Congress hands federal power agency a blank check—no annual oversight
S. 1034 — Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act · Filed by Jerry Moran (R-KS) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 13, 2025 · Hearing held
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What it does
This bill establishes a dedicated fund for the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), a federal agency that operates hydroelectric dams and transmission lines in the Southwest. The fund consolidates existing SWPA revenue streams—power sales, collections, and prior appropriations—into a single account that can be spent without annual congressional approval, as long as the money is used for operating dams, maintaining transmission lines, marketing power, or administrative costs. Excess funds are returned to the Treasury annually.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is to consolidate SWPA revenue streams into a permanent fund and grant the agency spending authority without annual appropriation. This shifts control of federal hydroelectric resources from Congress to the executive branch, reducing legislative oversight of a major power marketer.
What the text implies
- By allowing SWPA to spend accumulated revenues without annual appropriation, Congress loses annual leverage to set policy priorities, audit spending, or respond to constituent concerns about power pricing and allocation.
- The bill permits SWPA to incur obligations in advance of appropriations (section 3(e)), creating a contingent liability that may not be visible in annual budget documents.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Southwestern Power Administration (federal agency); Regional electricity customers in SWPA service territory (potential rate stability); Utilities purchasing SWPA power (operational predictability)