The Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program within 90 days to enhance public safety by improving power grid reliability and reducing wildfire risks. This program will provide funding to various electric utilities, including publicly owned, municipal, cooperative, investor-owned, and federal entities, for activities that supplement their existing grid-hardening efforts. Eligible entities can use grants for a wide range of projects, such as undergrounding power lines , hardening overhead infrastructure with fire-resistant equipment, and installing advanced technologies like fast-tripping protection systems or fault detection equipment. Funds can also support vegetation management, weather monitoring stations, and upgrades for seismic events or targeted microgrid operations to boost community resilience. Applicants must submit a wildfire mitigation plan or a report on grid reliability efforts, with the Secretary prioritizing projects offering the greatest community benefit relative to cost. The program includes set-asides, ensuring at least 40 percent of funds address wildfire risk and 20 percent go to small utilities, which also benefit from a reduced matching requirement of 33 percent compared to the standard 100 percent. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $15 billion annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to fund these initiatives. It also allows the Secretary to provide technical assistance and grants for hiring personnel to aid in the planning and implementation of these critical infrastructure upgrades.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Energy
Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act
USA119th CongressS-4193| Senate
| Updated: 3/25/2026
The Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program within 90 days to enhance public safety by improving power grid reliability and reducing wildfire risks. This program will provide funding to various electric utilities, including publicly owned, municipal, cooperative, investor-owned, and federal entities, for activities that supplement their existing grid-hardening efforts. Eligible entities can use grants for a wide range of projects, such as undergrounding power lines , hardening overhead infrastructure with fire-resistant equipment, and installing advanced technologies like fast-tripping protection systems or fault detection equipment. Funds can also support vegetation management, weather monitoring stations, and upgrades for seismic events or targeted microgrid operations to boost community resilience. Applicants must submit a wildfire mitigation plan or a report on grid reliability efforts, with the Secretary prioritizing projects offering the greatest community benefit relative to cost. The program includes set-asides, ensuring at least 40 percent of funds address wildfire risk and 20 percent go to small utilities, which also benefit from a reduced matching requirement of 33 percent compared to the standard 100 percent. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $15 billion annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to fund these initiatives. It also allows the Secretary to provide technical assistance and grants for hiring personnel to aid in the planning and implementation of these critical infrastructure upgrades.