#aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session  ,s4   
#baeb  ,,an ,,act  ,to establish a      
comprehensive ,united ,states           
,government policy to encourage the     
efforts of countries in sub-,saharan    
,africa to develop an appropriate mix of
 power solutions1 including renewable   
energy1 for more broadly distributed    
electricity access in order to support  
poverty reduction1 promote development  
outcomes1 and drive economic growth1 and
 for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title  
,this ,act may be cited as the          
,electrify ,africa ,act of #bjae4  #b4  
,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to
 encourage the efforts of countries in  
sub-,saharan ,africa to improve access  
to affordable and reliable electricity  
in ,africa in order to unlock the       
potential for inclusive economic growth1
 job creation1 food security1 improved  
health1 education1 and environmental    
outcomes1 and poverty reduction4  #c4   
,statement of policy ,it is the policy  
of the ,united ,states to partner1      

consult1 and coordinate with the        
governments of sub-,saharan ,african    
countries1 international financial      
institutions1 and ,african regional     
economic communities1 cooperatives1 and 
the private sector1 in a concerted      
effort to--  7#a7 promote first-time    
access to power and power services for  
at least #ej1jjj1jjj people in          
sub-,saharan ,africa by #bjbj in both   
urban and rural areas2  7#b7 encourage  
the installation of at least #bj1jjj    
additional megawatts of electrical power
 in sub-,saharan ,africa by #bjbj using 
a broad mix of energy options to help   
reduce poverty1 promote sustainable     
development1 and drive inclusive        
economic growth2  7#c7 promote          
non-discriminatory reliable1 affordable1
 and sustainable power in urban areas   
7including small urban areas7 to promote
 economic growth and job creation2  7#d7
 promote policies to facilitate         
public-private partnerships to provide  
non-discriminatory reliable1            

sustainable1 and affordable electrical  
service to rural and underserved        
populations2  7#e7 encourage the        
necessary in-country reforms1 including 
facilitating public-private partnerships
 specifically to support electricity    
access projects to make such expansion  
of power access possible2  7#f7 promote 
reforms of power production1 delivery1  
and pricing1 as well as regulatory      
reforms and transparency1 to support    
long-term1 market-based power generation
 and distribution2  7#g7 promote        
policies to displace kerosene lighting  
with other technologies2  7#h7 promote  
an all-of-the-above energy development  
strategy for sub-,saharan ,africa that  
includes the use of oil1 natural gas1   
coal1 hydroelectric1 wind1 solar1 and   
geothermal power1 and other sources of  
energy2 and  7#i7 promote and increase  
the use of private financing and seek   
ways to remove barriers to private      
financing and assistance for projects1  
including through charitable            

organizations4  #d4 ,development of     
comprehensive1 multiyear strategy  7a7  
,strategy required  7#a7 ,in general    
,the ,president shall establish a       
comprehensive1 integrated1 multiyear    
strategy to encourage the efforts of    
countries in sub-,saharan ,africa to    
implement national power strategies and 
develop an appropriate mix of power     
solutions to provide access to          
sufficient reliable1 affordable1 and    
sustainable power in order to reduce    
poverty and drive economic growth and   
job creation consistent with the policy 
stated in section #c4  7#b7 ,flexibility
 and responsiveness ,the ,president     
shall ensure that the strategy required 
under paragraph 7#a7 maintains          
sufficient flexibility for and remains  
responsive to concerns and interests of 
affected local communities and          
technological innovation in the power   
sector4  7b7 ,report required ,not later
 than #ahj days after the date of the   
enactment of this ,act1 the ,president  

shall transmit to the ,committee on     
,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and  
the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of  
the ,house of ,representatives a report 
that contains the strategy required     
under subsection 7a7 and includes a     
discussion of the following elements3   
7#a7 ,the objectives of the strategy and
 the criteria for determining the       
success of the strategy4  7#b7 ,a       
general description of efforts in       
sub-,saharan ,africa to--  7,a7 increase
 power production2  7,b7 strengthen     
electrical transmission and distribution
 infrastructure2  7,c7 provide for      
regulatory reform and transparent and   
accountable governance and oversight2   
7,d7 improve the reliability of power2  
7,e7 maintain the affordability of      
power2  7,f7 maximize the financial     
sustainability of the power sector2 and 
7,g7 improve non-discriminatory access  
to power that is done in consultation   
with affected communities4  7#c7 ,a     
description of plans to support efforts 

of countries in sub-,saharan ,africa to 
increase access to power in urban and   
rural areas1 including a description of 
plans designed to address commercial1   
industrial1 and residential needs4  7#d7
 ,a description of plans to support     
efforts to reduce waste and corruption1 
ensure local community consultation1 and
 improve existing power generation      
through the use of a broad power mix1   
including fossil fuel and renewable     
energy1 distributed generation models1  
energy efficiency1 and other            
technological innovations1 as           
appropriate4  7#e7 ,an analysis of      
existing mechanisms for ensuring1 and   
recommendations to promote-- 7,a7       
commercial cost recovery2  7,b7         
commercialization of electric service   
through distribution service providers1 
including cooperatives1 to consumers2   
7,c7 improvements in revenue cycle      
management1 power pricing1 and fees     
assessed for service contracts and      
connections2  7,d7 reductions in        

technical losses and commercial losses2 
and  7,e7 non-discriminatory access to  
power1 including recommendations on the 
creation of new service provider models 
that mobilize community participation in
 the provision of power services4  7#f7 
,a description of the reforms being     
undertaken or planned by countries in   
sub-,saharan ,africa to ensure the      
long-term economic viability of power   
projects and to increase access to      
power1 including--  7,a7 reforms        
designed to allow third parties to      
connect power generation to the grid2   
7,b7 policies to ensure there is a      
viable and independent utility          
regulator2  7,c7 strategies to ensure   
utilities become or remain creditworthy2
  7,d7 regulations that permit the      
participation of independent power      
producers and private-public            
partnerships2  7,e7 policies that       
encourage private sector and cooperative
 investment in power generation2  7,f7  
policies that ensure compensation for   

power provided to the electrical grid by
 on-site producers2  7,g7 policies to   
unbundle power services2  7,h7          
regulations to eliminate conflicts of   
interest in the utility sector2  7,i7   
efforts to develop standardized power   
purchase agreements and other contracts 
to streamline project development2  7,j7
 efforts to negotiate and monitor       
compliance with power purchase          
agreements and other contracts entered  
into with the private sector2 and  7,k7 
policies that promote local community   
consultation with respect to the        
development of power generation and     
transmission projects4  7#g7 ,a         
description of plans to ensure          
meaningful local consultation1 as       
appropriate1 in the planning1 long-term 
maintenance1 and management of          
investments designed to increase access 
to power in sub-,saharan ,africa4  7#h7 
,a description of the mechanisms to be  
established for-- 7,a7 selection of     
partner countries for focused engagement

 on the power sector2  7,b7 monitoring  
and evaluating increased access to1 and 
reliability and affordability of1 power 
in sub-,saharan ,africa2  7,c7          
maximizing the financial sustainability 
of power generation1 transmission1 and  
distribution in sub-,saharan ,africa2   
7,d7 establishing metrics to demonstrate
 progress on meeting goals relating to  
access to power1 power generation1 and  
distribution in sub-,saharan ,africa2   
and  7,e7 terminating unsuccessful      
programs4  7#i7 ,a description of how   
the ,president intends to promote trade 
in electrical equipment with countries  
in sub-,saharan ,africa1 including a    
description of how the government of    
each country receiving assistance       
pursuant to the strategy--  7,a7 plans  
to lower or eliminate import tariffs or 
other taxes for energy and other power  
production and distribution technologies
 destined for sub-,saharan ,africa1     
including equipment used to provide     
energy access1 including solar lanterns1

