,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cidg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #bf1 #bjbf,mr4
 ,mc,cormick 7= himself & ,mr4 ,wel*7   
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy
 & ,natural ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to   
am5d ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act to e/abli% a    
categorical exclusion = reconductor+ )9 
exi/+ rights-(-way1 & = o!r purposes4   
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,reconductor+ ,exi/+ ,wires =         
,infra/ructure ,reliability & ,expansion
 ,act or ! ,,rewire ,act4  #b4          
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,advanc$  
transmission conductor ,! t]m advanc$   
transmission conductor means a          
conductor1 includ+ a c>bon fib]         
conductor1 a composite core conductor1 a
 sup]conductor1 & any o!r conductor1 t--
 7,a7 has a direct curr5t electrical    
resi/ance at lea/ #aj p]c5t l[] ?an a   
traditional ,,acsr conductor ( a simil> 
diamet] & weight2  7,b7 has a pot5tial  
en]gy c>ry+ capacity at lea/ #gj p]c5t  

great] ?an a traditional ,,acsr         
conductor ( a simil> diamet] & weight2 &
  7,c7 has a coeffici5t ( !rmal         
expansion at lea/ #ej p]c5t l[] ?an a   
traditional ,,acsr conductor ( a simil> 
diamet] & weight4  7#b7 ,,ascr conductor
 ,! t]m ,,ascr conductor means an       
alum9um conductor /eel-re9=c$ cable4    
7#c7 ,bulk-p[] sy/em ,! t]m bulk-p[]    
sy/em has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section  
#bae7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af      
,u4,s4,c4 #hbdo7a774  7#d7 ,commission  
,! t]m ,commission means ! ,f$]al ,en]gy
 ,regulatory ,commission4  7#e7         
,effective load c>ry+ capability2 ,,elcc
  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m effective load   
c>ry+ capability or ,,elcc means !      
ability ( a g5]at+ res\rce to produce   
electricity :5 ! grid ne$s x1 measur$ z 
! additional load 7or p]fect replacem5t 
capacity7 t ! sy/em c supply ) a        
p>ticul> g5]ator ( int]e/ ) no net *ange
 9 reliability4  7,b7 ,cl>ification ,!  
additional load 7or p]fect replacem5t   
capacity7 ref]r$ to 9 subp>agraph 7,a7--

 7i7 may be measur$ us+ ,,lole1 ,,eue1  
or o!r metrics2 &  7ii7 may be divid$ by
 ! nameplate capacity ( ! g5]at+ res\rce
 to yield a p]c5tage4  7#f7 ,electric   
,reliability ,organization ,! t]m       
,electric ,reliability ,organization has
 ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #bae7;a7 (
 ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4      
#hbdo7a774  7#g7 ,electric utility ,!   
t]m electric utility has ! mean+ giv5 ! 
t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act   
7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gif74  7#h7 ,expect$    
uns]v$ en]gy2 ,,eue ,! t]m expect$      
uns]v$ en]gy or ,,eue means ! cumulative
 am\nt ( en]gy 79 megawatt-h\rs7 p] ye> 
t is n provid$ to cu/om]s due to        
outages4  7#i7 ,grid-enhanc+ te*nology  
,! t]m grid-enhanc+ te*nology means any 
h>dw>e or s(tw>e t-- 7,a7 increases !   
capacity1 effici5cy1 reliability1       
resili5ce1 or safety ( transmission     
facilities & transmission te*nologies2 &
  7,b7 is in/all$ 9 addition to         
transmission facilities & transmission  
te*nologies-- 7i7 to give op]ators ( !  

