Electric Transmission and Reliability Enhancement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-475
Sponsor: Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY]
Introduced: 2003-02-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Affiliated corporations
Animals
Auditing
Business records
Canada
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Contracts
Crime and Law Enforcement
Delegation of powers
Department of Energy
Electric power distribution
Electric power production
Electric power transmission
Electric utilities
Electric utility rates
Electronic government information
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal advisory bodies
Federal preemption
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fraud
Gas companies
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government statistics
Governmental investigations
Holding companies
Independent regulatory commissions
International Affairs
Latin America
Law
Legislation
Mexico
National forests
North America
Price fixing
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public utility regulation
Restrictive trade practices
Right-of-way
Standards
State laws
Trade negotiations
Transportation and Public Works
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Electric Transmission and Reliability Enhancement Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require an unregulated transmitting utility to provide transmission services: (1) at rates comparable to those that it charges itself; and (2) on terms and conditions comparable to FERC rules requiring public utilities to offer open access transmission services that are not unduly discriminatory or preferential.
Designates the Department of Energy as the lead agency for conducting environmental review of electric power transmission corridors across Federal lands.
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to direct the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture to give priority for electric power transmission corridor rights-of-way across Federal lands.
Grants FERC jurisdiction over: (1) Electric Reliability Organizations; (2) regional entities; and (3) all users, owners and operators of the bulk-power system. Exempts Alaska and Hawaii from such provisions.
Repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
States that no electric utility shall be required to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase electric energy or capacity from a qualifying cogeneration facility or a qualifying small power production facility (qualifying facility).
Requires FERC to issue rules establishing an electronic information system for public access to information that facilitates price transparency and participation in markets subject to FERC jurisdiction.
Prohibits the filing of false information regarding the wholesale price of electricity, and round trip trading.
Increases civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 108-57.
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2931-2935)
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2929-2931)
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Introduced in Senate