A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "No Utility Junk Fees Act" aims to stop regulated electric utilities from charging residential consumers unfair fees. The bill would require States to prohibit these "spurious charges" and mandate specific disclosures to consumers. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of Energy will withhold 10 percent of State energy program financial assistance if the State fails to meet these requirements. States must provide at least one fee-free payment method that does not require internet access. Additionally, the law prohibits fees on automatic recurring payments and electronic fund transfers. This legislation uses federal spending power to protect consumers from unnecessary costs in their energy bills.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill mandates protections against unfair utility fees and requires clear billing disclosures.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill lowers energy costs and ensures access to fee-free payment methods.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill uses federal spending power to mandate state-level utility regulations.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill conditions state financial assistance on meeting specific federal requirements.
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Regulated utilities may face increased compliance costs and administrative burdens.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduced Energy Costs: The bill targets "spurious charges" which are described as an unjustified extraction of money from residential consumers, thereby making electricity more affordable (Section 2).
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Increased Transparency: Utilities would be required to provide clear, prior disclosure regarding the amount and reason for any processing charges, as well as information on how to pay without such charges (Section s 3 and 4).
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Access to Fee-Free Payments: The law mandates that States require utilities to make at least one fee-free payment channel available to residential consumers, which must be accessible without the use of the internet (Section 4).
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Protection for Automatic Payments: The bill prohibits electric utilities from imposing fees on automatic recurring payments and electronic fund transfers (Section 4).
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Consumer Recourse: The bill requires States to enforce these rules by investigating complaints and allowing residential consumers to seek recovery of any fees that were assessed unlawfully (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risk to State Energy Funding: If a State fails to implement these specific regulations and enforcement mechanisms, the Secretary of Energy will withhold 10 percent of that State's financial assistance for State energy programs (Section 4).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill lowers energy costs and ensures access to fee-free payment methods. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill reduces unnecessary utility fees for residential consumers. Would business owners be better off under this? — Regulated utilities may face increased compliance costs and administrative burdens.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill mandates protections against unfair utility fees and requires clear billing disclosures.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill uses federal spending power to mandate state-level utility regulations. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires utilities to provide clear disclosures regarding fees to consumers. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill conditions state financial assistance on meeting specific federal requirements.
- 8/10/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House