Tennessee House Bill HB2169

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/5/26
• Failed: 3/18/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 58 and Title 65, relative to local electric systems.

Impact

The bill introduces several requirements for local electric systems, including an annual electric reliability report that must detail system performance metrics and identify areas prone to outages. Furthermore, it calls for a ten-year grid resilience plan that must be publicly available, encouraging local systems to adopt measures that improve overall grid reliability. This act is particularly significant as it lays out specific expectations for local governments to understand and mitigate the risks associated with electric service interruptions, ultimately aiming to protect critical infrastructure and populations susceptible to prolonged outages.

Summary

House Bill 2169, titled the 'Electric Grid Resilience, Transparency, and Planning Act,' is designed to amend various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated related to local electric systems. This legislation focuses on enhancing the reliability and resilience of electric services provided by local systems, especially in the wake of severe weather events that can lead to significant power outages. The bill establishes a regulatory framework that mandates annual reporting on electric reliability, storm response, and restoration performance metrics, which are crucial for transparency and accountability to the public.

Contention

While the intent behind HB2169 is focused on enhancing service reliability and transparency in local electric systems, the legislation faces potential contention regarding the additional administrative burdens it may impose on local governments and utility providers. Critics may argue that the new reporting and planning requirements could necessitate reallocating resources or increasing costs for local electric systems, particularly for smaller municipalities that may lack the infrastructure or personnel to comply with these new demands efficiently. Additionally, the delineation of responsibilities in emergency communication could raise questions about liability and the adequacy of existing systems to manage increased expectations during crisis situations.