United StatesFederal emergency power orders would require reviews and cost disclosures
Federal energy officials would explain emergency power orders, study renewals, report expected costs, notify utility customers, and generally avoid delaying plant closures.
What it does
The Energy Secretary would issue federal emergency power orders and explain why each order best meets the emergency and public interest. Orders would identify the hours needed or explain how officials chose them.
Before renewing or reissuing an emergency order, the Energy Secretary would study alternatives that would lower overall costs. Environmental conflicts would require naming the main federal agency consulted.
Federal regulators would report an emergency order's causes, expected costs, and other effects. Affected utilities would then give their customers written information about costs caused or expected from the order.
Emergency orders generally could not delay a power plant's permanent closure or restart a closed plant. A closure delay would require an unavoidable emergency and a written request from the applicable power-grid organization.
Argument forPublic reports and written customer notices could help households understand why an emergency order was issued and what it may cost.
Argument againstLimits on delaying plant closures could reduce emergency options unless no other response can work and the power-grid organization requests the delay.
More detail
The Energy Secretary would issue emergency power orders and explain why each order and its requirements best meet the emergency and public interest. This applies to federal emergency orders under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. An order lasting 96 hours or less must state the specific hours needed. A longer order must explain how officials determined the necessary hours.
The Energy Secretary would study alternatives that would lower overall costs before renewing or reissuing an emergency order. The alternatives study and court-review rule cover renewed or reissued emergency orders. For an order that may conflict with federal, state, or local environmental rules, the Secretary must publicly name the main federal agency consulted. A petition for court review could be filed without first asking the agency to reconsider the order.
Federal regulators would publish an order report, and affected electric utilities would send customers written information about resulting costs. Customer notices apply to utilities affected, or expected to be affected, by an original, renewed, or reissued order. The public report must cover the emergency's causes, expected utility and customer costs, other expected effects, and the alternatives study when applicable. The public report is due within 30 days of the order, and utility notices are due within 60 days.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission generally could not use an emergency order to delay a permanent plant closure or require a closed plant to generate power. This covers facilities that generate electric power, including facilities that have permanently closed. A closure delay could be ordered only if no other response could meet the emergency and the applicable power-grid organization asks the Energy Secretary in writing.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 1Introduced in HouseLatest
- Oct 1Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.Introduced
Environment & EnergyConsumer ProtectionGovernment & Ethics