 solar home systems1 and micro and mini 
grids2 and  7,b7 plans to protect the   
intellectual property of companies      
designing and manufacturing products    
that can be used to provide energy      
access in sub-,saharan ,africa4  7#aj7  
,a description of how the ,president    
intends to encourage the growth of      
distributed renewable energy markets in 
sub-,saharan ,africa1 including off-grid
 lighting and power1 that includes--    
7,a7 an analysis of the state of        
distributed renewable energy in         
sub-,saharan ,africa2  7,b7 a           
description of market barriers to the   
deployment of distributed renewable     
energy technologies both on- and        
off-grid in sub-,saharan ,africa2  7,c7 
an analysis of the efficacy of efforts  
by the ,overseas ,private ,investment   
,corporation and the ,united ,states    
,agency for ,international ,development 
to facilitate the financing of the      
importation1 distribution1 sale1        
leasing1 or marketing of distributed    

renewable energy technologies2 and  7,d7
 a description of how bolstering        
distributed renewable energy can enhance
 the overall effort to increase power   
access in sub-,saharan ,africa4  7#aa7  
,a description of plans to ensure that  
small and medium enterprises based in   
sub-,saharan ,africa can fairly compete 
for energy development and energy access
 opportunities associated with this     
,act4  7#ab7 ,a description of how      
,united ,states investments to increase 
access to energy in sub-,saharan ,africa
 may reduce the need for foreign aid and
 development assistance in the future4  
7#ac7 ,a description of policies or     
regulations1 both domestically and      
internationally1 that create barriers to
 private financing of the projects      
undertaken in this ,act4  7#ad7 ,a      
description of the specific national    
security benefits to the ,united ,states
 that will be derived from increased    
energy access in sub-,saharan ,africa4  
7c7 ,interagency working group  7#a7 ,in

 general ,the ,president may1 as        
appropriate1 establish an ,interagency  
,working ,group to coordinate the       
activities of relevant ,united ,states  
,government departments and agencies    
involved in carrying out the strategy   
required under this section4  7#b7      
,functions ,the ,interagency ,working   
,group may1 among other things-- 7,a7   
seek to coordinate the activities of the
 ,united ,states ,government departments
 and agencies involved in implementing  
the strategy required under this        
section2  7,b7 ensure efficient and     
effective coordination between          
participating departments and agencies2 
and  7,c7 facilitate information        
sharing1 and coordinate partnerships    
between the ,united ,states ,government1
 the private sector1 and other          
development partners to achieve the     
goals of the strategy4  #e4             
,prioritization of efforts and          
assistance for power projects in        
sub-,saharan ,africa by key ,united     

,states institutions  7a7 ,in general   
,in pursuing the policy goals described 
in section #c1 the ,administrator of the
 ,united ,states ,agency for            
,international ,development1 the        
,director of the ,trade and ,development
 ,agency1 the ,overseas ,private        
,investment ,corporation1 and the ,chief
 ,executive ,officer and ,board of      
,directors of the ,millennium ,challenge
 ,corporation should1 as appropriate1   
prioritize and expedite institutional   
efforts and assistance to facilitate the
 involvement of such institutions in    
power projects and markets1 both on- and
 off-grid1 in sub-,saharan ,africa and  
partner with other investors and local  
institutions in sub-,saharan ,africa1   
including private sector actors1 to     
specifically increase access to         
reliable1 affordable1 and sustainable   
power in sub-,saharan ,africa1 including
 through--  7#a7 maximizing the number  
of people with new access to power and  
power services2  7#b7 improving and     

expanding the generation1 transmission  
and distribution of power2  7#c7        
providing reliable power to people and  
businesses in urban and rural           
communities2  7#d7 addressing the energy
 needs of marginalized people living in 
areas where there is little or no access
 to a power grid and developing plans to
 systematically increase coverage in    
rural areas2  7#e7 reducing transmission
 and distribution losses and improving  
end-use efficiency and demand-side      
management2  7#f7 reducing              
energy-related impediments to business  
productivity and investment2 and  7#g7  
building the capacity of countries in   
sub-,saharan ,africa to monitor and     
appropriately and transparently regulate
 the power sector and encourage private 
investment in power production and      
distribution4  7b7 ,effectiveness       
measurement ,in prioritizing and        
expediting institutional efforts and    
assistance pursuant to this section1 as 
appropriate1 such institutions shall use

