Rate Order No. WAPA-188

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)
Upper Great Plains Region (UGP)
Rate Order No. WAPA-188

Last Update: 07/31/2020 (Updated 09/28/2020): Notice of Posting of Final Templates, Protocols, Updated Rate Schedules and other documents for the Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates

07/31/2020: (UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates for SPP) Notice of Posting of final Formula Rate Templates (FRTs), Protocols, and Rate Schedules for the UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates

Update 09/28/2020: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order confirming and approving WAPA-UGP's Rates under Rate Order No. WAPA-188 on a final basis under FERC Docket No. EF20-3-000/001.

UGP has provided notification by email on July 31, 2020 to the SPP Exploder List ‘‘Formula Rate Posting Information Notification’’ (frpin@spplist.spp.org) and posted the following Provisional UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates Formula Rate Templates (FRTs), Formula Rate Implementation Protocols (Protocols), and Rate Schedules (Effective 10/1/2020, as noted in the Federal Register Notice published 07/14/2020):

UGP 2020 (October 1) Rates Summary/Notices: WAPA-UGP-Rates-2020-1001.pdf
Formula Rate Templates (Estimate): WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-ESTIMATE-Templates-2020-1001.xlsx (PDF Version)
Formula Rate Templates (True-Up): WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-TRUEUP-Templates-2020-1001.xlsx (PDF Version)
Protocols: WAPA-UGP-Transmission-and-Ancillary-Rate-Implementation-Protocols.pdf
Rate Schedules: WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rate-Schedules-2020-1001.pdf
Federal Register Notice: FRN-Provisional-WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-2020-0714.pdf

Also, for information, the following additional documents are posted:

Rates Customer Brochure (Updated with minor clarifications): WAPA-UGP-Trans-Ancillary-Rates-Customer-Brochure(Updated)--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188.pdf
Rate Schedules (Redline to 9/18/2019 posting): WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rate-Schedules-2020-1001(REDLINE).pdf
Customer Comments: Customer-Written-Comments--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188.pdf

The documents are posted/linked at the following locations: 1) UGP's OASIS at http://www.oasis.oati.com/wapa/index.html; 2) the UGP's Rates Web Page at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/UGP/rates/Pages/rates.aspx; and 3) the "Western Area Power Administration UGP Information" link on SPP's Member Related Postings website.

UGP filed these formula rates on July 14, 2020 (with an errata filing on July 31, 2020), with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for final approval under FERC Docket No. EF20-3.

10/21/2019: (UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates for SPP) Notice of Posting of Formula Rate Templates (FRTs) for the Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates

UGP has provided notification by email on October 21, 2019 to the SPP Exploder List ‘‘Formula Rate Posting Information Notification’’ (frpin@spplist.spp.org) and posted the following proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates Formula Rate Templates (FRTs) (Effective 10/1/2020) for review and comment:

WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-ESTIMATE-Templates--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT.xlsx (PDF Version)
WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-TRUEUP-Templates--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT.xlsx (PDF Version)

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Sanders at (406) 255-2840 (sanders@wapa.gov) or Sara Baker at (406) 255-2924 (sbaker@wapa.gov).

Please send written comments by email to UGPTrates@wapa.gov or to the address below:

Rates Manager
Upper Great Plains Region
Western Area Power Administration
2900 4th Ave North
Billings, MT 59101-1266
Fax: (406) 255-2900

Comments must be received by November 20, 2019.

09/18/2019: (UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates for SPP) Notice of Posting of Information/Presentations for the Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates

The following Information/Presentations has (or will be posted in the near future) for the Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Service Rates:

1. Rates Customer Brochure; describing proposed Transmission and Ancillary Service Rates:
WAPA-UGP-Trans-Ancillary-Rates-Customer-Brochure--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188.pdf (Posted 9/18/19)

2. Public Information Forum Presentation: Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-Public-Information-Forum-Presentation.pdf (Posted 9/18/19)
3. Public Comment Forum Presentation: Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-Public-Comment-Forum-Presentation.pdf (Posted 9/18/19)

4. Proposed Rate Schedules (Redlines): WAPA-UGP-Rate-Schedules--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT(Redlines).pdf (Posted 9/18/19)
5. Proposed Rate Schedules (Clean): WAPA-UGP-Rate-Schedules--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT(Clean).pdf (Posted 9/18/19)

6. Proposed Formula Rate Implementation Protocols: WAPA-UGP-Formula-Rate-Implementation-Protocols--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT.pdf (Posted 9/18/19)

7. Proposed Rate Templates for Transmission and Ancillary Service:
WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-ESTIMATE-Templates--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT.xlsx (PDF Version) (TO BE POSTED - WHEN AVAILABLE)
WAPA-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-TRUEUP-Templates--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-DRAFT.xlsx (PDF Version) (TO BE POSTED - WHEN AVAILABLE)

The documents are posted/linked at the following locations: 1) UGP's OASIS at http://www.oasis.oati.com/wapa/index.html; 2) the UGP's Rates Web Page at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/UGP/rates/Pages/rates.aspx; and 3) the "Western Area Power Administration UGP Information" link on SPP's Member Related Postings website.

