Notice2021-18648
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center-Rate Order No. WAPA-195
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 31, 2021
Effective
October 1, 2021
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentWestern Area Power Administration
Abstract
The formula rate for the Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) to use under the WEIS Market (Provisional Formula Rate) has been confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis. This formula rate, approved under the WAPA Administrator's authority to establish rates for short term sales, expires on September 30, 2021. No changes were made to this formula rate for short-term sales under Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission service). CRSP MC has converted its existing rate for short-term sales for use under the WEIS Market to a long-term formula rate.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 31, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48676-48678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18648]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center--Rate Order No.
WAPA-195
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of rate order concerning joint dispatch transmission
service formula rate for use under the Western Energy Imbalance Service
(WEIS) Market.
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SUMMARY: The formula rate for the Colorado River Storage Project
Management Center (CRSP MC) of the Western Area Power Administration
(WAPA) to use under the WEIS Market (Provisional Formula Rate) has been
confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis. This
formula rate, approved under the WAPA Administrator's authority to
establish rates for short term sales, expires on September 30, 2021. No
changes were made to this formula rate for short-term sales under Rate
Schedule SP-NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission service). CRSP MC has
converted its existing rate for short-term sales for use under the WEIS
Market to a long-term formula rate.
DATES: The Provisional Formula Rate under Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT (joint
dispatch transmission service) is effective on the first day of the
first full billing period beginning on or after October 1, 2021, and
will remain in effect through September 30, 2024, pending confirmation
and approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a
final basis or until superseded.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy A. Vigil, Colorado River
Storage Project Management Center Manager, Western Area Power
Administration, 1800 South Rio Grande Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401,
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0447565754494729766570612965606e44736574652a636b72"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6859495968b85ebb4a7b2a3eba7a2ac86b1a7b6a7e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>, or Thomas J. Hackett, Rates Manager,
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center, Western Area Power
Administration, (801) 524-5503, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdd5dcded6d8c9c9fdcadccddc93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0b8b1b3bbb5a4a490a7b1a0b1feb7bfa6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 29, 2020, WAPA's Administrator
approved the rate for short-term sales for CRSP MC to use under the
WEIS Market, which created a new Rate Schedule, SP-NFJDT (joint
dispatch transmission service), for the 8-month period of February 1,
2021, through September 30, 2021.
WAPA published a Federal Register notice (Proposed FRN) on April
23, 2021 (86 FR 21726), proposing to convert the rate for short-term
sales for CRSP MC to use under the WEIS Market to a long-term formula
rate for use October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2026. The Proposed
FRN also initiated a 30-day public consultation and comment period. The
Proposed FRN stated a term of 5 years for the long-term formula rate,
but, as discussed in Rate Order No. WAPA-195, WAPA has determined that
a 3-year term would be more appropriate, making the effective dates
October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2024.
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 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 on a final basis, 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. By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05,
effective July 8, 2020, the Assistant Secretary for Electricity further
delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into
effect on an interim basis to WAPA's Administrator. This redelegation
order, despite predating the February 2021 and March 2021 delegations,
remains valid. This rate action is issued under the Redelegation Order
No. 00-002.10-05 and Department of Energy procedures for public
participation in rate adjustments as set forth at 10 CFR part 903.\1\
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\1\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
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Following review of CRSP MC's proposal, I hereby confirm, approve,
and place Rate Order No. WAPA-195, which provides a formula rate for
joint dispatch transmission service for use under the WEIS Market, into
effect on an interim basis. WAPA will submit Rate Order No. WAPA-195 to
FERC for
[[Page 48677]]
confirmation and approval on a final basis.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
ADMINISTRATOR, WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
In the Matter of: Western Area Power Administration, Colorado River
Storage Project Management Center, Rate Adjustment for Colorado River
Storage Project, Joint Dispatch Transmission Service
Rate Order No. WAPA-195
Order Confirming, Approving, and Placing Formula Rate for the Colorado
River Storage Project Into Effect on an Interim Basis
The formula rate in Rate Order No. WAPA-195 is established
following section 302 of the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization
Act (42 U.S.C. 7152).\2\
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\2\ This 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 other acts that specifically apply to the projects
involved.
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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 the Western Area Power Administration's
(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 on a final basis,
remand, or disapprove such rates to the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (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. By
Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05, effective July 8, 2020, the
Assistant Secretary for Electricity further delegated the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis
to WAPA's Administrator. This redelegation order, despite predating the
February 2021 and March 2021 delegations, remains valid. This rate
action is issued under the Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05 and
Department of Energy procedures for public participation in rate
adjustments as set forth at 10 CFR part 903.\3\
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\3\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
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Acronyms, Terms, and Definitions
As used in this Rate Order, the following acronyms, terms, and
definitions apply:
$/MWh: Dollars per megawatt-hour.
Customer Rate Brochure: Document that further explains the rate
methodologies under Rate Order No. WAPA-195.
CRCM: The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)-
registered Joint Dispatch Transmission Service Provider for WAPA's
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC) transmission
facilities included in the Transmission System within the Western
Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS) Market Footprint.
Fiscal Year: October 1 to September 30.
NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
Provisional Formula Rate: Formula rate confirmed, approved, and
placed into effect on an interim basis by the Secretary or their
designee.
Transmission System: The facilities owned, controlled, or operated
by the CRSP MC that are used to provide transmission service.
WEIS Market Footprint: The loads and WEIS Market Resources that are
located within the Balancing Authority Areas participating in the WEIS
Market under the WEIS Tariff. The WEIS Market is the market for
imbalance energy administered by Southwest Power Pool in the Western
Interconnection.
