Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires certain state authorities that regulate electric utilities to consider establishing measures to ensure the reliable availability of electricity over specified time periods.

Highlights:

• Requires certain state authorities that regulate electric utilities to consider establishing measures to ensure the reliable availability of electricity over specified time periods (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that these requirements would apply to electric utilities that use integrated resource plans—plans that project future electricity use to ensure resource adequacy, as opposed to utilities that rely on capacity markets, which use price trends for resource planning (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the state authorities must consider requiring the integrated resource plans of electric utilities to include measures to ensure the reliable availability of electric energy over 10 years to maintain the operation of reliable generation facilities or the procurement of electric energy from reliable generation facilities (Sec. 2).

• Defines “reliable generation facilities” as facilities that (Sec. 2):

• Enable the generation of electric energy continuously over a period of not fewer than 30 days; 

• Have adequate fuel or a continuously available energy source on-site to enable the continuous generation of electric energy for at least 30 days, or have contractual obligations that achieve the same;

• Have operational characteristics to enable the generation of electric energy during emergency and severe weather conditions; and

• Provide services such as frequency support and voltage support.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text