Energy (Electric Grid) in United States

in committee · United States · House Sep 4, 2026

HR 10302: Certainty in Litigation for Electric Asset Reliability (CLEAR) Act of 2026

The Certainty in Litigation for Electric Asset Reliability (CLEAR) Act of 2026 amends the Federal Power Act to streamline the permitting process for new electric transmission facilities. It designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency for coordinating federal authorizations and requires agencies to consolidate their review records into a single joint decision document. Additionally, the bill standardizes legal challenges by allowing parties to seek rehearing or judicial review of these approvals only through the procedures established in Section 313 of the Federal Power Act.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Pipeline Infrastructure Transmission

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 7, 2026

S 5360: Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act

The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act establishes a federal program to provide grants and technical assistance to small electric utilities, including rural cooperatives, municipally owned systems, and smaller investor-owned companies. The program aims to help these entities deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies and participate in threat information sharing networks to better protect against cyberattacks. Funding is prioritized for utilities with limited security resources or those operating critical infrastructure that supports the national power grid. The bill authorizes $250 million in appropriations over five years, from fiscal year 2027 through 2031, and exempts shared cybersecurity information from public disclosure under freedom of information laws.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Cybersecurity Tags Rural Communities

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 5313: Quantum-GUARD Act of 2026

The Quantum-GUARD Act of 2026 requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to evaluate cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computers and the potential use of post-quantum cryptography when reviewing reliability standards for the bulk-power system. The bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a "PQC sandbox" within one year, bringing together grid operators, technology vendors, and government agencies to test and develop post-quantum security solutions for both information and operational technology systems. Additionally, the Secretary of Energy must conduct a study on the specific vulnerabilities of critical grid infrastructure to quantum threats and submit a report with recommendations to Congress within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Cybersecurity Emerging Technology

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 6, 2026

S 5306: Affordable Electricity Rates Act of 2026

The Affordable Electricity Rates Act of 2026 amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to evaluate whether electricity rates are affordable for consumers when determining if they are "just and reasonable." The bill establishes a presumption that rates are unaffordable if they are likely to cause retail electricity prices to increase by 5 percent or more. If FERC determines that a rate is unaffordable under these criteria, it cannot be approved as just and reasonable. This legislation directly affects electric consumers by introducing affordability as a mandatory factor in federal rate-setting decisions for wholesale electricity markets.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Pipeline Infrastructure Utility Regulation

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 29, 2026

S 5159: STRONG GRID Act of 2026

The STRONG GRID Act of 2026 directs state regulators to develop rules for connecting microgrids and for measuring the value of investments in grid resilience, while exempting military installations from these new standards. To support these efforts, the bill creates a new grant program that provides up to $500 million over five years to help states deploy microgrids, with priority given to projects in rural areas, low-income communities, and those that improve energy reliability or cybersecurity. Additionally, the Department of Energy will offer technical assistance to utilities and regulators and launch a $200 million pilot program to fund innovative microgrid projects that test new technologies and management systems.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Cybersecurity

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 30, 2026

S 5199: GRID Savings Act of 2026

The GRID Savings Act of 2026 directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create new rules for connecting large industrial electricity users to the national power grid. This legislation specifically targets new or expanded nonresidential loads with a peak demand of at least 150 megawatts, aiming to clarify how costs for grid upgrades are assigned. Under the proposed framework, the agency must establish procedures to ensure that facilities built solely for a specific large customer are paid for entirely by that customer, while shared grid improvements are allocated fairly among all users. The bill also allows these large customers to voluntarily pay for regional transmission projects in exchange for guaranteed access rights and includes an option for them to construct their own necessary grid connections. Additionally, the law excludes the Electric Reliability Council of Texas from these requirements and does not change how existing grid plans are managed.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Transmission

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 22, 2026

S 5074: Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act

The Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act modifies the Federal Power Act to establish new rules for how costs are assigned to major new or upgraded interstate power transmission lines. This legislation directly affects electric utilities and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by requiring them to file tariffs that allocate expenses based on where the benefits of the project are felt, such as improved reliability and economic value. Specifically, the bill applies to new lines with at least 1,000 megawatts of capacity or upgrades adding 500 megawatts, ensuring that customers in the regions receiving these benefits share the costs proportionally. The law maintains the Commission's existing authority to handle cost allocations for transmission projects that do not meet these specific national significance criteria.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Transmission

in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2026

HR 9945: Lowering Energy Costs through Grid Modernization Act

The Lowering Energy Costs through Grid Modernization Act encourages utilities to upgrade power lines by replacing old conductors with more efficient ones that carry more electricity and generate less heat. To support these upgrades, the bill allows for faster federal environmental reviews and makes it easier to secure permits for projects that fit within existing land rights. Additionally, the legislation expands a federal tax credit to include these high-performance transmission upgrades, offering a higher credit rate for smaller projects or those meeting specific domestic content requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Electric Grid Pipeline Infrastructure Transmission

in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9843: Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act

The Enhancing Electric Grid Resilience Act modifies the Federal Power Act to establish a new rule for how costs are assigned for large-scale interstate or offshore transmission lines. Under this bill, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must require that the costs of these major projects be shared by customers based on the benefits they receive, such as improved reliability and resilience. The law specifically applies to new transmission lines with a capacity of at least 1,000 megawatts or upgrades that add 500 megawatts or more, ensuring that those who gain the most from the infrastructure contribute proportionally to its expense. This change aims to create a fairer cost-sharing framework for significant power grid projects while leaving the rules for smaller facilities unchanged.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Energy Resilience Transmission

in committee · United States · House Jul 13, 2026

HR 9655: FAIR Data Act

The FAIR Data Act prevents investor-owned electric utilities from passing the costs of large data centers onto residential and small business customers through higher rates. This rule applies specifically to data centers with a peak power demand exceeding 75 megawatts, excluding upgrades to the power grid made to support these facilities. State regulators are required to review and implement this cost-recovery restriction within a year, while the Department of Energy must verify that states comply before receiving federal administrative funds. Additionally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will submit an annual report to Congress detailing how these data centers impact electricity rates and grid reliability.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid

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