Load Forecasting Enhancement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]
Introduced
Summary
Regional coordination on electric load forecasting would bring states and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission together to create shared best practices for predicting electricity demand. It would then push those recommendations into state utility rules and state energy planning to boost forecasting accuracy and transparency.
Show full summary
- State regulators: State public utility commissions would join regional joint boards and would need to consider a new FERC-backed forecasting standard, starting consideration within 1 year and finishing a decision within 2 years unless they recently adopted a comparable standard.
- Electric utilities: Utilities would face new expectations for data collection, modeling, forecast accuracy, transparency, and stakeholder engagement, and their forecasting procedures would be expected to incorporate FERC's report recommendations.
- Consumers and large customers: The bill targets improved reliability and affordability by studying regional impacts and would require boards to evaluate large industrial or commercial service requests for evidence of financial commitment that affects planning.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Regional load forecasting boards and report
If enacted, the bill would require FERC to set regional groupings within 90 days and create a joint board for each region. Each board would include one representative from every State commission in the region and a FERC member as chair. The boards would study best practices for forecasting demand, covering affordability, reliability, data methods, transparency, stakeholder engagement, economic projections, technologies, and review of large industrial requests. FERC would collect the boards' best practices and publish a report to Congress within 1 year. Each board would end the day after FERC files that report.
State and utility forecasting rules
If enacted, the bill would add a new PURPA standard requiring utility load forecasts to incorporate FERC's recommendations. Each State regulator would have to start considering that standard within 1 year and finish a decision within 2 years, unless the State already acted on a similar standard in the prior 3 years. The timing to consider the standard would not apply to nonregulated electric utilities. The bill would also require States to add procedures to their energy conservation plans to improve accuracy, oversight, and transparency of utility load forecasting.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]
OH • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov