The bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to create standard procedures for connecting large electricity users to the interstate transmission system. A large facility would mean one with peak demand above 50 megawatts, or a group of facilities above that level at one site. Customers would have to pay study costs and assigned network upgrade costs, show plans for new power supplies, and be able to reduce or shift electricity use when needed for grid operations. The bill also sets rules for queue priority, transmission access, cost recovery, and protection of existing grid customers. It directs the Department of Energy to collect certain data from data centers and establish an artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory. The bill was introduced and referred to House committees; it has not been enacted.
If you are a large electricity customer, the bill would require you to meet new connection, payment, power supply, and demand flexibility rules. If you are an electricity customer, the bill would direct regulators to keep costs for large-load connections and related upgrades from being shifted to other customers. It would not give the federal commission authority over state-regulated retail rates. The text does not specify direct changes to individual household service.
Large-load customers would pay all costs of their interconnection studies and assigned network upgrades. Upgrade payments would be nonrefundable and could be collected upfront or over time through an approved payment method. Customers could also face study deposits, milestone payments, and withdrawal penalties. The bill provides no cost estimates or specific funding amount for the Department of Energy testbed.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.