Load Forecasting Enhancement Act

Troy Balderson

Republican · OH · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Robert Menendez (D-NJ-8)Original· 2026-06-18

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2026-06-18

Source: Congress.gov

The legislation would improve how electric utilities predict future electricity demand by requiring them to use better forecasting methods and technology. This helps power companies plan more efficiently, reduce waste, and maintain reliable electricity service for homes and businesses. The bill affects utility companies, their customers, and grid operators who work to keep the electrical system stable.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9332 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9332 To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish regional joint boards to study electric load forecasting, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 18, 2026 Mr. Balderson (for himself and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish regional joint boards to study electric load forecasting, 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 ``Load Forecasting Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. REGIONAL JOINT BOARDS TO STUDY ELECTRIC LOAD FORECASTING. (a) In General.-- (1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall establish-- (A) regions determined appropriate by the Commission for purposes of studying electric load forecasting; and (B) a joint board for each such region. (2) Regions.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Commission shall ensure that each State is included in a region established under such paragraph. (b) Membership.--Each joint board established under this section shall be composed of-- (1) 1 representative from each State commission in the region for which the joint board is established; and (2) 1 member of the Commission, who shall serve as chair of the joint board. (c) Duties.--Each joint board established under this section shall-- (1) study issues relevant to identifying best practices for electric load forecasting that enhance the reliability and affordability of electric service to customers in the region for which the joint board is established, including, with respect to the region for which the joint board is established-- (A) the effects of electric load forecasting on the affordability of electric service; (B) the reliability and resilience of electric service; (C) the methods used for collecting and modeling data relating to electric load forecasting; (D) the transparency of the data and methodologies used to forecast electric loads and the accuracy of such forecasts; (E) stakeholder engagement relating to electric load forecasting; (F) economic development projections that may affect the electric load; (G) the best available technologies, methodologies, and procedures for forecasting electric loads; and (H) an evaluation of requests for electric service by industrial or commercial facilities with large loads, including whether such facilities have made financial commitments to an electric utility; (2) identify such best practices; and (3) report on such best practices to the Commission. (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish and submit to Congress a report that includes-- (1) the best practices reported under subsection (c); and (2) recommendations for the consistent use across States of any such best practices by electric utilities. (e) Termination.--Each joint board established under this section shall terminate on the day after the date on which the Commission submits the report under subsection (d). (f) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``electric utility'', ``State'', and ``State commission'' have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796). SEC. 3. PURPA STANDARD ON ELECTRIC LOAD FORECASTING. (a) In General.--Section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621) is amended-- (1) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following: ``(22) Electric load forecasting.--The procedures used to forecast electric loads shall incorporate the recommendations…

published in the report of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pursuant to the Load Forecasting Enhancement Act.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(e) Consideration and Determination by Nonregulated Electric Utilities.--The requirement for consideration and determination referred to in the first sentence of subsection (a) shall not apply to a nonregulated electric utility with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of subsection (d).''. (b) 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) shall commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) 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) shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 111 with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d).''; (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 paragraph (22) 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 that paragraph (22).'' 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 standard established by paragraph (22) 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 (or a comparable standard); ``(2) the State regulatory authority for the State has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or ``(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (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 the standard established by paragraph (22) 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 paragraph (22).'' after ``paragraph (21).''. SEC. 4. STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLANS. Section 362(c) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6322(c)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end; (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(8) procedures and programs to improve the accuracy, oversight, and transparency to stakeholders of the forecasting of electric loads by electric utilities (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796)).''. <all>

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