United States Code
USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025
§ 2622.
Obligations to consider and determine
(a)
Request for consideration and determination
Each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility may undertake the consideration and make the determination referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to any standard established by section 2621(d) of this title in any proceeding respecting the rates of the electric utility. Any participant or intervenor (including an intervenor referred to in section 2631 of this title) in such a proceeding may request, and shall obtain, such consideration and determination in such proceeding. In undertaking such consideration and making such determination in any such proceeding with respect to the application to any electric utility of any standard established by section 2621(d) of this title, a State regulatory authority (with respect to an electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) or nonregulated electric utility may take into account in such proceeding—
(1)
any appropriate prior determination with respect to such standard—
(A)
which is made in a proceeding which takes place after November 9, 1978 , or
(B)
which was made before such date (or is made in a proceeding pending on such date) and complies, as provided in section 2634 of this title, with the requirements of this chapter; and
(2)
the evidence upon which such prior determination was based (if such evidence is referenced in such proceeding).
(b)
Time limitations
(1)
Not later than 2 years after November 9, 1978 (or after October 24, 1992 , in the case of standards under paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 2621(d) of this title), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence the consideration referred to in section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for such consideration, with respect to each standard established by section 2621(d) of this title.
(2)
Not later than three years after November 9, 1978 (or after October 24, 1992 , in the case of standards under paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 2621(d) of this title), each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by section 2621(d) of this title.
(3)
(A)
Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence the consideration referred to in section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for such consideration, with respect to each standard established by paragraphs (11) through (13) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(B)
Not later than 3 years after August 8, 2005 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by paragraphs (11) through (13) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(4)
(A)
Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence the consideration referred to in section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for such consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (14) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(B)
Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to the standard established by paragraph (14) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(5)
(A)
Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated utility shall commence the consideration referred to in section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (15) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(B)
Not later than two years after August 8, 2005 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by paragraph (15) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(6)
(A)
Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated utility shall commence the consideration referred to in section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standards established by paragraphs (16) through (19) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(B)
Not later than 2 years after December 19, 2007 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility, shall complete the consideration, and shall make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by paragraphs (16) through (19) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(7)
(A)
Not later than 1 year after November 15, 2021 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall commence consideration under section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(B)
Not later than 2 years after November 15, 2021 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 2621 of this title with respect to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(8)
(A)
Not later than 1 year after November 15, 2021 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated utility shall commence consideration under section 2621 of this title, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (21) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(B)
Not later than 2 years after November 15, 2021 , each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority), and each nonregulated electric utility shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 2621 of this title with respect to the standard established by paragraph (21) of section 2621(d) of this title.
(c)
Failure to comply
Each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which it has ratemaking authority) and each nonregulated electric utility shall undertake the consideration, and make the determination, referred to in section 2621 of this title with respect to each standard established by section 2621(d) of this title in the first rate proceeding commenced after the date three years after
(d)
Prior State actions relating to standard under certain paragraphs of section 2621(d)
Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to the standards established by paragraphs (11) through (13) and paragraphs (16) through (19) of section 2621(d) of this title in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before August 8, 2005 —
(1)
the State has implemented for such utility the standard concerned (or a comparable standard);
(2)
the State regulatory authority for such State or relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard concerned (or a comparable standard) for such utility; or
(3)
the State legislature has voted on the implementation of such standard (or a comparable standard) for such utility.
(e)
Prior State actions relating to standard under section 2621(d)(14)
Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (14) of section 2621(d) of this title in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before August 8, 2005 —
(1)
the State has implemented for such utility the standard concerned (or a comparable standard);
(2)
(3)
the State legislature has voted on the implementation of such standard (or a comparable standard) for such utility within the previous 3 years.
(f)
Prior State actions relating to standard under section 2621(d)(15)
Subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (15) of section 2621(d) of this title in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before August 8, 2005 —
(1)
the State has implemented for such utility the standard concerned (or a comparable standard);
(2)
the State regulatory authority for such State or relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard concerned (or a comparable standard) for such utility; or
(3)
the State legislature has voted on the implementation of such standard (or a comparable standard) for such utility.
(g)
Prior State actions
Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (20) of section 2621(d) of this title in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before November 15, 2021 —
(1)
the State has implemented for the electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard);
(2)
the State regulatory authority for the State or the relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or
(3)
the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility.
(h)
Other prior State actions
Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (21) of section 2621(d) of this title in the case of any electric utility in a State if, before November 15, 2021 —
(1)
the State has implemented for the electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard);
(2)
the State regulatory authority for the State or the relevant nonregulated electric utility has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility; or
(3)
the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the electric utility during the 3-year period ending on November 15, 2021 .
(Pub. L. 95–617, title I, § 112, Nov. 9, 1978 , 92 Stat. 3122; Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 111(c), Oct. 24, 1992 , 106 Stat. 2795; Pub. L. 109–58, title XII, §§ 1251(b)(1)–(3)(A), 1252(g)–(i)(1), 1254(b)(1)–(3)(A), Aug. 8, 2005 , 119 Stat. 963, 966, 967, 971; Pub. L. 110–140, title XIII, § 1307(b), Dec. 19, 2007 , 121 Stat. 1793; Pub. L. 111–5, div. A, title IV, § 408(b), Feb. 17, 2009 , 123 Stat. 146; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title I, § 40104(a)(2)(A)–(C)(i), title IV, § 40431(b)(1)–(3)(A), Nov. 15, 2021 , 135 Stat. 931, 932, 1048.)
cite as: 16 USC 2622