transmission facilities & transmission  
te*nologies m situational aw>5ess &     
control ov] ! electric grid2  7ii7 to   
make ! transmission facilities &        
transmission te*nologies m effici5t2 or 
7iii7 to increase ! transf] capacity ( !
 transmission facilities & transmission 
te*nologies4  7#aj7 ,indep5d5t ,sy/em   
,op]ator ,! t]m ,indep5d5t ,sy/em       
,op]ator has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9       
section #c ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af    
,u4,s4,c4 #gif74  7#aa7 ,integrat$      
res\rce plann+ ,! t]m integrat$ res\rce 
plann+ means model+ & evaluat+ h[       
project$ long-t]m electricity dem&s 7su*
 z electricity dem&s ov] p]iods ( #e1   
#aj1 #bj1 or m ye>s7 )9 a s]vice area c 
be met ) a comb9ation ( electric        
g5]ation res\rces t be/ a*ieve desir$   
metrics1 su* z metrics relat+ to        
reliability1 resili5ce1 & co/4  7#ab7   
,loss ( load expectation2 ,,lole  7,a7  
,9 g5]al ,! t]m loss ( load expectation 
or ,,lole means ! expect$ numb] ( days  
p] ye> t ! available g5]ation capacity  

is less ?an ! sy/em load = ! applicable 
p[] grid region or s]vice area4  7,b7   
,cl>ification ,z ( ,novemb] #bjbc1 a    
commonly acceptable value = loss ( load 
expectation is #j4a days p] ye>1 z      
describ$ 9 ! /&>d ( ! ,nor? ,am]ican    
,electric ,reliability ,corporation     
entitl$ ,plann+ ,res\rce ,adequacy      
,analysis1 ,assessm5t & ,docum5tation & 
numb]$ ,,bal-#ejb-,,rf-#jc4  7#ac7      
,national ,laboratory ,! t]m ,national  
,laboratory has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9    
section #b ( ! ,en]gy ,policy ,act (    
#bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja74  7#ad7    
,plann+ res]ve m>g9  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
t]m plann+ res]ve m>g9 means ! quoti5t1 
express$ z a p]c5tage1 obta9$ by        
divid+-- 7i7 ! diff]5ce betwe5-- 7,i7   
deliv]able electric sy/em supply        
capacity = a p[] grid region or s]vice  
area2 &  7,,ii7 net dem& 9 t p[] grid   
region or s]vice area2 by  7ii7 net dem&
 9 t p[] grid region or s]vice area4    
7,b7 ,cl>ification ,z ( ,novemb] #bjbc1 
a res]ve m>g9 fall+ )9 ! range f #ae    

p]c5t to #be p]c5t is typical = a p[]   
grid region or s]vice area4  7#ae7 ,p[] 
grid ,! t]m p[] grid means t portion (  
an ,int]connection 7z def9$ 9 section   
#bae7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af      
,u4,s4,c4 #hbdo7a777 t is locat$ )9 !   
,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+ ! relevant       
portion ( ea* ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! ,ea/]n
 ,int]connection4  7,b7 ,! ,we/]n       
,int]connection4  7,c7 ,! ,texas        
,int]connection4  7#af7 ,p[] grid region
 ,! t]m p[] grid region means a         
geographic area-- 7,a7 locat$ )9 a p[]  
grid2 &  7,b7 = :i* a regional entity 7z
 def9$ 9 subsection 7a7 ( section #bae (
 ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4      
#hbdo77 has en=cem5t au?ority "u t      
section4  7#ag7 ,probabili/ic model+    
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m probabili/ic model+
 means a model+ approa* t uses /ati/ics 
to simulate & quantify ! likelihood (   
a*iev+ desir$ metrics1 tak+ into        
consid]ation all model$ unc]ta9ties1 =  
det]m9ation ( ! optimal res\rce         
portfolio1 su* z a model+ approa*       

