H.R. 8 would amend current law and authorize activities—to be administered primarily by the Department of Energy (DOE)—to promote energy efficiency and enhance the reliability and security of energy-related infrastructure. The bill also would expand and extend federal agencies’ authority to use certain types of long-term contracts to invest in energy conservation measures and related services and specify various energy-related goals and requirements for federal agencies.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8 would increase direct spending by $414 million over the 2016-2025 period. In addition, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would, on net, reduce spending subject to appropriation by $411 million over the 2016-2020 period, assuming appropriation actions consistent with the legislation. Enacting H.R. 8 could affect revenues, but CBO estimates that any such effects would total less than $500,000 in any year.
Because H.R. 8 would affect direct spending and revenues; pay-as-you-go procedures apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 8 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026.
H.R. 8 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). CBO estimates that the aggregate cost of complying with the intergovernmental mandates would fall below the annual threshold established in UMRA ($77 million in 2015, adjusted annually for inflation). CBO cannot determine whether the aggregate cost of the private-sector mandates would exceed the annual threshold established in UMRA ($154 million, adjusted annually for inflation).
CBO has not reviewed some provisions of sections 1102 and 1104 for mandates because section 4 of UMRA excludes from the application of that act any legislative provisions that are necessary for national security; CBO has determined that those provisions fall within that exclusion.