The "Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act of 2025" directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to improve interregional electricity transfer capabilities to ensure grid reliability during extreme events and optimize transmission benefits. It mandates the creation of regulations and plans for interregional transmission projects, along with annual reporting on implementation results.
Sean Casten
Representative
IL-6
The "Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act of 2025" aims to bolster the resilience of the U.S. electrical grid by improving interregional electricity transfer capabilities. It directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish regulations that mandate minimum transfer capabilities between neighboring transmission planning regions to ensure reliability during extreme events. The Act requires regional transmission entities to develop and regularly update plans for interregional transmission projects, with FERC overseeing the approval and implementation of these plans. This will be achieved by identifying, selecting, and allocating costs for interregional transmission projects needed to meet the minimum transfer capability.
Power Grid Gets a Boost: New Bill Aims for Reliable Energy Across State Lines by 2027
The "Reinforcing the Grid Against Extreme Weather Act of 2025" is all about making sure the lights stay on, even when extreme weather hits or cyberattacks happen. Instead of each region going it alone, this bill pushes for better teamwork across state lines when it comes to moving electricity around.
Power-Sharing Gets Real
The core of the bill is this: within 24 months, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has to figure out how much power can currently be shared between neighboring regions, and then decide what the minimum sharing capacity should be to keep things stable. Think of it like this: your neighbor has a generator, and you don't. This bill makes sure there's a strong enough extension cord so they can help you out when your power goes down, and vice-versa. They are required to come up with a standard method of calculating the transfer capabilities that complies with the commission's requirements. (SEC. 2)
Planning for the Worst, Hoping for the Best
Within three years, regional planning groups have to team up and submit a plan to FERC. This plan needs to identify projects – think new power lines or upgrades – that'll boost that minimum power-sharing ability. And it's not just about keeping the lights on during a storm. The bill defines "transmission benefit" (SEC. 2) broadly, including things like access to cheaper, cleaner energy, and even boosting energy security for military bases. It also calls for greater carrying capacity and optimized use of existing transmission assets. For example, a solar farm in one state might be able to send excess power to a neighboring state that's facing high demand, all thanks to these improved connections. A factory won't be forced to halt operations simply because of a localized power disruption.
Challenges and Reporting
One potential snag? Figuring out who pays for these upgrades. The bill requires cost allocation for projects, but that could get tricky if one region feels like it's footing the bill for another's benefit. The bill also mandates that the commission publish an annual report in the Federal Register, starting 48 months after the regulations are issued, on the results of implementing this section. The bill also includes provisions for protecting sensitive information related to cyberattacks. (SEC. 2) While that's important for security, it could also raise concerns about transparency.