consi/5t ) ! docum5t ( ! ,nor? ,am]ican 
,electric ,reliability ,corporation     
entitl$ ,probabili/ic ,assessm5t        
,te*nical ,guidel9e ,docum5t & dat$     
,augu/ #bjaf1 includ+ ! recomm5dations  
describ$ 9 t docum5t4  7,b7 ,inclusion  
,! t]m probabili/ic model+ includes     
model+ t c id5tify ! mo/ important      
p>amet]s t impact a simulat$ metric =   
fur!r *>act]ization or optimization4    
7#ah7 ,regional ,transmission           
,organization ,! t]m ,regional          
,transmission ,organization has ! mean+ 
giv5 ! t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] 
,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gif74  7#ai7       
,reliability /&>d ,! t]m reliability    
/&>d has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section   
#bae7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af      
,u4,s4,c4 #hbdo7a774  7#bj7 ,res\rce    
adequacy ,! t]m res\rce adequacy means !
 adequate supply & provision (          
electricity f v>i\s electric g5]ation   
res\rces to meet project$ electricity   
dem&s 9 a p>ticul> p[] grid region or   
s]vice area4  7#ba7 ,secret>y ,! t]m    

,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,en]gy4   
7#bb7 ,s]vice area ,! t]m s]vice area   
means ! area or region s]v$ by-- 7,a7 an
 electric utility2  7,b7 a ,regional    
,transmission ,organization2 or  7,c7 an
 ,indep5d5t ,sy/em ,op]ator4  7#bc7     
,/ate regulatory au?ority ,! t]m ,/ate  
regulatory au?ority has ! mean+ giv5 !  
t]m 9 section #c ( ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act   
7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #gif74  #c4 ,categorical 
exclusion = reconductor+ ,"p ,,ii ( !   
,f$]al ,p[] ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbd et 
seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section   
#baf ! foll[+3  #baf;,a4 ,grid capacity 
expansion 9 exi/+ rights-(-way  7a7     
,def9ition ( previ\sly di/urb$ or       
develop$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m previ\sly
 di/urb$ or develop$ has ! mean+ giv5 ! 
t]m 9 section #ajba4ajb7;g77#a7 ( title 
#aj1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or a  
successor regulation74  7b7 ,e/abli%m5t 
( categorical exclusion ,activities to  
increase ! capacity ( ! electric grid )9
 exi/+ rights-(-way or on previ\sly     
di/urb$ or develop$ l& are a category ( 

actions designat$ z be+ categorically   
exclud$ f ! prep>ation ( an environm5tal
 assessm5t or an environm5tal impact    
/atem5t "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dcba et seq474  7c7 ,inclusions ,!     
activities to :i* ! categorical         
exclusion e/abli%$ by subsection 7b7    
%all apply include any repair1          
ma9t5ance1 replacem5t1 upgrade1         
modification1 optimization1 or m9or     
relocation (1 addition to1 or addition (
 en]gy /orage at or ne>1 an exi/+       
electric transmission or di/ribution    
facility or associat$ infra/ructure1    
includ+ electrical sub/ations1 )9 an    
exi/+ "r-(-way or on o!rwise previ\sly  
di/urb$ or develop$ l&1 includ+         
reconductor+ & in/allation (            
grid-enhanc+ te*nologies4  4  #d4       
,return on equity = advanc$ transmission
 conductors ,section #bai ( ! ,f$]al    
,p[] ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbds7 is      
am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7a71 by /rik+ 
,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date (        

enactm5t ( ?is section1 ! & ins]t+ ,!2  
7#b7 9 subsection 7b71 9 ! matt] prec$+ 
p>agraph 7#a71 by ins]t+ issu$ "u       
subsection 7a7 aft] rule2  7#c7 9       
subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 9 ! second s5t5ce1
 by /rik+ ,! ,commission & ins]t+ !     
foll[+3  7#b7 ,recov]able co/s ,!       
,commission  2 &  7,b7 9 ! fir/ s5t5ce1 
by /rik+ ,9 ! rule issu$ "u ?is section 
& ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 !  
rule issu$ "u subsection 7a7  2  7#d7 9 
subsection 7d71 by /rik+ ,all rates     
approv$ "u ! rules adopt$ pursuant to   
?is section1 includ+ any revisions to ! 
rules1 are & ins]t+ ,any rate approv$ "u
 a rule issu$ pursuant to ?is section   
7includ+ a revision to a rule7 %all be2 
&  7#e7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7e7 
,advanc$ transmission conductors  7#a7  
,return on equity ,n lat] ?an #a ye>    
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,,rewire     
,act1 ! ,commission %all promulgate new1
 or revise exi/+1 rules "u ?is section  
to improve ! return on equity =         
inve/m5ts 9 advanc$ transmission        

conductors 7z def9$ 9 section #b ( t    
,act74  7#b7 ,consum] protections ,!    
,commission %all ensure t all rates     
approv$ "u ! rules promulgat$ or revis$ 
"u ?is subsection 7includ+ any subsequ5t
 revisions to ^? rules7 are j &         
reasonable & n unduly discrim9atory or  
pref]5tial1 z requir$ by subsection 7d74
  4  #e4 ,/ate en]gy programs ,section  
#cfb7;c77#g77;,b7 ( ! ,en]gy ,policy &  
,cons]vation ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4        
#fcbb7;c77#g77;,b77 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 1
 includ+ reconductor+ ) advanc$         
transmission conductors 7z def9$ 9      
section #b ( ! ,,rewire ,act7 & !       
in/allation ( grid-enhanc+ te*nologies  
7z def9$ 9 t section7 be=e ! semicolon  
at ! end4  #f4 ,national ,laboratory    
model+ & evaluation program  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! ,secret>y1 act+ ?r\gh #a or m  
,national ,laboratories1 9 consultation 
) ! ,commission & ! ,electric           
,reliability ,organization1 %all e/abli%
 a program to model & evaluate !        
p]=mance ( ! electric grid4  7b7        

,requirem5ts ,9 c>ry+ out ! program     
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y 
%all develop #a or m probabili/ic models
 = transmission plann+1 res\rce adequacy
 model+1 & integrat$ res\rce plann+ t-- 
7#a7 reflect ! specific ne$s1 res\rces1 
& attributes ( a giv5 p[] grid region or
 s]vice area2  7#b7 ensure consi/5t     
me?ods bas$ on be/ practices2  7#c7     
include consid]ation ( unc]ta9ties      
relat+ to-- 7,a7 transmission sy/ems &  
infra/ructure2  7,b7 ! impact ( wea!r   
7su* z ! impact ( temp]ature on         
transmission facilities1 includ+ l9e    
rat+s72  7,c7 conge/ion & !rmal ov]load2
 &  7,d7 ! co/s ( new or modifi$        
transmission infra/ructure1 includ+     
reconductor+ ) advanc$ transmission     
conductors & ! deploym5t ( grid-enhanc+ 
te*nologies2 &  7#d7 include            
consid]ation ( o!r relevant transmission
 unc]ta9ties1 includ+ ^? :i* may be     
unique to a giv5 p[] grid region or     
s]vice area1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y 9 
consultation ) ! ,commission4  7c7 ,use 

( model+ ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t !   
models develop$ pursuant to ! program   
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a7 may be us$1  
at a m9imum-- 7#a7 to simulate &        
quantify desir$ metrics1 tak+ into      
consid]ation ! relevant unc]ta9ties     
describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#c7 & 7#d7 (      
subsection 7b71 :i* may be us$ to assi/ 
9 transmission plann+ & ! det]m9ation ( 
! optimal res\rce portfolio = !         
applicable p[] grid region or s]vice    
area1 includ+-- 7,a7 loss ( load        
expectation2  7,b7 expect$ uns]v$ en]gy2
  7,c7 effective load c>ry+ capability  
7also kn[n z capacity value72  7,d7     
plann+ res]ve m>g92  7,e7 electricity   
transmission losses2  7,f7 conge/ion2 & 
7,g7 co/2  7#b7 to id5tify ! p>amet]s & 
processes consid]$ "u subsection 7b7 t--
 7,a7 h ! mo/ impact on ! magnitude or  
unc]ta9ty ( ! applicable simulat$       
metrics2 &  7,b7 c be fur!r *>act]iz$ or
 optimiz$ to improve ! model+ &         
det]m9ation ( ! optimal res\rce         
portfolio & transmission sy/em = !      

