Power Rate Adjustment: Mission Valley Power Utility, Montana

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Power Rate Adjustment: Mission Valley Power Utility, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of rate change.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is increasing the cost of

electric power (energy) to customers of Mission Valley Power (MVP), the

entity operating the power facility of the Flathead Indian Irrigation

Project of the Flathead Reservation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

has been informed that the Montana Power Company (MPC), which sells

electric power to MVP, has raised its wholesale power rates by

approximately 2.0 percent. The MPC increase went into effect on

September 5, 1994, and is based on adjustments in the Consumer Price

index pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license for

MPC's Kerr Dam Hydroelectric Facility. Accordingly, the BIA is

adjusting the local retail power rates charged by MVP to reflect the

increased cost of purchased power.

DATES: This rate is effective Janury 23, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Bureau of Indian

Affairs, Portland Area Office, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon

97232-4169, telephone (503) 231-6702; or General Manager, Mission

Valley Power, P. O. Box 890, Polson, Montana 59860-0890. Telephone

(406)883-5361 or 1-800-823-3758 (in-State Watts).

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 approximate 2.0

percent MPC increase causes the BIA to raise its retail rates to

recover $24,529 which is the financial impact of that increase.

Accordingly, the rate increase will flow through MVP to MPC to offset

the increased cost of wholesale energy. This adjustment is the result

of an increase in the electric power rates charged by MPC, one of three

sources of electric power marketed by MVP. The MPC increase, which went

into effect on September 5, 1994, is based on adjustments in the

Consumer Price index pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission license for MPC's Kerr Dam Hydroelectric Facility. The

following table illustrates the financial impact of the new retail

rates on each rate class.

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Rate class Present rate New rate

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Residential:

Basic Charge............... $11.00/mo. (includes 127kwh)...................................... (\1\)

Energy Charge.............. 0.04719/kwh (over 127 kwh)........................................ 0.04724

#2 General:

Basic Charge............... 11.00/mo. (includes 109 kwh)...................................... (\1\)

Energy Charge.............. 0.05505/kwh (over 109 kwh)........................................ 0.05511

Irrigation:

Horsepower Charge.......... 10.84/HP.......................................................... (\1\)

Energy Charge.............. 0.03600/kwh....................................................... 0.3605

Minimum Seasonal Charge.... 132.00 or $6.00/HP, whichever is greater......................... (\1\)

Small and Large Commercial:

Basic Charge............... None.............................................................. (\1\)

Monthly Minimum............ 38.00............................................................. (\1\)

Demand Rate................ 4.34/KW of billing demand......................................... (\1\)

Energy Rate................ 0.04264/kwh--First 18,000 kwh..................................... 0.04269

0.03547/kwh--Over 18,000 kwh...................................... 0.03551

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Area lights Present rate New rate

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Area light installed on

existing pole or structure:

7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*.... $6.94............................................................. $6.98

20,000 lumen unit, M.V.*... 9.67.............................................................. 9.73

9,000 lumen unit, H.P.S.... 6.26.............................................................. 6.30

22,000 lumen unit, H.P.S... 8.53.............................................................. 8.58

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Present monthly rate New rate

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Area light installed with new

pole:

7,000 lumen unit, M.V.*

20,000 lumen unit, 8.64.............................................................. 8.70

M.V.*.

9,000 lumen unit, M.V.* 11.37............................................................. 11.43

22,000 lumen unit, 7.96.............................................................. 8.01

H.P.S*.

*Continuing service only....... 10.23............................................................. 10.28

Street Lighting (Unmetered).... This rate class applies to municipalities or communities where (\1\)

there are ten or more lighting units billed in a group. This rate

schedule is subject to a negotiated contract with MVP..

Street Lighting (Metered)...... 11.00/mo. (includes 109 kwh)...................................... (\1\)

Basic Charge................... 0.05505 (over 109 kwh)............................................ 0.05511

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\1\No change.

[[Page 4499]]

The Notice proposing this increase to the cost of electric power

customers of MVP was published on November 16, 1994, 59 FR 59245. The

affected public and interested parties were provided the opportunity to

submit written comments during the 30-day period subsequent to November

16th.

Dated: January 12, 1995.

Ada E. Deer,

Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 95-1586 Filed 1-20-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-02-P