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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7066 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7066
To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a
standard relating to the consideration of large load facilities as a
class of electric consumers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 14, 2026
Mr. Levin (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Quigley, Mr.
Landsman, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Latimer, Mr. Casten, and Ms.
Pingree) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a
standard relating to the consideration of large load facilities as a
class of electric consumers, and for other purposes.
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 ``Stopping Hikes In Electricity from
Large Load Demands Act'' or the ``SHIELD Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPA STANDARDS FOR LARGE LOAD FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(22) Large load facility class.--
``(A) Classification.--Large load facilities shall
be considered a class of electric consumers.
``(B) Cost recovery relating to large load facility
class.--Each electric utility that provides electric
service to a class of electric consumers described in
subparagraph (A) shall fully recover from such class
all costs associated with any upgrade made to the
generation, transmission, or distribution facilities of
the electric grid, including local facilities, in order
to meet the demand for electric energy from such class,
including in the event that a large load facility
ceases operations or uses less electric energy than
projected at the time of such upgrade.
``(23) Grid reliability for large load facilities.--Each
electric utility shall prioritize, among requests from owners
or operators of large load facilities for electric service,
such a request under which the owner or operator agrees to
employ--
``(A) features that reduce the demand for electric
energy from the electric grid during times of peak
demand, including--
``(i) energy efficiency or energy
conservation measures;
``(ii) onsite energy storage; or
``(iii) demand response or load flexibility
technologies; and
``(B) zero-emission electric energy generated
onsite or procured within the same balancing authority
through a power purchase agreement to meet all of the
demand of the large load facility for electric
energy.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of subsection (d):
``(1) Large load facility.--The term `large load
facility'--
``(A) means a facility, or an aggregation of
facilities at a single site, with respect to which the
peak demand of such facility or such aggregation of
facilities exceeds 75 megawatts; and
``(B) does not include an existing facility with
respect to which any increased demand is predominantly
caused by electrification or measures to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
``(2) Zero-emission electric energy.--The term `zero-
emission electric energy' means electric energy generated
without emitting greenhouse gases, including from solar, wind,
geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, fission, or fusion.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Obligations to consider and determine.--Section 112 of
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2622) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
following:
``(9)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with
respect to each electric utility for which the State has
ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated utility shall
commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date
for consideration, with respect to each standard established by
paragraphs (22) and (23) of section 111(d).
``(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect
to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking
authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall
complete the consideration and make the determination under
section 111 with respect to each standard established by
paragraphs (22) and (23) of section 111(d).
``(C) Not later than 30 days after completing the
consideration and making a determination under section 111 with
respect to each standard established by paragraphs (22) and
(23) of section 111(d), each State regulatory authority (with
respect to each electric utility for which the State has
ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate a report detailing the process
used for consideration and an explanation for the
determination.'';
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) by striking ``subsection (b)(2)'' and
inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
(ii) by inserting ``In the case of the
standard established by paragraphs (22) and
(23) of section 111(d), the reference contained
in this subsection to the date of enactment of
this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to
the date of enactment of such paragraphs (22)
and (23).'' after ``paragraph (21).''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Other Prior State Actions.--Subsections (b) and (c) shall not
apply to the standards established by paragraphs (22) and (23) of
section 111(d) in the case of any electric utility in a State if,
before the date of enactment of this subsection--
``(1) the State has implemented for the electric utility
the standard concerned (or a comparable standard);
``(2) the State regulatory authority for the State or the
relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a
proceeding to consider implementation of the standard concerned
(or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or
``(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation
of the standard concerned (or a comparable standard) for the
electric utility during the 3-year period ending on that date
of enactment.''.
(2) Prior and pending proceedings.--Section 124 of the
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634)
is amended by inserting ``In the case of each standard
established by paragraphs (22) and (23) of section 111(d), the
reference contained in this section to the date of enactment of
this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of
enactment of such paragraphs (22) and (23).'' after ``paragraph
(21).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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