Notice2021-12425
Integrated System, Sam Rayburn Dam, and Robert D. Willis Rate Schedules
Primary source
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Published
June 14, 2021
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentSouthwestern Power Administration
Abstract
The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), is proposing a two-year extension to the currently approved rate schedules for the Integrated System, the Sam Rayburn Dam, and the Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Robert D. Willis) for the period of October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023. Southwestern's current Integrated System rate schedules (P-13A, NFTS-13A, and EE-13), the Sam Rayburn Dam rate schedule (SRD-15), and the Robert D. Willis rate schedule (RDW-15), expire September 30, 2021.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 112 (Monday, June 14, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 112 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31500-31502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12425]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Southwestern Power Administration
Integrated System, Sam Rayburn Dam, and Robert D. Willis Rate
Schedules
AGENCY: Southwestern Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rate schedules extension and opportunity for
public review and comment.
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SUMMARY: The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration
(Southwestern), is proposing a two-year extension to the currently
approved rate schedules for the Integrated System, the Sam Rayburn Dam,
and the Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Robert D. Willis) for
the period of October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2023. Southwestern's
current Integrated System rate schedules (P-13A, NFTS-13A, and EE-13),
the Sam Rayburn Dam rate schedule (SRD-15), and the Robert D. Willis
rate schedule (RDW-15), expire September 30, 2021.
DATES: The consultation and comment period will begin on June 14, 2021
and will end on July 14, 2021. Written comments are due on or before
July 14, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Ms. Fritha Ohlson, Senior
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Southwestern Power
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, One West Third Street,
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Fritha Ohlson, Senior Vice
President, Chief Operating Officer, Office of Corporate Operations,
(918) 595-6684, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fc9a8e9588949dd29394908f9392bc8f8b8c9dd29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7a1b5aeb3afa6e9a8afabb4a8a987b4b0b7a6e9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a>, or facsimile transmission (918)
595-6684.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Originally established by Order 1865,
Secretary of the Interior, dated August 31, 1943 and effective
September 1, 1943 (8 FR 12142 (Sept. 3, 1943)), Southwestern is
[[Page 31501]]
authorized by Congress to market the hydroelectric power and energy
from Federal dams controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), pursuant to Section 302(a)(1) of the Department of Energy
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152(a)(1)), Section 5 of the Flood Control
Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s), and Public Law 95-456 (16 U.S.C. 825s-3).
Guidelines for preparation of power repayment studies are included in
Department of Energy (DOE) Order No. RA 6120.2 (Sept. 20, 1979),
entitled Power Marketing Administration Financial Reporting. Procedures
for public participation in power and transmission rate adjustments of
the Power Marketing Administrations are found at title 10, part 903,
subpart A of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR part 903).
Procedures for the confirmation, approval, and extension of rates for
the Power Marketing Administrations are found at title 18, part 300,
subpart L of the Code of Federal Regulations (18 CFR part 300).
Southwestern markets power from 24 multi-purpose reservoir projects
with hydroelectric power facilities constructed and operated by the
Corps. These projects are located in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and
Texas. Southwestern's marketing area includes these states, plus Kansas
and Louisiana. The costs associated with 22 of these 24 hydropower
projects are repaid with revenues received under Southwestern's
Integrated System rates. These rates also cover the costs of
Southwestern's transmission facilities that consist of 1,380 miles of
high voltage transmission lines, 27 substations, and 46 microwave and
VHF radio sites. Additionally, Southwestern markets power from two
hydropower projects in southeastern Texas, Sam Rayburn Dam and Robert
D. Willis. These projects are isolated hydrologically, electrically,
and financially from the Integrated System and are repaid via separate
rate schedules.
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. The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (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. 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 December 17, 2015, in Rate Order No. SWPA-69, the Deputy
Secretary of Energy placed into effect the current Sam Rayburn Dam rate
schedule (SRD-15) on an interim basis for the period January 1, 2016 to
September 30, 2019. FERC confirmed and approved SRD-15 on a final basis
on June 30, 2016 for a period ending September 30, 2019. On September
22, 2019, in Rate Order No. SWPA-75, the Assistant Secretary for
Electricity approved a two-year extension to SRD-15 on an interim basis
through September 30, 2021.
On December 17, 2015, in Rate Order No. SWPA-70, the Deputy
Secretary of Energy placed into effect the current Robert D. Willis Dam
rate schedule (RDW-15) on an interim basis for the period January 1,
2016 to September 30, 2019. FERC confirmed and approved the rate 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 approved a two-year extension to RDW-15 on an interim
basis through September 30, 2021.
Decision Rationale
Southwestern is proposing an extension of the above current rate
schedules, for the period October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023.
The Administrator will review and consider all timely written comments
at the end of the public review and comment period and adjust the rate
schedules extension proposal as appropriate.
Southwestern's current Integrated System rate schedules (P-13A,
NFTS-13A, and EE-13) are based on its 2013 Power Repayment Study (PRS).
Southwestern has conducted PRSs annually thereafter through 2021. Each
PRS indicated a need for a revenue adjustment that fell 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. The deferral of a revenue adjustment
(rate change) provides for rate stability and savings on the
administrative cost of implementation. Thus, the Administrator has
deferred revenue adjustments annually through 2021.
Southwestern's current rate schedules for the Sam Rayburn Dam and
Robert D. Willis isolated rate systems, SRD-15 and RDW-15, are based on
their respective 2015 PRSs. Each subsequent annual PRS, including the
2021 PRS, 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 case-by-
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 Sam Rayburn Dam and Robert D. Willis through
2021.
Legal Authority
By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00B, 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 FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1-
DEL-S4-2021, effective February 25, 2021, the Acting 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
Science (and Energy). By Redelegation Order No. S4-DEL-OE1-2021,
effective March 25, 2021, the Acting Under Secretary for Science (and
Energy) redelegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such
rates into effect on an interim basis to the Assistant Secretary for
Electricity.
[[Page 31502]]
And by Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-04, effective July 8, 2020, the
Assistant Secretary for Electricity further redelegated the authority
to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim
basis to the Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration. This
redelegation order, despite predating the February 2021 and March 2021
redelegations, remains valid. By these delegations, and in accordance
with 10 CFR 903.22(h) and 10 CFR 903.23(a), as amended (84 FR 5347,
5350 (Feb. 21, 2019)), Southwestern's Administrator may approve and
extend, on an interim basis, rates previously confirmed and approved by
FERC beyond the period specified by FERC.
Environmental Impact
Southwestern previously determined that the rate change actions,
placed into effect on October 1, 2013 for the Integrated System and on
January 1, 2016 for Sam Rayburn Dam and Robert D. Willis, fit within
the class of categorically excluded actions as listed in Appendix B to
Subpart D of 10 CFR part 1021, DOE's Implementing Procedures and
Guidelines of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321-4347): Categorical exclusions applicable to B4.3:
Electric power marketing rate changes, which does not require
preparation of either an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an
environmental assessment (EA). On May 27, 2021, Southwestern determined
that categorical exclusion B4.3 applies to the current action.
Determination Under Executive Order 12866
Southwestern 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.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on June 4,
2021, 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 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 June 9, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-12425 Filed 6-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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