[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26433-26434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12037]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration


Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project--Notice of 
Order Confirming and Approving an Extension of the Existing Step One 
Firm and Nonfirm Transmission Service Rate

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice is given of Rate Order No. WAPA-69 extending until 
October 1, 1996, Rate Schedules INT-FT1 and INT-NFT1 for firm and 
nonfirm transmission service over the Western Area Power Administration 
(Western) Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (AC 
Intertie) transmission system.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. J. Tyler Carlson, Area Manager, Phoenix Area Office, Western Area 
Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005, (602) 352-2521.

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; (2) the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates in 
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). Existing Department Of Energy (DOE) procedures for 
public participation in rate adjustments (10 CFR Part 903) became 
effective on September 18, 1985 (50 FR 37837). Pursuant to Delegation 
Order No. 0204-108, FERC, in the order issued March 24, 1994, in Docket 
No. EF93-5191-000, confirmed and approved Rate Schedules INT-FT1 and 
INT-NFT1 for firm and nonfirm transmission service by the AC Intertie 
administered by Western's Phoenix Area Office (66 FERC para.62,180). 
The existing step one rate was approved for the period August 1, 1993, 
through September 30, 1995. The existing step two rate was approved for 
the period October 1, 1995, through July 31, 1998.
    The existing step two rates were to be automatically implemented on 
October 1, 1995. However, Western will not implement the existing step 
two rates at this time. A Stipulation Agreement was executed by Western 
and the customers and filed with FERC on December 28, 1993, agreeing to 
re-examine the issues from the last rate adjustment. In addition to re-
examining these issues, Western is also investigating different rate 
design alternatives since two new transmission line segments will be 
energized on January 1, 1996. Western needs additional time for 
resolution of these issues along with current customer issues. 
Therefore, Western proposes to extend the existing step one AC Intertie 
transmission service rates until October 1, 1996. During this time, 
Western will be holding a series of public meetings with the AC 
Intertie customers.
    The purpose of Rate Order No. WAPA-69 is to extend Rate Schedules 
INT-FT1 and INT-NFT1 until October 1, 1996, to allow time for the 
coordination and resolution of these issues and other rate adjustment 
processes.

    Issued in Washington, DC, April 28, 1995.
Bill White,
Deputy Secretary.
Rate Order No. WAPA-69

    In the matter of: Western Area Power Administration, Rate 
Adjustment for Phoenix Area Office AC Intertie Project

Order Confirming and Approving an Extension of the AC Intertie Project 
Firm and Nonfirm Transmission Service Rate

April 28, 1995.
    Transmission rates for the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest 
Intertie Project (AC Intertie) are established pursuant to the 
Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.); and 
the Reclamation Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 388 et seq.), as amended and 
supplemented by subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of 
the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)), and section 
8 of the Act of August 31, 1964 (16 U.S.C. 837g), 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 Western; (2) the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates in effect on an 
interim basis to the Deputy Secretary; and (3) the authority to 
[[Page 26434]] confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final 
basis, to remand, or to disapprove such rates to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC). Existing the Department of Energy 
(DOE) procedures for public participation in rate adjustments (10 
CFR Part 903) became effective on September 18, 1985 (50 FR 37837). 
This rate extension is issued pursuant to the Delegation Order and 
the rate extension procedures in 10 CFR Part 903. FERC is not 
required to confirm and approve this rate extension by reason of 10 
CFR Part 903.23(b), which states that existing rates may be extended 
on a temporary basis by the Deputy Secretary.

Background

    Pursuant to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, FERC, in the order 
issued July 14, 1993, in Docket No. EF93-4151-000, confirmed and 
approved Rate Schedule INT-FT1 for firm transmission service and 
INT-NFT1 for nonfirm transmission service in the AC Intertie 
administered by Western's Phoenix Area Office (PAO). The step one 
and step two rates were approved for the period from August 1, 1993, 
through July 31, 1998.

Discussion

    On July 14, 1993, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of DOE, approved the existing 
rates on an interim basis for firm and nonfirm transmission service. 
The existing step one and step two rates for firm and nonfirm 
transmission service were placed in effect on August 1, 1993. Step 
one of the firm transmission service rate was approved to be in 
effect through September 30, 1995, and step two of the existing 
rates was to become effective on October 1, 1995, and continue 
through July 31, 1998. The FERC confirmed and approved the rates on 
a final basis for both firm and nonfirm transmission service on 
March 24, 1994.
    During the last AC Intertie rate adjustment process (WAPA-56), 
the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, the Arizona Power 
Authority, the Arizona Subcontractor Group, the Arizona Power 
Pooling Association, Inc., and Salt River Project Agricultural 
Improvement and Power District filed Motions to Intervene and 
Protest FERC's confirmation and approval of the AC Intertie rates 
described in Rate Order No. WAPA-56, in Docket No. EF93-4191-000. On 
December 28, 1993, Western filed a Stipulation Agreement signed by 
Western and these customers in which the intervenors withdrew their 
protests and Western agreed to re-examine the issues raised as well 
as commence a new rate adjustment process during fiscal year 1995.
    Western proposes to extend the existing step one AC Intertie 
transmission service rates until October 1, 1996. Western is 
investigating different rate design alternatives since two new 
transmission line segments will be energized on January 1, 1996. 
Western needs additional time for resolution of these issues along 
with current customer issues. Even though it is anticipated that the 
firm transmission service rate adjustment will be placed in effect 
by December 31, 1995, the extension of the existing step one AC 
Intertie firm and nonfirm transmission service rates is through 
March 1, 1996, to allow for flexibility in the upcoming rate 
adjustment process. During this time, Western will be holding a 
series of public meetings with AC Intertie customers.

Order

    In view of the foregoing and pursuant to the authority delegated 
to me by the Secretary, I hereby confirm and approve for a period 
effective October 1, 1995, until October 1, 1996, the existing step 
one Rate Schedules INT-FT1 and INT-NFT1 for firm and nonfirm 
transmission service over the AC Intertie transmission system.

    Issued in Washington, DC, April 28, 1995.
Bill White,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-12037 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P