PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Oct 5, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-24 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026 would set federal grid-connection rules for facilities with peak electricity demand above 50 megawatts, including qualifying data centers. These customers would have to pay their connection-study and assigned grid-upgrade costs, agree to adjust electricity demand when needed, and arrange new power supplies for new facilities. The bill would also protect existing customers when power plants redirect capacity to large facilities and require federal research into data centers’ energy needs. These are proposed requirements; the supplied record does not establish enactment.
This Act may be cited as the Energy Cost Fairness and Reliability Act of 2026.
a facility the peak demand of which exceeds 50 megawatts
any large load customer seeking interconnection to the interstate transmission system shall pay 100 percent of the costs of interconnection studies
shall be responsible for 100 percent of the network upgrades that are assigned to the large load customer pursuant to 1 or more interconnection studies
enters into a binding agreement with the transmission provider to exercise demand flexibility and be curtailable
will construct, arrange to have constructed, or otherwise arrange for new generating facilities
without a new generation resource being interconnected to the grid to compensate for such loss of capacity
the Secretary shall establish a data-center-scale artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory
2026-09-24: Introduced in House
Section 2 would express Congress’s view that growing electricity demand, including demand from data centers, creates challenges for grid reliability and electricity affordability and warrants federal action. These statements describe the bill’s rationale, not independently established effects.
It is the sense of Congress that—
the rapid and significant increase in load growth driven by data centers, growing electrification, the onshoring of domestic manufacturing, and other changes in industry and the economy poses serious challenges to grid resource adequacy and reliability
increasing load growth threatens to significantly increase electricity rates for ratepayers
it is necessary for Congress to address this proliferation and provide direction to the Commission and the Department
Section 3 would add a new section to the Federal Power Act. It would cover a facility whose peak demand exceeds 50 megawatts, or a group of facilities exceeding that threshold at one site. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would determine the single-site grouping while considering ownership. A covered customer could be one or several entities using the facility’s electricity.
Part II of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 224. Management of large load facilities
The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The term large load facility means— (A) a facility the peak demand of which exceeds 50 megawatts; or (B) an aggregation of facilities the peak demand of which exceeds 50 megawatts at a single site (as determined by the Commission, taking into consideration ownership of the facilities).
The term large load customer means the 1 or more entities using power at a large load facility.
Within one year after enactment, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would have to issue final rules establishing standard procedures and a formal queue for large facilities seeking connections to the interstate transmission system. The queue would organize requests for study, processing, and approval under a Commission-approved tariff.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission, in order to establish a formal interconnection queue system for large loads to be regulated by the Commission, shall issue 1 or more final rules to establish standard interconnection procedures for large loads requesting to interconnect to the interstate transmission system
The term load interconnection queue means the ordered list of valid interconnection requests maintained by a transmission provider, pursuant to a tariff approved by the Commission, for purposes of studying, processing, and deciding whether to approve the interconnection of large load facilities to the transmission system.
Large customers seeking connection to the interstate transmission system would pay all connection-study costs. Nonpayment would bar connection or transmission service until payment obligations were fully satisfied. Studies would assign necessary network upgrades, and a connection could not proceed until the transmission provider determined that it would not violate applicable Commission-approved reliability standards.
any large load customer seeking interconnection to the interstate transmission system shall pay 100 percent of the costs of interconnection studies
any large load customer that fails to satisfy the payment obligations described in subparagraph (A) shall be prohibited from interconnection or receiving transmission service until full compliance with that subparagraph
Network upgrades shall be assigned to large load customers through the interconnection study process that is part of the load interconnection queue system established under this subsection.
Interconnection to the interstate transmission system for a large load facility shall not proceed until the applicable transmission provider determines that the interconnection would not cause a violation of any applicable Commission-approved reliability standards (as defined in section 215(a)).
Connection approval would require customers to be technically able, and contractually committed, to adjust or reduce electricity demand. Reductions could use on-site storage or reduced or relocated operations. The Commission would establish or approve minimum capability criteria and, if it determined necessary, technical standards for protective systems and equipment that automatically reduces demand.
