Connect the Grid Act

House Bill

H.R. 7728

119th Congress

Connect the Grid Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 26, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Greg Casar

D - TX

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Summary

This bill would connect Texas's independent power grid (ERCOT) to neighboring states' electrical grids. Currently, Texas operates largely in isolation from the rest of the country's power systems, which has contributed to massive blackouts during extreme weather events, most notably the deadly winter storm in 2021 that left millions without power.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Introduced2/26/2026

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Connect the Grid Act

This bill would connect Texas's independent power grid (ERCOT) to neighboring states' electrical grids. Currently, Texas operates largely in isolation from the rest of the country's power systems, which has contributed to massive blackouts during extreme weath

Community Breakdown

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Fail

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This bill would connect Texas's independent power grid (ERCOT) to neighboring states' electrical grids. Currently, Texas operates largely in isolation from the rest of the country's power systems, which has contributed to massive blackouts during extreme weather events, most notably the deadly winter storm in 2021 that left millions without power.

Bill Number: 7728
Introduced: 2/26/2026
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Connect the Grid Act
Bill Number: 7728
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced: 2/26/2026
Summary: This bill would connect Texas's independent power grid (ERCOT) to neighboring states' electrical grids. Currently, Texas operates largely in isolation from the rest of the country's power systems, which has contributed to massive blackouts during extreme weather events, most notably the deadly winte

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would connect Texas's independent power grid (ERCOT) to neighboring states' electrical grids. Currently, Texas operates largely in isolation from the rest of the country's power systems, which has contributed to massive blackouts during extreme weather events, most notably the deadly winter storm in 2021 that left millions without power.

Last updated: 2/27/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Would end Texas's electrical isolation by requiring connections between ERCOT and neighboring regional grids
Aims to prevent catastrophic blackouts by allowing Texas to import power from other states during emergencies
Could enable Texas to sell excess renewable energy to other states when supply exceeds demand
Addresses reliability concerns that became urgent after the 2021 winter storm caused hundreds of deaths and billions in damages
May face political resistance from those who view Texas's grid independence as a matter of state sovereignty

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily affect Texas residents and businesses by potentially improving power reliability during extreme weather and emergencies. The interconnection would allow electricity to flow across state lines, meaning Texans could access backup power during crises while other states could tap into Texas's growing renewable energy capacity. The change could also subject Texas utilities to more federal oversight, alter electricity pricing, and require significant infrastructure investment.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

7728, 119th Congress (2026). "Connect the Grid Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-7728

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