental or decremental. Any 

incremental adjustment to the Drought 

Adder component, up to 2mills/kWh, or 

any decremental adjustment will be 

implemented in the following January 

billing cycle. Although decremental 

adjustments to the Drought Adder 

component will occur as drought costs 

are repaid, the adjustments cannot 

result in a negative Drought Adder 

component. Implementing the Drought 

Adder component adjustment on 

January 1 of each year will help keep 

the drought-related Deficits from 

escalating as quickly, will lower the 

interest expense due to drought-related 

Deficits, will demonstrate responsible 

Deficit management, and will provide 

prompt drought-related Deficit 

repayments. 

Revenue Requirement Changes 

The Base component costs for the P– 

SMBP PRS have increased primarily 

due to increased O&M from WAPA and 

the generating agencies. The Base 

component costs for the Fry-Ark PRS 

have increased primarily due to 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 91727 

increased annual expenses, mainly 

attributed to transmission purchases 

and O&M from both WAPA and the 

Bureau of Reclamation and increases in 

capital investment projections for the 

Mount Elbert Power Plant repairs/ 

refurbishment. 

The driver behind the P–SMBP 

Drought Adder component decrease is 

the USACE’s 2024 AOP projecting less 

than average generation, despite the 

improvement to generation as projected 

in the WAPA–202 January 2023 rate. 

Planned repayment of both the Base and 

Drought Adder Deficits are in the same 

time frame (2027) as they were projected 

to be repaid under WAPA–202. 

Uncertainties with water inflows, hydro 

generation, and replacement energy 

prices continue to pose potential risks 

regarding the ability to satisfy firm 

power contractual commitments. 

The net effect of these changes to the 

PRS Base and Drought Adder 

components results in an overall 

increase to the LAP rate. To implement 

the required rate increase over a twoyear period/in two steps, the Base 

component Revenue Requirements and 

associated charges for each step are set 

values. For the Drought Adder 

component, RM is using estimated 

Revenue Requirements and associated 

charges for each step based on the 

USACE’s 2024 AOP and drought costs 

projected in the Rate-Setting PRSs. In 

accordance with the approved annual 

Drought Adder adjustment process, 

these Drought Adder estimates are 

subject to change based upon updated 

AOPs/generation models and revised 

drought costs. A comparison of the 

existing and provisional charge 

component Revenue Requirements for 

firm electric service are shown in Table 

2: 

TABLE 2—COMPARISON OF EXISTING AND PROVISIONAL CHARGE COMPONENT REVENUE REQUIREMENTS

LAP 

firm electric service 

Existing 

under L–F12 

as of 

Jan.1, 2023 

(in million $) 

Provisional 

under L–F13 

first step 

as of 

Jan. 1, 2025 

(in million $) 

First step 

percent 

change 

Provisional 

under L–F13 

second step 

as of 

Jan. 1, 2026 

(in million $) 

Second step 

percent 

change 

Base Component ................................................................. $67.8 $76.4 12.7 $85.1 11.4 

Pick-Sloan—WD 1 ................................................................

Fry—Ark ............................................................................... 51.7 

16.1 

57.7 

18.7 

11.6 

16.1 

63.5 

21.6 

10.1 

15.5 

Drought Adder Component 2 ................................................ 6.8 4.9 ¥27.9 2.8 ¥42.9 

Pick-Sloan—WD 1 2 ..............................................................

Fry—Ark 2 ............................................................................. 6.8 

0.0 

4.9 

0.0 

¥27.9 

0.0 

2.8 

0.0 

¥42.9 

0.0 

1Additional information on the overall P–SMBP PRS and charge components can be found in Rate Order No.WAPA–213 and on UGP’s 

website at: www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/ugp/ugp-rates/2025-firm-rate-adjustment. 2Provisional values are estimates that may change during the existing annual Drought Adder adjustment process. 

A summary of the provisional charge 

components is shown in Table 3: 

TABLE 3—SUMMARY OF TWO-STEP PROVISIONAL CHARGE COMPONENTS

Provisional charges under rate 

schedule L–F13 first step 

as of Jan. 1, 2025 

Provisional charges under rate 

schedule L–F13 second step 

as of Jan. 1, 2026 

Base 

component 

Drought 

adder 

component 1

Total 

charge 2

Base 

component 

Drought 

adder 

component 1

Total 

charge 2

Firm Capacity ($/kilowatt-month) ..................................... $4.91 $0.31 $5.22 $5.47 $0.18 $5.65 

Firm Energy (mills/kWh) .................................................. 18.72 1.20 19.92 20.86 0.69 21.55 

1Provisional values are estimates that may change during the existing annual Drought Adder adjustment process. 

