S.T.O.R.A.G.E. Act
Bill: H.R.2823 | Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark (D-CA)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Storage Technology for Operational Readiness and Generating Energy Act or the S.T.O.R.A.G.E. Act
This bill adds energy storage systems to the list of strategies states should consider when developing energy plans and using their utility ratemaking authority. States must consider requiring that, as a part of a supply side resource planning process, electric utilities in the states demonstrate that they considered an investment in energy storage systems based on factors such as cost, improved reliability, security, and system performance and efficiency.
The Department of Energy (DOE) must coordinate efforts among various existing programs conducting energy storage research at DOE.

To provide for the consideration of energy storage systems by electric 
  utilities as part of a supply side resource process, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Storage Technology for Operational 
Readiness And Generating Energy Act'' or the ``S.T.O.R.A.G.E. Act''.

SEC. 2. CONSIDERATION OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(20) Consideration of energy storage systems.--Each State 
        shall consider requiring that, as part of a supply side 
        resource planning process, an electric utility of the State 
        demonstrate to the State that the electric utility considered 
        an investment in energy storage systems based on appropriate 
        factors, including--
                    ``(A) total costs and normalized life cycle costs;
                    ``(B) cost effectiveness;
                    ``(C) improved reliability;
                    ``(D) security; and
                    ``(E) system performance and efficiency.''.
    (b) Time Limitations.--Section 112(b) of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(7)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
        of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with 
        respect to each electric utility for which the State regulatory 
        authority has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated 
        electric utility shall commence the consideration referred to 
        in section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with 
        respect to the standard established by paragraph (20) of 
        section 111(d).
            ``(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
        this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect 
        to each electric utility for which the State regulatory 
        authority has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated 
        electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall 
        make the determination, referred to in section 111 with respect 
        to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 
        111(d).''.
    (c) Failure To Comply.--Section 112(c) of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``subsection (b)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (b)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following: ``In the case of 
        the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d), 
        the reference contained in this subsection to the date of 
        enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
        date of enactment of that paragraph.''.
    (d) Prior State Actions.--Section 112 of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(g) Prior State Actions.--Subsections (b) and (c) of this section 
shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (20) of 
section 111(d) in the case of any electric utility in a State if, 
before the enactment of this subsection--
            ``(1) the State has implemented for such utility the 
        standard concerned (or a comparable standard);
            ``(2) the State regulatory authority for such State or 
        relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a 
        proceeding to consider implementation of the standard concerned 
        (or a comparable standard) for such utility; or
            ``(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation 
        of such standard (or a comparable standard) for such 
        utility.''.
    (e) Prior and Pending Proceedings.--Section 124 of the Public 
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``In the case of the standard 
established by paragraph (20) of section 111(d), the reference 
contained in this section to the date of the enactment of this Act 
shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of such 
paragraph (20).''.

SEC. 3. COORDINATION OF PROGRAMS.

    To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary of Energy shall 
ensure that the funding and administration of the different offices 
within the Grid Modernization Initiative of the Department of Energy 
and other programs conducting energy storage research are coordinated 
and streamlined.
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