Interconnection to the transmission system shall not be approved for a large load customer unless the large load customer satisfies the following criteria
is technically capable of exercising demand flexibility and being curtailable
enters into a binding agreement with the transmission provider to exercise demand flexibility and be curtailable
the deployment of on-site energy storage or other technologies that allow continued operations while reducing grid draw; or (ii) voluntary reduction of operations, including shifting operations to facilities in other regions, during requested periods
The Commission shall issue standards or guidelines, or otherwise approve standards proposed by the applicable transmission provider through a tariff to be reviewed by the Commission, to establish minimum criteria
If the Commission determines necessary, the Commission shall establish minimum technical standards, or approve minimum technical standards established by transmission providers, for system-protection facilities and automated load-shedding equipment
Customers would have to demonstrate and guarantee arrangements for new generating resources to supply a new large facility. The power would have to be deliverable to that facility and available when its capacity needs arise. Eligible arrangements could include power produced or made available by distributed energy resources, including virtual power plants, that the customer created or worked with the transmission provider to arrange or coordinate.
The large load customer demonstrates and guarantees that the large load customer or the operator of the applicable new large load facility will construct, arrange to have constructed, or otherwise arrange for new generating facilities, which may include power produced or made available by distributed energy resources (including virtual power plants) that the large load customer has created or has worked with the transmission provider to arrange or coordinate, to supply the power needed by the new large load facility, with such power being deliverable to the large load facility and temporally matching its capacity needs.
Customers guaranteeing enough battery storage to serve as a new facility’s primary backup during outages or curtailments would qualify for queue priority. Transmission providers would have to try to finish studies for qualifying customers before studies for customers without priority; the text would not guarantee a completion date.
Within a load interconnection queue, an interconnection request from a large load customer shall be prioritized if the large load customer satisfies any 1 or more of the following criteria
will implement a battery energy storage system to use as primary backup generation for the large load facility, with sufficient capacity to meet the backup needs of the large load facility during periods of outages or curtailments
A transmission provider shall endeavor to complete the interconnection study process for a large load customer that satisfies the criteria for prioritization under this paragraph before other large load customers that do not satisfy the criteria for such prioritization.
Customers could also qualify for queue priority through construction wage and apprenticeship commitments, or through labor-peace commitments for new energy resources. The construction route would require locally prevailing wages for covered construction workers and registered apprentices used by all contractors and subcontractors. A labor peace agreement would require employer neutrality toward union organizing and recognition of a union chosen by a majority of employees.
shall be prioritized if the large load customer satisfies any 1 or more of the following criteria
in the construction of the applicable new large load facility and any new energy supply resource that the large load facility brings to the electric grid— (I) all laborers and mechanics employed by the large load customer and contractors and subcontractors of the large load customer in the performance of construction are paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality in which the construction project is located
all contractors and subcontractors of the large load customer use registered apprentices participating in registered apprenticeship programs
The large load customer ensures that each owner or operator of a new energy supply resource that the applicable new large load facility brings to the electric grid has agreed to enter into a labor peace agreement with respect to the operation and maintenance of the energy supply resource.
the employer will be neutral regarding any of the employees of the employer seeking to be represented by the labor organization
the employer shall recognize the labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative on a showing that a majority of the employees choose to be represented by the labor organization
Special rules would apply to large facilities physically connected to, and contractually supplied by, a power plant on the plant’s side of its grid connection. Transmission providers would have to give these colocated facilities access to draw grid power when available. This interruptible service would be curtailed before firm service and priced to reflect its non-firm nature.
The term colocated, with respect to a large load facility, means that the large load facility is physically connected to, and has contractual arrangements to be served by, the facilities of an existing or planned generating facility on the generating facility’s side of the point of interconnection to the interstate transmission system.
Transmission providers shall provide to colocated large load facilities non-firm transmission access to the transmission system for the purpose of withdrawing electric energy from the transmission network on an as-available basis
subject to curtailment or interruption before firm network or point-to-point transmission service, in accordance with the open access and reliability standards of the Commission; and (B) priced to reflect the non-firm nature of such service
The connection rules would provide colocated large facilities with rights to send electricity into the grid without deliverability studies when the injection occurs on a non-firm basis.
Transmission providers offer to colocated large load facilities injection rights without the need for deliverability studies if the injection will occur on a non-firm basis.
When an interconnection customer operating an existing power plant requests a change in that plant’s connection-service level to serve a large facility, the plant could not withdraw capacity needed by other customers without replacement generation connected to the grid to compensate for the loss. It would also have to wait until all connection changes and network upgrades that the transmission provider considers necessary for existing customers’ reliability were commercially operating.
