WSP11227

• File Number: 8220.100.50
• Description: CRSP - Power Operations
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1993
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Background on CRSP Power Operations
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SALT LAKE CITY AREA INTEGRATED PROJECTS
MARKETING CRITERIA
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Western IS mission is to implement
nalional energy policy by maIn-
taining a v/able ,narkeling
program for Federal power over
an efficient and reliable transmis-
sion system while protecting the
environment and encouraging
conservation and the use of
renewable resources. .

Western Area Power Administration (Western) is a power marketing administra.
tion within the Department of Energy and was created with the passage of the
Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (DOE Act). The DOE Act
transferred the power marketing and transmission functions from the Secretary
of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation [Reclamation]) to the Secretary of
Energy, acting through Western.

Western's mission is to implement national energy policy by maintaining a
viable marketing program for Federal power over an efficient and reliable
transmission system while protecting the environment and encouraging conser-
vation and the use of renewable resources.

POWER M.utKETING

Western's principal marketing objectives are:

1. To market and transmit Federal power and energy in a manner so as to
encourage the widespread use of Federal power, consistent with sound
business principles.

2. To sell Federal power at the lowest possible rates sufficient to recover
costs, and consistent with laws and sound business principles.

3. To encourage the implementation of, and to assist its customers with,
conservation and renewable energy programs.

Western's power marketing responsibility begins at the switch yard of Federal
hydroelectric power projects and includes the transmission lines to intercon-
nected customer or other systems. The hydroelectric projects in Western's 15-
state area are administered by Reclamation, the Anny Corps of Engineers, and
the International Boundary and Water Commission. These agencies manage and
release water in accordance with the various acts authorizing specific projects
and with other enabling legislation. This body of Federal legislation, "reclama-
tlon law," stems from the 1902 Reclamation Act and acts that amend or
supplement it.

LEGlSLA 1101'1

The 1902 Reclamation Act provided for the use of revenue from the sale of
Federal land to develop irrigation projects. The Reclamation Project Act of
1939 further defined the responsibility of Reclamation in irrigation development
and that revenues from the sale of electricity generated at the Federal facilities
were to be used to repay some of the irrigation investment, as well as all costs
incurred in developing the hydroelectric facilities.

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