Notice2026-01330
Desert Southwest Region and Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority-Rate Order No. WAPA-222
Primary source
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Published
January 26, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentWestern Area Power Administration
Abstract
The Desert Southwest Region (DSW) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes extending, without any changes, the existing balancing authority area and transmission provider services formula rates for Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority (WALC) through September 30, 2031. The existing formula rates under Rate Schedules DSW-SD4 (Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch), DSW- RS4 (Reactive Supply and Voltage Control), DSW-FR4 (Regulation and Frequency Response), DSW-SPR4 (Spinning Reserve), DSW-SUR4 (Supplemental Reserves), DSW-EI4 (Energy Imbalance), DSW-GI2 (Generator Imbalance), DSW-TL1 (Transmission Losses), DSW-UUI (Unreserved Use Penalties), DSW-EIM1T (Administrative Service), DSW-EIM4T (Energy Imbalance Service), and DSW-EIM9T (Generator Imbalance Service) expire on September 30, 2026.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3182-3183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01330]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Desert Southwest Region and Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing
Authority--Rate Order No. WAPA-222
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of formula rates for balancing
authority area and transmission provider services.
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SUMMARY: The Desert Southwest Region (DSW) of the Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA) proposes extending, without any changes, the
existing balancing authority area and transmission provider services
formula rates for Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority
(WALC) through September 30, 2031. The existing formula rates under
Rate Schedules DSW-SD4 (Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch), DSW-
RS4 (Reactive Supply and Voltage Control), DSW-FR4 (Regulation and
Frequency Response), DSW-SPR4 (Spinning Reserve), DSW-SUR4
(Supplemental Reserves), DSW-EI4 (Energy Imbalance), DSW-GI2 (Generator
Imbalance), DSW-TL1 (Transmission Losses), DSW-UUI (Unreserved Use
Penalties), DSW-EIM1T (Administrative Service), DSW-EIM4T (Energy
Imbalance Service), and DSW-EIM9T (Generator Imbalance Service) expire
on September 30, 2026.
DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin January 26, 2026
and end March 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed
extension submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to:
Scott R. Lund, Regional Manager, Desert Southwest Region, Western Area
Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, or email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e78394909790958a958ca790869786c9808891"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="503423272027223d223b10273120317e373f26">[email protected]</span></a>. DSW will post information about the proposed
formula rate extensions and written comments received to its website
at: <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/rates">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/rates</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert
Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration, (602) 812-2355, or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ceaabdb9beb9bca3bca58eb9afbeafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80e4f3f7f0f7f2edf2ebc0f7e1f0e1aee7eff6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2017, FERC confirmed and
approved ancillary service Rate Schedules DSW-SD4, DSW-RS4, DSW-FR4,
DSW-SPR4, DSW-SUR4, DSW-EI4, and DSW-GI2, transmission losses Rate
Schedule DSW-TL1, and unreserved use penalty Rate Schedule DSW-UU1
under Rate Order No. WAPA-175 for a 5-year period through September 30,
2021.\1\ On October 25, 2022, FERC confirmed and approved an extension
of these formula rates, under Rate Order No. WAPA-200, for a 5-year
period through September 30, 2026.\2\ On September 12, 2023, FERC
confirmed and approved EIM Rate Schedules DSW-EIM1T, DSW-EIM4T, and
DSW-EIM9T under Rate Order No. WAPA-208 for a 3-year period through
September 30, 2026.\3\ In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a),\4\ DSW is
proposing to extend the existing formula rates under Rate Schedule DSW-
SD4, DSW-RS4, DSW-FR4, DSW-SPR4, DSW-SUR4, DSW-EI4, DSW-GI2, DSW-TL1,
DSW-UU1, DSW-EIM1T, DSW-EIM4T, and DSW-EIM9T for the period of October
1, 2026, through September 30, 2031. These existing formula rates are
viewable on DSW's website at: <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/rates">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/rates</a>. The existing formula rates provide sufficient revenue to pay all
annual costs, including interest
[[Page 3183]]
expense, and repay investment within the allowable period consistent
with the cost recovery criteria set forth in Department of Energy (DOE)
Order RA 6120.2.
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\1\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF16-6-000 and EF16-6-001, 158 FERC ] 62,027
(2017).
\2\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF21-6-000 (2022).
\3\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF23-3-000 (2023).
\4\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
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In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), DSW has determined that it is
not necessary to hold public information or public comment forums for
this rate action but is initiating a consultation and comment period to
give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed extension.
DSW will review and consider all timely public comments at the
conclusion of the consultation and comment period and adjust the
proposal as appropriate.
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 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.
Ratemaking Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA determined that this action fits within the following
categorical exclusion listed in appendix B to 10 CFR part 1021 and
Appendix B of DOE's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Implementing Procedures published on June 30, 2025: B4.3, Electric
power marketing rate changes.\5\ Categorically excluded projects and
activities do not require preparation of either an environmental impact
statement or an environmental assessment. A copy of the categorical
exclusion determination is available on DSW's website at <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/environment/dsw-cx/">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/environment/dsw-cx/</a>. Look for file titled,
``Rate Order WAPA-222.''
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\5\ The determination was done in compliance with NEPA (42
U.S.C. 4321-4347) and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures, including 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 as amended by Executive Order 14215; 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 January 21,
2026, 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 January 21, 2026.
Jennifer Hartzell,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2026-01330 Filed 1-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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