[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3157 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3157

 To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a 
    standard related to the evaluation of State intermittent energy 
                   policies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 2025

 Mr. Langworthy (for himself and Mr. Evans of Colorado) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a 
    standard related to the evaluation of State intermittent energy 
                   policies, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``State Energy Accountability Act''.

SEC. 2. CONSIDERATION OF EFFECTS OF STATE POLICIES ON RELIABLE 
              AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRIC ENERGY.

    Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(22) Evaluation of effects of state policies on reliable 
        availability of electric energy.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each State regulatory authority 
                that implements an intermittent energy policy shall 
                conduct, and make publicly available, a general 
                evaluation of--
                            ``(i) the effects of implementing the 
                        intermittent energy policy on the reliability 
                        of the bulk-power system in the State, 
                        including an assessment of the adequacy of 
                        available electric energy resources over a 10-
                        year period;
                            ``(ii) the ability of electric energy 
                        resources that comply with the requirements of 
                        the intermittent energy policy to meet electric 
                        energy demand during emergencies, periods of 
                        high demand, or extreme weather events;
                            ``(iii) the effects of implementing the 
                        intermittent energy policy on rates charged by 
                        electric utilities;
                            ``(iv) whether reliable generation 
                        facilities that are removed from service in 
                        order to comply with the requirements of the 
                        intermittent energy policy can be replaced with 
                        sufficient electric generation facilities 
                        meeting such requirements, which have a 
                        capacity accreditation that is equivalent to 
                        the capacity accreditation of the removed 
                        facilities, to maintain the reliability of the 
                        bulk-power system in the State; and
                            ``(v) the extent to which implementation of 
                        the intermittent energy policy requires 
                        electric utilities in the State to use 
                        replacement electric energy supplies that are 
                        generated by reliable generation facilities 
                        located outside the State in order to maintain 
                        the reliability of the bulk-power system in the 
                        State.
                    ``(B) Prior state actions.--Notwithstanding section 
                124 and paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 112(a), each 
                State regulatory authority shall consider and make a 
                determination concerning the standard set out in 
                subparagraph (A) in accordance with the requirements of 
                subsections (a) and (b) of this section, without regard 
                to any proceedings commenced prior to the enactment of 
                this paragraph.
                    ``(C) Time limitation.--Notwithstanding subsections 
                (b) and (c) of section 112, each State regulatory 
                authority shall consider and make a determination 
                concerning whether it is appropriate to implement the 
                standard set out in subparagraph (A) not later than 1 
                year after the date of enactment of this paragraph.
                    ``(D) Public availability.--A State regulatory 
                authority that has made a determination concerning 
                whether to implement, and is implementing, the standard 
                set out in subparagraph (A) shall make publicly 
                available the general evaluation described in such 
                subparagraph--
                            ``(i) if the applicable State has adopted 
                        an intermittent energy policy before the date 
                        on which the State regulatory authority makes 
                        such determination, not later than 1 year after 
                        such date of determination; and
                            ``(ii) if the applicable State adopts an 
                        intermittent energy policy after the date on 
                        which the State regulatory authority makes such 
                        determination, not later than 1 year after the 
                        date of such adoption.
                    ``(E) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Bulk-power system.--The term `bulk-
                        power system' has the meaning given that term 
                        in section 215 of the Federal Power Act (16 
                        U.S.C. 824o).
                            ``(ii) Intermittent energy policy.--The 
                        term `intermittent energy policy' means any 
                        requirement of a State, enforced by a State 
                        regulatory authority, that a State regulated 
                        electric utility ensure that a specified 
                        portion of the electric energy sold by such 
                        electric utility is generated by facilities 
                        that are not reliable generation facilities.
                            ``(iii) Reliable generation facility.--The 
                        term `reliable generation facility' means an 
                        electric generation facility that ensures the 
                        reliable availability of electric energy by--
                                    ``(I) having operational 
                                characteristics to enable the 
                                generation of electric energy on a 
                                continuous basis for a period of not 
                                fewer than 30 days;
                                    ``(II) having--
                                            ``(aa) adequate fuel, or a 
                                        continuously available energy 
                                        source, on-site to enable the 
                                        generation of electric energy 
                                        on a continuous basis for a 
                                        period of not fewer than 30 
                                        days; or
                                            ``(bb) contractual 
                                        obligations that ensure 
                                        adequate fuel supply to achieve 
                                        the generation of electric 
                                        energy on a continuous basis 
                                        for a period of not fewer than 
                                        30 days;
                                    ``(III) having operational 
                                characteristics to enable the 
                                generation of electric energy during 
                                emergency and severe weather 
                                conditions; and
                                    ``(IV) providing essential services 
                                related to the reliable availability of 
                                electric energy, including frequency 
                                support and voltage support.''.
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