News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation seeks public comment on project use power draft directive and standard

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: February 02, 2018

The generators inside the Shasta Dam power plant.WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public comment on the draft directive and standard that defines the eligible uses and recipients of project use power and related cost recovery and rate setting methodology. The draft directive and standard is available at https://www.usbr.gov/recman.

This draft release is an update to an existing directive and standard, published in 2005 and reflects comments received per the initial review and comment period, announced in April 2017.

Project use power is that electrical capacity, energy, and associated ancillary service components required to provide the minimum electrical service needed to operate and/or maintain Reclamation Project facilities in conformance with project authorization.

Various Congressional authorizations give Reclamation the ability to develop, generate, and use electrical power for the benefit of Reclamation project lands and other purposes. The power can be used for various functions, such as pumping water associated with irrigating Reclamation project lands. This directive and standard describes the various authorized uses.

Congressional authorizations for project use power vary across Reclamation projects; to the extent this directive and standard can be interpreted to conflict with such congressional authorizations, the congressional authorizations control.

Any questions or your comments on this directive and standard may be sent to Clark Bishop at cbishop@usbr.gov. Comments are due on March 12, 2018.

Learn more about Reclamation's Power Program at https://www.usbr.gov/power.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.