08/23/2019: (UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates for SPP) Notice of Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates - Federal Register notice, Announcement of Public Information and Public Comment Forums

As described in the August 22, 2019, Federal Register notice (FRN-Proposed-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-2019-0822.pdf), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes new formula rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division (P–SMBP—ED) transmission and ancillary services. These rates will be used by WAPA’s Upper Great Plains Region (UGP) to provide rate data to the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP), the Regional Transmission Organization of which UGP is a member. The existing rates for services expire on September 30, 2020. The proposed rates should not result in increased overall costs to customers compared to the current formula rates because the increase to the Operating Reserves rate is expected to be offset by a similar reduction in the transmission rate. The proposed rates continue the formula-based methodology that includes an annual update to the financial data in the rate formulas with only limited changes to: (1) The Rate Formula Templates to increase transparency; (2) the Rate Formula Implementation Protocols to clarify UGP’s rate implementation and annual update procedures; (3) the Operating Reserves formula rates to incorporate costs associated with UGP’s current reserve sharing group membership; and (4) the Rate Schedules for Energy Imbalance and Generator Imbalance to accommodate possible participation in a Western Interconnection energy imbalance service market. WAPA intends the proposed formula-based rates, if adopted, to go into effect on October 1, 2020. The charges under the rates would be updated on January 1 of each year thereafter. The proposed formula rates would remain in effect until September 30, 2025, or until WAPA changes the formula rates through another public rate process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903, whichever occurs first.

Transmission and ancillary services are provided by SPP over UGP facilities transferred to the functional control of SPP under the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff (SPP Tariff). UGP needs to adopt new formula rates for these transmission and ancillary services so UGP's costs can continued to be recovered under the SPP Tariff. The proposed formula rates provide UGP sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expenses, and repay investment. UGP's membership in SPP and the functional control of its facilities is in accordance with the SPP Membership Agreement, Bylaws, and Tariff (SPP Governing Documents) and other contractual arrangements with SPP.

WAPA provided notification and posted information by email on August 23, 2019 about the proposed formula rates to the SPP ‘‘Formula Rate Posting Information Notification’’ Exploder List: frpin@ spplist.spp.org

Publication of the August 22, 2019, Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed formula rates. The consultation and comment period begins with the Federal Register notice publication and will end November 20, 2019. WAPA will accept written comments any time during the 90-day consultation and comment period. WAPA will present a detailed explanation of the proposed formula rates and other modifications at the following public information forums:

September 24, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. CDT -- Holiday Inn Downtown Omaha, 1420 Cuming St. Omaha, NE
September 25, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. CDT -- Radisson Hotel Bismarck, 605 East Broadway, Bismarck, ND

WAPA will accept oral and written comments at the following public comment forums:

September 24, 2019, from 11 a.m. to no later than 12 p.m. CDT -- Holiday Inn Downtown Omaha, 1420 Cuming St. Omaha, NE
September 25, 2019, from 11 a.m. to no later than 12 p.m. CDT -- Radisson Hotel Bismarck, 605 East Broadway, Bismarck, ND

Information on this rate process is, or will be, posted on: 1) UGP's OASIS at http://www.oasis.oati.com/wapa/index.html; 2) the UGP's Rates Web Page at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/UGP/rates/Pages/rates.aspx; and 3) the "Western Area Power Administration UGP Information" link on SPP's Member Related Postings website.

The proposed Transmission and Ancillary Rates are described in the Rate Brochure:
WAPA-UGP-Trans-Ancillary-Rates-Customer-Brochure--Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188.pdf (TO BE POSTED - WHEN AVAILABLE)

The presentations given at the public meetings and any future information, will be available in the "Rates" Folder on WAPA's OASIS and other links noted above.
Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-Public-Information-Forum-Presentation.pdf (TO BE POSTED - WHEN AVAILABLE)
Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188-Public-Comment-Forum-Presentation.pdf (TO BE POSTED - WHEN AVAILABLE)

WAPA UGP Transmission & Ancillary Services Rates contact(s):

- Regional Manager, UGP, WAPA, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101–1266;
     or email: UGPTRates@wapa.gov
- Ms. Linda Cady-Hoffman, Rates Manager, UGP, WAPA, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101–1266;
     telephone: (406) 255–2920; email: cady@wapa.gov
- Mr. Lloyd Linke, Operations Manager, UGP, WAPA, PO Box 790, 1330 41st Street SE, Watertown, SD 57201;
     telephone: (605) 882-7500; email: L loyd@wapa.gov
- Mr. Steve Sanders, Operations & Transmission Advisor, UGP, WAPA, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266;
     telephone: (406) 255-2840; email sanders@wapa.gov
- Ms. Sara Baker, Public Utilities Specialist, UGP, WAPA, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266;
     telephone: (406) 255-2924; email SBaker@wapa.gov

Any other questions can be directed to: Steve Sanders (WAPA-UGP) at 406-255-2840 (sanders@wapa.gov).

Previous Updates:
10/21/19: Notice of Posting of Templates for the Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates
09/18/19: Notice of Posting of Information/Presentations for the Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates
08/23/19: Notice of Proposed UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates - Federal Register notice, Announcement of Public Information and Public Comment Forums