Grid Utilization.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 1019

Short Title: Grid Utilization. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Brinson, Barnes, and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S1019-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO DIRECT ELECTRIC PUBLIC UTILITIES TO CONDUCT GRID UTILIZATION 2
PLANNING. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. G.S. 62-110.1 is amended by adding two new subsections to read: 5
"(c1) Each electric public utility shall submit for Comm ission approval a grid utilization 6
report as part of the biennial integrated resource plan filed in accordance with G.S. 62-110.1(c). 7
The grid utilization report shall include all of the following: 8
(1) An assessment of current electric distribution and transmission system 9
performance as compared with optimal utilization of existing electric grid 10
assets at the substation, feeder, and transmission line level on an annual and 11
seasonal basis. 12
(2) An analysis on the potential to increase electric grid utilization through the 13
development of non -wires alternatives, including energy storage resources, 14
customer-owned or customer -financed capacity resources, utility -owned 15
distributed generation resources, and virtual power plants. 16
(3) A projected time frame for implementing plans to increase electric grid 17
utilization. 18
(4) Any other information requested by the Commission to evaluate both the 19
current efficiency and performance of the electric public utility's transmission 20
and distribution system and the utility 's proposal for improving electric grid 21
utilization. 22
(c2) The Commission shall issue a final order regarding the grid utilization report , 23
submitted by an electric public utility in accordance with subsection (c1) of this section , either 24
with the biennial integrated resources plan or as a standalone order. The Commission shall 25
include in its final order any targets, timeframes, or other guidance necessary fo r an electric 26
public utility to improve grid utilization performance." 27
SECTION 2. No later than November 1, 2026, each electric public utility shall 28
submit for approval by the Utilities Commission the electric grid utilization metrics to be used in 29
the development of the grid utilization report required by G.S. 62-110.1(c1), as ena cted by 30
Section 1 of this act. The metrics submitted under this section shall include (i) the ratio of 31
distribution and transmission system peak load to total distribution and transmission electric grid 32
capacity, (ii) the ratio of electric load delivered t o total potential deliverable electric load over 33
the distribution system, and (iii) the percentage of kilowatt -hours of electricity lost during the 34
distribution process or by the distribution system. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 1019-First Edition
SECTION 3. The Utilities Commission shall issue a fina l order regarding any 1
proposed electric grid utilization metrics within 240 days of those proposed metrics being filed 2
with the Commission in accordance with Section 2 of this act. The final order shall include a 3
determination of how such metrics may inform the Commission's consideration of future utility 4
requests for approval of cost recovery for capital investments. 5
SECTION 4. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Utilities 6
Commission the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 7
fiscal year to be used for the purpose of implementing this act. 8
SECTION 5. Section 4 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2026. The remainder of 9
this act is effective when it becomes law. 10