 clear1 accountable1 and metric-based   
targets to measure the effectiveness of 
such guarantees and assistance in       
achieving the goals described in section
 #c4  7c7 ,promotion of use of private  
financing and assistance ,in carrying   
out policies under this section1 such   
institutions shall promote the use of   
private financing and assistance and    
seek ways to remove barriers to private 
financing for projects and programs     
under this ,act1 including through      
charitable organizations4  7d7 ,rule of 
construction ,nothing in this section   
may be construed to authorize modifying 
or limiting the portfolio of the        
institutions covered by subsection 7a7  
in other developing regions4  #f4       
,leveraging international support ,in   
implementing the strategy described in  
section #d1 the ,president should direct
 the ,united ,states representatives to 
appropriate international bodies to use 
the influence of the ,united ,states1   
consistent with the broad development   

goals of the ,united ,states1 to        
advocate that each such body--  7#a7    
commit to significantly increase efforts
 to promote investment in well-designed 
power sector and electrification        
projects in sub-,saharan ,africa that   
increase energy access1 in partnership  
with the private sector and consistent  
with the host countries' absorptive     
capacity2  7#b7 address energy needs of 
individuals and communities where access
 to an electricity grid is impractical  
or cost-prohibitive2  7#c7 enhance      
coordination with the private sector in 
sub-,saharan ,africa to increase access 
to electricity2  7#d7 provide technical 
assistance to the regulatory authorities
 of sub-,saharan ,african governments to
 remove unnecessary barriers to         
investment in otherwise commercially    
viable projects2 and  7#e7 utilize      
clear1 accountable1 and metric-based    
targets to measure the effectiveness of 
such projects4  #g4 ,progress report    
7a7 ,in general ,not later than three   

years after the date of the enactment of
 this ,act1 the ,president shall        
transmit to the ,committee on ,foreign  
,affairs of the ,house of               
,representatives and the ,committee on  
,foreign ,relations of the ,senate a    
report on progress made toward achieving
 the strategy described in section #d   
that includes the following3  7#a7 ,a   
report on ,united ,states programs      
supporting implementation of policy and 
legislative changes leading to increased
 power generation and access in         
sub-,saharan ,africa1 including a       
description of the number1 type1 and    
status of policy1 regulatory1 and       
legislative changes initiated or        
implemented as a result of programs     
funded or supported by the ,united      
,states in countries in sub-,saharan    
,africa to support increased power      
generation and access after the date of 
the enactment of this ,act4  7#b7 ,a    
description of power projects receiving 
,united ,states ,government support and 

how such projects1 including off-grid   
efforts1 are intended to achieve the    
strategy described in section #d4  7#c7 
,for each project described in paragraph
 7#b7-- 7,a7 a description of how the   
project fits into1 or encourages        
modifications of1 the national energy   
plan of the country in which the project
 will be carried out1 including         
encouraging regulatory reform in that   
county2  7,b7 an estimate of the total  
cost of the project to the consumer1 the
 country in which the project will be   
carried out1 and other investors2  7,c7 
the amount of financing provided or     
guaranteed by the ,united ,states       
,government for the project2  7,d7 an   
estimate of ,united ,states ,government 
resources for the project1 itemized by  
funding source1 including from the      
,overseas ,private ,investment          
,corporation1 the ,united ,states       
,agency for ,international ,development1
 the ,department of the ,treasury1 and  
other appropriate ,united ,states       

,government departments and agencies2   
7,e7 an estimate of the number and      
regional locations of individuals1      
communities1 businesses1 schools1 and   
health facilities that have gained power
 connections as a result of the project1
 with a description of how the          
reliability1 affordability1 and         
sustainability of power has been        
improved as of the date of the report2  
7,f7 an assessment of the increase in   
the number of people and businesses with
 access to power1 and in the operating  
electrical power capacity in megawatts  
as a result of the project between the  
date of the enactment of this ,act and  
the date of the report2  7,g7 a         
description of efforts to gain          
meaningful local consultation for       
projects associated with this ,act and  
any significant estimated noneconomic   
effects of the efforts carried out      
pursuant to this ,act2 and  7,h7 a      
description of the participation by     
small and medium enterprises based in   

sub-,saharan ,africa on projects        
associated with this ,act4  ,passed the 
,senate ,december #ah1 #bjae4,secretary