June 18, 2026
Mr. Balderson (for himself and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish regional joint boards to study electric load forecasting, and for other purposes.
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)).