I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2548 
To establish a comprehensive United States Government policy to assist 
countries in sub-Saharan Africa to develop an appropriate mix of power 
solutions for more broadly distributed electricity access in order to sup-
port poverty alleviation and drive economic growth, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 27, 2013 
Mr. ROYCE (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and Ms. 
BASS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Serv-
ices, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a comprehensive United States Government pol-
icy to assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa to develop 
an appropriate mix of power solutions for more broadly 
distributed electricity access in order to support poverty 
alleviation and drive economic growth, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Electrify Africa Act 
of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to improve access to af-
fordable, reliable electricity in Africa in order to unlock 
the potential for economic growth, job creation, food secu-
rity, improved health and education outcomes, and sus-
tainable poverty reduction. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) 589,000,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa, 
or 68 percent of the population, do not have access 
to electricity, as of 2010; 
(2) electricity services are highly unreliable and 
remain at least twice as expensive compared to other 
emerging regions for the majority of people with ac-
cess to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa; 
(3) lack of access to electricity services dispro-
portionally affects women—who often shoulder the 
burden of seeking sources of heat and light such as 
dung, wood or charcoal and are often more exposed 
to the associated negative health impacts. Women 
and girls also face increase risks of assault from 
walking long distances to gather fuel sources; 
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(4) people without access to electricity are often 
trapped in subsistence lifestyles and are unable to 
work their way out of poverty; 
(5) a lack of electricity contributes to the high 
use of inefficient and often highly polluting fuel 
sources for indoor cooking, heating, and lighting 
that produce toxic fumes resulting in more than 
3,000,000 annual premature deaths from respiratory 
disease, more annual deaths than from HIV/AIDS 
and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa; 
(6) electricity access is crucial for the storage 
of vaccines and anti-retroviral and other lifesaving 
medical drugs, as well as the operation of modern 
lifesaving medical equipment; 
(7) electricity access can be used to improve 
food security by enabling post-harvest processing, 
pumping, irrigation, dry grain storage, milling, re-
frigeration, and other uses; 
(8) electricity access can provide improved 
lighting options, internet access, mobile phone 
charging, and other new information and commu-
nication technologies that can greatly improve health 
and education outcomes as well as commercial possi-
bilities; 
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(9) Africa’s consumer base of 1,000,000,000 
people is rapidly growing and will create increasing 
demand for United States goods, services, and tech-
nologies, but the current African electricity deficit 
limits this growth in demand by restricting economic 
growth on the continent; 
(10) approximately 30 African countries face 
endemic power shortages, and nearly 70 percent of 
surveyed African businesses cite unreliable power as 
a major constraint to growth; 
(11) the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s 
work in the energy sector shows high projected eco-
nomic rates of returns that translate to sustainable 
economic growth and that the highest returns are 
projected when infrastructure improvements are cou-
pled with significant legislative and regulatory and 
institutional policy reforms; 
(12) in some countries, regulatory bottlenecks 
and legal constraints stifle the ability of private in-
vestment to assist in the generation and distribution 
of electricity; and 
(13) without new policies and more effective in-
vestments in electricity sector enterprises to increase 
and expand electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa, 
over 70 percent of the rural population, and 48 per-
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cent of the total population, will remain without ac-
cess to electricity by 2030. 
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
Congress declares that it is the policy of the United 
States, in consultation with sub-Saharan African govern-
ments, to— 
(1) encourage the installation of at least an ad-
ditional 20,000 megawatts of electrical power in sub- 
Saharan Africa by 2020; 
(2) promote first-time access to electricity for 
at least 50,000,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa by 
2020 in both urban and rural areas; and 
(3) promote efficient institutional platforms to 
provide electrical service to rural and underserved 
areas. 
SEC. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIYEAR 
STRATEGY. 
(a) STRATEGY.—The President shall establish a com-
prehensive, integrated, multiyear strategy to assist coun-
tries in sub-Saharan Africa to develop an appropriate mix 
of power solutions, including renewable energy, to provide 
sufficient electricity access to people living in rural and 
urban areas in order to alleviate poverty and drive eco-
nomic growth. Such strategy shall maintain sufficient 
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flexibility and remain responsive to technological innova-
tion in the power sector. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
President shall transmit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report setting forth the strategy 
described in subsection (a). 
(2) REPORT CONTENTS.—The report required 
by paragraph (1) shall include a discussion of the 
elements described in paragraph (3), and should in-
clude a discussion of any additional elements rel-
evant to the strategy described in subsection (a). 
(3) REPORT
ELEMENTS.—The elements re-
ferred to in paragraph (2) are the following: 
(A) The general and specific objectives of 
the strategy described in subsection (a), the cri-
teria for determining success of the strategy, 
and a description of the manner in which the 
strategy will increase production and improve 
access to electricity. 
(B) Development of plans and regulations 
at the national, regional, and local level to in-
crease power production, strengthen electrical 
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transmission and distribution infrastructure, 
and improve access to electricity. 
(C) Administration plans to increase access 
to electricity, including a description of how the 
strategy will address commercial and residential 
needs, as well as urban and rural access. 
(D) Administration strategy to reduce 
waste and improve existing power generation 
through the use of a broad power mix and use 
of a distributed generation model. 
(E) Administration policy on engaging and 
leveraging private sector resources and public 
sector financing. 
(F) A description of the strategy for the 
transfer of relevant technology and skills to 
local participation in the long-term maintenance 
and management of such investments to ensure 
power sector investments are sustainable, in-
cluding the details of the programs to be under-
taken to maximize United States contributions 
in the areas of technical assistance and train-
ing. 
(G) An identification of the relevant execu-
tive branch agencies that will be involved in car-
rying out the strategy, the level and distribution 
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of resources that will be dedicated on an annual 
basis among the such agencies, the assignment 
of priorities to such agencies, a description of 
the role of each agency, and the types of pro-
grams that each agency will be undertaking. 
(H) A description of the mechanisms that 
will be utilized to coordinate the efforts of the 
relevant executive branch agencies in carrying 
out the strategy to avoid duplication of efforts, 
enhance coordination, and ensure that each 
agency undertakes programs primarily in those 
areas where each such agency has the greatest 
expertise, technical capabilities, and potential 
for success. 
(I) A description of the mechanisms to be 
established for monitoring and evaluating in-
creased electricity access development, for 
learning and transmitting best practices among 
relevant executive branch agencies as well as 
among participating countries, and for termi-
nating unsuccessful programs. 
(J) A description of the engagement plan 
for working with local communities benefitting 
from the projects and affected by the projects 
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as well as the environment and social impacts 
of the projects. 
(K) A description of the mechanisms that 
will be utilized to ensure greater coordination 
between the United States and foreign govern-
ments, international organizations, African re-
gional economic communities, international fi-
nancial institutions, and private sector organi-
zations. 
(L) A description of how United States 
leadership will be used to enhance the overall 
international response to prioritizing electricity 
access for sub-Saharan Africa and to strength-
en coordination among relevant international 
forums such as the G8 and G20. 
(M) An outline of how the Administration 
intends to partner with foreign governments, 
the World Bank Group, the African Develop-
ment Bank Group, and the public sector to as-
sist sub-Saharan African countries to conduct 
project feasibility studies and facilitate project 
development. 
(N) A description of how the Administra-
tion intends to help facilitate transnational and 
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regional power and electrification projects 
where appropriate. 
SEC. 6. USAID. 
(a) LOAN GUARANTEES.—It is the sense of Congress 
that in pursuing the policy goals described in section 4, 
the Administrator of USAID should identify and 
prioritize— 
(1) where loan guarantees to local African fi-
nancial institutions would facilitate the involvement 
of such financial institutions in power projects in Af-
rica; and 
(2) where partnerships and grants for research, 
development, and deployment of technology would 
increase access to electricity in Africa. 
(b) GRANTS.—It is the sense of Congress that the 
Administrator of USAID, acting through USAID’s Bu-
reau for Africa and Economic Growth, Education and En-
vironment, should consider providing grants to— 
(1) develop national, regional, and local energy 
and electricity policy plans; 
(2) expand distribution of electricity access to 
the poorest; and 
(3) build a country’s capacity to monitor and 
regulate the energy and electricity sector. 
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(c) USAID DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘USAID’’ means the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development. 
SEC. 7. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. 
In pursuing the policy goals described in section 4, 
the Secretary of the Treasury should direct the United 
States Executive Director at each institution in the World 
Bank Group and the African Development Bank to use 
the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to en-
courage each such entity to— 
(1) commit to significantly increase power sec-
tor and electrification investments in sub-Saharan 
Africa; 
(2) consider energy needs of individuals where 
access to an electricity grid is impractical or cost- 
prohibitive; 
(3) enhance coordination with the private sector 
in sub-Saharan Africa to increase access to elec-
tricity; 
(4) provide technical assistance to the regu-
latory authorities of sub-Saharan African govern-
ments to remove unnecessary barriers to investment 
in commercially viable projects, reduce transmission 
and distribution losses, encourage end-use efficiency, 
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strengthen local markets, and unlock domestic in-
vestment in the power sector; and 
(5) utilize clear, accountable, and metric-based 
targets to measure the effectiveness of such projects. 
