Southwestern Power Fund Establishment

Full Title:
Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act

Summary#

This bill creates the "Southwestern Power Administration Fund" in the U.S. Treasury. The Fund will hold receipts, collections, recoveries, certain appropriations, and amounts transferred from specific existing Southwestern Power accounts named in prior laws. Money in the Fund remains available until spent. The Secretary of Energy, through the Administrator of the Southwestern Power Administration, may use the Fund for operation and maintenance of power transmission facilities, marketing electric power and energy, construction and acquisition of transmission lines and substations, and administrative duties tied to specified federal statutes. The Administrator may incur obligations in advance of appropriations to be paid from the Fund. Each year, excess amounts in the Fund must be transferred to the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. The bill also makes conforming amendments to prior appropriations language and applies certain provisions of title 31, U.S. Code, to the Administrator.

What it means for you#

The bill sets up a dedicated federal Treasury account to collect and spend money for the Southwestern Power Administration's activities. If you live in or receive power from the area served by the Southwestern Power Administration, the bill changes how the agency’s receipts and some balances are held and how funds may be used to operate and maintain transmission facilities and related projects. The bill text does not state any direct effects on electricity rates, project schedules, or individual customers. No publicly available information.

Expenses#

The bill authorizes Fund money to be used for:

  • operation and maintenance of power transmission facilities;
  • marketing electric power and energy;
  • construction and acquisition of transmission lines, substations, and related facilities;
  • administrative expenses in carrying out duties under the Flood Control Act of 1944 (section 5) and section 1232 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Amounts in the Fund remain available until expended. The Secretary, through the Administrator, may incur obligations in advance of appropriations to be liquidated by the Fund. Excess annual Fund balances are returned to the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about sponsors' stated reasons, goals, or arguments in favor of the bill.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about objections, concerns, or arguments against the bill.