Notice2025-06951
Sierra Nevada Region Pacific Alternating Current Intertie Point-to-Point Transmission Service-Rate Order No. WAPA-211
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
April 23, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentWestern Area Power Administration
Abstract
The Sierra Nevada Region (SN) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes new long-term formula rates to become effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030 for Pacific Alternating Current Intertie (PACI) Point-to-Point (PTP) transmission services. SN is proposing a cost-based formula rate for Statutory Service and two new equitable formula rates for sale of surplus capacity for non-Statutory Service. SN also proposes to supersede certain formula rates for short-term sales on the PACI, PACI-T4 and PACI-T5, (approved under Delegation Order No. S3-DEL-WAPA1-2023, Section 1.4.B) with these proposed long-term formula rates.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 77 (Wednesday, April 23, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17065-17066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06951]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Sierra Nevada Region Pacific Alternating Current Intertie Point-
to-Point Transmission Service--Rate Order No. WAPA-211
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of proposed transmission service formula rates.
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SUMMARY: The Sierra Nevada Region (SN) of the Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA) proposes new long-term formula rates to become
effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030 for Pacific
Alternating Current Intertie (PACI) Point-to-Point (PTP) transmission
services. SN is proposing a cost-based formula rate for Statutory
Service and two new equitable formula rates for sale of surplus
capacity for non-Statutory Service. SN also proposes to supersede
certain formula rates for short-term sales on the PACI, PACI-T4 and
PACI-T5, (approved under Delegation Order No. S3-DEL-WAPA1-2023,
Section 1.4.B) with these proposed long-term formula rates.
DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin April 23, 2025 and
end July 22, 2025. SN will present a detailed explanation of the
proposed formula rates and other modifications at a public information
forum that will be held on June 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. PST to no later
than 12:30 p.m. PST. SN will host a public comment forum on June 18,
2025, at 1:30 p.m. PST to no later than 3:30 p.m. PST, or until the
last comment is received. The public information forum and the public
comment forum will be conducted virtually. Instructions for
participating in the forums will be posted on SN's website at least 14
days prior to the public information and comment forums at:
<a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211</a>. SN
will accept comments any time during the consultation and comment
period.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed
formula rates submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to:
Michelle Williams, Regional Manager, Sierra Nevada Region, Western Area
Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, California 95630, or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#53001d017e013227361032203613243223327d343c25"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="40130e126d122134250321332500372130216e272f36">[email protected]</span></a>. SN will post information about the
proposed formula rates and written comments received to its website at:
<a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Autumn Wolfe, Rates Manager, Sierra
Nevada Region, Western Area Power Administration, (916) 353-4686 or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#762538245b2417021335170513360117061758111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0e3fee29de2d1c4d5f3d1c3d5f0c7d1c0d19ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SN is proposing a cost-based formula rate
for Statutory Service and two new equitable formula rates for sale of
surplus capacity utilized for non-Statutory Service.
Authorizing Legislation for Equitable Rates
PACI authorizing legislation (16 U.S.C. 837e) provides transmission
capacity not required for the transmission of Federal energy shall be
at equitable rates determined by the Secretary of Energy.
Proposed PACI Formula Rate Schedules
The proposed cost-based formula rate would provide sufficient
revenue to recover annual operation, maintenance, replacement expenses,
interest expense, and capital repayment requirements while ensuring
repayment of the project within the cost recovery criteria set forth in
Department of Energy (DOE) Order RA 6120.2. The proposed equitable
formula rates would aid and benefit the Central Valley Project (CVP) by
offsetting project power costs. For more information on the proposed
rates, please see the customer rate brochure located on SN's website
at: <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Pages/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Pages/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211</a>.
Formula Rate Schedule PACI-C1
Formula Rate Schedule PACI-C1 is the proposed rate for transmission
service to move Federal power on the PACI transmission line for
Statutory Service (i.e., Firm Electric Service, Priority Use Power, and
Project Use Service).
SN prepares a detailed cost-of-service study to determine the
costs, by project, that support the transfer capability of each
transmission system and the cost that supports the generation
capability of the CVP system. Generally, the costs allocated through
the cost-of-service study for the transmission systems include
operation and maintenance, interest, and depreciation expenses. SN's
costs for scheduling, system control, and dispatch service associated
with PACI transmission service are included and recovered through the
transmission systems' revenue requirement. SN proposes to charge a
cost-based formula rate.
Formula Rate Schedule PACI-W1
Formula Rate Schedule for PACI-W1 is the proposed rate for surplus
PACI transmission used for non-Statutory Service that is delivered and/
or received between Malin to Round Mountain and/or Malin to Cottonwood
Substation located within the Balancing Authority of Northern
California Balancing Authority Area (BAA). SN proposes to utilize an
equitable formula rate based on the SN California-Oregon
[[Page 17066]]
Transmission Project transmission formula rate.
Formula Rate Schedule PACI-D1
Formula Rate Schedule PACI-D1 is the proposed rate for surplus PACI
transmission used for non-Statutory Service that is delivered from and/
or received at Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Default Load
Aggregation Point located within the California Independent System
Operator (CAISO) BAA. SN proposes to utilize an equitable formula rate
based on SN's cost for wheeling power through the CAISO BAA.
Rates For Short Term Sales
On August 30, 2024, WAPA's Administrator placed into effect on a
final basis, rates for short-term sales for PACI transmission service
under Rate Schedules PACI-T4 and PACI-T5 to be in effect from October
1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, or until superseded by another
rate schedule, whichever occurs earlier.
Legal Authority
DOE procedures for public participation in power and transmission
rate adjustments are located at (10 CFR part 903). The proposed action
is a major rate adjustment, as defined by 10 CFR 903.2(d). In
accordance with 10 CFR 903.15(a) and 10 CFR 903.16(a), SN will hold
public information and public comment forums for this rate adjustment.
SN will review and consider all timely public comments at the
conclusion of the consultation and comment period and adjust the
proposal as appropriate. Depending on the comments, WAPA proposes for
the rates to be approved on an interim basis.
WAPA is establishing the formula rates for PACI in accordance with
section 302 of the DOE Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152).\1\
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\1\ 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 project
involved.
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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.
Availability of Information
All brochures, studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other
documents that SN initiates or uses to develop the proposed formula
rates are available for inspection and copying at the Sierra Nevada
Region, located at 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, California. Many of
these documents and supporting information are also available on SN's
website at: <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Pages/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/sn/sn-rates/Pages/Rate-Case-2025-WAPA-211</a>.
Ratemaking Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or
if this action can be categorically excluded from those
requirements.\2\
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\2\ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR
parts 1500 through 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.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 4,
2025, 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 April 18, 2025.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2025-06951 Filed 4-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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