§838b Operation and Maintenance of Federal Transmission System; Construction of Improvements, Betterments, Additions and Replacements; Criteria

Summary

The Secretary of Energy, through the Administrator, must operate and maintain the federal transmission system in the Pacific Northwest. They may build improvements, additions, or replacements to move power from federal or nonfederal generators, serve customers, link regions, or keep the grid stable and reliable. They may not build transmission outside the Pacific Northwest, except service facilities within 75 airline miles for a distribution cooperative that has no generators and serves both inside and outside the region. Major transmission projects in the region cannot start unless Congress specifically approves funding to begin them.