A Democratic bill with 27 Democratic cosponsors · See all 27 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 "Lowering Utility Bills Act" aims to change how electric and gas utilities calculate their return on equity. It requires transmission providers and investor-owned utilities to establish a range of reasonableness based on three specific market data points. Generally, these entities must use the lowest return within that established range for their official business and rate applications. The bill also establishes a "Corrupt Rate Recovery Ban" to prevent utilities from charging customers for certain expenses like lobbying, advertising, or travel. Additionally, the act requires transmission providers to prioritize cost-saving investments like grid-enhancing technologies.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill prohibits utilities from recovering costs related to lobbying, advertising, and executive perks from customer rates.
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates that utilities providing higher returns must publicize justifications and the specific impact on residential bills.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Lowering utility rates through restricted returns on equity provides direct financial relief to low-income households.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The restriction on higher returns on equity may make it harder for utility companies to attract necessary capital for growth.
- Scored -2
Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport?
The focus on utility transmission infrastructure may divert attention or resources away from broader public transit development.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Lower Utility Rates: By requiring transmission providers to establish the authorized return on equity at the lowest end of a range of reasonableness, the bill aims to lower the rates charged to customers (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
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Prevention of Unjust Charges: The "Corrupt Rate Recovery Ban" prohibits utilities from recovering specific costs through customer rates, such as lobbying, political contributions, advertising, and even travel or food expenses for executives (Section 2(b) and Section 3(b)).
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Cost-Saving Infrastructure: The bill requires the Commission to consider transmission project expenditures as prudent only if the provider proves they prioritized lower-cost alternatives, such as grid-enhancing technologies (Section 2(c)).
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Increased Transparency: For investor-owned utilities using a higher return on equity than required, the bill mandates making public justifications, explanations of the difference, and the specific impact on average residential monthly bills (Section 3(a)(2)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Difficulty Attracting Capital: Transmission providers may be allowed to seek a higher return on equity than the lowest in the range if they can provide "clear and convincing evidence" that a higher return is necessary to attract capital and maintain financial integrity (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
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Risk of Higher Costs for Specific Projects: While the bill emphasizes cost-saving, it requires specific evidence regarding grid-enhancing technologies and regional planning processes for a capital expenditure to be considered prudent (Section 2(c)).
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? — Lowering utility rates through restricted returns on equity provides direct financial relief to low-income households. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill aims to reduce the burden of monthly utility costs on middle-income families. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Lower utility costs provide economic relief to urban dwellers who rely heavily on utility services. Would business owners be better off under this? — The restriction on higher returns on equity may make it harder for utility companies to attract necessary capital for growth.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill prohibits utilities from recovering costs related to lobbying, advertising, and executive perks from customer rates.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that utilities providing higher returns must publicize justifications and the specific impact on residential bills.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill seeks to lower monthly utility bills by capping the return on equity for utilities at the lowest end of a reasonable range.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill requires transmission providers to prioritize grid-enhancing technologies and lower-cost alternatives in their planning processes. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The focus on utility transmission infrastructure may divert attention or resources away from broader public transit development.
- 8/31/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 8/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/29/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 21 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Veronica EscobarDemocrat · Texas
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Al GreenDemocrat · Texas
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Kweisi MfumeDemocrat · Maryland
Frank MrvanDemocrat · Indiana
John MannionDemocrat · New York
April McClain DelaneyDemocrat · Maryland
Christian MenefeeDemocrat · Texas
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Patrick RyanDemocrat · New York
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Suhas SubramanyamDemocrat · Virginia
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey