This rule revises regulations addressing electric power utilities of the Colorado River, Flathead, and San Carlos Indian irrigation projects to use plain language, update definitions, lengthen a regulatory deadline, and make other minor changes.

Various statutes provide the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) with authority to issue this regulation and for administering electric power utilities for the Colorado River, Flathead (Mission Valley Power), and San Carlos Indian irrigation projects. For example, see 5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 13; 25 U.S.C. 385c; 43 Stat. 475-76; 45 Stat. 210-13; 49 Stat. 1039-40; 49 Stat. 1822-23; 54 Stat. 422; 62 Stat. 269-73; 65 Stat. 254; 99 Stat. 319-20. Each of these power projects provides energy, transmission, and distribution of electrical services to customers in their respective service areas. BIA (or the contracting/compacting Indian Tribe) provides oversight and limited technical assistance for power projects and conducts operations and maintenance of the distribution systems.

The regulations addressing BIA's administration of the power utilities are at 25 CFR part 175, Indian Electric Power Utilities. This final rule updates the regulations for the first time since 1991.