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
H.R. 10804, known as the Utility Accountability Act, sets up penalties for investor-owned electric utilities that fail to meet State performance targets. Under the bill, State regulatory authorities must annually audit these utilities and certify to the Secretary of Energy whether they met the standards. If a utility fails to meet the standards, the Secretary will order bill credits for residential customers. The bill credits start at $100 for the first year and increase by $100 each year until the utility meets the standards. Utilities are explicitly prohibited from passing the cost of these bill credits onto their residential customers, meaning the investors must pay. Finally, the Secretary can withhold assistance from any State regulatory authority that fails to comply with an order.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill protects residential electricity customers by mandating bill credits when investor-owned utilities fail to meet state performance standards.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The Secretary of Energy is granted authority to order state regulatory authorities to issue bill credits and to withhold assistance for noncompliance.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Mandatory utility bill credits provide direct financial relief to residential customers who struggle with utility costs.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -5
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?
High-net-worth investors in electric utilities must pay for residential bill credits out of pocket without passing costs to customers.
- Scored -5
Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this?
Ultra-high-net-worth utility investors bear the financial burden of penalties imposed on underperforming utilities.
- Scored -5
Would billionaires be better off under this?
Billionaires holding stakes in investor-owned electric utilities are explicitly prohibited from passing compliance penalties onto residential consumers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial relief through bill credits: According to Section 2(b)(1)(A) and Section 2(b)(1)(B), if an investor-owned electric utility fails to meet State performance standards, residential customers will receive an annual bill credit starting at $100, which increases by $100 each year until the utility meets the standards. This puts money back in the pockets of everyday people when companies underperform.
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Protection from hidden utility costs: Under Section 2(b)(1)(C), utilities are barred from passing the cost of these bill credits onto residential customers, and instead must charge the investors to pay for them. This ensures that the people we hold accountable—the utility investors—bear the financial burden rather than hardworking families.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Withholding of State assistance: According to Section 2(b)(2), if a State regulatory authority fails to comply with an order from the Secretary regarding these penalties, the Secretary may withhold assistance—including grants, loans, loan guarantees, and technical assistance—from that State. This could negatively impact individuals if the loss of federal funds hampers the State's ability to operate or support important local programs.
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.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The Secretary of Energy is granted authority to order state regulatory authorities to issue bill credits and to withhold assistance for noncompliance. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires annual audits and formal certifications regarding whether investor-owned electric utilities meet performance standards.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects residential electricity customers by mandating bill credits when investor-owned utilities fail to meet state performance standards.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Mandatory utility bill credits provide direct financial relief to residential customers who struggle with utility costs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class families benefit from guaranteed bill credits when their electric utilities fail to meet performance standards. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Residential bill credits for underperforming utilities directly benefit older adults living in homes by lowering their utility expenses. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural residents served by investor-owned utilities gain stronger enforcement of electric reliability and safety standards. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban residents served by investor-owned utilities benefit from enforced reliability standards and potential bill credits. Would billionaires be better off under this? — Billionaires holding stakes in investor-owned electric utilities are explicitly prohibited from passing compliance penalties onto residential consumers. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — High-net-worth investors in electric utilities must pay for residential bill credits out of pocket without passing costs to customers. Would the very wealthiest people be better off under this? — Ultra-high-net-worth utility investors bear the financial burden of penalties imposed on underperforming utilities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Investor-owned utility shareholders face direct financial penalties when performance targets are missed. Would high-income households be better off under this? — Utility investors, who are typically high-income individuals, are required to bear the cost of the bill credits.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The legislation enforces state electric reliability and safety standards, encouraging better utility performance.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing mandatory annual bill credits to residential customers helps alleviate financial burdens on lower-income households.
- 10/13/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House