16 USC § 824r - Protection of transmission contracts in the Pacific Northwest

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s824r"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 824r - Protection of transmission contracts in the Pacific Northwest"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "824r"
section_name: "Protection of transmission contracts in the Pacific Northwest"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "FEDERAL REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF POWER"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "REGULATION OF ELECTRIC UTILITY COMPANIES ENGAGED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 10, 1920, ch. 285, pt. II, § 218, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title XII, § 1235, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 960.)"
---


# § 824r. Protection of transmission contracts in the Pacific Northwest

**(a)** **Definition of electric utility or person** In this section, the term “electric utility or person” means an electric utility or person that—

**(1)** as of August 8, 2005, holds firm transmission rights pursuant to contract or by reason of ownership of transmission facilities; and

**(2)** is located—

**(A)** in the Pacific Northwest, as that region is defined in section 839a of this title; or

**(B)** in that portion of a State included in the geographic area proposed for a regional transmission organization in Commission Docket Number RT01–35 on the date on which that docket was opened.

**(b)** **Protection of transmission contracts** Nothing in this chapter confers on the Commission the authority to require an electric utility or person to convert to tradable or financial rights—

**(1)** firm transmission rights described in subsection (a); or

**(2)** firm transmission rights obtained by exercising contract or tariff rights associated with the firm transmission rights described in subsection (a).

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**Source Credit**: (June 10, 1920, ch. 285, pt. II, § 218, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title XII, § 1235, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 960.)