---
title: HB 1381. Public utilities; require grid modernization assessments to be filed with integrated resources plans
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1381
cite_as: HB 1381, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1381
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1381.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1381/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73370
date: 2026-02-20
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1381.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1381
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-18
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Samuel Park
- Todd Jones
- Eric Gisler
- Tangie Herring
- Beth Camp
- Brad Thomas
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1381/2025
upstream_id: 2119566
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- electric utilities
- power grid technology
- transmission lines
- Public Service Commission
- electricity rates
---
# HB 1381. Public utilities; require grid modernization assessments to be filed with integrated resources plans
## Text
House Bill 1381
By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Jones of the 25th, Gisler of the 121st, Herring of the
145th, Camp of the 135th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 3A of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
integrated resource planning, so as to require grid modernization assessments to be filed with
integrated resources plans; to require justification for new transmission construction instead
of utilizing certain new technologies; to provide for the recovery of costs; to provide for the
recovery of certain savings related to new technologies; to provide for definitions; to provide
for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 3A of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to integrated
resource planning, is amended in Code Section 46-3A-1, relating to definitions, as follows:
"46-3A-1.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) 'Advanced reconductoring' means the replacement of traditional transmission
conductors with high-performance conductors that provide higher capacity and lower line
losses, specifically designed for installation on existing towers and rights of way.
(1)(2) 'Capacity resource' means an electric plant, a long-term power purchase, or a
demand-side capacity option.
(2)(3) 'Construction' means clearing of land, excavation, or other substantial activity
leading to the operation of an electric plant other than planning, land surveying, land
acquisition, subsurface exploration, design work, licensing or other regulatory activity,
contracting for construction, or environmental protection measures and activities
associated therewith.
(3)(4) 'Demand-side capacity option' means a program proposed by a utility or the
commission for the reduction of future electricity requirements the utility's Georgia retail
customers would otherwise impose, including, but not limited to, conservation, load
management, cogeneration, and renewable energy technologies.
(4)(5) 'Electric plant' means any facility, or the portion of a facility, that produces
electricity or that, at the time application for certification is made pursuant to this chapter,
is intended to produce electricity for a utility's Georgia retail customers. 'Electric plant'
includes the realty and ancillary facilities for the construction of the plant.
(6) 'Grid-enhancing technologies' or 'GETs' means a suite of hardware and software
solutions that increase the capacity, efficiency, or reliability of existing transmission
lines, including, but not limited to, dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow control,
and topology optimization.
(5)(7) 'Long-term power purchase' means a purchase of electric capacity and energy for
a period exceeding one year, the principal purpose of which is to supply the requirements
of the Georgia retail customers of a utility.
(6)(8) 'Plan' means an integrated resource plan which contains the utility's electric
demand and energy forecast for at least a 20 year period, contains the utility's program
for meeting the requirements shown in its forecast in an economical and reliable manner,
contains the utility's analysis of all capacity resource options, including both demand-side
and supply-side options, and sets forth the utility's assumptions and conclusions with
respect to the effect of each capacity resource option on the future cost and reliability of
electric service. The plan shall also:
(A) Contain the size and type of facilities which are expected to be owned or operated
in whole or in part by such utility and the construction of which is expected to
commence during the ensuing ten years or such longer period as the commission deems
necessary and shall identify all existing facilities intended to be removed from service
during such period or upon completion of such construction;
(B) Contain practical alternatives to the fuel type and method of generation of the
proposed electric generating facilities and set forth in detail the reasons for selecting the
fuel type and method of generation;
(C) Contain a statement of the estimated impact of proposed and alternative generating
plants on the environment and the means by which potential adverse impacts will be
avoided or minimized;
(D) Indicate in detail the projected demand for electric energy for a 20 year period and
the basis for determining the projected demand;
(E) Describe the utility's relationship to other utilities in regional associations, power
pools, and networks;
(F) Identify and describe all major research projects and programs which will continue
or commence in the succeeding three years and set forth the reasons for selecting
specific areas of research;
(G) Identify and describe existing and planned programs and policies to discourage
inefficient and excessive power use; and
(H) Provide any other information as may be required by the commission.
(7)(9) 'Supply-side capacity option' means an electric plant, a long-term power purchase,
or any other source of additional energy.
(8)(10) 'Utility' means any electric supplier whose rates are fixed by the commission."
SECTION 2.
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 46-3A-2, relating to filing and
approval of an integrated resource plan, by adding a new subsection to read as follows:
"(d)(1) Each integrated resource plan filed after July 1, 2026, shall include a dedicated
grid modernization assessment that identifies all transmission corridors currently
experiencing, or forecast to experience, congestion within the succeeding ten years.
(2) For each proposed construction of new a transmission line or significant expansion
of an existing line identified in the grid modernization assessment, the utility must file
a technical and economic comparison demonstrating that grid-enhancing technologies or
advanced reconductoring were evaluated as alternatives, and justify the need for such
construction."
SECTION 3.
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 46-3A-4, relating to issuance of
a certificate of public convenience and necessity, and application to include plan and
cost-benefit analysis, by adding a new subsection to read as follows:
"(d) The commission shall not issue a certificate pursuant to this Code section for the
construction of a new high voltage transmission line unless the applicant demonstrates that
the immediate capacity need cannot be met by the deployment of grid-enhancing
technologies or advanced reconductoring on existing rights of way."
SECTION 4.
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 46-3A-7, relating to construction
costs as part of rate base, review of construction work in progress, verification of
expenditures, and recovery of costs of canceled construction, by adding a new subsection to
read as follows:
"(e)(1) All capital expenditures for grid-enhancing technologies and advanced
reconductoring for which a certificate was obtained shall be eligible for full cost recovery
through the utility's base rate.
(2) The commission is authorized to allow a utility to retain 25 percent of the verified
annual congestion cost savings achieved through the deployment of GETs, with the
remaining 75 percent passed through to ratepayers as a direct credit on the fuel cost
adjustment or similar mechanism."
SECTION 5.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 1381 would require Georgia's electric utilities to study grid upgrade technologies before building new transmission lines and to include a grid modernization assessment in their long-range resource plans filed with state regulators.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia law requires large electric utilities to file integrated resource plans with the Public Service Commission every few years, laying out how they plan to meet future electricity demand. HB 1381 would add a new requirement: starting with plans filed after July 1, 2026, utilities must include a grid modernization assessment identifying transmission corridors that are congested or expected to become congested within the next ten years.
For any new transmission line or major expansion identified in that assessment, the utility would have to compare the cost and technical performance of grid-enhancing technologies (software and hardware that boost the capacity of existing lines) and advanced reconductoring (upgrading existing wires with higher-capacity conductors) against building new lines, and justify why new construction is needed. The Public Service Commission could not approve a new high-voltage line unless the utility shows these alternatives cannot meet the need. The bill also lets utilities fully recover the cost of these technologies through customer rates and keep 25 percent of verified savings from reduced congestion, passing the rest to ratepayers.
### What it does
- Requires utilities to file a grid modernization assessment with each integrated resource plan submitted after July 1, 2026, identifying congested or soon-to-be-congested transmission corridors.
- Requires utilities proposing new or expanded transmission lines to compare them against grid-enhancing technologies and advanced reconductoring and justify why new construction is needed.
- Blocks the Public Service Commission from approving a certificate for a new high-voltage transmission line unless the utility proves the need cannot be met with existing-line upgrades instead.
- Allows utilities to recover the full cost of grid-enhancing technology and advanced reconductoring investments through their base electric rates.
- Lets utilities keep 25 percent of verified annual savings from reduced line congestion achieved through these technologies, while the remaining 75 percent goes back to customers as a rate credit.
- Adds legal definitions for 'advanced reconductoring' and 'grid-enhancing technologies' (or 'GETs') to Georgia's integrated resource planning law.
### Who it affects
Georgia's regulated electric utilities that file integrated resource plans, the Public Service Commission that reviews and approves those plans and transmission projects, and electricity ratepayers whose bills would reflect both new cost recovery for grid technology and credits from congestion savings.
### Why it matters
If enacted, utilities would need to show new transmission lines are truly necessary before building them, potentially slowing or reshaping large infrastructure projects. Ratepayers could see both new charges for grid technology investments and credits from congestion savings, changing how transmission costs show up on electric bills.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds definitions for 'advanced reconductoring' and 'grid-enhancing technologies' (GETs) to O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-1, the definitions section of Georgia's integrated resource planning law.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-2 to require a grid modernization assessment in integrated resource plans filed after July 1, 2026, identifying congested transmission corridors over the next ten years.
- Section 2 also requires utilities to file a technical and economic comparison showing GETs or advanced reconductoring were considered before proposing new or expanded transmission lines.
- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-4 to bar the commission from issuing a certificate for a new high-voltage transmission line unless the utility shows the capacity need cannot be met through GETs or advanced reconductoring on existing rights of way.
- Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-7 to allow full cost recovery through base rates for capital spent on GETs and advanced reconductoring that received a certificate.
- Section 4 also lets the commission allow utilities to keep 25 percent of verified annual congestion savings from GETs, with 75 percent passed to ratepayers as a rate credit.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-18)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-20)
- Sponsors: Samuel Park, Todd Jones, Eric Gisler, Tangie Herring, Beth Camp, Brad Thomas
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73370
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1381.md?full=1