Effective Date
The Provisional Formula Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT (joint dispatch
transmission service) will take effect on the first day of the first
full billing period beginning on or after October 1, 2021, and will
remain in effect through September 30, 2024, pending approval by FERC
on a final basis or until superseded.
Public Notice and Comment
CRSP MC followed the Procedures for Public Participation in Power
and Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions, 10 CFR part 903, in
developing this formula rate. Following are the steps CRSP MC took to
involve interested parties in the rate process:
1. On April 23, 2021, a Federal Register notice (86 FR 21726)
(Proposal FRN) announced the proposed formula rate and launched a 30-
day public consultation and comment period.
2. On April 23, 2021, the CRSP MC notified CRSP MC Customers and
interested parties of the proposed rate and provided a copy of the
published Proposal FRN.
3. CRSP MC provided a website that contains all dates, customer
letters, presentations, FRNs, Customer Rate Brochure, and other
information about this rate process. The website is located at: <a href="https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/CRSP-WEIS.aspx">https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/CRSP-WEIS.aspx</a>.
4. During the 30-day consultation and comment period, which ended
on May 24, 2021, CRSP MC received one written comment letter. The
comments and CRSP MC's responses are addressed below. All comments have
been considered in preparation of this Rate Order.
Written comments were received from the following organization:
Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, Arizona.
Joint Dispatch Transmission Service
CRSP MC converted its rate for short-term sales for use under the
WEIS Market to a long-term formula rate. The rate schedule did not
change in the process. The formula rate is designed to recover the
annual costs of providing the service, as applicable, on an annual
basis effective October 1 of each fiscal year.
For further details and explanations regarding this service, please
see the final version of the Customer Rate Brochure dated July 26,
2021, located at: <a href="https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/CRSP-WEIS.aspx">https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/CRSP-WEIS.aspx</a>.
Comments
The CRSP MC received one written comment letter during the public
consultation and comment period. The comments expressed have been
paraphrased, where appropriate, without compromising the meaning of the
comments.
A. Comment: Commenter asked the CRSP MC to consider a 3-year term
to run concurrently with the Rocky Mountain Region's (RMR) rates for
participation in the WEIS Market. RMR sought a 3-year term to give
``RMR time to refine the WEIS Market implementation and investigate the
potential expansion of and participation in the Southwest Power Pool
Regional Transmission Organization.''
Response: CRSP MC agrees with the commenter's rationale and will
also use the 3-year term for the same reason.
B. Comment: Commenter recommended terminology should be
[[Page 48678]]
described or defined to allow the Rate Schedule to stand on its own and
to consider defining ``CRCM,'' ``Transmission System,'' and ``WEIS
Market Footprint.''
Response: All terms were added to the Acronyms, Terms, and
Definitions section above.
C. Comment: Commenter asked where specific description of the
Transmission System and WEIS Market Footprint can be found.
Response: CRSP MC has made edits to the final version of the
Customer Rate Brochure to coincide with the suggestions. Additionally,
Attachment R to WAPA's Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) contains
provisions for the WEIS Market.
Certification of Rates
I certified that the Provisional Formula Rate for CRSP MC under
Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT (joint dispatch transmission service) is the
lowest possible rate, consistent with sound business principles. The
Provisional Formula Rate was developed following administrative
policies and applicable laws.
Availability of Information
Information about this rate adjustment, including the customer rate
brochure, comments, letters, memorandums, and other supporting
materials that were used to develop the Provisional Formula Rate, is
available for inspection and copying at the Colorado River Storage
Project Management Center Office, 1800 South Rio Grande Avenue,
Montrose, CO. Many of these documents are also available on WAPA's
website at <a href="https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/CRSP-WEIS.aspx">https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/CRSP-WEIS.aspx</a>.
Ratemaking Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA has determined that this action fits within the following
categorical exclusions listed in appendix B to subpart D of 10 CFR
1021.410: B4.3 (Electric power marketing rate changes) and B4.4 (Power
marketing services and activities). Categorically excluded projects and
activities do not require preparation of either an environmental impact
statement or an environmental assessment.\4\ Specifically, WAPA has
determined that this rulemaking is consistent with activities
identified in part B4, Categorical Exclusions Applicable to Specific
Agency Actions (see 10 CFR part 1021, appendix B to subpart D, part
B4). A copy of the categorical exclusion determination is available on
WAPA's website at: <a href="https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/environment/Pages/environment.aspx">https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/environment/Pages/environment.aspx</a>.
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\4\ The 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).
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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 Rate 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-195. The rate will remain in effect on an interim
basis until: (1) FERC confirms and approves it on a final basis; (2) a
subsequent rate is confirmed and approved; or (3) such rate is
superseded.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 23,
2021, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Interim 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 August 25, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT
SCHEDULE 8R to OATT Attachment
(Supersedes Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT dated February 1, 2021, through
September 30, 2021)
United States Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center
Colorado River Storage Project
Joint Dispatch Transmission Service
(Approved Under Rate Order No. WAPA-195)
Effective
The first day of the first full billing period beginning on or
after October 1, 2021, and extending through September 30, 2024, or
until superseded by another rate schedule, whichever occurs earlier.
Applicable
This rate schedule applies to the Colorado River Storage Project
(CRSP) as the Transmission Service Provider (TSP) when the Colorado
River Storage Project Management Center is participating in the Western
Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS) Market. The Joint Dispatch Transmission
Service (JDTS) Customer shall compensate the CRSP TSP for JDTS
commensurate with the receipt or delivery of energy dispatched for the
JDTS Customer pursuant to the WEIS Tariff under the formula rate
described herein.
Formula Rate
Hourly delivery:
On-Peak Hours: the on-peak charge $0.00/MWh
Off-Peak Hours: the off-peak charge $0.00/MWh
[FR Doc. 2021-18648 Filed 8-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.