Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act of 2006

H.R. 4857, the Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act of 2006, would require four federal Power Marketing Administrations—Bonneville, Western Area, Southwestern, and Southeastern—to disclose the costs associated with complying with the Endangered Species Act. Under this bill, these agencies would be required to include an estimate of each customer’s share of these compliance costs on their monthly billing statements. Additionally, the agencies would provide annual reports to Congress detailing both direct expenses, such as research and operations, and indirect costs, such as lost power generation and the purchase of replacement power.

For the average citizen, this bill is designed to provide greater financial transparency regarding how federal environmental regulations affect electricity rates. By breaking down these costs on monthly bills, consumers served by these federal power agencies would see exactly how much of their utility payment is directed toward protecting endangered species. The bill focuses on data reporting and does not change existing environmental protections or funding levels for conservation efforts.