WAPA extends Desert Southwest balancing-authority formula rates on an interim basis, effective October 1, 2026, pending FERC's final approval
Rate Order No. WAPA-222 keeps existing formula rates unchanged on an interim basis; DSW received no public comments during the 60-day review before FERC takes up final approval.
Why it matters → The extension is interim, not final: it stays in effect only until FERC confirms and approves it on a final basis, until subsequent rates are confirmed and approved, or until the rates are superseded.■
WAPA has confirmed, approved, and placed Rate Order No. WAPA-222 into effect on an interim basis, extending the Desert Southwest Region's existing balancing authority area and transmission provider services formula rates for the Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority.1
The extended rates take effect on an interim basis on October 1, 2026.3
WAPA published a Federal Register notice proposing the extension on January 26, 2026, and the notice opened a 60-day public consultation and comment period.4
DSW decided it did not need to hold public information or comment forums but ran the 60-day comment period anyway; the period closed March 27, 2026 with no comments filed.5
WAPA will submit Rate Order No. WAPA-222 and the extended rate schedules to FERC for confirmation and approval on a final basis.6
Tracey A. LeBeau, the Western Area Power Administration's Administrator, signed the order July 20, 2026, under authority delegated from the Secretary of Energy.7
Coverage notes
Gridlight’s notes on what we looked for and did not find; these statements are Gridlight’s own and are not claim-checked against archived sources.
- As of 2026-08-23, Gridlight did not identify for each disputed number: where it came from, and one available challenge or qualification for this story in the sources it monitors; this article is based on the documents listed in Sources.
- This article is based on the Federal Register notice for Rate Order No. WAPA-222; as of 2026-08-23, Gridlight had not identified FERC's final confirmation and approval of the extension, which the notice states WAPA will separately submit to FERC.