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
This bill, titled the "Make DTE Pay Act," proposes an amendment to the Clean Air Act. It focuses on investor-owned electric or gas utilities that operate noncomplying stationary sources. The legislation seeks to enhance penalties for these specific utilities. The enhancement involves increasing the penalty based on rate increases implemented by the utility. Specifically, it targets rate increases occurring within a two-year window before or after the penalty assessment.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill increases financial penalties for utilities that maintain noncomplying stationary sources under the Clean Air Act.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
By penalizing utility rate increases linked to noncompliance, the bill may indirectly limit the frequency of rate hikes passed to consumers.
- Scored +1
Would people in cities be better off under this?
The bill targets utilities that may impact air quality in populated areas through noncomplying stationary sources.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Enhanced Penalties for Noncompliance: The bill requires an increase in the penalty amount for a noncomlying stationary source owned by an investor-owned electric or gas utility (Section 2, paragraph 10). This could serve as a deterrent against utilities that fail to comply with environmental standards.
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Accountability for Rate Increases: The penalty is increased by an amount equal to the original assessment for each rate increase the utility received in the two years before the assessment or seeks in the two years after (Section 2, paragraph 10, A and B). This creates a direct link between a utility's rate hikes and its failure to comply with the Clean Air Act.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Increased Penalties for Utilities: The bill mandates that the State or the Administrator adjust penalties upward for investor-owned electric or gas utilities (Section 2, paragraph 10). This represents a higher financial burden on those specific utility companies.
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Broad Scope of Rate Increases: The penalty enhancement applies to rate increases that are currently being sought, regardless of whether they have been approved or are still pending before a regulatory authority (Section 2, paragraph 10, B).
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.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases financial penalties for utilities that maintain noncomplying stationary sources under the Clean Air Act.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — By penalizing utility rate increases linked to noncompliance, the bill may indirectly limit the frequency of rate hikes passed to consumers. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill targets utilities that may impact air quality in populated areas through noncomplying stationary sources.
- 5/7/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House