Bill > HB1813

This bill adopts the Fair and Efficient Transmission Compact, which is an interstate agreement among states in the mid-South region designed to improve electricity transmission infrastructure. The compact establishes a multi-state council to facilitate more competitive, cost-effective, and efficient transmission project development by creating uniform standards and principles. Key provisions include promoting an open bidding process for new transmission projects, ensuring technology-neutral energy policies, developing fair cost allocation methods for transmission infrastructure, creating uniform siting and certification processes, valuing grid-enhancing technologies, and allowing for competitive bidding of transmission projects. The compact creates a council with representatives from participating states (initially Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) that will develop guidelines for transmission construction, elect leadership annually, and prepare reports for state governors. The bill emphasizes the importance of supporting economic growth, grid reliability, and innovation in electricity transmission by removing regulatory barriers and encouraging competition among transmission project developers. Each participating state's public service commission would be responsible for administering the compact, with the flexibility to adopt rules consistent with the compact's principles.

Business and Industry

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1813&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R