applicable p[] grid region or s]vice    
area2 &  7#c7 to id5tify areas :]e !    
deploym5t ( advanc$ transmission        
te*nologies1 su* z advanc$ transmission 
conductors or grid-enhanc+ te*nologies1 
may improve electric grid p]=mance4  7d7
 ,regional collaboratives  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,9 c>ry+ out ! program "u subsection   
7a71 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% regional  
collaboratives betwe5 ! ,national       
,laboratories & in/itutions ( high]     
education4  7#b7 ,consid]ations ,!      
,secret>y %all1 to ! maximum ext5t      
practicable1 prioritize e/abli%+        
regional collaboratives "u p>agraph 7#a7
 t-- 7,a7 are betwe5 regional           
in/itutions ( high] education &         
,national ,laboratories t are own$ &    
op]at$ by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t2  7,b7     
include in/itutions ( high] education ) 
exi/+ demon/ration capability1 su* z    
field-scale sy/ems ( n less ?an #ajj    
kilovolt-amp]es or laboratory           
capabilities ( n less ?an #aj           
kilovolt-amp]es1 to support te*nology   

validation1 utility adoption1 indu/ry   
engagem5t1 & work=ce developm5t2  7,c7  
demon/rate rural grid plann+ models     
7includ+ transmission & di/ribution     
co-simulation & digital tw9             
capabilities72 or  7,d7 utilize exi/+   
active data %>+ & jo9t model+ programs  
betwe5 in/itutions ( high] education &  
p>ticipat+ utilities at a /atewide      
scale4  #g4 ,te*nical assi/ance relat+  
to ! use ( advanc$ transmission         
conductors  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is      
section3 7#a7 ,develop] ,! t]m develop] 
means a develop] ( electric transmission
 facilities or te*nologies t pays to    
in/all a high-voltage transmission      
conductor4  7#b7 ,eligible entity ,! t]m
 eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a         
develop]2  7,b7 an electric utility2    
7,c7 a ,/ate2  7,d7 a ,regional         
,transmission ,organization or          
,indep5d5t ,sy/em ,op]ator2 or  7,e7 any
 o!r relevant entity1 z det]m9$ by !    
,secret>y4  7b7 ,te*nical assi/ance &   
application guide  7#a7 ,application    

guide ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date (  
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all   
e/abli% an application guide = eligible 
entities seek+ to implem5t-- 7,a7       
advanc$ transmission conductors1 includ+
 ?r\gh reconductor+ ) advanc$           
transmission conductors2 &  7,b7        
grid-enhanc+ te*nologies4  7#b7 ,updates
 ,! guide e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all
 be review$ & updat$ annually4  7#c7    
,te*nical assi/ance  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,on  
reque/ ( an eligible entity us+ ! guide 
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y  
%all provide te*nical assi/ance to t    
eligible entity ) respect to ! use (    
advanc$ transmission conductors &       
grid-enhanc+ te*nologies = p>ticul>     
applications4  7,b7 ,cle>+h\se ,9 c>ry+ 
out subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,secret>y %all  
e/abli% a cle>+h\se ( previ\sly complet$
 projects t ! ,secret>y & eligible      
entities may use to id5tify issues &    
solutions relat+ to-- 7i7 ! use (       
advanc$ transmission conductors2  7ii7  
reconductor+ ) advanc$ transmission     

conductors2 &  7iii7 ! use (            
grid-enhanc+ te*nologies4