[Federal Register: May 4, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 85)] [Notices] [Page 23853-23854] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04my99-84] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs San Carlos Irrigation Project--Power Division, Arizona Power Rate Adjustment AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rate Adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) proposes to adjust the electric power rates for operating and maintaining the Power Division of San Carlos Irrigation Project (SCIP/PD). DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 1999. ADDRESSES: Written comments on rate adjustments should be sent to: Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Attn: Branch of Irrigation and Power, MS-4513-MIB, Code 210, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Nordwall, Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Phoenix Area Office, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, AZ 85001; Telephone 602-379-6956. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document is vested in the Secretary of the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301; the Act of August 7, 1946, c. 802, Section 3 (60 Stat. 895; 25 U.S.C. 385c); the Act of May 25, 1948 (62 Stat. 269); and the Act of December 23, 1981, section 112 (95 Stat. 1404). The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs pursuant to part 209 Departmental Manual, Chapter 8.1A and Memorandum dated January 25, 1994, from Chief of Staff, Department of the Interior, to Assistant Secretaries, and Heads of Bureaus and Offices. The SCIP/PD has taken the steps necessary to reduce the contract demand in the power supply contract between the Bureau of Indian Affairs, on behalf of SCIP/PD, and the Arizona Public Service Company. This action has resulted in a savings in purchased power costs as of June 1, 1998. This savings is proposed to be passed on in an adjustment to the Schedule No. 2--General Rate schedule. Executive Order 12988 The Department has certified to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that this proposed rate adjustment meets the applicable standards provided in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988. Executive Order 12866 This proposed rate adjustment is not a significant regulatory action and has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866. Regulatory Flexibility Act This proposed rate making is not a rule for the purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act because it is ``a rule of particular applicability relating to rates.'' 5 U.S.C. Sec. 601(2). Executive Order 12630 The Department has determined that this proposed rate adjustment does not have significant ``taking'' implications. Executive Order 12612 The Department has determined that this proposed rate adjustment does not have significant Federalism effects because it pertains solely to Federal-tribal relations and will not interfere with the roles, rights, and responsibilities of states. NEPA Compliance The Department has determined that this proposed rate adjustment does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and that no detailed statement is required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 This proposed rate adjustment does not contain collections of information requiring approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 This proposed rate adjustment imposes no unfunded mandates on any governmental or private entity and is in compliance with the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995. [[Page 23854]] Rate Adjustment The following illustrates the impact of the proposed rate adjustment: Present Rate Rate Schedule No.2--General Rate (A) Application of Schedule. This schedule applies to single and three phase electric service for all purposes except residences and small, non-commercial users. Unless specifically permitted by the contract, use must be limited to the customer's premises and the power supplied must not be resold. If more than one meter is required by the customer's installation or for the customer's convenience, bills will be independently calculated for each meter. (B) Monthly Rate. (1) $13.00 minimum which includes the first 50 kilowatt-hours. (2) 16.00 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 350 kilowatt-hours (3) 10.0 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 600 kilowatt-hours. (4) 7.0 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 9,000 kilowatt-hours. (5) Additional kilowatt-hours at 5.63 cents per kilowatt-hour, less a credit of 0.7 cents per kilowatt-hour above 200 times the billing demand (50KW minimum). (C) Minimum Bill. The minimum bill will be $2.63 per month per kilowatt of billing demand, except where the customer's requirements are of a distinctly recurring seasonal nature. Then the minimum monthly bill will not be more than an amount sufficient to make the total charges for the twelve (12) months ending with the current month, equal to twelve times the highest monthly minimum computed for the same twelve-month period. However, no monthly billing will be less than $13.00. (D) Contract Demand. Each contract for 15 KW or over will state the number of kilowatts which the customer expects to require and desires to have reserved for his service. This quantity is called the contract demand. (E) Actual Demand. The actual demand for any month will be the average amount of power used during the period of 15 consecutive minutes when such average is the greatest for the month as determined by suitable meters, or if meters are unavailable, the actual demand will be the connected load or such portion of the connected load as the Project Engineer may determine to be appropriate based on available information as to the customer's use of connected lights, appliances, and equipment, or from checking meters. (F) Billing Demand. The billing demand for a month will be the contract demand or the actual demand for the month, whichever is greater. (G) Purchased Power Adjustment. An adjustment will be added for each kilowatt-hour used equal to the estimated purchased power adjustment (rounded to the nearest $0.0001) paid by the Project to the Project's power suppliers. Proposed Rate Rate Schedule No. 2--General Rate (A) Application of Schedule. Unchanged from present. (B) Monthly Rate. (1) $12.00 minimum which includes the first 50 kilowatt-hours. (2) 15.00 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 350 kilowatt-hours (3) 9.0 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 600 kilowatt-hours. (4) 6.0 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 9,000 kilowatt-hours. (5) Additional kilowatt-hours at 4.60 cents per kilowatt-hour, less a credit of 0.7 cents per kilowatt-hour above 200 times the billing demand (50KW minimum). (C) Minimum Bill. The minimum bill will be $2.14 per month per kilowatt of billing demand, except where the customer's requirements are of a distinctly recurring seasonal nature. Then the minimum monthly bill will not be more than an amount sufficient to make the total charges for the twelve (12) months ending with the current month equal to twelve times the highest monthly minimum computed for the same twelve-month period. However, no monthly billing will be less than $12.00. (D) Contract Demand. Unchanged from present. (E) Actual Demand. Unchanged from present. (F) Billing Demand. Unchanged from present. (G) Purchased Power Adjustment. Unchanged from present. Dated: April 27, 1999. Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 99-11183 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-02-P