An existing generating facility operated by an interconnection customer may not, as a result of any request of the interconnection customer to modify its interconnection service level for such existing generating facility, withdraw any of its capacity to begin serving a large load facility if the withdrawal of capacity from the existing generating facility to serve a large load facility would result in a loss of capacity to serve customers other than the large load facility without a new generation resource being interconnected to the grid to compensate for such loss of capacity.
until all modifications to interconnection facilities and network upgrades that the transmission provider determines to be necessary to maintain reliability for existing customers are carried out and placed in commercial operation
Within one year after enactment, the Commission would have to issue a final rule making large customers seeking connection to the interstate transmission system responsible for all network-upgrade costs assigned to them by connection studies. Covered upgrades would include changes at or beyond the connection point needed to accommodate the connection or maintain system reliability or operational integrity. Payments would be nonrefundable.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue a final rule requiring transmission providers to ensure that a large load customer seeking interconnection to the interstate transmission system shall be responsible for 100 percent of the network upgrades that are assigned to the large load customer pursuant to 1 or more interconnection studies
including any additions, modifications, or upgrades to the interstate transmission system at or beyond the point of interconnection that, in the determination of the transmission provider, are required— (i) to accommodate the interconnection; or (ii) to maintain the reliability or operational integrity of the transmission system
All payments made by a large load customer to cover the costs of network upgrades described in subparagraph (A) shall be nonrefundable.
The Commission could not approve tariffs that transfer assigned upgrade costs to other transmission customers or credit those payments against future transmission or retail bills. Costs would be charged directly through a federally regulated mechanism, which could include an upfront payment or a surcharge paid over time. The Commission could require these payments to appear in the applicable transmission tariff.
The Commission shall not approve any tariff submitted to the Commission for review to include any crediting mechanism, refund, or offset that allows for the costs of network upgrades described in subparagraph (A) to be— (i) recovered from any transmission customer other than the applicable large load customer described in that subparagraph; or (ii) credited against future transmission or retail service charges.
shall be directly assigned to the applicable large load customer through a Commission-jurisdictional payment mechanism, such as— (I) a non-refundable upfront payment; (II) a structured surcharge that may be paid over time; or (III) any other cost-assignment mechanism that is within the jurisdiction of the Commission
The Commission may require that payments to cover costs described in clause (i) be included in each applicable open access transmission tariff.
A colocated facility’s customer would pay for ancillary services and black start service provided through the interstate transmission system based on gross demand, even with zero net electricity withdrawal, when its supplying plant is interconnected to that system. On-site generation or storage would not remove that responsibility if the facility remained connected to, synchronized with, or dependent on the grid for reliability, backup, or ancillary services.
the applicable large load customer shall be assessed charges on a gross-demand basis for ancillary services and black start service provided through the interstate transmission system if the colocated generating facility is interconnected to the interstate transmission system, even if the colocated large load facility withdraws zero net energy from the interstate transmission system
the existence of on-site generation, energy storage, or other behind-the-meter resources shall not relieve a colocated large load facility of cost responsibility under subparagraph (A) if the facility remains interconnected with, synchronized to, or reliant upon the interstate transmission system for reliability, backup service, or ancillary services
When reviewing tariffs or tariff amendments under Federal Power Act section 205, the Commission would have to examine how costs are divided to prevent costs caused by large facilities from shifting to other customers. That review would have to respect state authority and consider the ultimate effect on retail electricity customers.
In determining the justness and reasonableness of any rate, charge, term, or condition of a tariff or tariff amendment filed under section 205, the Commission shall, consistent with State authority, review the cost allocation methodologies to ensure that the costs of transmission services, network upgrades, or related facilities necessitated by the interconnection or operation of large load facilities are not shifted to other customers, including by taking into account the ultimate impact of rates under the jurisdiction of the Commission on downstream retail ratepayers.
Surplus electricity from a colocated power plant that enters the interstate grid would be compensated at the applicable wholesale locational marginal price or the avoided-cost rate, in accordance with the transmission provider’s approved tariff. The supplied text does not explain how either rate would be calculated.
Energy generated by a colocated generating facility that is in excess of the amount consumed by the colocated large load facility and that is injected into the interstate transmission system shall be compensated at the applicable wholesale locational marginal price or the avoided cost rate, in accordance with the relevant tariff of the transmission provider that has been filed with and approved by the Commission.