SEC. 8. OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation should— 
(1) in carrying out its programs and pursuing 
the policy goals described in section 4, place a pri-
ority on supporting investment in the electricity sec-
tor of sub-Saharan Africa and implement procedures 
for expedited review of and, where appropriate, ap-
proval of, applications by eligible investors for loans, 
loan guarantees, and insurance for such investments; 
(2) to the extent permitted by its authorities, 
policies, and programs, support investments in 
projects that will— 
(A) maximize the number of people with 
new access to electricity to support economic 
development; 
(B) improve the transmission and distribu-
tion of electricity; 
(C) provide reliable and low-cost electricity 
to people living in rural and urban commu-
nities; 
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(D) consider energy needs of individuals 
where access to an electricity grid is impractical 
or cost-prohibitive; and 
(E) reduce transmission and distribution 
losses and improve end-use efficiency; 
(3) encourage small- and medium-sized enter-
prises and cooperative service providers to partici-
pate in investment activities in sub-Saharan Africa; 
and 
(4) publish measurable development impacts of 
its investments. 
(b) AMENDMENTS.—Title IV of chapter 2 of part I 
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended— 
(1) in section 233 (22 U.S.C. 2193)— 
(A) in subsection (b), by inserting after the 
sixth sentence the following new sentence: ‘‘Of 
the eight such Directors, not more than six 
should be of the same political party.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e) INVESTMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The Board 
shall take prompt measures to increase the loan, guar-
antee, and insurance programs, and financial commit-
ments, of the Corporation in sub-Saharan Africa, includ-
ing through the use of an investment advisory council to 
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assist the Board in developing and implementing policies, 
programs, and financial instruments with respect to sub- 
Saharan Africa. In addition, the investment advisory coun-
cil shall make recommendations to the Board on how the 
Corporation can facilitate greater support by the United 
States for trade and investment with and in sub-Saharan 
Africa. The investment advisory council shall terminate on 
December 31, 2017.’’; 
(2) in section 234(c) (22 U.S.C. 2194(c)), by 
inserting ‘‘eligible investors or’’ after ‘‘involve’’; 
(3) in section 235(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2195), by 
striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2016’’; and 
(4) in section 239(e) (22 U.S.C. 2199(e)) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(e) INSPECTOR GENERAL.—The Board shall ap-
point and maintain an Inspector General in the Corpora-
tion, in accordance with the Inspector General Act of 1978 
(5 U.S.C. App.).’’. 
(c) POLICY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Directors and 
President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation 
are hereby directed to issue policy guidance that permits 
significant investment in the electricity sector of the poor-
est and lowest pollution-emitting countries in a develop-
ment-driven and environmentally sensitive manner. 
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SEC. 9. TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Trade and 
Development Agency should— 
(1) promote United States private sector par-
ticipation in energy sector development projects in 
sub-Saharan Africa through project preparation ac-
tivities, including feasibility studies, technical assist-
ance, pilot projects, reverse trade missions, con-
ferences and workshops; and 
(2) seek opportunities to fund project prepara-
tion activities that involve increased access to elec-
tricity, including power generation and trade capac-
ity building. 
(b) FOCUS.—In pursuing the policy goals described 
in section 4, project preparation activities described in 
subsection (a) should focus on power generation using 
clean energy sources, improving the efficiency of trans-
mission and distribution grids, including on-grid, off-grid 
and mini-grid solutions, and promoting energy efficiency 
and demand-side management. 
SEC. 10. PROGRESS REPORT. 
Not later than three years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
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a report on progress made toward achieving the policy 
goals described in section 4, including the following: 
(1) The number and type of policy and legisla-
tive changes implemented in partner countries to 
support increased electricity generation and access 
since United States engagement. 
(2) A list of power sector and electrification 
projects United States Government instruments are 
supporting to achieve the policy goals described in 
section 4, and for each such project— 
(A) a description of how each such project 
fits into the national power plans of the partner 
country; 
(B) the total cost of each such project and 
predicted United States Government contribu-
tions to such projects broken down by United 
States Government funding source, including 
from the Overseas Private Investment Corpora-
tion, the United States Agency for International 
Development, the Department of the Treasury, 
and other appropriate United States Govern-
ment departments and agencies; 
(C) the amount of actual United States 
Government 
financing 
provided 
to 
such 
projects, broken down by United States Govern-
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