[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4140 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4140

  To require the Secretary of Energy to identify, analyze, and share 
    available data for the purpose of improving the reliability and 
        resilience of the electric grid, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 17, 2024

 Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Padilla) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Secretary of Energy to identify, analyze, and share 
    available data for the purpose of improving the reliability and 
        resilience of the electric grid, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Grid Reliability and Integrated Data 
Act of 2024'' or the ``GRIData Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--In this Act:
            (1) Customer average interruption duration index; caidi.--
        In accordance with IEEE 1366, the term ``Customer Average 
        Interruption Duration Index'' or ``CAIDI'' means the average 
        number of minutes per sustained interruption experienced by 
        customers per year.
            (2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (3) Energy community.--The term ``energy community'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 45(b)(11)(B) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (4) IEEE 1366.--The term ``IEEE 1366'' means the standard 
        published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics 
        Engineers Standards Association entitled ``IEEE Guide for 
        Electric Power Distribution Reliability Indices'' and numbered 
        1366 (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).
            (5) Integrated resource planning.--The term ``integrated 
        resource planning'' means modeling and evaluating how projected 
        long-term electricity demands (such as electricity demands over 
        periods of 5, 10, 20, or more years) within a service area can 
        be met with a combination of electric generation resources that 
        best achieve desired metrics, such as metrics relating to 
        reliability, resilience, and cost.
            (6) Momentary average interruption frequency index; 
        maifi.--In accordance with IEEE 1366, the term ``Momentary 
        Average Interruption Frequency Index'' or ``MAIFI'' means the 
        average number of momentary interruptions experienced by 
        customers per year.
            (7) Momentary interruption.--
                    (A) In general.--In accordance with IEEE 1366, the 
                term ``momentary interruption'' means a brief loss of 
                power, as determined by the applicable electric 
                utility, subject to subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Exclusion.--The term ``momentary interruption'' 
                does not include a loss of power lasting more than 5 
                minutes.
            (8) Reliability.--The term ``reliability'', with respect to 
        the electric grid, means the ability of the electric grid or 
        the components of the electric grid to withstand instability, 
        uncontrolled events, cascading failures, or unanticipated loss 
        of system components.
            (9) Resilience.--The term ``resilience'', with respect to 
        the electric grid, means the ability of the electric grid or 
        the components of the electric grid to adapt to changing 
        conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from disruptions, 
        including disruptions caused by extreme weather conditions or 
        emerging threats.
            (10) Resource adequacy.--The term ``resource adequacy'' 
        means the adequate supply and provision of electricity from 
        various electric generation resources to meet projected 
        electricity demands in a service area.
            (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (12) Sustained interruption.--In accordance with IEEE 1366, 
        the term ``sustained interruption'' means an interruption in 
        power service lasting more than 5 minutes.
            (13) System average interruption duration index; saidi.--In 
        accordance with IEEE 1366, the term ``System Average 
        Interruption Duration Index'' or ``SAIDI'' means the average 
        number of minutes of sustained interruption per customer per 
        year.
            (14) System average interruption frequency index; saifi.--
        In accordance with IEEE 1366, the term ``System Average 
        Interruption Frequency Index'' or ``SAIFI'' means the average 
        number of sustained interruptions per customer per year.
    (b) Disadvantaged Community; Low-Income Community; Rural Area.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall define the terms 
        ``disadvantaged community'', ``low-income community'', and 
        ``rural area'' for purposes of this Act.
            (2) Requirement.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall take into consideration, as applicable, the 
        following:
                    (A) The definition of the term ``disadvantaged 
                community'' in each of--
                            (i) section 6001 of the Omnibus Public Land 
                        Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 1015); and
                            (ii) section 50121(d) of Public Law 117-169 
                        (commonly known as the ``Inflation Reduction 
                        Act of 2022'') (42 U.S.C. 18795(d)).
                    (B) The definition of the term ``low-income 
                community'' in each of--
                            (i) section 11406(a) of the Infrastructure 
                        Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 149 note; 
                        Public Law 117-58); and
                            (ii) section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue 
                        Code of 1986.
                    (C) The definition of the term ``rural area'' in 
                each of--
                            (i) section 609(a) of the Public Utility 
                        Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
                        918c(a));
                            (ii) section 343(a) of the Consolidated 
                        Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
                        1991(a)); and
                            (iii) section 6702(a) of title 49, United 
                        States Code.

SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION, ANALYSIS, AND SHARING OF DATA.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall work with appropriate 
entities, as necessary, to identify, analyze, and share available data 
in a manner necessary--
            (1) to inform and improve the reliability and resilience of 
        the electric grid, especially in rural areas, low-income 
        communities, disadvantaged communities, and energy communities; 
        and
            (2) to improve long-term reliability assessments, resource 
        adequacy models, and integrated resource planning.
