---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 838b"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "838b"
heading: "Operation and maintenance of Federal transmission system; construction of improvements, betterments, additions and replacements; criteria"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/838b"
units:
  - "Chapter 12G — Pacific Northwest Federal Transmission System"
---

# §838b. Operation and maintenance of Federal transmission system; construction of improvements, betterments, additions and replacements; criteria


The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Energy, acting by and through the [Administrator](/usc/16/838a.md?p=a), shall operate and maintain the Federal transmission [system](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) within the Pacific Northwest and shall construct improvements, betterments, and [additions](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to and replacements of such [system](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) within the Pacific Northwest as he determines are appropriate and required to:

- (a) integrate and transmit the [electric power](/usc/16/838a.md?p=b) from existing or additional Federal or non-Federal generating [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4);
- (b) provide service to the [Administrator](/usc/16/838a.md?p=a)’s customers;
- (c) provide interregional transmission facilities; or
- (d) maintain the electrical stability and electrical reliability of the Federal [system](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14): Provided, however, That the [Administrator](/usc/16/838a.md?p=a) shall not construct any transmission facilities outside the Pacific Northwest, excepting customer service facilities within any contiguous [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), not in excess of seventy-five airline miles from said [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6), which are a part of the service [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of a distribution cooperative which has (i) no generating facilities, and (ii) a distribution [system](/usc/16/668ee.md?p=14) from which it serves both within and without said [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6), nor shall he commence construction of any major transmission facility within the Pacific Northwest, unless the expenditure of the [funds](/usc/16/1421h.md?p=2) for the initiation of such construction is specifically approved by Act of Congress.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 93–454, § 4, Oct. 18, 1974, 88 Stat. 1376; Pub. L. 95–91, title III, § 302(a)(1)(D), Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 578.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

“Secretary of Energy” substituted in text for “Secretary of the Interior” pursuant to Pub. L. 95–91, § 302(a)(1)(D), which is classified to section 7152(a)(1)(D) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.