AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION for AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Railroads RRR

Supported removal of the antitrust exemptions for the railroads, and supported reforms at the Surface Transportation Board.

Contacted: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); White House Office; SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Energy, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Treasury, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Supported legislation, H.R. 1038, modifying final rule on swap dealers under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act regarding special entities and the $25 million ceiling on their hedging transactions -- H.R. 1038 passed the House, and is pending in the Senate -- Senate version introduced in December as S. 1802. Supported more limited role in Dodd-Frank for non-profit energy end-users. Supported funding for CFTC. Support including H.R. 1038/S. 1802 in CFTC Reauthorization bill. Support CFTC no-action letterallowing special entities to hedge by engaging in swap transactions in the same way as do other types of electric utilities. Support the CFTC for stating its desire to undertake a rulemaking to address this issue as well.

Contacted: Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Energy, Dept of; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); SENATE; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Treasury, Dept of

Bills named: H.R. 1038 (113th), S. 1802 (113th)

Utilities UTI

Expressed concerns about or opposition to markets issues related to regional transmission organizations, including proposed energy imbalance market and existing mandatory capacity markets (FERC docket # AD 13-7). Encouraged oversight of FERC more generally. Monitored development of executive order on cyber security and engaged in NIST process, and supported final product. Monitored issues related to electric vehicles, particularly regarding funding issues. Support revised Senergy efficiency bill, S. 1392,pending on Senate floor. Monitor rulemakings related to transmission policy, and support FERC's decision to revise its transmission rate incentives policy (docket # RM 13-18). Worked to ensure small utilities that are defined as small businesses under SBREFA get appropriate consideration under any pending and future EPA and FERC regulations, and support H.R. 2542 to modify the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Supported Senator Klobuchar bill related to preventing copper theft. Support H.R. 1199 to delete Section 433 of EISA 2007, which mandates that all federal buildings use no fossil fuel by 2030. Also support other efforts to fix this issue. While not a federal issue, discussed issues surrounded distributed generation (namely, rooftop solar) with DOE staff. Discussed the process surrounding the pending Quadrennial Energy Review with DOE and the White House. Discussed the need for enhanced liability protection for electric utilities who are subject to a cyber-security attack. Briefed Senators and House Members on the physical security of the electric system, and opposed additional legislation resulting in greater regulation. Support information sharing legislation such as CISPA, H.R. 3523. Supported the SMART GRID Study Act, H.R. 2962. Discussed with DOE an alternative information sharing program for public power utilities.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); SENATE; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Energy, Dept of; Treasury, Dept of; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Bills named: H.R. 3523 (113th), H.R. 1199 (113th), H.R. 2542 (113th), H.R. 2962 (113th), S. 1392 (113th)

Agriculture AGR

Monitored issues related to Farm Bill development, including energy audits, and service territory issues for rural utilities.

Contacted: Treasury, Dept of; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); White House Office; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Energy, Dept of; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Supported the continued use of tax-exempt financing for municipal/public power purposes, and opposed provisions, like those included in the Administration's FY 2015 budget proposal, to tax municipal bonds. Support H. Res. 112, highlighting the value of tax-exempt financing, and authored by Reps. Terry and Neal. Monitored impacts of sequestration on Build America Bonds (BABs). Supported efforts to reallocate unused Clean Renewable Energy Bonds as part of the tax extenders package considered by SenateFinance Committee.

Contacted: SENATE; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Energy, Dept of; White House Office; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Treasury, Dept of; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Bills named: H.Res. 112 (113th)

Telecommunications TEC

Monitored the issue of "retransmission consent" with regard to access to cable programming. Also monitored the issues of program access and video competition. Monitored pole attachment rate issue. Support municipal broadband deployment, and began to engage with House Telecommunications Subcommittee as they look at development of a broad telecommunications bill beginning this year.

Contacted: Executive Office of the President (EOP); Surface Transportation Board (STB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Energy, Dept of; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); White House Office; Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Opposed to DOE Secretary Chu memo of March 16, 2012, to drastically change the purpose of the PMAs from marketing federal hydropower to promoting non-hydro renewables -- still monitoring DOE activities on the PMAs. Opposed to modifying or eliminating tax-exempt financing in any budget proposal, including FY 2015 Administration proposal to cap deductions at 28 percent for higher income earners. Oppose proposal in President's FY 2015 budget to continue to investigate divestiture of TVA.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Energy, Dept of; White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); SENATE; Treasury, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Environment/Superfund ENV

Monitored issues related to the Endangered Species Act -- support efforts to review the law and improve it. Monitor TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) reform bill.

Contacted: Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Energy, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Treasury, Dept of; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Supported bills to ensure regulatory relief for small hydro facilities, such as H.R. 678, H.R. 267, S. 306, and S. 545, and monitoring agency implemenation. Monitored Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and nuclear waste issues. Monitored issues involving the export of natural gas (liquefied natural gas or LNG).

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Energy, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Treasury, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); White House Office; SENATE; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Bills named: H.R. 678 (113th), S. 545 (113th), H.R. 267 (113th), S. 306 (113th)

Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW

Supported legislation (H.R. 2218) re: EPA regulation of coal ash as a non-hazardous waste. Expressed concerns about parameters of effluent limitation guidelines under the Clean Water Act, pending at EPA. Concerned about air regulations on power plants being promulgated by EPA, including utility MACT (MATS). Opposed to EPA's proposed rulemaking on NSPS for greenhouse gases at future fossil-fuel fired power plants, and do not believe CCS adequately demonstrated (EPA-OAR-2013-0495), and believe therewill be problems withe wholesale electricity markets as also discussed in that docket. Supported Whitfield-Manchin bill (H.R. 3826) to establish a more rigorous process for EPA to be able to establish NSPS for greenhouse gas emissions. Discussed the electricity/natural gas nexus with Congress, FERC (docket #AD 12-12), EPA. Support H.R. 1900 related to Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act. Monitored Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) progress, with emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reform and dam safety. Oppose Section 2014 of Senate version of WRDA bill, S. 601. Support House version of WRRDA, H.R. 3080. Want to ensure that final version of WRDA does not impact public power's ability to use tax-exempt financing for hydro projects. Support H.R. 271, Olson reliability bill.

Contacted: White House Office; Energy, Dept of; Treasury, Dept of; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Natl Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA); Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Bills named: H.R. 1900 (113th), H.R. 271 (113th), H.R. 3826 (113th), S. 601 (113th), H.R. 2218 (113th), H.R. 3080 (113th)