EPA extended deadlines promulgated in a 2024 rule that apply to wastewater discharges from steam electric power plants, particularly coal-fired power plants. It also revised the rule to allow facilities to switch between compliance alternatives, and created authority for alternative applicability and paperwork-submission dates, related to site-specific factors. EPA justified these actions based on “observed extraordinary increases in energy demand across the U.S., decreases in energy reserves, difficulties in transmission across the electricity grid, increased energy prices, and decreased energy reliability.” EPA also announced that it intends to determine if reconsidering the 2024 rule’s best available technology economically achievable (BAT) standard is appropriate.