Davis-Bacon Act Implementation and Compliance for Utilities

The Biden-Harris Administration’s flagship Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have catalyzed the largest investment in the United States electric grid to date, thanks to transformative utility projects bolstered by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs. These investments are at the forefront of ensuring American communities have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity anytime, anywhere. 

All projects funded in whole or in part by BIL or financed in whole or in part with a loan guaranteed under Title 17 of the Energy Policy Act, that involve construction, alteration or repair, are required to follow Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) standards. DBA helps ensure federally funded/assisted projects prioritize workers and protect communities by upholding local prevailing wage and labor standards. 

DOE has developed a guide to support utilities with DBA compliance, including with weekly pay requirements. The guide also addresses other topics of interest such as minor exceptions for extension of the utility’s services and “force account” construction. DOE is prepared to collaborate with utilities to help resolve issues in complying with DBA requirements. 

Webinar on DBA Implementation and Compliance for Utilities

On Friday, August 2, 2024, DOE held a webinar on Davis-Bacon Act implementation and compliance for utilities, covering topics around weekly pay. The Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure along with representatives from our Grid Deployment Office, Loan Programs Office, Office of General Counsel, and the Office of Energy Jobs provided information about several possible options for meeting the DBA weekly pay requirement.