US House passes Evans bill on grid reliability

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3628, the State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act, led by Rep. Gabe Evans, to address energy costs and grid reliability.

• H.R. 3628 aims to help utilities plan for rising electricity demand, maintain sufficient reliable generation to prevent power outages, and protect consumers from sudden energy cost spikes linked to poor planning or rapid retirement of power plants.
• The bill introduces new federal standards for state regulatory entities such as the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, requiring greater consideration of energy reliability and affordability, and is publicly backed by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain and Rep. Evans as part of a broader effort to counter existing regulatory approaches.