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Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)
Upper Great Plains Region (UGP)
Rate Order No. WAPA-217

Last Update:  12/23/2024: Notice of Extension of UGP Transmission/Ancillary Formula Rates (Rate Order No. WAPA-217) - Federal Register notice on December 20, 2024 (89 FR 104143) 


12/23/2024: (UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates for SPP) Notice of Extension of UGP Transmission/Ancillary Formula Rates (Rate Order No. WAPA-217) - Federal Register notice on December 20, 2024 (89 FR 104143)

As described in the December 20, 2024, Federal Register notice (89 FR 104143) (FRN-Provisional-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-2024-1220.pdf), the extension of the Upper Great Plains (UGP) region’s existing Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program— Eastern Division (P–SMBP—ED) transmission and ancillary services formula rates in Rate Order No. WAPA-217 (described below), as proposed and published in the Federal Register notice (Proposed FRN) on August 26, 2024 (89 FR 68432), has been confirmed, approved, and placed into effect on an interim basis.

The existing formula rates under Rate Schedules WAUGP–ATRR (Annual Transmission Revenue Requirement), WAUGP–AS1 (Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch Service), WAUW–AS3 (Regulation and Frequency Response Service), WAUW–AS4 (Energy Imbalance Service), WAUW–AS5 (Operating Reserve—Spinning Reserve Service), WAUW–AS6 (Operating Reserve—Supplemental Reserve Service), and WAUW–AS7 (Generator Imbalance Service) are set to expire on September 30, 2025. This rate extension makes no changes to the existing formula rates and extends them through September 30, 2030. The extended formula rates under Rate Schedules WAUGP–ATRR, WAUGP–AS1, WAUW–AS3, WAUW– AS4, WAUW–AS5, WAUW–AS6 and WAUW–AS7 will be placed into effect on an interim basis on October 1, 2025.

In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), UGP filed a notice in the Federal Register on August 26, 2024, proposing to extend, without adjustment, Rate Schedules WAUGP–ATRR, WAUGP– AS1, WAUW–AS3, WAUW–AS4, WAUW–AS5, WAUW–AS6, and WAUW–AS7 under Rate Order No. WAPA–217. UGP determined it was not necessary to hold public information or public comment forums on the proposed formula rate extension, but provided a 30-day consultation and comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed extension. The consultation and comment period ended on September 25, 2024, and UGP received no comments on the proposed formula rate extension.

WAPA provided notification and posted information by email on December 22, 2024 about the provisional formula rates to the SPP ‘‘Formula Rate Posting Information Notification’’ Exploder List: frpin@ spplist.spp.org

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 existing UGP Transmission and Ancillary Service Formula Rates developed under Rate Order No. WAPA-188 are available at the information sites above.

Next Steps:
1.    WAPA will submit Rate Order No. WAPA–217 and the extended rate schedules to FERC for confirmation and approval on a final basis.

08/26/2024: (UGP Transmission/Ancillary Rates for SPP) Notice of Proposed Extension of UGP Transmission/Ancillary Formula Rates - Federal Register notice, Announcement of Consultation and Comment Period

As described in the August 26, 2024, Federal Register notice (FRN-Proposed-Extension-UGP-Trans-Anc-Service-Rates-2024-0826.pdf), the Upper Great Plains (UGP) region of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA or Western) proposes to extend existing formula rates (without any changes) for the Pick- Sloan Missouri Basin Program—Eastern Division (P–SMBP—ED) through September 30, 2030. The existing rates UGP proposes to extend are: WAUGP– ATRR (Annual Transmission Revenue Requirement), WAUGP–AS1 (Scheduling, System Control, and Dispatch Service), WAUW–AS3 (Regulation and Frequency Response Service), WAUW–AS4 (Energy Imbalance Service), WAUW–AS5 (Operating Reserve-Spinning Reserve Service), WAUW–AS6 (Operating Reserve-Supplemental Reserve Service), and WAUW–AS7 (Generator Imbalance Service). The existing rates expire on September 30, 2025.

These rates will be used by UGP to provide rate data to the Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP), the Regional Transmission Organization of which UGP is a member. UGP’s planned expanded participation in the SPP RTO extension into the Western Interconnection will have impacts on the above rate methodologies. Extending the existing formula rates for five years allows UGP time to evaluate rate methodologies to conduct a major rate adjustment process to put new formula rates in place that would become effective upon UGP’s expanded participation in the SPP RTO (currently planned on April 1, 2026).

Publication of the August 26, 2024, Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed formula rates. The consultation and comment period begins August 26, 2024, and ends  September 25, 2024. UGP will accept written comments at any time during the consultation and comment period.

In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), UGP has determined that it is not necessary to hold public information or public comment forums for this rate action but is initiating a 30-day consultation and comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed extension. UGP will review and consider all timely public comments at the conclusion of the consultation and comment period and adjust the proposal as appropriate.

WAPA provided notification and posted information by email on August 26, 2024 about the proposed formula rates to the SPP ‘‘Formula Rate Posting Information Notification’’ Exploder List: frpin@ spplist.spp.org

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 existing UGP Transmission and Ancillary Service Formula Rates developed under Rate-Order-No-WAPA-188 are available at the information sites above.
WAPA UGP Transmission & Ancillary Services Rates contact(s):
- 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. Steve Sanders, Strategic Advisor, UGP, WAPA, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266;
     telephone: (406) 670-7436; 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 406-670-7436 (sanders@wapa.gov).

Previous Updates:
12/23/2024: Notice of Extension of UGP Transmission/Ancillary Formula Rates (Rate Order No. WAPA-217) - Federal Register notice on December 20, 2024 (89 FR 104143)
08/26/24:  Notice of Proposed Extension of UGP Transmission/Ancillary Formula Rates - Federal Register notice, Announcement of Consultation and Comment Period