I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1149 
To require retail electric utilities to notify electric consumers of rate increases, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 7, 2025 
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 Representa-
tives 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 RE-
QUIREMENT.— 
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(1) NOTIFICATION TO ELECTRIC CONSUMERS.— 
A retail electric utility that intends to increase any 
rate applicable to electric consumers shall, in accord-
ance 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 notifica-
tion 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 regard-
ing the rate increase. 
(3) METHODS OF NOTIFICATION.—A retail elec-
tric utility shall provide notification under paragraph 
(1) using multiple communication channels to en-
sure, to the extent feasible, that all impacted electric 
consumers are provided such notification, including 
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by providing notification by direct mail or email to 
such electric consumers, posting the notification on 
the retail electric utility’s official website, and pub-
lishing 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 re-
quirement is met. 
(B) ASSESSMENT.—A penalty under sub-
paragraph (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 se-
riousness 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. 
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(b) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NOTIFICATION RE-
QUIREMENT.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION.—A retail electric utility 
shall submit to the Secretary of Energy a notifica-
tion 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 notifica-
tion 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 finan-
cial 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 
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(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 im-
pacts on electric consumers; and 
(ii) any recommendations— 
(I) 
for 
adjustments 
to 
the 
planned rate increase; 
(II) on ways to mitigate the im-
pacts of the rate increase on electric 
consumers, including— 
(aa) phasing in price in-
creases; and 
(bb) financial aid options for 
electric consumers; and 
(III) for how the retail electric 
utility can improve or increase effi-
ciency to avoid future rate increases. 
(4) MONITORING BY DOE.—The Secretary of 
Energy shall, after a rate increase described in para-
graph (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 
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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 sec-
tion 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 ‘‘re-
tail electric utility’’ means an electric utility that 
sells electric energy for purposes other than resale. 
Æ 
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