---
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"
date: "2026-07-12"
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 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 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: 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, 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 from which it serves both within and without said region, nor shall he commence construction of any major transmission facility within the Pacific Northwest, unless the expenditure of the funds 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.