(a) Definitions
In this section:

(1) Administrator
The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration.

(2) Council
The term "Council" means the Northwest Power and Conservation Planning Council.

(3) Excess Federal power
The term "excess Federal power" means such electric power that has become surplus to the firm contractual obligations of the Administrator under section 839c(f) of this title due to either—

(A) any reduction in the quantity of electric power that the Administrator is contractually required to supply under subsections (b) and (d) of section 839c of this title, due to the election by customers of the Bonneville Power Administration to purchase electric power from other suppliers, as compared to the quantity of electric power that the Administrator was contractually required to supply as of January 1, 1995; or

(B) those operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System that are primarily for the benefit of fish and wildlife affected by the development, operation, or management of the System.

(b) Sale of excess Federal power
Notwithstanding section 837a of this title, subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 837b of this title, and section 837f of this title, and section 839f(c) of this title, the Administrator may, as permitted by otherwise applicable law, sell or otherwise dispose of excess Federal power—

(1) outside the Pacific Northwest on a firm basis for a contract term of not to exceed 7 years, if the excess Federal power is first offered for a reasonable period of time and under the same essential rate, terms and conditions to those Pacific Northwest public body, cooperative and investor-owned utilities and those direct service industrial customers identified in subsection (b) or (d)(1)(A) of section 839c of this title; and

(2) in any region without the prohibition on resale established by the second sentence of section 832d(a) of this title.

(c) Study by Council

(1) ¹ Within 180 days of November 13, 1995, the Council shall review and report to Congress regarding the most appropriate governance structure to allow more effective regional control over efforts to conserve and enhance anadromous and resident fish and wildlife within the Federal Columbia River Power System.

(d) Corps of Engineers procurement
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, acting through the North Pacific Division of the Corps of Engineers, is authorized to place orders for goods and services related to facilities for electric power generation and fish and wildlife mitigation associated with the Federal Columbia River Power System with and through the Administrator using the authorities available to the Administrator.

(e) Residential exchange
Notwithstanding the establishment, confirmation and approval of rates pursuant to section 839e of this title, and notwithstanding the provisions of section 839c(c) of this title, the cost benefits of eligible utilities' total purchase and exchange sales under section 839c(c)(1) of this title shall be $145,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and the net benefits paid to each eligible electric utility shall be $145,000,000 multiplied by the percentage of the total of such net benefits paid by the Administrator to such utility for fiscal year 1995.

(f) Personnel flexibility
The Administrator may offer employees voluntary separation incentives as deemed necessary which shall not exceed $25,000. Recipients who accept employment with the United States within five years after separation shall repay the entire amount to the Bonneville Power Administration.

(g) Savings
Unless superseded by an Act of Congress, the authority provided by this section is expressly intended to extend beyond the fiscal year.