High-Capacity Grid Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fedorchak
Introduced
Summary
Best-Available Transmission Conductor Standard would require public utilities to use the highest-capacity, most efficient transmission conductors on major covered projects and create a presumption about which conductor costs can be recovered in rates.
Show full summary
- Public utilities: Gives a presumption of prudence for recovering costs when they use conductors the Commission finds to be "best-available." It also creates a presumption against recovering costs for conductors deemed not best-available.
- Ratepayers and customers: Costs for projects using best-available conductors would be treated as just and reasonable when utilities seek rate recovery, while costs for other conductors would likely be disallowed.
- Commission and projects: The Commission must issue rules within 180 days establishing how to decide what counts as a best-available transmission conductor and must periodically update that methodology to reflect technological improvements.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Utilities would use better conductors
If enacted, the bill would require public utilities building or upgrading transmission lines under the Commission's section 201(b) jurisdiction to use a Commission-defined "best-available transmission conductor." The Commission would have 180 days after enactment to make rules that define "best-available" using three tests: highest feasible capacity, highest feasible electrical efficiency, and mitigation of thermal sag. In rate cases, using a best-available conductor would be presumed prudent and its costs would be treated as just and reasonable. Using a non-best conductor would be presumed not prudent and its costs would be treated as not just and reasonable. The Commission would need to review and update the methodology periodically. This could improve grid capacity and efficiency but could also raise electricity costs in some places if higher-cost conductors are recovered through rates.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fedorchak
ND • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
AZ • R
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov