H.R. 7066

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7066 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7066

To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a 
standard relating to the consideration of large load facilities as a 
class of electric consumers, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 14, 2026

Mr. Levin (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Quigley, Mr. 
Landsman, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Latimer, Mr. Casten, and Ms. 
Pingree) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to add a 
standard relating to the consideration of large load facilities as a 
class of electric consumers, 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 ``Stopping Hikes In Electricity from 
Large Load Demands Act'' or the ``SHIELD Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPA STANDARDS FOR LARGE LOAD FACILITIES.

(a) In General.--Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
``(22) Large load facility class.--
``(A) Classification.--Large load facilities shall 
be considered a class of electric consumers.
``(B) Cost recovery relating to large load facility 
class.--Each electric utility that provides electric 
service to a class of electric consumers described in 
subparagraph (A) shall fully recover from such class 
all costs associated with any upgrade made to the 
generation, transmission, or distribution facilities of 
the electric grid, including local facilities, in order 
to meet the demand for electric energy from such class, 
including in the event that a large load facility 
ceases operations or uses less electric energy than 
projected at the time of such upgrade.
``(23) Grid reliability for large load facilities.--Each 
electric utility shall prioritize, among requests from owners 
or operators of large load facilities for electric service, 
such a request under which the owner or operator agrees to 
employ--
``(A) features that reduce the demand for electric 
energy from the electric grid during times of peak 
demand, including--
``(i) energy efficiency or energy 
conservation measures;
``(ii) onsite energy storage; or
``(iii) demand response or load flexibility 
technologies; and
``(B) zero-emission electric energy generated 
onsite or procured within the same balancing authority 
through a power purchase agreement to meet all of the 
demand of the large load facility for electric 
energy.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 111 of the Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of subsection (d):
``(1) Large load facility.--The term `large load 
facility'--
``(A) means a facility, or an aggregation of 
facilities at a single site, with respect to which the 
peak demand of such facility or such aggregation of 
facilities exceeds 75 megawatts; and
``(B) does not include an existing facility with 
respect to which any increased demand is predominantly 
caused by electrification or measures to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions.
``(2) Zero-emission electric energy.--The term `zero-
emission electric energy' means electric energy generated 
without emitting greenhouse gases, including from solar, wind, 
geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, fission, or fusion.''.
(c) 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) and each nonregulated utility shall 
commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date 
for consideration, with respect to each standard established by 
paragraphs (22) and (23) 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), and each nonregulated electric utility shall 
complete the consideration and make the determination under 
section 111 with respect to each standard established by 
paragraphs (22) and (23) of section 111(d).
``(C) Not later than 30 days after completing the 
consideration and making a determination under section 111 with 
respect to each standard established by paragraphs (22) and 
(23) of section 111(d), each State regulatory authority (with 
respect to each electric utility for which the State has 
ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility 
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate a report detailing the process 
used for consideration and an explanation for the 
determination.'';
(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 paragraphs (22) and 
(23) 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 such paragraphs (22) 
and (23).'' 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 standards established by paragraphs (22) and (23) 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 concerned (or a comparable standard);
``(2) the State regulatory authority for the State or the 
relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a 
proceeding to consider implementation of the standard concerned 
(or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or
``(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation 
of the standard concerned (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 each standard 
established by paragraphs (22) and (23) 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 such paragraphs (22) and (23).'' after ``paragraph 
(21).''.
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