With summer underway, there’s a real chance you’ll encounter your elected officials at local events or during their district work periods, otherwise known as Congressional recess. Better yet, you could take the time to invite lawmakers to your utility and introduce or reintroduce them to the business of keeping the lights lit. As we enter August recess, NWPPA has compiled talking points for you to use when meeting with elected officials. This year, NWPPA focused on four core federal policy issue areas. While the best talking points include your own version of how public policy impacts your utility, the following can help guide your efforts to advocate for matters before Congress that NWPPA has been directly involved in, advocated for, and tracked on behalf of Western utilities.
Reduce wildfire risk and speed post-fire recovery
For areas impacted by wildfire, unfortunately this summer is looking to be a challenge. Numerous regions in the West are experiencing drought either from low snowpack or rainfall, and blazes have already struck throughout NWPPA’s 10-state footprint.
As wildfires become stronger, more devastating, and occur for longer periods of time, utilities have increasingly found themselves on the front lines. Even if utilities follow best practices, matters out of their control can contribute to wildfire ignition. Risk goes beyond the wildfire itself as more utilities face strict liability for fires they did not cause. The impact of wildfire is compounded by federal delays in forest management, slow permitting, and lack of vegetation work. For these reasons, NWPPA has made federal wildfire policy a priority advocacy issue.
To address the impact of wildfire on community-owned utilities, NWPPA has actively supported the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act, H.R. 471/S. 1462. Referred to as FOFA, the bill would streamline vegetation management approvals, expand hazard-tree removal, and create a new environmental exclusion for vegetation management. FOFA also contains the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act, H.R. 2492/S. 349, which includes critical environmental permitting reform for hazard-tree removal on Forest Service land. NWPPA has advocated to Congress that FOFA represents the best opportunity to begin breaking down the federal policy barriers faced by utilities to address wildfire. FOFA passed the House in January 2025, and the Senate Agriculture Committee passed its version last October. Negotiations are ongoing between the House and Senate regarding the fate of the bill, and NWPPA encourages all member utilities to advocate for this critical legislation.
Post-fire recovery is just as critical, and NWPPA supports the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act, H.R. 4669, and the POWER Act, H.R. 164. The bipartisan FEMA Act would help streamline the federal government’s response during wildfire emergencies and the POWER Act would allow electric utilities to carry out hazard mitigation when restoring power post-fire. NWPPA members can help advance these priorities by encouraging lawmakers in the full House to take up the FEMA Act and urging senators to act on the House-passed POWER Act.
Support power marketing administrations
While the threat to privatize the power marketing administrations always seems to linger, NWPPA continues to encourage Congress to protect these assets and their public power preference. As energy demands increase across the United States, NWPPA advocates for the preservation of the power marketing administrations, their flexibility, and their infrastructure to continue delivering at-cost electricity and transmission to not-for-profit utilities.
Unlike in years past, NWPPA did not have to encourage Congress to push back on privatization during the annual appropriations process. However, the salaries for the Bonneville Power Administration administrator and key executives are low compared to similar roles at the utilities BPA serves. Recognizing this, NWPPA encourages members to voice support for the Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act, H.R. 8132, which would adjust these benefits accordingly.
Protect and enhance hydropower
Hydropower remains the cornerstone of reliable, affordable, and clean power for the West and the core purpose for the power marketing administrations that serve the NWPPA footprint—BPA and the Western Area Power Administration. As every regional and national energy forecaster has predicted the need for more energy in the West, the value of hydropower and its dispatchable characteristics should be indisputable.
Unfortunately, activists in the Northwest continue to fight for the removal of the four lower Snake River dams that generate essential power marketed by BPA. NWPPA will continue to advocate for the continued generation of these important resources and the benefits they provide for the region. Protecting and enhancing hydropower also means streamlining the processes to license and invest in generation facilities. NWPPA supported the Build More Hydro Act, which became law on May 11, thereby extending the licenses for pre-2020 licensed projects that otherwise would have remained in limbo.
NWPPA also welcomed the recent Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approval of the FLOWS Act, S. 3518, and the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act, H.R. 3657/S. 3500. The former would allow projects licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to do basic maintenance while the latter would require FERC to provide a report to Congress about the progress of pending hydropower licenses. Finally, the Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act, H.R. 9337, was introduced June 18 to modernize and streamline the relicensing process for hydropower. NWPPA encourages members to urge their representatives and senators to support these measures as they move through Congress.
Protect electricity affordability
NWPPA advocates for keeping utility costs low for ratepayers. Permit reform in Congress is critical to achieve this, which is why NWPPA supports the SPEED Act, H.R. 4776. NWPPA has also encouraged Congress to fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program so utilities have a tool to support ratepayers in need.
As the August recess approaches, please consider using these talking points when visiting with members of Congress. They want to hear from you, and you are your own best advocate.
