Reliability for Ratepayers Act
Reliability for Ratepayers Act
Plain Language Summary
# Reliability for Ratepayers Act (HR 447) - Summary **What It Does:** This bill would require the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)—a federal agency that sells hydroelectric power in the Pacific Northwest—to create and implement a formal compensation plan for its employees within two years. The plan would need to be based on annual surveys of what similar positions pay at other public utilities and must be approved by the Department of Energy.
The goal is to set employee salaries competitively while staying within BPA's existing budget. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects BPA employees and the ratepayers (customers) who buy electricity from BPA in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and surrounding states. Utility companies in the region may also be indirectly affected, as the compensation plan could influence hiring and retention of skilled workers in the power industry. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Reliability for Ratepayers ActThis bill modifies provisions concerning the hiring and compensation of employees of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which is a nonprofit federal power marketing administration that sells hydropower in the Northwest.Specifically, it directs BPA to develop and implement a plan that specifies and fixes the compensation for its employees, including members of the Senior Executive Service. Within a year, BPA must develop an initial compensation plan, which must be approved by the Department of Energy. BPA must implement the plan no later than one year after the plan is developed. The compensation plan must be based on an annual survey of the prevailing compensation for similar positions in the public sectors of the electric industry, provide compensation that is competitive with similar positions among consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection, be consistent with BPA's approved annual general and administrative budget, and meet other criteria as outlined in the bill. BPA must (1) annually review the compensation plan and make any updates as appropriate, and (2) publish the plan and any updates made to the plan.The bill exempts BPA from certain civil service laws when it is carrying out its hiring authority.Finally, the bill subjects BPA's employees to certain merit system principles.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.