A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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 "No Bonuses for Utility Executives Act," aims to limit bonuses paid to executives of certain electric utilities. Beginning January 1, 2027, a covered utility can only pay an executive bonus if the average percentage increase in customer rates does not exceed the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for that fiscal year. Additionally, any bonus is capped at 25 percent of the median annual compensation of non-executive employees. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is responsible for determining if a utility is eligible to pay these bonuses based on provided data. If a utility violates these rules, the bonus must be forfeited to the United States. Collected funds are then distributed back to the utility's customers through payments issued by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households may benefit from capped rate increases and direct restitution payments.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill protects consumers by limiting rate hikes and providing direct payments if executive bonuses violate the law.
- Scored +4
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
Middle-class utility customers benefit from rate protections and potential refunds.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Limiting Rate Increases: A covered utility may only pay an executive bonus if the average percentage increase in customer rates does not exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Capping Bonus Amounts: Bonuses are limited to an amount not exceeding 25 percent of the median annual compensation of employees who are not executives (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Financial Restitution for Customers: If a bonus is forfeited due to a violation, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue a payment to each customer of the covered utility equal to the forfeited amount divided by the number of customers (Section 2(d)(3)(C)(ii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Prohibition on Rate Recovery for Penalties: A covered utility is prohibited from recovering the cost of a civil penalty imposed for a bonus violation through customer rates (Section 2(d)(3)(B)(iii)).
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? — Low-income households may benefit from capped rate increases and direct restitution payments. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class utility customers benefit from rate protections and potential refunds.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires utilities to provide data to the Commission, increasing transparency in compensation practices. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal oversight of utility executive compensation through the FERC.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects consumers by limiting rate hikes and providing direct payments if executive bonuses violate the law.
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri