Sen. Murdock files bill in North Carolina Senate to study energy market reforms

A new bill filed by State Sen. Murdock seeks to require a comprehensive study aimed at evaluating and reforming competition in North Carolina’s energy market, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 716 on March 25 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Fair Competition Study Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission to conduct a comprehensive study to improve and reform fair competition in the state’s energy market. The study will evaluate the costs and benefits of the current energy market, assess possible reforms to the Southeastern Energy Exchange Market, and explore the feasibility of establishing an energy imbalance market or a regional transmission organization within North Carolina, South Carolina, or the broader Southeastern United States. It will also determine necessary legal and procedural requirements for such initiatives. The study includes evaluating electricity generation, customer service, environmental impacts, and economic opportunities, with a focus on impacts on disadvantaged populations. The bill appropriates $350,000 from the General Fund for the fiscal year 2025-26 to support this initiative, which must start within 90 days of the bill’s enactment, with findings reported within one year.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Murdock proposed the most bills (74) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Murdock graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA.

Murdock, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2020 to represent the state’s 20th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Mickey Michaux.