Grid Connection and Congestion Management

Summary#

This bill would require each Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) and Independent System Operator (ISO) that runs an open access transmission tariff to offer a new interconnection option called “basic access service for energy-only delivery.” The bill defines that service as interconnection that lets a generator inject energy up to an approved level based on an evaluation. The required evaluation must use only the steady-state (thermal and voltage), short-circuit, stability, and facilities studies needed to determine what transmission facilities or upgrades are necessary to reliably interconnect the generator under reliability standards. The evaluation must show the maximum injection level that needs no new upgrades, any upgrades needed to go beyond that level (if requested), and constraints that can be managed by operational measures. The evaluation must be completed within one year of the request. RTOs and ISOs must file tariff changes within 180 days of enactment; the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) must act on those filings within 180 days. FERC must also update the pro forma open access tariff to include this service within 18 months. The bill allows congestion-related curtailment of this service, permits operational limits and curtailment provisions in interconnection agreements, and limits construction and cost responsibility to facilities identified as necessary in the evaluation (not to upgrades identified only to increase deliverability or reduce congestion). The bill also lets a project owner choose an independent study instead of a grouped/cluster study and provides a path to move from this service to other interconnection services.

What it means for you#

• If you propose to connect a generating facility, you could request this energy-only interconnection and get an evaluation that focuses only on studies needed to check reliable interconnection. You may be subject to curtailment or operating limits.
• If you are an RTO or ISO, you must revise your open access tariff to offer this service and meet filing and study timeline requirements.
• FERC must review and act on tariff filings and create a pro forma tariff that includes this service within set deadlines.
• The evaluation cannot be used to require upgrades solely to ensure energy deliverability to markets or to prevent congestion-related curtailment; it focuses on reliability compliance.

Expenses#

The bill places limits on who pays for upgrades: construction and cost responsibility are limited to facilities or upgrades found necessary by the specified interconnection evaluation. The bill also says upgrades identified only to increase deliverability or to reduce congestion-related curtailment are not required for this service. No publicly available information on overall federal costs, agency implementation costs, or wider economic impacts is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.