[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6633 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 723
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6633
[Report No. 119-824]
To establish a best-available transmission conductor standard for
certain transmission projects under the Federal Power Act and to
provide for presumptions regarding cost recovery for such conductors.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2025
Mrs. Fedorchak introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
September 14, 2026
Additional sponsors: Mr. Hamadeh of Arizona, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Shreve,
and Mr. Wittman
September 14, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
December 11, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a best-available transmission conductor standard for
certain transmission projects under the Federal Power Act and to
provide for presumptions regarding cost recovery for such conductors.
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 ``High-Capacity Grid Act''.
SEC. 2. BEST-AVAILABLE TRANSMISSION CONDUCTOR CLASS.
The Federal Power Act is amended by inserting after section 223 (16
U.S.C. 824w) the following:
``SEC. 224. USE OF BEST-AVAILABLE TRANSMISSION CONDUCTORS.
``(a) Use of Best-available Transmission Conductors.--In exercising
its authority under sections 205 and 206, the Commission shall require
that public utilities use transmission conductors that are designated
as part of the best-available transmission conductor class when
carrying out covered projects.
``(b) Regulations.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue
regulations to carry out this section.
``(2) Inclusions.--In issuing regulations under paragraph
(1), the Commission shall--
``(A) establish, in consultation with the Secretary
of Energy, a methodology to designate, as part of the
best-available transmission conductors class,
transmission conductors that--
``(i) provide the greatest feasible and
commercially available energy-carrying capacity
at a given voltage level;
``(ii) provide the highest feasible and
commercially available electrical efficiency at
that voltage level; and
``(iii) provide the greatest feasible and
commercially available level of mechanical
performance, taking into account relevant
factors, including reliability, safety, and
affordability;
``(B) using such methodology, designate
transmission conductors as part of the best-available
transmission conductor class;
``(C) establish filing requirements for public
utilities to demonstrate compliance with the
regulations, including (as applicable) such information
and data the Commission determines necessary to
demonstrate project-specific impacts described in
subparagraph (D); and
``(D) provide that the requirement to use
transmission conductors that are designated as part of
the best-available transmission conductor class not
apply--
``(i) to carrying out any covered project
for which a public utility, prior to the date
of enactment of this section, has--
``(I) filed for any State or
Federal permit required to carry out
the covered project; or
``(II) procured any transmission
conductors;
``(ii) to the emergency replacement or
repair of transmission facilities necessary to
restore service following a natural disaster,
act of terrorism, or other event designated as
an emergency by a relevant Federal or State
authority;
``(iii) if such use would negatively impact
safety or violate a reliability standard; or
``(iv) if the public utility carrying out
the covered project demonstrates such use would
significantly increase the cost per kilowatt-
hour of electricity without providing a
material and commensurate increase to capacity,
efficiency, or mechanical performance.
``(c) Periodic Review and Updates.--The Commission may, to reflect
improvements in technology, periodically review and update--
``(1) the methodology for designating transmission
conductors as part of the best-available transmission conductor
class; and
``(2) the designation of transmission conductors as part of
the best-available transmission conductor class.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Best-available transmission conductor class.--The
term `best-available transmission conductor class' means a
class of transmission conductors that are designated as part of
the class pursuant to this section.
``(2) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission.
``(3) Covered project.--The term `covered project' means--
``(A) the construction of a new transmission
facility subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission
under section 201(b) that includes a transmission
conductor; or
``(B) any major (as determined by the Commission)
modification, upgrade, replacement, or reconductoring
of an existing transmission conductor subject to such
jurisdiction.
``(4) Reliability standard.--The term `reliability
standard' has the meaning given such term in section 215.''.
Union Calendar No. 723
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6633
[Report No. 119-824]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a best-available transmission conductor standard for
certain transmission projects under the Federal Power Act and to
provide for presumptions regarding cost recovery for such conductors.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 14, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed