Utilities

House reconciliation bill for inclusion of an investment tax credit for electrical transmission

Brief Congressional Offices on matters related to the utility

Brief Congressional offices on projects/issues related to utility

Storm water Infrastructure and Improvements

Storm water Infrastructure Improvements

LIHEAP, pipeline permitting reform, climate change policy, pipeline safety reauthorization, energy policy (including renewable natural gas and hydrogen), energy choice, natural gas appliances , federal oversight of natural gas use, Energy Star program, pipeline security & cybersecurity, natural gas use in federal facilities, federal tax policy.

FY 2026 appropriations for water recycling programs. Legislation related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Legislation related to reauthorization of Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act programs.

natural gas utility connections

HR 3862- Clean Water SRF Parity Act of 2025

Energy Development for Data Center & Utilities.

Power Generation

Wood Pole Supply Reserve, Emergency Response, Fire Wrapped Utility Poles, Tariffs and utility supply chain

Engage on issues related to the resiliency of electric supply and power grid including the importance of hydropower. Support efforts to provide affordable water resources via H.R.4733 the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Establishment Act.

Constitutional defects in the structure of the FERC and its ALJ courts.

Utility Construction Grid Infrastructure Smart Grid Grid Modernization Permitting Reform SPEED Act PERMIT Act Energy Permitting Act

H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - Report language re: DOD study on wood and composite utility poles (support with amendment) S.2296 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - Report language re: DOD study on wood and composite utility poles - (support with amendment)

Energy management technology for buildings, energy efficiency, energy waste reduction, and energy savings

Discussed how the model of shared responsibility for cybersecurity and resilience, which assigns each critical infrastructure sector a Sector-Risk Management Agency (SRMA) to work closely with on a day-to-day basis (while broadly coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)) has and continues to be successful. Expressed support for the Department of Energy as the electric sectors SMRA. Discussed how the electric sector has strong mandatory and enforceable cyber and physical security standards, including cyber incident reporting, in place, and why cybersecurity standards and mandates must be risk-based. Discussed physical security and cybersecurity collaboration with the federal government. Discussed CISAs work to implement the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (passed as Division Y of P.L. 117-103) - provisions regarding the scope of the rulemaking and harmonization of cyber incident reporting with other reporting mandates. Discussed concerns with the creation of additional cyber incident reporting requirements for electric utilities (no legislation). Discussed support for reauthorizing the Rural and Municipal Utility Grant and Technical Assistance (RMUC) Program as authorized in section 40124 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. Also discussed extending the availability of existing funds and qualifications for awards. Discussed support for reintroduction of H.R. 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act in the 119th Congress (all provisions). Discussed general APPA support for hydropower licensing and relicensing reform, including amending section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 USC ch. 12) to limit mandatory conditions and fishway prescriptions and section 241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) to extend trial-type hearing rights to alternative conditions under section 33 of the Federal Power Act (no legislation). Discussed support for S. 3518, the Fair Licensing for Operations of Water Structures (FLOWS) Act of 2025, to amend the Federal Power Act to address certain alterations in, and the maintenance and repair of, project works, to provide for the licensing of micro hydrokinetic energy projects (all provisions). Discussed the need for permitting reform, including changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental statutes, to help expedite the siting and permitting of energy projects to meet rising electricity demand (no legislation). Discussed concerns with sections 401 and 402 in S. 4753, the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, which would expand the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions jurisdiction over non-jurisdictional entities. Discussed general support for legislation that would remove duplicative NEPA requirements for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation and siting processes (no legislation). Discussed H.R. 7786, the SPEED & Reliability Act (all provisions), from the 118th Congress, to remove duplicative NEPA requirements for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation and siting processes. Discussed concerns with H.R. 5600, the SPEED & Reliability Act (all provisions), to remove duplicative NEPA requirements for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation and siting processes. Discussed support for H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act, to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to determine and mitigate the significant reliability impacts of major federal regulations (all provisions). Discussed H.R. 3843, the Baseline Reliability Protection Act (all provisions), to prohibit retirements of baseload electric generating units in any area that is served by a Regional Transmission Organization or an Independent System Operator and that the North American Electric Reliability Corporation categorizes as at elevated risk or high risk of electricity supply shortfalls. Discussed resource adequacy issues and the importance of grid reliability (no legislation). Discussed H.R. 3699, the Energy Choice Act, to prohibit states or local governments from prohibiting or limiting the connection, reconnection, modification, installation, transportation, distribution, or expansion of an energy service based on the type or source of energy to be delivered (all provisions). Discussed how public power utilities, both transmission owners and transmission dependent, interact with FERC, participate in wholesale electricity markets, and other regional planning bodies (no legislation). Discussed the Department of Energys Speed to Power Initiative and the importance of resource adequacy for grid reliability. Discussed the impact tariffs are having on public power utilities (no legislation).

