Utility Resilience and Reliability Act
Bill: H.R.2854 | Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Mike (D-CA)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Utility Resilience and Reliability Act
This bill addresses the reliability of electric energy provided by the bulk-power system, which includes facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network.
Specifically, the Electric Reliability Organization must file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission a proposed reliability standard that addresses the resilience of the bulk-power system. For example, the standard must address the system's ability to withstand and rapidly recover from disruptions, such as extreme weather conditions. The standard must take into account regional differences.
In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a program to provide information and recommendations to states and electric utilities on how to improve the resilience of electric grids. DOE must also post on its website a report that provides recommendations on how to minimize the need for, effects of, and duration of planned electric power outages that are due to extreme weather conditions.

To amend the Federal Power Act to require the Electric Reliability 
   Organization to propose a reliability standard that addresses the 
      resilience of the bulk-power system, 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 ``Utility Resilience and Reliability 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PROPOSED RELIABILITY STANDARD.

    Section 215(d) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o(d)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(7) Resilience of Bulk-Power System.--
            ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this paragraph, the Electric Reliability 
        Organization shall file with the Commission a proposed 
        reliability standard that addresses the resilience of the bulk-
        power system.
            ``(B) Regional differences.--The proposed reliability 
        standard filed under subsection (A) shall take into account 
        regional differences.
            ``(C) Resilience defined.--In this paragraph, the term 
        `resilience' means the ability to--
                    ``(i) prepare for and adapt to changing conditions; 
                and
                    ``(ii) withstand and rapidly recover from 
                disruptions, including disruptions caused by extreme 
                weather conditions.''.

SEC. 3. ELECTRIC GRID RESILIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Secretary of Energy shall establish a program to 
provide information and recommendations to States and electric 
utilities on how to improve the resilience of electric grids.
    (b) Electric Utility Defined.--The term ``electric utility'' has 
the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 
U.S.C. 796).

SEC. 4. REPORT ON PLANNED ELECTRIC POWER OUTAGES DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER 
              CONDITIONS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, 
the Secretary of Energy shall submit to Congress a report, and publish 
such report on the website of the Department of Energy, that provides 
recommendations on how to minimize the need for, effects of, and 
duration of planned electric power outages that are due to extreme 
weather conditions, including such conditions under which the National 
Weather Service issues a red flag warning.
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