Why Power Rate Hikes Influence Our Economy

After the events of September 11, 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation fortified its facilities through capital improvements and increased guards and patrols.  These expenses were shifted to water and power customers for reimbursement, though Congress had not yet enacted specific authorization to do so and ratepayers were given no certainty that costs would be shared equitably.  On Friday I introduced a bill, H.R. 1662, to eliminate these disparities in current cost-sharing policy, while at the same time providing safeguards and adequate oversight for ratepayers.

The provisions in H.R. 1662 let us solve critical challenges going forward.  It protects ratepayers by providing certainty on their share of costs, provides new sources of revenues to the Bureau of Reclamation on future capital expenses, and delivers a good faith effort by Congress to resolve current disputes on security-related reimbursements.

I especially appreciate the support and partnership of my co-sponsors, including my dear colleague and esteemed Ranking Member of the Water & Power Subcommittee, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), and colleagues Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), Rep. Raul Grijalva (R-Ariz.), Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.), and Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.).  I thank the Members of the Water & Power Subcommittee for their consideration of this bipartisan legislation and look forward to continuing to work on this issue as the bill progresses through Congress.