None.

All legislation in this issue area.

General operational technology cybersecurity issues in water utilities

General issues regarding energy and climate change, as related to utilities. Issues regarding disaster grant funding.

Issues related to utility infrastructure. Issues related to clean water and drinking water infrastructure.

Permitting and transmission policies related to grid enhancing technologies.

H.R. 471: Fix Our Forests Act; provisions related to forestry and wildfires H.R. 1355: Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025; all provisions H.R. 1709: Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act; provisions related to electromagnetic spectrum H.R. 1765: Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2025; provisions related to electromagnetic spectrum standards H.R. 1766: NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act; provisions related to cybersecurity and electromagnetic spectrum H.R. 3657: Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act; all provisions H.R. 3699: Energy Choice Act; all provisions H.R. 4553: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; provisions related to the Department of Energy and energy efficiency programs H.R. 4626: Dont Mess With My Home Appliances Act; all provisions H.R. 4690: Reliable Federal infrastructure Act; all provisions H.R. 4754: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; provisions related to Tribal Health Programs H.R. 4776: Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act; all provisions H.R. 5079: Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act; provisions related to critical infrastructure security/cybersecurity H.R. 5301: Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2025; provisions related to pipeline safety H.R. 5304: Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; provisions related to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding H.R. 5756: Home Energy Assistance in Times of Shutdown (HEATS) Act; provisions related to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding H.R. 6176: Electricity Transmission Scorecard Act; all provisions H.R. 6177: Grid Research and Development Act; all provisions S. 2296: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026; provisions related to critical infrastructure security/cybersecurity, counter-UAS authority. and supply chain/procurement S. 2431: Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026: provisions related to Tribal Health Programs S.2587: Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026; provisions related to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding General discussions related to the Clean Air Act-Section 111(d) and EPA 111(d) rules related to Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants General discussions related to the Clean Air Act - Section 202(a) and EPA Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and GHG Vehicle Standards Public Law 119-4 (H.R. 1968): Full Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025: provisions related to Tribal Health Programs, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding, and energy efficiency programs General discussions related to resilience tax credits and grant proposals General discussions related to Counter-Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (cUAS) authority General discussions related to Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) General discussions related to wildfire safety, emergency coordination, grid modernization, liability, and permitting issues General discussions related to nuclear issues and relicensing of Diablo Canyon Power Plant General discussions related to electromagnetic spectrum assignment, licensing, and usage General discussions related to cybersecurity and grid security General discussions related to hydrogen production and use General discussions related to California utility rate issues General discussions related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure General discussion related to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and transmission reform General discussion related to Department of Energy funding programs General discussion related to renewable natural gas production and use General discussion related to hydropower issues and relicensing of hydropower assets General discussion related to offshore wind issues General discussion related to AI/datacenter siting and electricity demand

Electric system reliability and resiliency, municipal bond financing, tax-exempt debt private use reforms, energy tax incentives, EPA regulation related to the Clean Air Act and regional haze plans, permitting under the Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act, permitting reform, interconnection prioritization, forest management on federal lands, Federal Emergency Management Agency reform.

Regional Water Resilience Water Resources Development Act

Discussions regarding federal funding for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) H.R.5301, Pipeline Safety Reauthorization (no Senate bill #) Regional Transmission Organization Issue Resource adequacy, reliability, and data center load growth matters Discussions regarding supply chain matters Draft legislation regarding transmission planning and grid enhancing technologies Large load tariffs

Monitor issues impacting the county related to water utilities.

Energy policy issues.