State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act

This bill updates federal energy rules so that state-regulated electric utilities that do long-term planning must include steps to keep electricity reliable for the next 10 years. Utilities must either keep reliable power plants running or buy power from them to make sure homes and businesses have steady electricity.

It defines a “reliable” power source as one that can run nonstop for at least 30 days, has fuel on-site or a guaranteed supply for that time, can operate during emergencies and severe weather, and can provide key grid support like keeping frequency and voltage steady. State regulators must start considering this standard within 1 year of the law taking effect and finish within 2 years. States that already adopted or recently considered a similar standard may not need to repeat the process.

• Who is affected: State-regulated electric utilities and state utility regulators; indirectly, customers who rely on stable power.
• What changes: Long-term plans must include measures to maintain or buy power from reliable plants that can run 30 days straight and handle emergencies, including providing frequency and voltage support.
• When: Regulators begin review within 1 year and complete it within 2 years; some states are exempt if they acted recently.