90 FR 94 pgs. 21029-21030 - Robert D. Willis Power Rate
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 94Pages: 21029 - 21030
Pages: 21029, 21030FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-08740 Filed 5-15-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Southwestern Power Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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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.
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 swparates@swpa.gov. 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, ashley.corker@swpa.gov.
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
[top] 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
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: https://www.energy.gov/swpa/rate-schedule-actions. 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
Footnotes:
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).
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