No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes two new ratemaking standards under §111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) for large load facilities (i.e., a facility or aggregation of facilities at a single site with peak demand exceeding 75 megawatts, excluding existing facilities where increased demand results primarily from electrification or greenhouse gas reduction measures). (1) Large load facilities constitute a distinct class of electric consumers from which each electric utility must fully recover all costs of upgrades to generation, transmission, distribution, or local grid facilities necessitated by their demand, including if the facility ceases operations or uses less energy than projected. (2) Electric utilities must prioritize service requests from large load facilities whose owners or operators commit to demand-reduction features during peak periods (e.g., energy efficiency, onsite storage, demand response) and zero-emission electric energy (i.e., from solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, fission, or fusion) generated onsite or procured via power purchase agreement within the balancing authority. (As background, PURPA §111(d) standards require state regulatory authorities and nonregulated utilities to consider implementation to promote fair and efficient electric rates, with §112 setting procedural timelines.) This section further directs each state regulatory authority and nonregulated utility to commence consideration (or set a hearing) within one year of enactment, complete determinations within two years, and submit reports on the process and outcomes to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee within 30 days thereafter; provides conforming timeline adjustments in PURPA §§112(c) and 124; and exempts utilities where states previously implemented, considered, or legislated comparable standards.