Reliable Power Act

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review certain federal regulations that may affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system. It adds new requirements for annual long-term reliability assessments and creates a process for FERC to comment on agency actions that could impact generation resources.

Sec. 2, Commission review and comment for covered agency actions: The bill adds a new subsection to the Federal Power Act. It requires the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) to conduct an annual long-term assessment analyzing the bulk-power system's ability to supply sufficient electric energy, considering generation mix, transmission development, and demand trends. The assessment must also analyze risks of supply shortfalls under normal and extreme weather, and determine if additional generation resources are needed. If the ERO finds a risk of generation inadequacy, it must publicly notify FERC.

Sec. 2, continued: Upon notification of generation inadequacy, FERC must notify the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate federal agencies. Those agencies must then submit to FERC any regulations under development that relate to or directly affect generation resources. FERC, in consultation with the ERO and transmission organizations, must provide comments and recommendations to prevent significant negative impacts on reliability. The agency cannot finalize such a regulation until it responds in writing to FERC's comments and FERC determines the action is not likely to significantly harm reliability. All comments and responses must be made publicly available.