§837d Exchange contracts

Summary

The Secretary can make contracts to swap power with places outside the Pacific Northwest, even if rules in sections 837a and 837b would normally limit that. These swaps can cover five kinds of supply: extra energy when Pacific Northwest reservoirs are being refilled; hydroelectric energy taken during refill that will be returned in equal amounts either during that same refill or the next period when storage is drawn down; hydroelectric energy taken during a drawdown that will be returned in equal amounts during that same drawdown; hydroelectric peaking capacity; and surplus peaking capacity for energy. All benefits from these swaps, including any increase in reliable (firm) power, must be shared fairly among the areas involved. The sharing must take into account each area’s secondary energy and other contributions.