2Provisional values are estimates only based on using final Base and estimated Drought Adder components. 

Statement of Revenue and Related 

Expenses 

The following Table 4 provides a 

summary of projected revenue and 

expense data for the Fry-Ark firm power 

service Revenue Requirement through 

the 5-year provisional rate approval 

periods: 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 


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91728 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–C 

The summary of the P–SMBP 

projected revenue and expenses for the 

5-year rate-setting periods is included in 

the P–SMBP Statement of Revenue and 

Related Expenses that is part of Rate 

Order No. WAPA–213. 

Sale of Surplus Products Rate 

Discussion 

The sale of surplus products rate 

schedule is formula-based, providing for 

LAP Marketing Office to sell LAP 

surplus energy and capacity products. If 

LAP surplus products are available, as 

specified in the rate schedule, the 

charge will be based on market rates 

plus administrative costs. The customer 

will be responsible for acquiring 

transmission service necessary to 

deliver the product(s) for which a 

separate charge may be incurred. Rate 

Schedule L–M3 is being superseded by 

the Provisional Rate Schedule L–M4 

and continues to allow for the sale of 

energy, frequency response, regulation, 

and reserves. 

Comments 

RM received four separate oral and/or 

written comments during the public 

consultation and comment period. The 

comments expressed have been 

paraphrased and/or combined, where 

appropriate, without compromising the 

meaning of the comments. 

A. Comment: The customer 

association, member utility, and action 

agency commented that they understand 

a rate increase is necessary due to 

inflation on O&M and labor costs, along 

with increased debt principal costs and 

they support and appreciate the increase 

being implemented in two steps rather 

than one large increase. 

Response: WAPA appreciates the 

recognition of the impacts many entities 

are facing due to increasing inflation 

and labor costs, the specific costs of the 

power repayment study, and the twostep implementation for the rate 

adjustment. 

B. Comment: The customer 

association and the action agency 

commented that they have a concern 

with the addition of new Full-Time 

Employees (FTE) when many positions 

within WAPA remain unfilled. The 

customers encourage WAPA to evaluate 

its internal processes for cost control, 

seeking efficiencies in workflow and 

staffing. 

Response: WAPA understands the 

concern raised with the addition of new 

FTEs and the impacts of the FTEs to the 

rate. WAPA is committed to finding 

ways to limit cost increases impacting 

its customers while still ensuring it has 

the positions needed to fulfill its 

mission. 

C. Comment: The action agency 

commented that they lack an 

understanding of any compromises 

made within the budgeting process to 

meet the WAPA Administrator’s 

guidance stating tradeoffs need to be 

made. The action agency also stated 

they believe that this guidance could 

have been followed as an element of 

cost control. 

Response: WAPA appreciates the 

comment regarding the need for better 

cost control and that compromises in 

the budgeting process may be necessary 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 91729 

3The determination was done in compliance with 

NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321–4347); the Council on 

Environmental Quality Regulations for 

implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); and 

DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and 

Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021). 

to accomplish this effort. WAPA is 

committed to looking for ways to 

control its costs and will continue to 

communicate its funding priorities to its 

customers. 

D. Comment: The action agency and 

the customer association commented 

that they have concerns about the longterm viability of the P–SMBP going 

forward as it faces significant financial 

and operational issues in the future 

including: (1) USACE’s plan of 

rehabilitation of the Missouri River; (2) 

dam safety repairs; (3) Aid to Irrigation 

payments coming due; and (4) 

environmental impact issues from nonsupporting stakeholders. They also 

expressed their concern that these 

issues could result in significant future 

rate impacts to the firm power 

customers and that WAPA needs to 

focus on cost control in the future. 

Response: WAPA appreciates the 

concerns regarding the long-term 

stability and affordability of the P– 

SMBP beyond the 5-year rate window. 

WAPA is committed to continuing to 

focus on the impact of rising costs and 

to mitigate those costs when possible. 

