State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act

Sponsor: Gabe Evans (Republican-CO)

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Requires states to plan for more reliable electricity to prevent outages and keep power flowing.

This bill would require state electric utilities to create plans for ensuring a steady supply of power for the next 10 years. These plans would need to include specific types of power plants that can reliably generate electricity, especially during emergencies. State regulators would have deadlines to review and approve these new reliability standards, aiming to reduce outages for everyday Americans.

What Would Change

Currently, federal law does not specifically require state-regulated electric companies to include a standard for ensuring electric reliability with specific types of power plants in their long-term planning. This bill would add a new rule, requiring these utilities to create plans to ensure reliable power for 10 years, specifically using "reliable generation facilities" that can operate for at least 30 days and during emergencies. State regulators would have 1 to 2 years to consider and decide on this new standard.

Key Provisions

Requires state electric utilities to plan for reliable electricity for 10 years as part of their long-term energy plans.
Defines a "reliable generation facility" as a power plant that can run for at least 30 days, has fuel, and works during emergencies.
Mandates state regulators to start considering this new reliability standard within 1 year and make a decision within 2 years.
Allows states with similar existing reliability plans or actions to be exempt from these new requirements.
Asks the Comptroller General to report on how well states currently plan for reliable power within one year of the bill becoming law.