Utility Affordability and Transparency Act
Shifts federal emergency power-order authority to the Energy Secretary and adds cost reporting and limits on orders affecting plant closures.
In the House Energy and Commerce Committee since Oct. 1, 2026, 7 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 1, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal law gives the government emergency authority to direct electric utilities. The bill would put authority to issue orders under this provision with the Energy Secretary instead of FERC. It would limit orders that keep power plants from closing and require public reports on costs and impacts, customer notices, and studies of alternatives before certain renewals.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Shift emergency-order authority
The bill would give the Secretary of Energy, rather than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), authority to issue orders under this emergency provision of the Federal Power Act. The Secretary would have to explain why an order and its requirements best meet the emergency and serve the public interest.
- Limit orders affecting closed plants
An order under this provision could not prevent or delay a power plant’s retirement or permanent closure, or require a permanently closed plant to generate electricity. The restriction would not apply if the emergency could not be met any other way and the applicable transmission organization asks the Secretary in writing to delay the closure.
- Require public cost reports
Within 30 days of an order, including a renewal or reissuance, FERC would have to publish a report on the emergency’s causes, expected costs to utilities and their customers, other expected impacts, and—when applicable—the results of a study of alternatives. Within 60 days, affected or expected-to-be-affected utilities would have to give their customers a written description of costs incurred or expected.
- Review alternatives before renewals
Before renewing or reissuing an order, the Secretary would have to study available alternatives that could reduce net costs. For certain renewals involving possible conflicts with environmental laws, the Secretary would also have to publicly identify the primary federal agency consulted; a renewed or reissued order could be challenged in court without first seeking rehearing.
Emergency orders can affect how utilities operate and the costs incurred by utilities and their customers. The bill would make those expected costs and other impacts public and give customers information from their utility.
The rules would also shape whether emergency orders could keep a power plant from closing. That could matter when officials are responding to an emergency but a plant is slated for retirement.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 1, 2026HOUSEOCT 1, 2026By Rep. MrvanReferred to Energy and Commerce
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeOCT 1, 2026ENERGY & COMMERCE NOWOCT 1, 2026In committee for 7 daysNo hearing yet
- 7 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 7, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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