A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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
This bill, known as the ``Energy Affordability and Reliability Act of 2026'', proposes the creation of an Office of Energy Affordability. This office would be established within the Office of Policy of the Department of Energy. The Office's primary task is to review Department of Energy regulations or policies regarding transitions between energy types or sources. These reviews aim to check for impacts on energy affordability, economic costs, and reliable energy access. The Office must complete reviews within 30 days and is not permitted to prevent the issuance of any regulation. Additionally, the Office is required to submit annual reports to specific congressional committees.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires annual reports to congressional committees regarding energy transition analyses.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The mandate to review energy transitions for affordability helps protect low-income consumers from rising energy costs.
- Scored +2
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
The office aims to ensure energy transitions include strategies to mitigate economic costs for consumers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Review of energy transitions: The Office will review regulations to ensure they include analysis of short-term and long-term effects on energy affordability and economic costs (Section 2(b)(1)(A)). This could help ensure that changes in energy sources do not create unexpected financial burdens.
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Mitigation of economic costs: The Office is tasked with ensuring policies include strategies to prevent negative effects on energy affordability and to mitigate related economic costs (Section 2(b)(1)(B)). This could protect consumers from rising costs during energy transitions.
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Reliable and cost-effective energy: The duties include supporting reliable access to energy and promoting cost-effective solutions (Section 2(b)(1)(C)). This focus could help ensure that consumers have steady and affordable access to the energy they need.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No prevention of regulations: The Office is specifically prohibited from preventing the issuance of any regulation or policy (Section 2(c)(2)). This means that even if the Office finds issues with affordability or reliability, it cannot stop a policy from moving forward.
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 mandate to review energy transitions for affordability helps protect low-income consumers from rising energy costs. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The office aims to ensure energy transitions include strategies to mitigate economic costs for consumers. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The focus on reliable energy access supports the stability of urban energy infrastructure.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports to congressional committees regarding energy transition analyses.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill promotes cost-effective energy solutions which can support broader economic stability.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Is this likely to lower the price at the pump? — The office is tasked with reviewing energy transitions to ensure they do not negatively affect energy affordability.
- 4/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey