§2170 Battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Senate at no net cost to the Federal Government

Summary

The Architect of the Capitol may build, run, and keep up electric vehicle charging stations in Senate parking areas on Capitol Grounds for privately owned cars used by Senators or covered employees. A "covered employee" means either an employee paid by the Secretary of the Senate or anyone else allowed to park in Senate-controlled parking on Capitol Grounds. The work can be paid for from the Capitol Power Plant funds on a reimbursable basis. The Architect can hire one or more vendors and use commission arrangements. The Architect must send a written notice with the number and places of chargers to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and get that Committee’s approval before building. The Architect must charge users enough to cover all costs, including vendor fees. New or higher charges must be reported in writing to the Committee and approved by the Committee before they take effect. Money collected goes into the Treasury credited to the Capitol Power Plant account and can be spent that fiscal year and the next without another appropriation. Within 30 days after each fiscal year ends, the Architect must report the program’s finances to the Committee. Starting within 3 years after August 10, 2012, and every 3 years after, the Architect must check whether users are getting a taxpayer subsidy. If there is a subsidy, the Architect must give a plan to stop it; if the Committee does not act in 60 days, the Architect must raise rates or fees on users to eliminate the subsidy using an appropriate amortization schedule. The rules apply beginning in fiscal year 2011 and each year after.