I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2962 

To provide for independent research of the future resilience and reliability 

of the Nation’s electric power transmission and distribution system, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 1, 2013 

Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. KING of New 

York, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. KEATING, Mr. LANCE, Mr. SWALWELL of 

California, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. RICHMOND, Ms. CLARKE, 

Mr. SIRES, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. JACKSON

LEE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, 

Ms. GABBARD, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. CARSON of 

Indiana, Mr. PETERS of California, and Mr. O’ROURKE) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To provide for independent research of the future resilience 

and reliability of the Nation’s electric power transmission 

and distribution system, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Saving More American 

5 Resources Today Grid Study Act of 2013’’ or the 

6 ‘‘SMART Grid Study Act of 2013’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY ON THE RE2 SILIENCE AND RELIABILITY OF THE NA3 TION’S POWER GRID. 

4 (a) INDEPENDENT STUDY.—Not later than 60 days 

5 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

6 of Homeland Security, and the heads of other departments 

7 and agencies, as necessary, shall enter into an agreement 

8 with the National Research Council to conduct research 

9 of the future resilience and reliability of the Nation’s elec10 tric power transmission and distribution system. The re11 search under this subsection shall be known as the ‘‘Sav12 ing More American Resources Today Study’’ or the 

13 ‘‘SMART Study’’. In conducting such research, the Na14 tional Research Council shall— 

15 (1) research the options for improving the Na16 tion’s ability to expand and strengthen the capabili17 ties of the Nation’s power grid, including estimation 

18 of the cost, time scale for implementation, and iden19 tification of the scale and scope of any potential sig20 nificant health and environmental impacts; 

21 (2) consider the forces affecting the grid, in22 cluding technical, economic, regulatory, environ23 mental, and geopolitical factors, and how such forces 

24 are likely to affect— 

25 (A) the efficiency, control, reliability and 

26 robustness of operation; 

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1 (B) the ability of the grid to recover from 

2 disruptions, including natural disasters and ter3 rorist attacks; 

4 (C) the ability of the grid to incorporate 

5 greater reliance on distributed and intermittent 

6 power generation and electricity storage; 

7 (D) the ability of the grid to adapt to 

8 changing patterns of demand for electricity; and 

9 (E) the economic and regulatory factors 

10 affecting the evolution of the grid; 

11 (3) review Federal, State, industry, and aca12 demic research and development programs and iden13 tify technological options that could improve the fu14 ture grid; 

15 (4) review the implications of increased reliance 

16 on digital information and control of the power grid 

17 for improving reliability, resilience, and congestion 

18 and for potentially increasing vulnerability to cyber 

19 attack; 

20 (5) review regulatory, industry, and institu21 tional factors and programs affecting the future of 

22 the grid; 

23 (6) research the costs and benefits, as well as 

24 the strengths and weaknesses, of the options identi25 fied under paragraph (1) to address the emerging 

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1 forces described in paragraph (2) that are shaping 

2 the grid; 

3 (7) identify the barriers to realizing the options 

4 identified and suggest strategies for overcoming 

5 those barriers including suggested actions, priorities, 

6 incentives, and possible legislative and executive ac7 tions; and 

8 (8) research the ability of the grid to integrate 

9 existing and future infrastructure, including utilities, 

10 telecommunications lines, highways, and other crit11 ical infrastructure. 

12 (b) COOPERATION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION

13 AND PERSONNEL.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 

14 National Research Council receives full and timely co15 operation, including full access to information and per16 sonnel, from the Department of Homeland Security, the 

17 Department of Energy, including the management and op18 erating components of the Departments, and other Fed19 eral departments and agencies, as necessary, for the pur20 poses of conducting the study described in subsection (a). 

21 (c) REPORT.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 

23 from the date on which the Secretary enters into the 

24 agreement with the National Research Council de25 scribed in subsection (a), the National Research 

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1 Council shall submit to the Secretary and the Com2 mittee on Homeland Security of the House of Rep3 resentatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu4 rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 

5 containing the findings of the research required by 

6 that subsection. 

7 (2) FORM OF REPORT.—The report under para8 graph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, 

9 but may include a classified annex. 

10 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

11 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Home12 land Security $2,100,000 to carry out this section. 

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