Wildfire and Grid Reliability Act
Creates a federal grant program to help electric utilities reduce wildfire risks and improve grid reliability.
In the House Energy and Commerce Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 11 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Power lines can start wildfires, and natural disasters can disrupt electricity service. The bill would create a federal grant program for utilities to reduce wildfire risks and improve grid reliability. It would fund a range of upgrades, require utility matching funds, and reserve shares of funding for wildfire projects and smaller utilities.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create a grid reliability grant program
The Secretary of Energy would establish a grant program within the Office of Electricity within 90 days after enactment. Grants would support additional projects that improve grid reliability or reduce wildfire risks from power lines, and that are designed to improve public safety.
- Fund a range of safety upgrades
Grant funds could support projects such as burying or strengthening power lines, replacing old equipment, managing vegetation, detecting faults or downed wires, and preparing facilities for disasters. They could also support microgrid equipment for communities during a main-grid outage.
- Set grant priorities and matching rules
At least 40% of program funding would go to projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, and at least 20% would go to utilities selling no more than 4,000,000 megawatt-hours per year. Most recipients would have to match grants dollar for dollar; those smaller utilities would have to provide a match equal to at least one-third of the grant.
- Favor projects with greater community benefit
The Secretary would give priority to projects judged to provide the greatest community benefit in improving grid reliability or reducing wildfire risk, relative to project cost. Utilities seeking grants would need to submit a wildfire mitigation plan or a report on their grid reliability efforts, depending on the project.
- Authorize program funding and require reports
The bill would authorize $15 billion for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2036. The Secretary would report to congressional committees every two years on changes in grid reliability and wildfire risk under the program.
The bill identifies two risks it aims to address: wildfires caused by power lines and disruptions to the power grid from natural disasters. Its grant program would support utility projects intended to reduce those risks and improve public safety.
The proposed authorization would make substantial federal funding available over ten fiscal years. The bill would also require a portion of program funding to support wildfire-risk projects and smaller utilities.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. NeguseReferred to Energy and Commerce
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 24, 2026ENERGY & COMMERCE NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 11 daysNo hearing yet
- 11 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 11, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
In committee · Energy and Natural Resources · 1 cosponsor · introduced by Ron Wyden.
S. 4193 is the same bill introduced in the Senate. Companion bills let both chambers work on one idea at once; when one passes, the other chamber often takes up the version that already passed.
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