Notice2026-06002
2028 Resource Pool-Parker-Davis Project, Final Power Allocations
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
March 27, 2026
Effective
April 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentWestern Area Power Administration
Abstract
Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a Federal Power Marketing Administration of the Department of Energy (DOE), announces its Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) final 2028 resource pool power allocations, developed under the requirements of the Final 2028 P-DP Power Marketing Plan. This notice also includes a summary of all comments received on WAPA's Proposed 2028 Resource Pool Allocations and WAPA's responses.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14838-14839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06002]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
2028 Resource Pool--Parker-Davis Project, Final Power Allocations
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of Parker-Davis Project final 2028 resource pool power
allocations.
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SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a Federal Power
Marketing Administration of the Department of Energy (DOE), announces
its Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) final 2028 resource pool power
allocations, developed under the requirements of the Final 2028 P-DP
Power Marketing Plan. This notice also includes a summary of all
comments received on WAPA's Proposed 2028 Resource Pool Allocations and
WAPA's responses.
DATES: This final 2028 resource pool power allocations decision will
become effective April 27, 2026 and service will begin on October 1,
2028.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Henn, Power Marketing
Advisor, Desert Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration,
phone: (602) 812-2348, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aadaceda87d8cfc7cbd8c1cfdec3c4cdeaddcbdacb84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8b8acb8e5baada5a9baa3adbca1a6af88bfa9b8a9e6afa7be">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
WAPA published the Final 2028 P-DP Power Marketing Plan (Final 2028
Plan) on November 12, 2024 (89 FR 88999), to define how WAPA will
market hydropower from the P-DP beginning October 1, 2028, and ending
September 30, 2048. The current marketing plan and contracts expire on
September 30, 2028. As part of the Final 2028 Plan, WAPA adjusted each
existing preference contractor's Contract Rate of Delivery (CROD) by
applying a pro rata share of an anticipated 3,750-kilowatt (kW)
capacity increase at Davis Dam Unit 3 and then reduced the adjusted
CROD by two percent to create a resource pool. The resulting resource
pool included 5,259 kW of summer season capacity, including 748 kW of
summer season withdrawable capacity, and 4,041 kW of winter season
capacity, including 146 kW of winter season withdrawable capacity, for
allocation to new allottees.
WAPA published a call for resource pool applications in the Federal
Register on November 12, 2024 (89 FR 88999), and applications were due
by January 31, 2025. In response to the call for resource pool
applications, WAPA received four applications for the 2028 resource
pool. After reviewing and considering the applications using the
Eligibility Criteria and Allocation Criteria for Resource Pool
Allocations described in the Final 2028 Plan, WAPA published the P-DP
Proposed 2028 Resource Pool Power Allocation in the Federal Register on
September 3, 2025 (90 FR 42576), and opened a 45-day comment period.
The comment period ended on October 20, 2025. Summaries of the comments
received and WAPA's responses are provided below. After considering all
comments, WAPA has finalized the proposed power allocations as
discussed herein.
Response to Comments on Resource Pool Proposed Power Allocations
During the public comment period, WAPA received two comments on the
Proposed 2028 Resource Pool Power Allocations. The comments are
available on WAPA's website at <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/pdpremarketing">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/pdpremarketing</a>. There were no comments made during the public comment
forum held on October 3, 2025. Transcripts from the public meetings are
also available on WAPA's website.
The following is a summary of the comments received during the
comment period, and WAPA's responses to those comments. Comments are
paraphrased for brevity.
Comments and Responses
Comment: A commenter commended WAPA for its adherence to federal
statutes and regulations throughout the evaluation of resource pool
applications and for following the 2028 Resource Pool Eligibility
Criteria. The commenter stated that the process was clearly
communicated, inclusive of stakeholder engagement, and consistent with
the criteria and principles outlined in the Proposed 2028 Marketing
plan.
Response: WAPA appreciates the feedback.
Comment: A commenter liked that WAPA set aside power for new
groups, but felt two percent was too small and requested WAPA give
access to underserved and tribal communities and make the rules
clearer, so smaller utilities have a fair chance.
Response: Thank you for the comment. WAPA published a Proposed 2028
P-DP Power Marketing Plan (89 FR 43841) with a proposal for the
resource pool size and eligibility criteria and accepted public
comments from May 20, 2024, through August 19, 2024. WAPA balanced its
statutory obligation to encourage widespread use of federal hydropower
with the current challenging hydrological conditions in the Colorado
River Basin. As detailed in the Final 2028 Plan, energy deliveries from
the P-DP have been significantly impacted by drought. A larger resource
pool would necessitate a greater reduction in allocations for existing
contractors, who are already facing reduced energy deliveries under the
new Quarterly Energy methodology.
