H.R.164 - Promoting Opportunities to Widen Electrical Resilience Act of 2025; POWER Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 164, the POWER Act of 2025, amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It authorizes federal agencies to provide essential assistance for hazard mitigation for electric utilities. This allows utilities to combine power restoration with hazard mitigation activities and ensures that receiving emergency restoration assistance does not disqualify them from future hazard mitigation assistance.
Expected Effects
The Act aims to improve the resilience of the electrical grid by enabling electric utilities to proactively mitigate hazards. This should lead to fewer and shorter power outages during and after disasters. The changes apply to funds appropriated after the Act's enactment.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced grid resilience, reducing the frequency and duration of power outages.
- Cost-effective hazard mitigation through combined restoration and mitigation activities.
- Increased eligibility for hazard mitigation assistance for electric utilities.
- Improved reliability of power supply during and after disasters.
- Potential for reduced economic losses due to power outages.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs to taxpayers if hazard mitigation projects are not effectively managed.
- Possible delays in power restoration if mitigation activities are prioritized over immediate repairs.
- Risk of inefficient allocation of resources if hazard mitigation projects are not properly assessed and prioritized.
- Could create an incentive for utilities to delay necessary upgrades, relying instead on disaster relief funds.
- May disproportionately benefit larger utilities with greater capacity to navigate the application process.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the General Welfare Clause of the Constitution, as it aims to promote the well-being of citizens by ensuring a more resilient electrical grid. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. This bill falls under the umbrella of providing for the general welfare by ensuring reliable access to electricity, especially in times of disaster.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).