Notice2025-08740
Robert D. Willis Power Rate
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
May 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentSouthwestern Power Administration
Abstract
Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) proposes to revise the existing Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Robert D. Willis) Rate Schedule to increase annual revenues by 28.6% from $1,282,836 to $1,650,648 effective August 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. Interested persons may review the proposed rate and supporting studies on Southwestern's website and submit comments. Southwestern will evaluate all comments received in this process.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 94 (Friday, May 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 94 (Friday, May 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21029-21030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08740]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Southwestern Power Administration
Robert D. Willis Power Rate
AGENCY: Southwestern Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rate.
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SUMMARY: Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) proposes to
revise the existing Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Robert D.
Willis) Rate Schedule to increase annual revenues by 28.6% from
$1,282,836 to $1,650,648 effective August 1, 2025, through September
30, 2027. Interested persons may review the proposed rate and
supporting studies on Southwestern's website and submit comments.
Southwestern will evaluate all comments received in this process.
DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin May 16, 2025 and
end June 16, 2025. Written comments are due on or before June 16, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Fritha Ohlson,
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Office of Corporate
Operations, Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department of
Energy, 6655 S Lewis Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136 or emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bfccc8cfdecddecbdaccffccc8cfde91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2d1d5d2c3d0c3d6c7d1e2d1d5d2c38cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>. Commenters should identify themselves and the
entity which they represent and clearly state which proposed rate they
are providing comments on.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Corker, Director, Division of
Resources and Rates, Southwestern Power Administration, U.S. Department
of Energy, 6655 S Lewis Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136, (918) 595-6682,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e5f4d56525b47105d514c555b4c7e4d494e5f10595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e584968d89809ccb868a978e8097a596929584cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2015, in Rate Order No.
SWPA-70, the Deputy Secretary of Energy placed into effect the current
Robert D. Willis rate schedule (RDW-15) on an interim basis for the
period January 1, 2016, to September 30, 2019. FERC confirmed and
approved RDW-15 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 extended RDW-15 for two years,
for the period of October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2021. On
August 30, 2021, in Rate Order No. SWPA-79, the Administrator,
Southwestern, extended RDW-15 for two years, for the period of October
1, 2021, through September 30, 2023. On September 25, 2023, the
Administrator, Southwestern, extended RDW-15 on a temporary basis
through September 30, 2024. On September 13, 2024, the Administrator,
Southwestern, extended RDW-15 on a temporary basis through September
30, 2025, unless superseded.
Guidelines for preparation of power repayment studies are included
in DOE Order No. RA 6120.2 entitled Power Marketing Administration
Financial Reporting. Following these guidelines, Southwestern prepared
a 2023 Current Power Repayment Study using the existing Robert D.
Willis Rate Schedule. This study indicates that Southwestern's legal
requirement to repay the investment in the power generating facility
for power and energy marketed by Southwestern will not be met without
an increase in revenues. The need for increased revenues is primarily
due to increased operations and maintenance costs and increased costs
associated with existing investments and replacements in the Corps
hydroelectric generating facility.
Southwestern prepared a 2023 Revised Power Repayment Study to
address the revenue shortfall and inform development of the proposed
rate schedule. The 2023 Revised Power Repayment Study indicates that
the proposed Rate Schedule will increase annual revenues approximately
28.6% from $1,282,836 to $1,650,648 and be effective from August 1,
2025, through September 30, 2027.
Southwestern will continue to perform its Power Repayment Studies
annually, and if the results of any future Power Repayment Studies
indicate the need for a change in revenues, Southwestern will proceed
with appropriate action at that time.
Public Participation
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). The proposed action is a minor rate adjustment, as defined by 10
CFR 903.2(e). In accordance with 10 CFR 903.14, the public consultation
and comment period is 30 days. Southwestern will review and consider
all timely public comments at the conclusion of the consultation and
comment period and adjust the proposal as appropriate. The Robert D.
Willis
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Rate Schedule will then be approved on an interim basis.
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 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-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-SWPA1-2023, effective April 10, 2023,
the Under Secretary for Infrastructure redelegated the authority to
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis
to the Administrator, Southwestern.
Availability of Information
The 2023 Robert D. Willis Power Repayment Studies and the proposed
Robert D. Willis Rate Schedule are available on Southwestern's website
at: <a href="https://www.energy.gov/swpa/rate-schedule-actions">https://www.energy.gov/swpa/rate-schedule-actions</a>. At the
conclusion of the consultation and comment period, Southwestern will
post all comments received at the same website location.
Environmental Impact
Southwestern 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.\1\
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\1\ 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 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and
Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021).
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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 May 12,
2025, by Marshall Boyken, Acting Administrator for Southwestern Power
Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of
Energy. That delegated authority 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 May 13, 2025.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2025-08740 Filed 5-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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