Within one year after enactment, the Commission would have to begin a separate rulemaking to revise the specified procedures for processing power plants’ connection requests. Public utility transmission providers would be required to share and use appropriate practices involving computing tools such as artificial intelligence and automation. Department of Energy technical assistance would depend on available appropriations and the Secretary’s judgment about what is appropriate.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall initiate a rulemaking to revise the pro forma Large Generator Interconnection Procedures
to require public utility transmission providers to share and employ, as appropriate, queue management best practices with respect to the use of computing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automation, in evaluating and processing generating facility interconnection requests within a generator interconnection queue
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall provide to transmission providers technical assistance with respect to the implementation of any best practices established by the Commission under paragraph (1), as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
At least one category of each transmission provider’s demand forecasts would include a large facility only if it showed a viable commercial or operational commitment under objective criteria in a Commission-approved tariff. Possible evidence would include service agreements, financial backing, substantial infrastructure investment, or long-term generation commitments. The restriction would not expressly apply to every forecast category.
in at least 1 category of load forecast utilized by a transmission provider for estimating future energy demand or making grid planning decisions, a large load facility may be included in the forecast only if the large load facility is able to provide proof of viable demonstration of commercial or operational commitment pursuant to objective criteria set forth in a Commission-approved tariff
which may include— (1) an energy or transmission service agreement; (2) credit or collateral support; (3) significant infrastructure investment; (4) a long-term generation supply commitment; or (5) any other comparable demonstration of commitment approved by the Commission
As a condition of accepting and processing large-facility interconnection, transmission-service, or comparable requests, transmission providers would have to impose study deposits, payments tied to project readiness or milestones, and withdrawal penalties. Milestone payments would be tied to progression through the process; withdrawal penalties would be designed to allocate an appropriate share of costs to departing projects. The requirements would aim to discourage speculative requests and reduce delays and repeated studies; those outcomes are not guaranteed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall require each transmission provider, as a condition of accepting and processing an interconnection request, transmission service request, or comparable request from a large load facility, to impose— (A) study deposits sufficient to cover the costs of system impact, facilities, or comparable studies; (B) readiness or milestone payments tied to progression through the study and interconnection process; and (C) withdrawal penalties designed to ensure that a large load facility that withdraws from such process bears an appropriate share of the costs imposed on the transmission provider and other customers.
The requirements established under paragraph (1) shall be designed— (A) to discourage speculative requests; and (B) to reduce study delays and restudies.
Transmission providers under Commission jurisdiction would have to submit necessary tariff amendments within 180 days after each standard-connection rule took effect. Every required rulemaking would need a reasonable transition period determined by the Commission, with an effort to avoid disruption to existing projects or projects significantly underway. This language would not itself grant those projects a blanket exemption.
Not later than 180 days after the effective date of each final rule issued under subsection (b), each transmission provider subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission shall submit to the Commission for approval any tariff amendments necessary to effectuate the rule.
As part of each rulemaking proceeding required of the Commission under this section, the Commission shall ensure that there is a reasonable transition period for affected entities (as determined by the Commission), while seeking to avoid disruptions to existing projects or projects that are significantly underway.
Once the final rules establishing the large-facility queue system took effect, a covered facility could connect to the interstate transmission system only after approval through the applicable queue.
On and after the effective date of the final rules issued under subsection (b) to establish the load interconnection queue system described in that subsection, a large load facility may only interconnect with the interstate transmission system once it has been approved through the applicable load interconnection queue system.
The Secretary of Energy could require data-center owners or operators to supply information about new facilities, energy and water use, cooling, on-site generation, operational flexibility, and artificial intelligence energy use. Collection would support benchmarks, quarterly tracking of artificial intelligence electricity demand, and forecasting. This subsection addresses data centers without stating a 50-megawatt threshold.
The Secretary, in accordance with section 13 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 772), may require owners or operators of data centers to submit to the Secretary such data as is necessary
to identify trends in new data center requests and commissioning
to identify trends in energy and water performance, including cooling and on-site generation, and flexibility in operations
to assess actual energy use associated with artificial intelligence activities, including the training of artificial intelligence models and inference operations
to establish benchmarks of— (i) current data center energy and water use by data center type and function; and (ii) the operational flexibility of load by data center type
to engage in quarterly tracking of trends in data center energy demand relating to artificial intelligence; and (F) to support the development of refined models for projecting future energy needs and load shapes associated with data center workloads
The Secretary would have to protect confidential business information submitted by a data-center owner under the collection requirement. The bill expressly exempts that information from disclosure under the cited federal Freedom of Information Act provision and State, Tribal, or local public-disclosure laws. Those existing laws are not supplied, so the extent to which this language would expand existing confidentiality protections cannot be established here.
