H.R. 3628 — State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act

This section establishes a new standard under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) requiring each state-regulated electric utility that employs integrated resource planning to include, as part of such planning, measures ensuring the reliable availability of electric energy over a 10-year period through maintaining the operation of, or procuring electric energy from, reliable generation facilities (i.e., those able to generate continuously for at least 30 days with adequate on-site fuel or contractual supply, operable during emergency and severe weather conditions, and providing essential reliability services such as frequency and voltage support). (As background, PURPA requires state regulatory authorities and nonregulated electric utilities to consider each listed standard and determine whether to implement it consistent with state law.) It further requires each state regulatory authority to commence consideration of this standard within one year of enactment and complete the determination within two years; provides exemptions from these timelines if the state previously implemented, considered in a proceeding, or had its legislature vote on the standard (or comparable standard) for the utility within the prior three years; and makes conforming changes to related PURPA timelines in §§112(c), 112(d), and 124.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on the effectiveness of integrated resource planning by State regulated electric utilities prior to implementation of new requirements under section 111(d)(22) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), as added by section 2 of this Act, in ensuring sufficient reliable generation facilities to maintain the reliability, stability, and affordability of electric service for electric consumers. (As background, integrated resource planning is a utility process for identifying the optimal mix of energy resources to meet future demand cost-effectively.) The section applies definitions of electric consumer, integrated resource planning, and State regulated electric utility from PURPA section 3 (16 U.S.C. 2602) and of reliable generation facility from the new PURPA section 111(d)(22).