Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§7275 Definitions

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 84— - DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › Part Part C— - General Administrative Provisions › § 7275

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in sections 7275 to 7276c. Administrator means the person in charge of the Western Area Power Administration. Integrated resource planning is a planning process that looks at all options for new energy, such as new generation, power purchases, conservation and efficiency, cogeneration and district heating/cooling, and renewables, while considering operation needs (like reliability and dispatchability), risks, and whether conservation savings can be verified and last over time; it treats demand and supply the same way. Least cost option is the way to serve customers that, as much as practicable, minimizes life‑cycle system costs including environmental harms, with priority for efficiency and renewables when possible. Long-term firm power service contract is any Western sale of firm capacity, with or without energy, delivered for more than one year. Customer(s) are entities buying that firm capacity, including parent organizations and their distribution or user members. Applicable integrated resource plan is the plan the Administrator approves for a customer under these sections.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §7275

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in sections 7275 to 7276c of this title:
(1)The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration.
(2)The term “integrated resource planning” means a planning process for new energy resources that evaluates the full range of alternatives, including new generating capacity, power purchases, energy conservation and efficiency, cogeneration and district heating and cooling applications, and renewable energy resources, in order to provide adequate and reliable service to its electric customers at the lowest system cost. The process shall take into account necessary features for system operation, such as diversity, reliability, dispatchability, and other factors of risk; shall take into account the ability to verify energy savings achieved through energy conservation and efficiency and the projected durability of such savings measured over time; and shall treat demand and supply resources on a consistent and integrated basis.
(3)The term “least cost option” means an option for providing reliable electric services to electric customers which will, to the extent practicable, minimize life-cycle system costs, including adverse environmental effects, of providing such service. To the extent practicable, energy efficiency and renewable resources may be given priority in any least-cost option.
(4)The term “long-term firm power service contract” means any contract for the sale by Western Area Power Administration of firm capacity, with or without energy, which is to be delivered over a period of more than one year.
(5)The terms “customer” or “customers” means any entity or entities purchasing firm capacity with or without energy, from the Western Area Power Administration under a long-term firm power service contract. Such terms include parent-type entities and their distribution or user members.
(6)For any customer, the term “applicable integrated resource plan” means the integrated resource plan approved by the Administrator under sections 7275 to 7276c of this title for that customer.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7275, Pub. L. 98–381, title II, § 201, Aug. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 1340, related to energy conservation program of Western Area Power Administration, prior to the general amendment of title II of Pub. L. 98–381 by section 114 of Pub. L. 102–486.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 7275

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73