H.R. 9335 — Advanced Transmission Technology to Reduce Rates Act

This section establishes a Department of Energy clearinghouse on advanced transmission technology within one year, including lists of projects and financial assistance authorities, plus analyses of transmission capacity, congestion, grid visibility, costs and benefits to utilities and ratepayers, and geographic or weather effects. It authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance, upon request, to electric utilities, transmission organizations, and state regulatory authorities. It adds deployment of advanced transmission technology to state energy conservation plans. It exempts federal funding for such deployment from National Environmental Policy Act review as a major federal action.

This section directs the Secretary of Energy to establish best practices within the Office of Electricity, within one year of enactment and in consultation with electric utilities and reliability organizations, for reducing wildfire ignition risks from the bulk-power system. The practices must cover vegetation management and hazardous fuel removal along transmission lines, improved engineering approaches, and safer operational practices. It prohibits requiring any electric utility to adopt the practices.