Reliable Power Act

This bill aims to keep the electric grid reliable, especially when power supplies are tight. It requires a yearly long‑term checkup of the grid that looks at the mix of power plants, new transmission lines, demand trends, and the risk of power shortages in normal and extreme weather. It also asks whether more generation is needed. If the ERO (the national reliability body) finds the grid may not have enough power, it must publicly tell FERC. The ERO can collect data from grid users, owners, and operators to do this work .

When such a risk is found, FERC must alert the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies. Those agencies then have to send any draft rules that affect power plants to FERC early for review. FERC can comment on those rules, including how they might affect electric rates, and recommend changes to avoid hurting grid reliability. An agency cannot finish the rule until it answers FERC in writing and FERC finds the rule is not likely to cause a significant negative impact on the grid’s ability to supply enough electricity. The agency must publish FERC’s comments and its response when it releases the rule .

Key points

• Who is affected: FERC; DOE, EPA, and other cabinet‑level agencies; users, owners, and operators of the bulk power system; and the public, who can see the comments and responses when rules are published .
• What changes: A required yearly long‑term grid assessment; early FERC review of federal rules that affect power plants; agencies must respond to FERC and make changes if needed to protect reliability .
• When it applies: These extra reviews and steps kick in when the ERO warns that the grid is at risk of not having enough generation to meet demand.