Fair Competition in Hydroelectric Licensing Act of 1985

Summary

Fair Competition in Hydroelectric Licensing Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal Power Act to prescribe guidelines under which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) shall determine which electric utility license applicant offers the proposal best adapted to a certain comprehensive plan for waterways improvement. Prohibits the Commission from denying a license to a competing applicant because it has not previously operated a hydroelectric project. Requires the existing licensee to: (1) make available to an entity planning to file a competing license application all the data necessary to complete such application, and to grant a competing applicant access to the project works and lands; and (2) agree to perform with competing applicants certain joint studies required to be submitted with a license application. Requires FERC to give preference to State or municipality proposals which are equally well adapted to comprehensive plans for waterway improvement as the proposals of other applicants. Authorizes FERC to require implementation of electricity consumption efficiency improvement programs for the conservation and proper utilization of natural resources. Requires FERC to include as a condition of a license that an electric utility licensee provide in the public interest: (1) transmission services to other electric utilities over its transmission facilities; and (2) an increase in the transmission capacity of any bulk power transmission facility which it owns or operates. Authorizes the Commission to make available to the existing licensee up to an average of 25 percent of the project output for the initial one-fifth of the license term at the new licensee's cost of power and energy from the project. Requires FERC to issue new licenses no later than 12 months prior to the expiration date of an existing license. Requires the Commission to report annually to the Congress all projects for which new licenses have not been issued within such period. Requires FERC to transmit to the Attorney General all license applications in order to ascertain whether any activities under the Act would tend to be inconsistent with certain antitrust laws. Prohibits the Commission from issuing a license where such inconsistencies are found. Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to repeal FERC's authority to exempt certain small hydroelectric power projects from the licensing requirements of the Federal Power Act.

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Timeline

1. 28 March 1985

   Introduced

   Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 28 March 1985

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 28 March 1985

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 2 April 1985

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Power.

   Source: Committee

5. 5 June 1985

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

6. 25 June 1985

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

7. 30 July 1985

   Committee

   Subcommittee Hearings Held.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 28 March 1985

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Matsui, Robert T. [D-CA-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Dellums, Ronald V. [D-CA-9] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Lundine, Stanley N. [D-NY-34] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. MacKay, Buddy [D-FL-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Addabbo, Joseph P. [D-NY-6] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Burton, Sala [D-CA-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Mavroules, Nicholas [D-MA-6] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Gejdenson, Sam [D-CT-2] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsif00 · Standing

Related records

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