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Balderson Unveils Legislation to Prioritize Grid Reliability for Federal Regulators

Washington, May 29, 2025
LANCASTER, OH – Today, Congressman Balderson announced the introduction of the Reliable Power Act, legislation designed to protect America’s electric grid by ensuring that federal agencies consider the impact of their regulations on grid reliability before finalizing new rules. Representatives Randy Weber (TX-14) and Julie Fedorchak (ND-At Large) joined as original co-sponsors.

Balderson unveiled the bill at an energy roundtable in Lancaster, Ohio, where he led a discussion on Ohio’s growing power needs, the challenges facing the electric grid, and his work as Chairman of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT). The roundtable included a panel of energy experts and industry leaders from across the Buckeye State.

“When bureaucrats focus too much on churning out new rules and regulations—and ignore the real-world impacts of their mandates—our grid’s reliability is put at risk,” said Balderson. “Under the Biden Administration, federal agencies worked around the clock to push through extreme Green New Deal policies, throwing our grid into a reliability crisis. The Reliable Power Act sets clear accountability and coordination standards to ensure that federal regulations support, rather than threaten, the strength and dependability of our power system.

“I pplaud the outstanding work President Trump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin have done to advance our vision of American energy dominance,” Balderson continued. “Ohioans can’t afford to see this progress undone by far-left bureaucrats down the road. This legislation will help keep the lights on and ensure energy remains affordable for Ohio families.”

The Reliable Power Act builds on the groundwork laid by the GRID Act, introduced in the previous Congress by former Congressman Jeff Duncan, by clarifying responsibilities, streamlining agency coordination, and reinforcing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) central role in upholding electric reliability.

Key provisions of the Reliable Power Act include:
  • Agency Coordination: Amends the Federal Power Act to require coordination between FERC and any Federal agency seeking to finalize a regulation that may affect electric generation necessary for the reliable operation of the bulk-power system, commonly known as the electric grid.

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  • Annual Assessments: The bill requires the electric reliability organization (ERO) to conduct annual long-term assessments of the reliability of the bulk power system. If the ERO determines that the bulk power system does not have sufficient generation to maintain reliability, FERC would review, comment, and recommend changes to the proposed regulations.

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  • Federal Accountability for Reliability: The legislation ensures that no final rule can move forward if it would cause a substantial negative impact on grid reliability.

Balderson leads discussion at energy roundtable in Lancaster, Ohio.

Balderson is also leading the GRID Power Act, a bill that would enable grid operators to expedite consideration of power generation projects that improve the reliability of the electric grid. These projects must currently wait up to five years in the interconnection queue before federal assessments and impact studies can even begin.

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

 
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