§1492a Study of electric rates in the insular areas

Summary

Create a team of technical, policy, and finance experts to make and help carry out an energy action plan for U.S. territories and the Freely Associated States. The Secretary must set up this team inside the Empowering Insular Communities program within 180 days after December 16, 2014 (but for Puerto Rico the deadline is 270 days after June 30, 2016). The Secretary should consider adding regional utility groups to the team. The team must both write the plan and help each place put it into action. The plan must recommend ways to cut fuel imports and costs, use local fuel sources, and improve energy systems and efficiency; it must include a timeline, project priorities, a financial and engineering plan, and progress benchmarks. The team must report to the Secretary within 1 year after it is formed and then every year. The Secretary has 30 days after getting each report to send a summary to the relevant Congressional committees. The plan cannot be put into effect until the Secretary approves it. Key terms: Comprehensive energy plan — the full plan prepared under the law; Energy action plan — the plan the team makes; Freely Associated States — Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau; Insular areas — American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands; Secretary — Secretary of the Interior (but for Puerto Rico, Secretary of Energy); Team — the experts the Secretary creates.