Review – HR 7257 Introduced – State Energy Plans

Last month Rep Latta (R,OH) introduced HR 7257, the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient (SECURE) Grid Act. The bill would amend 42 USC 6326 to require States to include local distribution systems in their State Energy Security Plans described in that section. No new funding is authorized by this legislation.

The bill is similar to HR 9083 that was introduced by Latta in July 2024. No action was taken on that bill in the 118^th Congress. While similar in intent, HR 7257 is a substantial rewrite. Some of the changes of interest include:

Modifying the proposed definition of the term ‘local distribution systems’ by increasing the maximum voltage from 35 kilovolts to 100 kilovolts,

Removing the proposed language being added to (b)(2)(B) referencing “energy supply disruptions resulting from increased demand on the electric grid, deteriorating assets [emphasis added], and physical and cybersecurity threats”, and

Removing from the proposed language revision in (b)(3) reference to “risks and liabilities posed by human error or mismanagement”.

Moving Forward

Latta and his two cosponsors are members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there could be sufficient influence to see this bill considered in Committee. I see nothing in this bill that would engender any organized opposition. I suspect that there will be some level of bipartisan support for this bill in Committee. Whether that support would be sufficient to see the bill considered in the Full House under the suspension of the rules remains to be seen.

 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-7257-introduced-state-energy-plans - subscription required.

Review - HR 9083 Introduced – Energy Security Plans

Last month, Rep Latta (R,OH) introduced HR 9083, the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient (SECURE) Grid Act. The bill would amend 42 USC 6326 to require States to include local distribution systems in their State Energy Security Plans described in §6326. No new funding is authorized by this legislation.

Moving Forward

Both Latta and his sole cosponsor {Rep Matsui (D,CA)}, are members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there could be sufficient influence to see this bill considered in Committee. While I see nothing in this bill that would engender any organized opposition, I do suspect that there would be some interest in seeing some changes to the wording of the new §6326(c)(3) language, in particular subparagraph (B); “(B) risks and liabilities posed by human error or mismanagement;”. At the end of the day, I suspect that there will be some level of bipartisan support for this bill in Committee. Whether that support would be sufficient to see the bill considered in the Full House under the suspension of the rules remains to be seen.

Commentary

While the addition of the “attacks on the physical security of local distribution systems” language is certainly important given the increasing numbers of such attack in the last couple of years, it comes at the cost of removing the existence reference to the “physical threats and vulnerabilities” for the bulk power system within the State. I would like to see that language added back in by inserting a new §6326(c)(3)(E):

“(E) physical threats and vulnerabilities;”

 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-9083-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 7-22-24

Yesterday with the House in Washington and the Senate meeting in pro forma session, there were 27 bills introduced. One of those bills will receive additional attention in this blog:

HR 9083 To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require States to include supporting the physical security, cybersecurity, and resilience of local distribution systems in State energy security plans. Latta, Robert E. [Rep.-R-OH-5].