H.R. 164: Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience Act of 2025
This bill, known as the Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience Act of 2025, seeks to amend an existing law related to disaster relief and emergency assistance for electric utilities. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:
Short Title
The bill can be referred to as the POWER Act of 2025.
Purpose of the Bill
The main goal of this legislation is to provide additional federal support for electric utilities in terms of hazard mitigation. It aims to enhance the resilience of electrical services, especially in the face of emergencies that may cause power outages.
Key Provisions
- Hazard Mitigation Activities: Electric utilities are allowed to carry out cost-effective activities that aim to mitigate hazards, such as natural disasters. This could involve infrastructure improvements or other measures designed to reduce the risks associated with potential electrical disruptions.
- Eligibility for Dual Assistance: The bill clarifies that if an electric utility receives federal assistance to restore power in an emergency, this does not disqualify the utility from receiving additional funds specifically for hazard mitigation efforts. This means that utilities can benefit from both types of assistance without penalties.
- Applicability to Future Appropriations: The changes outlined in the bill will only apply to funds appropriated after the bill is enacted. This specifies that the new provisions will not retroactively affect past funding decisions.
Overall Impact
The legislation is designed to empower electric utilities to pursue safety and resilience measures more effectively. By allowing utilities to combine restoration efforts with proactive hazard mitigation activities and ensuring they can receive multiple forms of federal assistance, the bill aims to improve the overall reliability of electrical services during emergencies.
Relevant Companies
- DUK (Duke Energy Corporation) - As a major electric utility provider, Duke Energy could see increased funding opportunities for hazard mitigation projects due to the provisions of this bill.
- NEE (NextEra Energy, Inc.) - NextEra, another large player in the electric utility sector, may benefit from the ability to secure additional federal assistance for both restoration and mitigation efforts during disasters.
- ED (Consolidated Edison, Inc.) - As a significant provider of electric services in the northeastern U.S., Consolidated Edison could utilize the provisions of this bill to enhance its resilience against natural disasters through federal support.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
2 bill sponsors
Actions
12 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 2025 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H168-169) |
| Jan. 15, 2025 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2 (Roll no. 13). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H103) |
| Jan. 15, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2 (Roll no. 13). (text: 1/13/2025 CR H103) |
| Jan. 13, 2025 | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| Jan. 13, 2025 | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H103-104) |
| Jan. 13, 2025 | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 164. |
| Jan. 13, 2025 | Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. |
| Jan. 04, 2025 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. |
| Jan. 03, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Jan. 03, 2025 | Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. |
Corporate Lobbying
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