HR6177-119

What This Bill Does

The Grid Research and Development Act is a transmission-data and research bill. FERC must issue rules modernizing and standardizing how transmitting utilities and Transmission Organizations report information under the Federal Power Act. The required data covers project milestones, project classification, construction and upgrade history, location, nameplate capacity, line length, voltage, planning origin, projected and actual costs, maintenance and operations expenses, cost allocation shares, benefit-cost analyses, competitive solicitation results, capital structure, returns on equity, debt, and preferred stock, interconnection and transmission planning information, and related system data. FERC, with the Energy Information Administration, must develop a searchable public repository containing FERC Forms 1, 1-F, 3-Q, 714, 715, and 730 and reports required by the Act, with machine-readable formats, metadata, APIs, bulk downloads, visualization tools, and upload functions for transmitting utilities and Transmission Organizations. DOE, with FERC and National Laboratories, must publish research on drivers of ratepayer transmission and interconnection costs, value delivered by investments, affordability mechanisms, alternative interconnection solutions, demand-side options, scenario modeling for grid expansion, queue inefficiencies, and advanced technologies such as dynamic line ratings, topology optimization, flexible interconnection, and flow-control devices.

Who Benefits and How

Ratepayers benefit because standardized project, cost, and performance data can reveal transmission investments that increase bills without commensurate value. Generators seeking interconnection benefit because the research focuses on study delays, queue withdrawals, construction periods, and alternative interconnection solutions. Independent researchers benefit from machine-readable FERC data, metadata, APIs, bulk downloads, and visualization tools. National Laboratories benefit because DOE must use one or more labs to develop and maintain analytic capability for the research program. Grid-enhancing technology providers benefit because the research specifically evaluates dynamic line ratings, topology optimization, flexible interconnection, and flow-control devices.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Transmitting utilities must report standardized project lifecycle, cost, capital-structure, planning, and system information. Transmission Organizations must file standardized machine-readable reports and use the repository for required submissions. FERC staff must write the reporting rule, maintain regulatory data requirements, and operate the repository with EIA collaboration. DOE staff must run periodic research and scenario modeling on ratepayer costs, interconnection, reliability, emissions, resilience, and grid flexibility. Energy Information Administration staff must maintain schemas, metadata, tools, APIs, and public access features for the repository.

Key Provisions

• Requires FERC to modernize and standardize transmission reporting under the Federal Power Act.
• Requires project lifecycle, cost, capital-structure, planning, interconnection, and system data from transmitting utilities and Transmission Organizations.
• Establishes a searchable public data repository using FERC forms, machine-readable metadata, APIs, bulk downloads, and visualization tools.
• Directs DOE and FERC to publish research on ratepayer costs, interconnection inefficiencies, transmission value, affordability, and energy futures.
• Requires National Laboratory support for grid research and advanced-technology analysis.