Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73not60

§838g Schedules of Rates and Charges for Sale of Federal Power and Transmission of Non-federal Power; Confirmation and Approval; Criteria for Modification and Establishment

Title 16 › Chapter 12G— PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEDERAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM › § 838g

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Rates for selling electric power (including to Federal agencies) that the Administrator has under section 838f or otherwise acquires, and for transmitting non‑Federal power over the Federal transmission system, only take effect after the Secretary of Energy confirms and approves them. The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, can change those rates, but changes also need the Secretary’s confirmation and approval. When setting or changing rates, the Secretary must do three things: encourage the widest and most varied use of power at the lowest possible consumer rates consistent with sound business principles; recover the cost of producing and transmitting power, including paying back capital investment over a reasonable number of years and the payments required under section 838i(b)(9); and produce enough extra revenue, together with all other Administrator revenues, to pay bond principal, premiums, discounts, issuance costs, interest, and to keep required reserve and other accounts funded.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §838g

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Schedules of rates and charges for the sale, including dispositions to Federal agencies, of all electric power made available to the Administrator pursuant to section 838f of this title or otherwise acquired, and for the transmission of non-Federal electric power over the Federal transmission system, shall become effective upon confirmation and approval thereof by the Secretary of Energy. Such rate schedules may be modified from time to time by the Secretary of Energy, acting by and through the Administrator, subject to confirmation and approval by the Secretary of Energy, and shall be fixed and established (1) with a view to encouraging the widest possible diversified use of electric power at the lowest possible rates to consumers consistent with sound business principles, (2) having regard to the recovery (upon the basis of the application of such rate schedules to the capacity of the electric facilities of the projects) of the cost of producing and transmitting such electric power, including the amortization of the capital investment allocated to power over a reasonable period of years and payments provided for in section 838i(b)(9) of this title, and (3) at levels to produce such additional revenues as may be required, in the aggregate with all other revenues of the Administrator, to pay when due the principal of, premiums, discounts, and expenses in connection with the issuance of and interest on all bonds issued and outstanding pursuant to this chapter, and amounts required to establish and maintain reserve and other funds and accounts established in connection therewith.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

“Secretary of Energy” substituted in text for “Secretary of the Interior” and “Federal Power Commission” pursuant to Pub. L. 95–91, §§ 301(b), 302(a)(1)(D), which are classified to section 7151(b) and 7152(a)(1)(D) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. The Federal Power Commission was terminated, and its functions, personnel, property, funds, etc., were transferred to the Secretary of Energy (except for certain functions which were transferred to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) by section 7151(b), 7171(a), 7172(a), 7291, and 7293 of Title 42. Functions of Secretary of the Interior with respect to Bonneville Power Administration transferred to Secretary of Energy by section 7152(a)(1)(D), (2) of Title 42, with Bonneville Power Administration to be preserved as a distinct organizational entity within Department of Energy and headed by an Administrator.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 838g

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60