This bill, the Reliable Power Act, changes section 215 of the Federal Power Act. It directs the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to include an annual long-term assessment of whether the bulk-power system can supply enough electric energy. The assessment must analyze generation mix, transmission, demand trends, and the risk of energy shortfalls under normal and extreme weather. If the ERO finds the system may lack enough generation, it must notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
After notice, FERC must tell the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies it chooses. Agencies that receive notice must give FERC any proposed regulation (called a covered agency action) that relates to generation resources and is under development. FERC will review those actions, consult with the ERO and regional groups, and issue comments and recommendations by order. Agencies may not finalize such a regulation until they respond in writing to FERC and FERC finds the action is not likely to have a significant negative effect on the system's ability to supply sufficient electric energy. The bill also requires agencies to include FERC comments and their responses when publishing the action for public inspection or in the Federal Register.
The bill defines covered agency action as a regulation that directly affects generation resources and was already under development when the agency received FERC notice. It also allows the ERO to collect data from users, owners, and operators to carry out its long-term assessment.
If the national bulk-power system is found at risk of not having enough generation, federal rulemaking that could affect generation will be reviewed by FERC before those rules can be finalized. Federal agencies must share proposed generation-related rules with FERC and include FERC's comments and their responses when those rules are published for the public. This creates an added review step intended to identify and reduce risks to electric energy supply.
No publicly available information.
As described in the bill text, supporters want regular long-term assessments of electric energy supply and a formal review process so federal regulations that affect generation do not unintentionally reduce the ability of the bulk-power system to supply enough energy. The bill aims to coordinate agencies and the ERO with FERC to protect reliability.
No publicly available information.