The Secretary shall protect any confidential business information that is submitted by a data center owner as required under paragraph (1).
Information described in subparagraph (A) shall be exempt from disclosure under— (i) section 552(b)(4) of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act); and (ii) any provision of State, Tribal, or local freedom of information law, open government law, open meetings law, open records law, sunshine law, or similar law requiring disclosure of information or records.
Within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary would have to establish a data-center-scale artificial intelligence research and testing facility at a National Laboratory. It would complement, but remain distinct from, the Department of Energy’s existing high-performance computing facilities and allow collaboration among laboratory, academic, and industry researchers.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a data-center-scale artificial intelligence testbed at a National Laboratory that shall be complementary to, but distinct from, the current set of high-performance computing facilities operated by Department.
The testbed established under paragraph (1) shall allow researchers from the National Laboratories, academia, and industry to collaborate
The testing facility would support research on artificial intelligence that uses less energy or can adjust when it uses energy, power and cooling hardware, computing controls, and grid integration. It would also support research on reliability, adequate electricity supplies, affordability, and reducing the risks of new technologies. These are research purposes, not promised results.
algorithms for energy-efficient or energy-flexible artificial intelligence training and inference
technology hardware and control systems relating to power supply, cooling, and computing system configuration
grid integration, load flexibility, efficient grid management, and strategies for protecting or enhancing grid reliability, resource adequacy, or energy affordability
advancing or de-risking new technologies to advance the efforts described in subparagraphs (A) through (C)
Within one year after enactment, the Secretary would have to report to Congress and the Commission using lessons from the testing facility and other relevant Department of Energy and National Laboratory projects. The report would be developed with laboratories, federal partners, academia, and industry.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and the Commission a report compiled using knowledge gained and lessons learned from— (i) the testbed established under paragraph (1); and (ii) any other relevant projects that are ongoing at the Department and the National Laboratories.
In compiling the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall work with— (i) the National Laboratories; (ii) Federal partners, such as the Commission; (iii) academia; and (iv) industry.
The report would assess regional data-center demand growth and its implications for grid reliability, resource adequacy, and national security. It would also examine project verification and screening, speculative or duplicate requests, technologies to reduce power and water use or reuse waste heat, facility-level electricity supplies, and the ability to adjust demand to reduce grid stress.
the scale of load growth being driven by the proliferation of data center infrastructure, including significant regional differences
how that load growth will affect grid reliability, resource adequacy, and national security
how electric utilities and regulators obtain information to verify when and whether prospective large load facilities will reach commercial operation
how utilities and regulators determine and apply consistent and objective screening criteria for interconnection requests; and (II) how utilities and regulators are attempting to deter speculative or duplicative interconnection requests for large loads
innovative technologies for— (I) the reduction of power and water utilized by data centers; (II) the utilization of waste heat, including for heating residential homes; and (III) facility-level electricity supply
the usage and ability of demand response and demand flexibility by data center facilities to alleviate stresses on grid resource adequacy
The report would recommend better demand forecasts, consistent screening and avoidance of double-counted connection requests, and more energy-efficient artificial intelligence hardware and algorithms. It would also recommend federal actions for efficient data-infrastructure development while maintaining reliability and affordability, and ways for National Laboratories to support collaboration.
how load forecasting can be improved to more accurately determine how the actual electricity consumption of a large load facility will compare to its requested level of interconnection service
how to ensure that large load interconnection requests— (I) are subject to consistent and objective screening criteria; and (II) are not double-counted
hardware and algorithmic improvements to further reduce energy consumption relating to artificial intelligence, including for developing energy-efficient methods for training and inference of large language models and other large artificial intelligence models
policy changes or actions that the Federal Government may take to ensure quick and efficient buildout of data infrastructure while ensuring a buildout that maintains grid reliability and energy affordability
how the National Laboratories can facilitate collaboration and information-sharing to accelerate innovation
Within 180 days after receiving the report, the Commission would have to decide whether to implement recommendations or act on findings and, where applicable, begin rulemaking or take other appropriate action. It would not be required to adopt every recommendation. The Secretary would publish aggregated headline data and conclusions without making public any data attributable to a single private entity.
Not later than 180 days after receiving the report under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall— (i) decide whether to implement any recommendations or act on any findings in that report; and (ii) initiate a rulemaking proceeding or take other appropriate action, if applicable.
