Notice of Availability of Draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study and Request for Comment

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Energy AGENCY: Office of Electricity, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of availability of the draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study for public review and comment. DATES: DOE is currently accepting public comment from July 9, 2026 through September 8, 2026. Comments must be sent to NeedsStudy.Comments@hq.doe.gov by midnight EST, September 8, 2026. ADDRESSES: Interested parties are to submit comments electronically to NeedsStudy.Comments@hq.doe.gov . DOE's guidance is available at: www.energy.gov/​oe/​national-transmission-needs-study . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alissa Baker, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity, via (240) 702-4890; or NeedsStudy.Comments@hq.doe.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE's Office of Electricity (OE) is announcing the availability of the draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study (2026 Needs Study) and requests public comment on the draft. Section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), as amended by section 40105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), requires DOE to conduct a study of electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion every three years. The 2026 Needs Study implements that statutory provision and OE published the last study in October 2023. Pursuant to section 216(a)(1), DOE is consulting with states, Tribes, and appropriate regional reliability entities regar…