Regulatory Commission (FERC). Licenses are granted for 30 to 50 years and establish,
among other aspects, operational restrictions on the generator. These restrictions seek to
consider the effects of hydropower operations on activities or interests that might be
affected, including commercial and recreational fisheries, recreation, and ecosystem
conservation. Traditionally, environmental considerations are included in the licenses in
the form of minimum releases to a sensitive stream, bounds on flow changes, and specific
water quality requirements in the reservoir itself and downstream. These operational
restrictions limit the ability of the system to follow the pattern of energy prices and can
reduce the economic value of energy generation.