I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2818 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for States 
to offset incremental rate increases paid by low-income households result-
ing from the implementation of infrastructure programs that are designed 
to accelerate the necessary replacement, repair, or maintenance of natural 
gas distribution systems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 22, 2021 
Ms. SHERRILL (for herself and Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant 
program for States to offset incremental rate increases 
paid by low-income households resulting from the imple-
mentation of infrastructure programs that are designed 
to accelerate the necessary replacement, repair, or main-
tenance of natural gas distribution systems, 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 ‘‘Mitigate Methane Now 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. IMPROVING THE NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYS-
TEM. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Energy shall estab-
lish a grant program to provide financial assistance to 
States to offset the incremental rate increases paid by low- 
income households resulting from the implementation of 
infrastructure replacement, repair, and maintenance pro-
grams that are approved by the rate-setting entity and de-
signed to accelerate the necessary replacement, repair, or 
maintenance of natural gas distribution systems. 
(b) DATE OF ELIGIBILITY.—Awards may be provided 
under this section to offset rate increases described in sub-
section (a) occurring on or after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary shall collabo-
rate with States to prioritize the distribution of grants 
made under this section. At a minimum, the Secretary 
shall consider prioritizing the distribution of grants to 
States which have— 
(1) authorized or adopted enhanced infrastruc-
ture replacement programs or innovative rate recov-
ery mechanisms, such as infrastructure cost trackers 
and riders, infrastructure base rate surcharges, de-
ferred regulatory asset programs, and earnings sta-
bility mechanisms; and 
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(2) a viable means for delivering financial as-
sistance to low-income households. 
(d) AUDITING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
The Secretary shall establish auditing and reporting re-
quirements for States with respect to the performance of 
eligible projects funded pursuant to grants awarded under 
this section. 
(e) PREVAILING WAGES.—All laborers and mechanics 
employed by contractors or subcontractors in the perform-
ance of construction, alteration, or repair work assisted, 
in whole or in part, by a grant under this section shall 
be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on 
similar construction in the locality as determined by the 
Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of 
chapter 31 of title 40. With respect to the labor standards 
in this subsection, the Secretary of Labor shall have the 
authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan 
Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and 
section 3145 of title 40. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) INNOVATIVE
RATE
RECOVERY
MECHA-
NISMS.—The term ‘‘innovative rate recovery mecha-
nisms’’ means rate structures that allow State public 
utility commissions to modify tariffs and recover 
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costs of investments in utility replacement incurred 
between rate cases. 
(2) 
LOW-INCOME
HOUSEHOLD.—The 
term 
‘‘low-income household’’ means a household that is 
eligible to receive payments under section 2605(b)(2) 
of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)). 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $250,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2022 
through 2031. 
Æ 
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