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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10018 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10018

 To require retail electric utilities to notify electric consumers of 
                rate increases, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 18, 2024

 Mr. Van Drew introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To require retail electric utilities to notify electric consumers of 
                rate increases, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Our Wallets from 
Excessive Rates Act'' or the ``POWER Act''.

SEC. 2. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANNED RATE INCREASES.

    (a) Public Notification and Justification Requirement.--
            (1) Notification to electric consumers.--A retail electric 
        utility that intends to increase any rate applicable to 
        electric consumers shall, in accordance with this subsection, 
        provide notification to electric consumers that will be 
        impacted by the rate increase at least 30 days prior to 
        implementing the rate increase.
            (2) Content of notification.--A notification provided under 
        paragraph (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) A clear statement of the percentage of the rate 
                increase.
                    (B) A detailed breakdown of the reasons and 
                justifications for the rate increase.
                    (C) An explanation of how the increased rate will 
                impact the average electric consumer's bill.
                    (D) Information on how electric consumers can 
                provide feedback or file a complaint regarding the rate 
                increase.
            (3) Methods of notification.--A retail electric utility 
        shall provide notification under paragraph (1) using multiple 
        communication channels to ensure, to the extent feasible, that 
        all impacted electric consumers are provided such notification, 
        including by providing notification by direct mail or email to 
        such electric consumers, posting the notification on the retail 
        electric utility's official website, and publishing the 
        notification in local newspapers and other local media outlets.
            (4) Penalties for non-compliance.--
                    (A) In general.--A retail electric utility that 
                violates or fails or refuses to comply with the 
                notification requirement under paragraph (1)--
                            (i) shall be subject to a civil penalty in 
                        an amount not to exceed $10,000; and
                            (ii) may not implement the applicable rate 
                        increase until such notification requirement is 
                        met.
                    (B) Assessment.--A penalty under subparagraph (A) 
                shall be assessed by the Federal Energy Regulatory 
                Commission after notice and opportunity for public 
                hearing. In determining the amount of such a penalty, 
                the Commission shall take into consideration the nature 
                and seriousness of the violation, failure, or refusal 
                and the efforts of the retail electric utility to 
                remedy the violation, failure, or refusal in a timely 
                manner.
    (b) Department of Energy Notification Requirement.--
            (1) Notification.--A retail electric utility shall submit 
        to the Secretary of Energy a notification of any planned rate 
        increase of 5 percent or more for any rate applicable to 
        electric consumers, at least 60 days prior to the 
        implementation of such rate increase.
            (2) Content of notification.--A notification submitted 
        under paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) identification of the percentage by which the 
                rate will be increased;
                    (B) a comprehensive justification for such rate 
                increase, including cost drivers and financial impact;
                    (C) an assessment of the potential impacts on 
                electric consumers; and
                    (D) any proposed mitigation measures to be taken by 
                the retail electric utility.
            (3) Pre-implementation review by doe.--The Secretary of 
        Energy shall--
                    (A) upon receiving a notification under this 
                subsection, review the justification described in 
                paragraph (2)(B); and
                    (B) not later than 30 days after receiving a 
                notification under this subsection, publish a report on 
                the Secretary's findings regarding the applicable 
                planned rate increase, including--
                            (i) an assessment of the potential impacts 
                        on electric consumers; and
                            (ii) any recommendations--
                                    (I) for adjustments to the planned 
                                rate increase;
                                    (II) on ways to mitigate the 
                                impacts of the rate increase on 
                                electric consumers, including--
                                            (aa) phasing in price 
                                        increases; and
                                            (bb) financial aid options 
                                        for electric consumers; and
                                    (III) for how the retail electric 
                                utility can improve or increase 
                                efficiency to avoid future rate 
                                increases.
            (4) Monitoring by doe.--The Secretary of Energy shall, 
        after a rate increase described in paragraph (1) is 
        implemented, monitor the impacts of such rate increase on the 
        market and on electric consumers to evaluate if the rate 
        increase has had the impacts described in paragraph (3)(B) and 
        if further action is needed.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Electric consumer.--The term ``electric consumer'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 3(5) of the Public 
        Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602(5)).
            (2) Electric utility.--The term ``electric utility'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 3(4) of the Public 
        Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602(4)).
            (3) Retail electric utility.--The term ``retail electric 
        utility'' means an electric utility that sells electric energy 
        for purposes other than resale.
                                 <all>
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