Integrated Local, Regional, and Interregional Transmission Planning Act of 2026

This bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to propose a rule within 6 months and finalize it within 18 months to change how electric transmission lines are planned, combining local, regional, and interregional planning and looking 20 or more years ahead. Each transmission planning region, except the Texas ERCOT area, would have to plan jointly with neighboring regions and submit joint transmission plans to FERC within 1 year of the rule taking effect, then update them at least every 3 years. FERC would review and approve plans, settle disputes between regions within 60 days, and could impose a plan or civil penalties if a region fails to submit one. Costs of selected projects would be charged to customers in line with the benefits they receive, and customers who receive no reasonably identifiable benefit could not be involuntarily charged. Projects selected in an approved plan would be treated as meeting certain federal permit requirements under the Federal Power Act.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Sean Casten Democrat sponsor
• 4 cosponsors