H.R. 3616 — Reliable Power Act

Summary

Reliable Power Act

This bill directs the electric reliability organization (i.e., the North American Electric Reliability Corporation) to conduct annual long-term assessments of the reliability of electric power in the bulk-power system. It also establishes a process for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review federal regulations before they are finalized if the electric reliability organization finds that the system is at risk of not having sufficient electric generation to maintain reliability.

If the electric reliability organization finds that the system does not have sufficient generation to maintain reliability, it must notify FERC that the bulk-power system is in a state of generation inadequacy. FERC must then notify the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and any other appropriate federal agencies of the generation inadequacy. Upon receiving the notice, the federal agency must provide proposed regulations that affect any generation resource in the bulk-power system to FERC for review and comment. If applicable, FERC must provide recommendations to modify the regulations. Federal agencies may not finalize such a regulation until FERC finds that it will not be likely to have a significant negative impact on the ability of the bulk-power system to supply sufficient electric energy necessary to maintain an adequate level of reliability.

How Congress Voted

House roll call 347 — Dec 17, 2025

427 votes

222(52%)

Yea

201(47%)

Nay

0(0%)

Present

4(1%)

Not voting

Related bills

H.Res. 951Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1366) to provide for the location of multiple hardrock mining mill sites, to establish the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 845) to require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3616) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review regulations that may affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3632) to amend the Federal Power Act to adjust the requirements for orders, rules, and regulations relating to furnishing adequate service, to require owners or operators of generating facilities to provide notice of planned retirements of certain electric generating units, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4371) to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children.119

Bill text versions

Legislative Journey

Introduced
Committee
Floor
Passed Chamber 1
Passed Chamber 2
Signed

Dec 18, 2025

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Senate

Dec 17, 2025

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

House

Dec 17, 2025

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 347). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H6000)

House

Dec 17, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 347).

Dec 17, 2025

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6006)

House

Dec 17, 2025

At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3616, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Weber (TX) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

House

Dec 17, 2025

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

House

Dec 17, 2025

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3616.

House

Dec 17, 2025

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.

House

Dec 17, 2025

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H6000-6004)

House

Dec 16, 2025

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 951 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.

House

Nov 25, 2025

Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, H. Rept. 119-302, Part II.

House

Nov 25, 2025

Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, H. Rept. 119-302, Part II.

Sep 17, 2025

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 256.

House

Sep 17, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-302.

House

Sep 17, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-302.

Jun 25, 2025

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23.

House

Jun 25, 2025

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

House

Jun 5, 2025

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 14.

House

Jun 5, 2025

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

House

Jun 3, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.

House

May 29, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

House

May 29, 2025

Introduced in House

May 29, 2025

Introduced in House