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119-s-3947119th CongressWALLET

REWIRE Act

Sponsored By: Senator McCormick, David [R-PA]

In Committee

Summary

Clear path to faster transmission upgrades inside existing rights‑of‑way. This bill would accelerate reconductoring and the deployment of grid‑enhancing technologies, create rules to better reward investment in advanced conductors, expand state funding eligibility, and fund lab modeling plus technical assistance.

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  • Households and consumers would get more reliable transmission and fewer local outages as lines are rebuilt and smart equipment is added.
  • Utilities and developers would get a new return‑on‑equity framework aimed at improving investment incentives while protecting customers. The Commission would have 1 year to issue rules and advanced conductors are defined to deliver about 70% greater capacity than traditional lines.
  • States, researchers, and project developers would gain access to State Energy Program funding for reconductoring, a National Laboratory probabilistic modeling program with regional collaboratives, and a federal technical assistance clearinghouse with an application guide within 1 year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

National labs grid modeling program

If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to have national labs build probabilistic models for transmission planning, resource adequacy, and integrated resource planning. Labs would work with FERC and the reliability organization. Models would include weather, congestion, outages, costs, and simulate metrics like loss of load expectation, expected unserved energy, capacity value, and planning reserve margin. The program would form regional collaboratives and prioritize rural and demonstration partnerships.

Higher returns for transmission investors

If enacted, the bill would require FERC to issue new or revised rules within one year to improve return on equity for investments in advanced transmission conductors. The bill also defines an "advanced transmission conductor" by explicit technical tests: at least 10% lower DC resistance, at least 70% greater carrying capacity, and at least 50% lower thermal expansion than similar traditional conductors. The Commission must still ensure rates are just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory.

Faster permitting for grid upgrades

If enacted, the bill would let certain grid capacity work inside existing rights-of-way or on previously disturbed land skip full NEPA review. The exclusion would cover repair, replacement, upgrades, minor relocations, adding storage, reconductoring, and installing grid-enhancing tech. The change would take effect on enactment and could speed projects but would reduce local environmental review.

Help and funding for grid upgrades

If enacted, the bill would let State Energy Program funds pay for reconductoring with advanced conductors and for grid-enhancing technologies. The Secretary of Energy would have to publish an application guide within one year and update it each year. The Secretary would also provide technical assistance on request and keep a clearinghouse of completed projects. The bill also defines which hardware and software count as grid-enhancing technology.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McCormick, David [R-PA]

PA • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 2/26/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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