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H.R. 267, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 [1] (January 31, 2013)

handle is hein.congrec/cbo10973 and id is 1 raw text is: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
COST ESTIMATE
January 31, 2013
H.R. 267
Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
on January 22, 2013
Under the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues
licenses and regulates hydroelectric facilities, regardless of size. H.R. 267 would amend
current law to allow FERC to extend certain permits related to hydroelectric facilities and
exempt small hydroelectric facilities with a generating capacity of 10 megawatts or less
from FERC's licensing requirements. In addition, the bill would direct the Secretary of
Energy to study the feasibility of generating hydroelectric power using water flowing
through conduits or at facilities that store water. Finally, the bill would authorize FERC to
carry out pilot projects to demonstrate the potential of generating hydroelectric power at
nonpowered dams and water-storage facilities.
Based on information from FERC and the Department of Energy (DOE), CBO estimates
that implementing H.R. 267 would have no significant net impact on the federal budget.
CBO anticipates that the proposed changes to FERC's permitting and licensing
requirements would reduce the commission's workload. We also estimate that FERC
would spend about $1 million on pilot projects authorized under the bill, assuming
appropriation of the necessary amounts. However, because FERC recovers 100 percent of
its costs through user fees, any change in the agency's costs (which are controlled through
annual appropriation acts) would be offset by an equal change in fees that the commission
charges, resulting in no net change in federal spending. Finally, CBO estimates that any
increased costs to DOE to prepare the study that would be required under H.R. 267 would
be negligible because the proposed study is similar to ongoing efforts to analyze the
potential for developing hydropower resources. Enacting H.R. 267 would not affect direct
spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 267 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Megan Carroll. The estimate was approved by
Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

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