WAPA is committed to fostering widespread use of federal power,
including for underserved and tribal communities. The Eligibility
Criteria for Resource Pool Allocations (Section III.C of the Final 2028
Plan) specifically includes Native American tribes as qualified
applicants, exempting them from the requirement to achieve electric
utility status and have a distribution system in place. This provision
is designed to remove potential barriers to participation for tribal
communities.
Final 2028 Resource Pool Power Allocations
The final 2028 resource pool allottees and capacity allocations for
firm electric service (FES) are listed in the following table:
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Final Parker-Davis Project post-2028 pool capacity allocations
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Summer Winter
Allottees -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-withdrawable Total FES Non-withdrawable Total FES
FES allocation Withdrawable FES allocation FES allocation Withdrawable FES allocation
(kW) allocation (kW) (kW) (kW) allocation (kW) (kW)
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Industry Public Utilities............................. 703 304 1,007 936 73 1,009
[[Page 14839]]
San Pasqual Band of Indians........................... 703 304 1,007 936 73 1,009
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Total 2028 Resource Pool.......................... 1,406 608 2,014 1,872 146 2,018
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The resource pool final power allocations, listed in the table
above, are based on the P-DP marketable resource available at this
time. If the P-DP marketable resource is adjusted in the future, P-DP
power allocations may be adjusted accordingly. The CROD adjustments for
existing contractors are posted on DSW's website at <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/pdpremarketing">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/pdpremarketing</a>. The existing CROD for Priority Use
Power contractors will remain unchanged.
All allocations, including the new resource pool allocations, will
be based on P-DP marketable capacity deemed to be available effective
October 1, 2028.
Contracting Process
After the effective date of this notice, DSW will start contract
development. All allocations are subject to the execution of a contract
in accordance with the General Criteria and Contract Principles
contained in the Final 2028 Plan. Energy associated with the new
resource pool will be based on a pro rata share of the allottee's
seasonal CROD and published in the form of Quarterly Energy, as defined
in the Final 2028 Plan.
WAPA solely determines the terms, conditions, rates, or charges of
its power contracts. Each allottee is responsible for obtaining
transmission arrangements beyond WAPA's system for the delivery of
federal power to the allottee's load. WAPA must receive a letter of
commitment from each allottee's serving utility or their transmission
provider by January 31, 2028, confirming the allottee will be able to
receive the benefit of WAPA's 2028 resource pool, unless otherwise
agreed to in writing by WAPA. Upon request, WAPA may assist an allottee
in obtaining transmission arrangements for the delivery of power.
Allottees will be required to execute an electric service contract
no later than May 31, 2028, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by
WAPA. Electric service contracts will be effective upon WAPA's
signature, and service will begin on October 1, 2028, and continue
through September 30, 2048.
Consistent with the Final 2028 Plan, allottees will be required to
prepay for service according to the applicable rate schedule. Allottees
may participate in advance funding of WAPA's and Reclamation's
operation and maintenance expenses by agreeing to sign the existing
Advancement of Funds (AOF) agreement. The existing AOF agreement will
continue for current signatories in the new marketing plan.
Legal Authorities
The Final 2028 Plan was established under the Department of Energy
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101, et seq.); the Reclamation Act of June
17, 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388), as amended and supplemented by
subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation
Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)); and other acts specifically
applicable to the projects involved. Allocating power from the resource
pool falls within the Final 2028 Plan and is covered by this authority.
Regulatory Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA has determined this final action fits within the following
categorical exclusions 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: B4.1 (Contracts,
policies, and marketing and allocation plans for electric power) and
B4.4 (Power marketing services and activities). Under 10 CFR 1021.102,
categorically excluded projects and activities do not require
preparation of either an environmental impact statement or an
environmental assessment.\1\A copy of the categorical exclusion
determination is available on WAPA's website under the categorical
exclusion 2024 menu at <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/environment">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/dsw/environment</a>.
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\1\ 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; accordingly, no clearance of this Federal
Register notice by the Office of Management and Budget is required.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on March 24,
2026, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Administrator, Western Area Power
Administration. The 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 March 25, 2026.
Jennifer Hartzell,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2026-06002 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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