The Secretary shall publish on the website of the Department aggregated topline data and conclusions from the report under subparagraph (A).
the Secretary shall ensure that no data that could be attributed to a single private entity is made available to the public
The bill would preserve state authority over retail electricity rates, charges, and service terms. Its federally regulated mechanism for collecting network-upgrade payments would not displace state regulation of the retail utility’s service to the affected customer.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Commission to regulate retail electricity rates, charges, or terms of service, which shall remain subject to the jurisdiction of the States.
shall not preempt the authority of a State commission to regulate the retail rates, terms, or conditions of electric service provided to the applicable load by a retail utility
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 5, 2026, records introduction in the House on September 24, 2026, and referral that day to the Energy and Commerce Committee and additionally to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee for provisions within their respective jurisdictions. This snapshot does not establish subsequent action or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-05T11:37:41Z.
2026-09-24: Introduced in House
2026-09-24: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-24. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider attached to appropriations was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place was identified after reviewing the complete supplied introduced text. This text-based conclusion does not establish formal earmark status or absence in other versions, disclosures, or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The supplied introduced text contains narrow preferences and exceptions within its main policy. Their identification warrants scrutiny but is not a judgment about their merits.
Large customers guaranteeing sufficient battery storage as primary backup for a new facility would receive preferential treatment in the connection queue. Providers would have to try to finish their studies before those of customers that do not qualify for priority. This preference is part of the bill’s grid-connection policy.
Within a load interconnection queue, an interconnection request from a large load customer shall be prioritized if the large load customer satisfies any 1 or more of the following criteria
The large load customer demonstrates and guarantees that the large load customer or the operator of the applicable new large load facility will implement a battery energy storage system to use as primary backup generation for the large load facility, with sufficient capacity to meet the backup needs of the large load facility during periods of outages or curtailments.
A transmission provider shall endeavor to complete the interconnection study process for a large load customer that satisfies the criteria for prioritization under this paragraph before other large load customers that do not satisfy the criteria for such prioritization.
Large customers would also qualify for queue priority by guaranteeing the specified construction wage and apprenticeship practices, or by ensuring labor-peace commitments from each owner or operator of a new energy resource brought to the grid by the facility. These labor conditions would provide alternative routes to preferential processing under the grid-connection policy.
Within a load interconnection queue, an interconnection request from a large load customer shall be prioritized if the large load customer satisfies any 1 or more of the following criteria
The large load customer demonstrates and guarantees that, in the construction of the applicable new large load facility and any new energy supply resource that the large load facility brings to the electric grid— (I) all laborers and mechanics employed by the large load customer and contractors and subcontractors of the large load customer in the performance of construction are paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the locality in which the construction project is located
all contractors and subcontractors of the large load customer use registered apprentices participating in registered apprenticeship programs
The large load customer ensures that each owner or operator of a new energy supply resource that the applicable new large load facility brings to the electric grid has agreed to enter into a labor peace agreement with respect to the operation and maintenance of the energy supply resource.
A transmission provider shall endeavor to complete the interconnection study process for a large load customer that satisfies the criteria for prioritization under this paragraph before other large load customers that do not satisfy the criteria for such prioritization.
Large facilities physically connected to and contractually supplied by a power plant on the plant’s side of its grid connection would be offered rights to send power into the grid without deliverability studies when the injection occurs on a non-firm basis. This is a limited study exemption for colocated facilities within the bill’s connection rules; it does not state an exemption from all connection requirements.
The term colocated, with respect to a large load facility, means that the large load facility is physically connected to, and has contractual arrangements to be served by, the facilities of an existing or planned generating facility on the generating facility’s side of the point of interconnection to the interstate transmission system.
Transmission providers offer to colocated large load facilities injection rights without the need for deliverability studies if the injection will occur on a non-firm basis.
Data-center owners submitting confidential business information under the bill’s data-collection provision would receive an express protection: the Secretary must protect that information, and the text exempts it from disclosure under the cited federal Freedom of Information Act provision and State, Tribal, and local disclosure laws. This sector-specific disclosure exception accompanies the bill’s collection of data-center information. Because the existing disclosure laws are not supplied, the extent to which it would expand protections already available cannot be established.
The Secretary shall protect any confidential business information that is submitted by a data center owner as required under paragraph (1).
Information described in subparagraph (A) shall be exempt from disclosure under— (i) section 552(b)(4) of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act); and (ii) any provision of State, Tribal, or local freedom of information law, open government law, open meetings law, open records law, sunshine law, or similar law requiring disclosure of information or records.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 5, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI