March 27, 2026
Mr. Bentz (for himself, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. Amodei of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To adjust the compensation of the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act
.
Sec. 2. Bonneville Power Administrator compensation
(a) Rate of pay
Beginning in the first pay period beginning on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the annual rate of basic pay—
(1)
for the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration (referred to in this section as the Administrator
) shall be set at a level determined by the Secretary of Energy (referred to in this section as the Secretary
) to be comparable to chief executives of consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection; and
(2)
for employees of the Bonneville Power Administration, including members of the Senior Executive Service (as defined in section 2101a of title 5, United States Code), shall be set at a level determined by the Secretary to be comparable to compensation for similar positions at consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection.
(b) Additional considerations
The determination of the Secretary with respect to the annual rate of basic pay under subsection (a) shall—
(1)
be based on an annual survey of the prevailing compensation for similar positions in consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection;
(2)
be consistent with the approved annual general and administrative budget of the Administrator, encourage the widest diversified use of electric power at the lowest possible rates to consumers consistent with sound business principles, and be cognizant of the need for deep experience, strategic vision, intelligence, and accountability;
(3)
with respect to pay for employees of the Bonneville Power Administration, take into account education, experience, level of responsibility, geographic differences, and retention and recruitment needs; and
(4)
provide that the individual total compensation of the Administrator and employees of the Bonneville Power Administration shall be comparable to and competitive with similar positions among consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection.
(c) Conforming amendment
Section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration, Department of the Interior.
.