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Congress·Reported·3 months ago

House Committee Advances Bill Requiring States to Ensure 10-Year Power Grid Reliability

Also known as: State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ House

218–207

Senate
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(4)
Small Business Owner
Neutral
Gig Worker
Neutral
Farmer Rancher
Neutral
Union Member
Neutral
Positive Impacts(8)
Medicare
Helps
Medicaid
Helps
Disability Benefits
Helps
Chronic Illness
Helps
Physical Disability
Helps
Sensory Disability
Helps
Cognitive Developmental
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Mental Health
Helps

Key Points

  • States that use long-term power planning for regulated utilities would have to add a new reliability standard to those plans.
  • Utilities would need to show they can keep electricity available over the next 10 years by keeping certain power plants running or buying power from them.
  • A “reliable generation facility” is defined as a plant that can run continuously for at least 30 days, with fuel on-site or guaranteed by contract, and that can operate during severe weather.
  • State utility regulators would have to start reviewing this new standard within 1 year of the law taking effect and finish within 2 years.
  • States that already adopted a similar reliability rule, held a formal review, or voted on it recently would not have to redo the process for those utilities.
EnergyInfrastructureClimate Change

Milestones

8 milestones22 actions
Dec 15, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Dec 11, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Dec 11, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 207 (Roll no. 323).

Dec 11, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 207 (Roll no. 323).

Dec 11, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5789)

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 1 year after the bill becomes law

State utility commissions begin (or set a date to begin) reviewing the new reliability planning standard

Public hearings and utility filings start. This is when customers and local businesses may be able to comment about reliability vs. bill impacts in their state.

Within 2 years after the bill becomes law

State utility commissions finish their decision on whether and how to adopt the reliability planning standard

Utilities may be told to change their long-term plans (for example, keeping certain power plants available or buying electricity from qualifying facilities). Any approved costs could later show up in electric rates.

After state decisions, likely in the next planning cycle (often 1–3 years)

Utilities update long-term resource plans to show 10-year reliability using qualifying generation

In states that adopt the standard, utility plans may shift toward resources that can run through severe weather and long fuel interruptions, which could reduce outage risk but may change the mix of power sources and costs.

Could begin after state determinations and utility proposals, often 1–4 years

Possible electric rate cases tied to new reliability steps (plant operations, fuel contracts, or power purchases)

Customers might see bill changes after regulators approve cost recovery. Timing depends on each state’s rate case schedule and what the utility proposes.

Vote Results

1 vote
HousePassedPassageDec 11, 2025

On Passage

218
207
Democrat
4 – 206 · 3
Republican
214 – 1 · 5
View full roll call

Related News

2 articles
POLITICO Pro·3 months ago

House approves Republican grid bills

The House passed H.R. 3628 in a 218-207 vote. The bill requires state utility regulators to consider a 10-year reliability standard that favors 'firm, dispatchable' resources like natural gas and coal. Critics argue the 30-day continuous operation requirement unfairly excludes wind and solar.

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POLITICO Pro·3 months ago

Republican-backed grid bills up for House vote

H.R. 3628 is emerging as a contentious measure that would steer utilities toward baseload power. The bill defines reliability based on a facility's ability to operate for 30 days without interruption, a standard that Democrats say puts renewable energy at a significant disadvantage.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act

Bill NumberHR 3628
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 936 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3898, H.R. 3383, H.R. 3638, H.R. 3628, H.R. 3668 and S. 1071. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3898, H.R. 3383, H.R. 3638, and H.R. 3628 under a structured rule; and H.R. 3668 and S. 1071 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 3898, H.R. 3383, H.R. 3638, H.R. 3628, and H.R. 3668; and one motion to commit on S. 1071.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.