SPEED and Reliability Act of 2025

Improved Reliability: The bill defines "improved reliability" to include benefits such as a reduction in expected unserved energy, loss of load hours, or loss of load probability (Section 2(a)(3)).

Consumer Protections: The Commission is required to ensure that tariffs or tariff revisions are just and reasonable, allocating costs to customers that benefit from improved reliability, reduced congestion, or reduced power losses (Section 2(e)(2)).

Ratepayer Protections: Customers who receive no benefit, or benefits that are trivial in relation to the costs, shall not be involuntarily allocated any costs of the transmission facilities (Section 2(e)(3)).

Energy Independence: The bill directs that proposed construction or modification must be consistent with sound national energy policy and enhance energy independence (Section 2(b)(5)).

Enhanced Transmission Capabilities: The bill encourages maximizing the transmission capabilities of existing towers, structures, or rights-of-way where reasonable and economical (Section 2(b)(7)).

Impact on Landowners: While the bill requires the Commission to take into account "landowner input," which includes notification and consultation with affected farmers and ranchers, the primary focus is on streamlining the siting of facilities (Section 2(a)(4) and Section 2(c)(3)).

Cost Allocation Obligations: Transmitting utilities are required to file tariffs or tariff revisions to allocate the costs of new or modified transmission facilities (Section 2(e)(1)).