Bill · H.R. 3616· House(119-HR-3616)
Reliable Power Act
- Introduced
- 5/29/2025
- Last activity
- 12/18/2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Troy Balderson
- Cosponsors
- - 20 - 0
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The Reliable Power Act requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review regulations that might affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system. It mandates that the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) perform an annual long-term assessment regarding electric energy supply, resource mix, and weather risks. If the ERO finds the system is at risk of inadequate generation, it must notify the Commission. The Commission then notifies relevant federal agencies of this inadequacy. These agencies must then submit certain regulations to the Commission for review and comment. Finally, the agencies must respond to the Commission's comments before finalizing their actions.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill requires federal agencies to make their comments and responses regarding energy generation public.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+2
The bill mandates assessments of generation resource mix and weather risks to ensure energy reliability.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
- The House: the vote on whether to pass the billPassed 225–203
This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.
12/17/2025 · Roll call 347 · recorded as “On Passage”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Power Reliability Assessment: The ERO will conduct an annual long-term assessment that analyzes the ability of the bulk-power system to supply enough electric energy, considering things like resource mix and demand trends (Section 2, amending Section 215(g)).
-
Risk Mitigation for Weather Events: The bill requires an analysis of risks regarding future electric energy supply shortfalls during both normal and extreme weather conditions (Section 2, amending Section 215(g)).
-
Proactive Identification of Power Needs: The assessment includes a determination of whether more generation resources are needed to keep the system reliable during the assessment period (Section 2, amending Section 215(g)).
-
Regulatory Oversight of Energy Impacts: The Commission can provide comments on agency actions, which can include an assessment of how those actions affect rates, terms, and conditions for services (Section 2, amending Section 215(h)(3)).
-
Prevention of Reliability Issues: The Commission can provide recommendations for modifications to agency actions to prevent significant negative impacts on the bulk-power system's ability to supply sufficient electric energy (Section 2, amending Section 215(h)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Increased Regulatory Requirements for Agencies: Federal agencies must provide covered agency actions to the Commission for review and comment upon certain dates or within 90 days of publication (Section 2, amending Section 215(h)(2)).
-
Mandatory Written Explanations: Agency heads cannot finalize certain actions until they respond in writing to the Commission explaining how they modified an action or why they chose not to modify it (Section 2, amending Section 215(h)(4)).
-
New Constraints on Finalizing Actions: An agency head may not finalize a covered agency action until the Commission finds that the action is unlikely to have a significant negative impact on the bulk-power system's ability to supply sufficient electric energy (Section 2, amending Section 215(h)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+2
| Updated | Bill | Title | Policy Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 months ago | On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection. |
- 12/18/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 12/17/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 347).
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 347). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6000)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6006)
- At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3616, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Weber (TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3616.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H6000-6004)
- 12/16/2025
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 951 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.
- 11/25/2025
- Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, H. Rept. 119-302, Part II.
- 9/17/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-302.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 256.
- 7/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/24/2025
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 6/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/20/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/17/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/5/2025
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 14.
- 6/3/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
- 5/29/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Rick AllenRepublican · Georgia
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Earl CarterRepublican · Georgia
Troy DowningRepublican · Montana
Julie FedorchakRepublican · North Dakota
H. GriffithRepublican · Virginia
Richard HudsonRepublican · North Carolina
Diana HarshbargerRepublican · Tennessee
John JoyceRepublican · Pennsylvania
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Tracey MannRepublican · Kansas
Daniel MeuserRepublican · Pennsylvania
Carol MillerRepublican · West Virginia
Mariannette Miller-MeeksRepublican · Iowa
Tim MooreRepublican · North Carolina
Addison McDowellRepublican · North Carolina
Robert OnderRepublican · Missouri
Michael RulliRepublican · Ohio
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas