Independent transmission monitors

(a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall— (1) require each transmission planning region to establish an independent entity to monitor the planning for, and operation of, transmission facilities in the transmission planning region; or (2) establish an independent entity to monitor the planning for, and operation of, transmission facilities in all transmission planning regions. (b) Role of transmission monitor An independent entity described in subsection (a) shall provide independent analysis of transmission planning and ratemaking processes by the Commission and Transmission Organizations to inform Commission proceedings, including by, as applicable— (1) reviewing the operation and practices of transmission facilities in the applicable transmission planning region for inefficiency; (2) investigating whether any rate, charge, or classification for transmission facilities in the applicable transmission planning region, or any rule, regulation, practice, or contract affecting such a rate, charge, or classification, is unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or preferential; (3) reviewing the transmission planning process for the applicable transmission planning region, including processes for planning new and upgraded local transmission projects; (4) reviewing transmission facility costs in the applicable transmission planning region; (5) providing examples and advice to Transmission Organizations in the applicable transmission planning region on regional transmission operations, planning, and cost-allocation processes; (6) identifying situations in which it is cost-effective or otherwise appropriate to construct or deploy advanced transmission technologies, demand-side energy efficiency measures, demand response, and distributed energy resources, including rooftop and community solar, microgrids, and storage; (7) coordinating and sharing information with State regulatory authorities in the applicable transmission planning region; and (8) identifying reliable data sets and methodologies for use in regional planning and providing access to data to stakeholders. (c) Savings clause Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the sole power of the Commission to, under sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824d; 824e), determine if any rates, charges, or classifications are unjust, unreasonable, or unduly discriminatory or preferential. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (2) Advanced transmission technology; State regulatory authority; Transmission Organization; transmission planning region The terms advanced transmission technology, State regulatory authority, Transmission Organization, and transmission planning region have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796).