E. Comment: The customer 

organization commented that they 

appreciate WAPA engaging with the 

customers early in the ratemaking 

process, responding to Customer 

concerns and questions. The customer 

organization also commented that they 

encourage WAPA leadership to support 

their rates and finance teams who have 

long-standing working relationships 

with the customers. 

Response: WAPA appreciates the 

comment regarding WAPA’s 

commitment to engaging with the 

Customers on issues concerning the firm 

power rate. 

Certification of Rates 

I have certified that the Provisional 

Formula Rates for LAP firm electric 

service under Rate Schedule L–F13 and 

LAP sale of surplus products under Rate 

Schedule L–M4 are the lowest possible 

rates, consistent with sound business 

principles. The Provisional Formula 

Rates were developed following 

administrative policies and applicable 

laws. 

Availability of Information 

Information used by RM to develop 

the Provisional Formula Rates is 

available for inspection and copying at 

the Rocky Mountain Regional Office, 

5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, 

Loveland, Colorado. Many of these 

documents are also available on RM’s 

Rates website at: www.wapa.gov/aboutwapa/regions/rm/rm-rates/2025-rateadjustment-firm-electric-service. 

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements 

Environmental Compliance 

WAPA has determined that this 

action fits within the following 

categorical exclusion listed in appendix 

B to subpart D of 10 CFR part 1021: B4.3 

(Electric power marketing rate 

changes).3 Categorically excluded 

projects and activities do not require 

preparation of either an environmental 

impact statement or an environmental 

assessment. A copy of the categorical 

exclusion determination is available on 

WAPA’s Rates website at: 

www.wapa.gov/wp-content/uploads/ 

2024/10/2025-001-Proposed-Lovelandarea-FY25-Rate-adjustment-CX.pdf. 

Determination Under Executive Order 

12866 

WAPA has an exemption from 

centralized regulatory review under 

Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no 

clearance of this notice by the Office of 

Management and Budget is required. 

Submission to the Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission 

The Provisional Formula Rates herein 

confirmed, approved, and placed into 

effect on an interim basis, together with 

supporting documents, will be 

submitted to FERC for confirmation and 

final approval. 

Order 

In view of the above and under the 

authority delegated to me, I hereby 

confirm, approve, and place into effect, 

on an interim basis, Rate Order No. 

WAPA–212. The rates will remain in 

effect on an interim basis until: (1) FERC 

confirms and approves them on a final 

basis; (2) subsequent rates are confirmed 

and approved; or (3) such rates are 

superseded. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on November 12, 

2024, by Tracey A. LeBeau, 

Administrator, Western Area 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 authorized to 

sign and submit the document in 

electronic format for publication, as an 

official document of the Department of 

Energy. This administrative process in 

no way alters the legal effect of this 

document upon publication in the 

Federal Register. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on November 

14, 2024. 

Treena V. Garrett, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 

Department of Energy. 

Rate Schedule L–F13 

(Supersedes Rate Schedule L–F12 

Effective January 1, 2023) 

United States Department of Energy 

Western Area Power Administration 

Rocky Mountain Region 

Loveland Area Projects 

Firm Electric Service 

(Approved Under Rate Order No. 

WAPA–212) 

Effective 

First Step: Beginning on the first day 

of the first full billing period beginning 

on or after January 1, 2025, through 

December 31, 2025. 

Second Step: Beginning on January 1, 

2026, and extending through December 

31, 2029, or until superseded by another 

rate schedule, whichever occurs earlier. 

Available 

Within the marketing area served by 

the Loveland Area Projects (LAP) 

(consisting of the Fryingpan-Arkansas 

Project and the Pick-Sloan Missouri 

Basin Program—Western Division, 

which were integrated for marketing 

and rate-making purposes in 1989), 

parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, 

and Wyoming. 

Applicable 

To the LAP firm electric service 

delivered at specific point(s) of delivery, 

as established by contract. 

Character 

Alternating current, 60 hertz, three 

phase, delivered and metered at the 

voltages and points established by 

contract. 

Formula Rate and Charge Components 

LAP Firm Electric Service Rate (Rate) = 

Base component + Drought Adder 

component: 


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91730 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 

First step 

January 1, 2025 

monthly charges 

Second step 

January 1, 2026 

monthly charges 

Base 

component 

Drought 

adder 

component 

Total 

charge 

Base 

component 

Drought 

adder 

component 1

Total 

charge 2

Capacity Charge ($/kilowatt-month of billing capacity 3) $4.91 $0.31 $5.22 $5.47 $0.18 $5.65 

Energy Charge (mills/kWh of monthly entitlement) ......... 18.72 1.20 19.92 20.86 0.69 21.55 

1Values are estimates that are subject to change during the annual Drought Adder adjustment process. 

2Values are estimates only based on final Base and estimated Drought Adder components. 

3 Unless otherwise specified by contract, the billing capacity will be the seasonal contract rate of delivery. 

Charge Components 

Base Component: A fixed revenue 

requirement that includes operation and 

maintenance expense, investments and 

replacements, interest on investments 

and replacements, normal timing power 

purchases (purchases due to operational 

constraints, not associated with 

drought), and transmission costs. Any 

proposed change to the Base component 

will require a public process. The Base 

component revenue requirement for the 

first step is $76,396,300 and for the 

second step is $85,126,600. 

Drought Adder Component: A 

formula-based revenue requirement that 

includes future power purchases above 

normal timing power purchases, 

previous purchase power droughtrelated deficits, and interest on the 

purchase power drought-related deficits. 

The Drought Adder component revenue 

requirement for the first step is 

$4,890,480 and for the second step is 

estimated to be $2,803,080. The second 

step revenue requirement is subject to 

change during the annual Drought 

Adder adjustment processes starting in 

January 2026. 

Annual Drought Adder Adjustment 

Process 

The Drought Adder component may 

be adjusted annually using the above 

formulas for any costs attributed to 

drought of less than or equal to the 

equivalent of 2 mills/kWh to the Rate. 

Any planned incremental upward 

adjustment to the Drought Adder 

component greater than the equivalent 

of 2 mills/kWh to the Rate will require 

a public process. 

The annual review process is initiated 

in early summer when the Rocky 

Mountain (RM) region reviews the 

Drought Adder component and provides 

notice of any estimated change to the 

Drought Adder component charge under 

the formula. In October, RM will make 

a final determination of any change to 

the Drought Adder component charge, 

either incremental or decremental. If a 

Drought Adder component change is 

required, a modified Drought Adder 

revenue requirement and the associated 

charges will become effective the 

following January 1 and will be 

identified in a Drought Adder 

modification update. RM will inform 

customers of updates by letter and post 

updates to RM’s external website. 

Adjustments 

For Transformer Losses: If delivery is 

made at transmission voltage but 

metered on the low-voltage side of the 

substation, the meter readings will be 

increased to compensate for transformer 

losses as provided for in the contract. 

For Power Factor: None. Customers 

will be required to maintain a power 

factor within the range of 95-percent 

leading to 95-percent lagging, measured 

at the point of interconnection. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 91731 

1Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule 

on a Final Basis, FERC Docket No. EF23–2–000 

(2023). 

2 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 

(Feb. 21, 2019). 

Rate Schedule L–M4 

(Supersedes Rate Schedule L–M3 

Effective January 1, 2023) 

United States Department of Energy 

Western Area Power Administration 

Rocky Mountain Region 

Loveland Area Projects 

Sale of Surplus Products 

(Approved Under Rate Order No. 

WAPA–212) 

Effective 

The first day of the first full billing 

period beginning on or after January 1, 

2025, and extending through December 

31, 2029, or until superseded by another 

rate schedule, whichever occurs earlier. 

Applicable 

This rate schedule applies to 

Loveland Area Projects (LAP) marketing 

and is applicable to the sale of the 

following LAP surplus energy and 

capacity products: energy, frequency 

response, regulation, and reserves. If 

any of the above LAP surplus products 

are available, LAP can make the 

product(s) available for sale, providing 

entities enter into separate agreement(s) 

with LAP Marketing Office which will 

specify the terms of sale(s). 

Formula Rate 

The charge for each product will be 

determined at the time of the sale based 

on market rates, plus administrative 

costs. The customer will be responsible 

for acquiring transmission service 

necessary to deliver the product(s), for 

which a separate charge may be 

incurred. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26932 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Western Area Power Administration 

Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program— 

Eastern Division—Rate Order No. 

WAPA–213 

AGENCY: Western Area Power 

Administration, DOE. 

ACTION: Notice of rate order. 

SUMMARY: The formula rates for the 

Upper Great Plains (UGP) region’s PickSloan Missouri Basin Program (P– 

SMBP)—Eastern Division (ED) firm 

power service, firm peaking power 

service, and sale of surplus products 

have been confirmed, approved, and 

placed into effect on an interim basis 

(Provisional Formula Rates). These new 

formula rates replace the existing 

formula rates for these services under 

Rate Schedules P–SED–F14, Firm Power 

Service; P–SED–FP14, Firm Peaking 

Power Service; and P–SED–M2, Sale of 

Surplus Products, which expire on 

December 31, 2027. The P–SMBP—ED 

firm power service composite rate is 

increasing over a 2-year period with a 

7.5 percent increase on January 1, 2025, 

and an additional 6.2 percent increase 

on January 1, 2026. There are no 

changes to the formula rate for sale of 

surplus products. 

DATES: The Provisional Formula Rates 

under Rate Schedules P–SED–F15, Firm 

Power Service; P–SED–FP15, Firm 

Peaking Power Service; and Rate 

Schedule P–SED–M3, Sale of Surplus 

Products, are effective on the first day 

of the first full billing period beginning 

on or after January 1, 2025, and will 

remain in effect through December 31, 

2029, pending confirmation and 

approval by the Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a 

final basis or until superseded. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lloyd Linke, Regional Manager, Upper 

Great Plains Region, Western Area 

Power Administration, 2900 4th Avenue 

North, 6th Floor, Billings, MT 59101– 

1266, or email: ugpfirmrate@wapa.gov, 

or Linda Cady-Hoffman, Rates Manager, 

Upper Great Plains Region, Western 

Area Power Administration, (406) 255– 

2920, or email: cady@wapa.gov or 

ugpfirmrate@wapa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 

29, 2023, FERC confirmed and approved 

Formula Rate Schedules P–SED–F14, P– 

SED–FP14, and P–SED–M2, under Rate 

Order No. WAPA–203, on a final basis 

through December 31, 2027.1 Western 

Area Power Administration (WAPA) 

published a Federal Register notice 

(Proposed FRN) on June 28, 2024 (89 FR 

53989), proposing adjustments to 

increase the base component and 

decrease the drought adder component 

of the P–SMBP—ED firm power service 

and firm peaking power service rate 

using a two-step rate adjustment where 

roughly 50 percent of the total increase 

is being applied in step 1 (January 2025) 

and the remaining 50 percent is being 

applied in step 2 (January 2026), and to 

put new 5-year rate schedules in place. 

The Proposed FRN also initiated a 60- 

day public consultation and comment 

period and set forth the dates and 

locations of the virtual public 

information and public comment 

forums. 

Legal Authority 

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 the WAPA 

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 FERC. By 

Delegation Order No. S1–DEL–S3–2024, 

effective August 30, 2024, 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– 

WAPA1–2023, effective April 10, 2023, 

the Under Secretary for Infrastructure 

further redelegated the authority to 

confirm, approve, and place such rates 

into effect on an interim basis to 

WAPA’s Administrator. This rate action 

is issued under Redelegation Order No. 

S3–DEL–WAPA1–2023 and Department 

of Energy procedures for public 

participation in rate adjustments set 

forth at 10 CFR part 903.2

Following review of UGP’s proposal, 

Rate Order No. WAPA–213, which 

provides the formula rates for the P– 

SMBP—ED firm power service, firm 

peaking power service, and sale of 

surplus products, is hereby confirmed, 

approved, and placed into effect on an 

interim basis. WAPA will submit Rate 

Order No. WAPA–213 to FERC for 

confirmation and approval on a final 

basis. 

Department of Energy 

Administrator, Western Area Power 

Administration 

In the Matter of: Western Area Power 

Administration, Upper Great Plains 

Region, Rate Adjustment for the PickSloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern 

Division, Firm Power Service, Firm 

Peaking Power Service, and Sale of 

Surplus Products Formula Rates, Rate 

Order No. WAPA–213 

Order Confirming, Approving, and 

Placing The Formula Rates for the PickSloan Missouri Basin Program— 

Eastern Division into Effect on an 

Interim Basis 

The formula rates in Rate Order No. 

WAPA–213 are established following 

section 302 of the Department of Energy 


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