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Congress·Passed House·3 months ago

Congress Proposes Requiring 5-Year Notice Before Power Plants Close to Prevent Electricity Shortages

Also known as: Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ House

222–202

Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • Power plant owners would be required to give the government a five-year heads-up before closing any unit that produces electricity. This notice is intended to help officials plan for the future and make sure there is enough power to go around for homes and businesses.
  • If a state or power organization warns that an electricity shortage is coming within the next five years, the federal government can order a power plant to stay open. These orders can last for five years and can be extended if the electricity is still needed to prevent blackouts.
  • To make this fair for the companies, the government would set rates to pay power plant owners for the extra costs of staying open. This ensures that the businesses are compensated for the expenses of running a facility they originally planned to shut down.
  • In a major change, if a power plant is ordered to stay open and violates environmental laws as a result, the owners would be protected from lawsuits or fines. This part of the plan prioritizes keeping the lights on over certain pollution rules during times when the power grid is at risk.
Energy EnvironmentEconomy Finance

Milestones

8 milestones27 actions
Dec 17, 2025Senate

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

Dec 16, 2025House

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

Dec 16, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 202 (Roll no. 342). (text: CR H5927-5928)

Dec 16, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 222 - 202 (Roll no. 342). (text: CR H5927-5928)

Dec 16, 2025House

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 207 - 218 (Roll no. 341).

Vote Results

2 votes
HouseFailedAmendmentDec 16, 2025

On Motion to Recommit

207
218
Democrat
207 – 0 · 6
Republican
0 – 218 · 2
View full roll call
HousePassedPassageDec 16, 2025

On Passage

222
202
Democrat
7 – 199 · 7
Republican
215 – 3 · 2
View full roll call

Related News

2 articles
Politico Pro·3 months ago

House approves bill to keep coal plants on the grid

The House passed the Power Plant Reliability Act (H.R. 3632), which grants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission broad authority to require utilities to continue operating power plants if their retirement threatens grid reliability. The bill passed 222-202 with support from moderate Democrats.

CL=
Politico Pro·3 months ago

House GOP sets vote on bills to boost 'reliable' energy

House leadership scheduled votes on the Power Plant Reliability Act and the Reliable Power Act as part of a campaign to bolster fossil fuel and nuclear generation. The legislation aims to address surging electricity demand from AI data centers and prevent what Republicans call premature retirements.

CL=

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 3632
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(4)
R: 4

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.