    (b) Data Identification and Analysis.--
            (1) Reliability and resilience data.--
                    (A) Types of reliability and resilience data.--In 
                identifying and analyzing relevant data under 
                subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the types 
                of data to be shared, including--
                            (i) existing IEEE 1366 reliability data and 
                        metrics, including--
                                    (I) the System Average Interruption 
                                Duration Index (SAIDI);
                                    (II) the System Average 
                                Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI);
                                    (III) the Customer Average 
                                Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI);
                                    (IV) the Momentary Average 
                                Interruption Frequency Index (MAIFI); 
                                and
                                    (V) any other reliability data or 
                                metric defined in IEEE 1366, as the 
                                Secretary determines to be appropriate; 
                                and
                            (ii) any new or modified data or metric, as 
                        the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
                    (B) Temporal frequency of reliability and 
                resilience data.--In identifying and analyzing relevant 
                data under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
                consider--
                            (i) the temporal frequency of the 
                        production or collection of that data--
                                    (I) to inform the reporting and 
                                dissemination of information relating 
                                to the reliability and resilience of 
                                the electric grid on an annual basis, 
                                especially in rural areas, low-income 
                                communities, disadvantaged communities, 
                                and energy communities; and
                                    (II) to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, to inform customers 
                                experiencing power outages of 
                                anticipated recovery times on a real-
                                time basis, such as through the Outage 
                                Data Initiative Nationwide (ODIN) 
                                program of the Department; and
                            (ii) any other considerations relating to 
                        the temporal frequency of the production or 
                        collection of that data, as the Secretary 
                        determines to be appropriate.
                    (C) Spatial resolution of reliability and 
                resilience data.--In identifying and analyzing relevant 
                data under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
                consider--
                            (i) the spatial resolution of that data, 
                        with a goal--
                                    (I) to inform the reporting and 
                                dissemination of information relating 
                                to the reliability and resilience of 
                                the electric grid on an annual basis, 
                                especially in rural areas, low-income 
                                communities, disadvantaged communities, 
                                and energy communities; and
                                    (II) to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, to inform customers 
                                experiencing power outages of 
                                anticipated recovery times on a real-
                                time basis, such as through the Outage 
                                Data Initiative Nationwide (ODIN) 
                                program of the Department; and
                            (ii) any other considerations relating to 
                        the spatial resolution of that data, as the 
                        Secretary determines to be appropriate.
            (2) Weather data.--In identifying and analyzing relevant 
        historical or simulated future weather data required for long-
        term reliability assessments, resource adequacy models, and 
        integrated resource planning under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary shall, as necessary, work with National Laboratories, 
        the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other agencies or 
        entities to consider--
                    (A) the type of data, which shall include 
                meteorological variables that have significant impact 
                on--
                            (i) generation, transmission, storage, or 
                        distribution availability; or
                            (ii) electricity demand;
                    (B) the representativeness of the data, with a goal 
                to approximate actual conditions as closely as 
                reasonably possible with representativeness validated 
                and uncertainty quantified;
                    (C) the spatial resolution of observational data, 
                with a goal to provide weather data over a grid with 2 
                kilometer spacing or smaller;
                    (D) the frequency of the data, with a goal to 
                report weather data not less frequently than hourly, 
                and preferably every 15 minutes; and
                    (E) the duration of the data, with a goal for the 
                data to be--
                            (i) chronologically consistent, complete, 
                        and span at least a 30-year period; and
                            (ii) updated periodically, as determined by 
                        the Secretary.
            (3) Potential data needs.--In identifying and analyzing 
        relevant data under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
        consider potential future needs, including--
                    (A) emerging technologies that employ machine 
                learning or artificial intelligence for the purposes of 
                improving--
                            (i) the reliability and resilience of the 
                        electric grid, especially in rural areas, low-
                        income communities, disadvantaged communities, 
                        and energy communities; and
                            (ii) long-term reliability assessments, 
                        resource adequacy models, and integrated 
                        resource planning;
                    (B) the changing mix of energy generation resources 
                and demands on the electric grid, including energy 
                efficiency as a resource;
                    (C) the security and costs associated with 
                collecting and sharing those data; and
                    (D) ways to mitigate risks and cost impacts to 
                utilities associated with data collection and sharing.
            (4) Methods and platforms.--In identifying and analyzing 
        relevant data under subsection (a) with consideration of the 
        factors described in paragraphs (1) through (3), the Secretary 
        shall consider the available methods and platforms for 
        acquiring and sharing the data, including--
                    (A) existing surveys, such as the surveys carried 
                out using Form EIA-861 of the Energy Information 
                Administration;
                    (B) existing data sharing platforms, such as--
                            (i) the Open Energy Data Initiative of the 
                        Department;
                            (ii) the Outage Data Initiative Nationwide 
                        (ODIN) program of the Department;
                            (iii) the U.S. Energy Atlas of the Energy 
                        Information Administration;
                            (iv) the Wind Data Hub of the Pacific 
                        Northwest National Laboratory; and
                            (v) the National Solar Radiation Database 
                        of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; 
                        and
                    (C) other methods and platforms, as the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate, including automated data 
                collection methods.
    (c) Data and Information Sharing.--
            (1) Report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                submit to Congress and make publicly available a report 
                that summarizes the findings from the activities 
                conducted under subsection (b).
                    (B) Requirement.--The report under subparagraph (A) 
                shall provide recommendations on the data types, 
                spatial and temporal resolution, collection methods, 
                and sharing platforms that will better assist 
                utilities, regulators, National Laboratories, academic 
                institutions, and associated agencies and entities in 
                improving long-term electric reliability, resilience, 
                resource adequacy modeling, and integrated resource 
                planning.
                    (C) Consideration of costs and security risks.--To 
                the extent practicable, the report under subparagraph 
                (A) shall consider costs and potential security risks 
                associated with data collection and sharing, with the 
                goal of minimizing costs and maximizing privacy and 
                security, as needed.
            (2) Websites.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                identify existing websites administered by the 
                Department or entities funded by the Department, 
                including websites of the Energy Information 
                Administration or the National Laboratories, or 
                establish new websites, to share available data in a 
                manner identified under subsection (b) and reported 
                under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Preference.--To improve accessibility and 
                standardization, the Secretary, in carrying out 
                subparagraph (A), shall give preference to fewer 
                centralized and integrated websites with appropriate 
                links and references, as necessary, rather than to 
                multiple independent websites.
                    (C) Updates.--The websites described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be updated as needed, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
    (d) Steering Committee.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a steering 
        committee comprising a group of stakeholders, including, as the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate--
                    (A) representatives from relevant Federal agencies, 
                such as--
                            (i) the Office of Science and Technology 
                        Policy;
                            (ii) the Office of Electricity of the 
                        Department;
                            (iii) the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
                        Renewable Energy of the Department;
                            (iv) the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy 
                        Security, and Emergency Response of the 
                        Department;
                            (v) the Energy Information Administration; 
                        and
                            (vi) the Federal Energy Regulatory 
                        Commission;
                    (B) representatives of regulators and electric 
                power sectors, such as--
                            (i) the North American Electric Reliability 
                        Corporation;
                            (ii) the National Association of Regulatory 
                        Utility Commissioners;
                            (iii) State utility commissioners;
                            (iv) grid asset owners and operators from 
                        the investor-owned utility segment;
                            (v) grid asset owners and operators from 
                        the public power segment;
                            (vi) grid asset owners and operators from 
                        the cooperative segment; and
                            (vii) the Institute of Electrical and 
                        Electronics Engineers; and
                    (C) subject matter experts.
            (2) Purpose.--The steering committee established under 
        paragraph (1) shall help inform and guide the development and 
        goals of the activities carried out under subsection (a) by 
        identifying priorities for the identification, analysis, 
        sharing, and use of data under that subsection, such as--
                    (A) customer affordability;
                    (B) feasibility;
                    (C) the leveraging of existing capabilities to 
                minimize duplication of effort; and
                    (D) the protection of sensitive data or 
                information.
            (3) Applicability of faca.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United 
        States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act''), shall not apply to the steering committee 
        established under paragraph (1).
    (e) Responsibilities and Costs.--
            (1) Collaboration.--In administering the activities 
        described in subsections (a) through (d), the Secretary may 
        work with utilities, electric cooperatives, National 
        Laboratories, and other agencies and entities, as the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate.
            (2) Avoidance of additional costs.--In administering the 
        activities described in subsections (a) through (d), the 
        Secretary shall use amounts appropriated under subsection (f) 
        to avoid imposing additional costs on electric cooperatives, 
        utilities, and assisting entities.
            (3) Additional programs.--The Secretary may establish new 
        programs to carry out the activities described in subsections 
        (a) through (d), as necessary, using amounts appropriated under 
        subsection (f).
            (4) Savings provision.--Nothing in this Act precludes a 
        State from continuing to collect, or adding to, specific data 
        required to be submitted to a State agency.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for 
the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this 
Act, to remain available until expended.
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