[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5306 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5306

To amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory 
 Commission to consider the effects of Commission-jurisdictional rates 
   on the affordability of electricity for consumers, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 6, 2026

Mr. Blumenthal introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory 
 Commission to consider the effects of Commission-jurisdictional rates 
   on the affordability of electricity for consumers, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Affordable Electricity Rates Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. CONSIDERATION OF EFFECTS OF RATES ON CONSUMER AFFORDABILITY.

    Section 201 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Affordability as a Component of Just and Reasonable Rates.--
            ``(1) In general.--In making any determination of whether a 
        rate or charge is just and reasonable under this part, the 
        Commission shall--
                    ``(A) consider whether the rate or charge is likely 
                to result in retail electricity prices that are 
                unaffordable for electric consumers (as defined in 
                section 3 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act 
                of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602)); and
                    ``(B) presume that the rate or charge is likely to 
                result in retail electricity prices that are 
                unaffordable for electric consumers (as so defined) if 
                the Commission determines that the rate or charge is 
                likely to result in an increase in retail electricity 
                prices of 5 percent or more.
            ``(2) Unaffordable rates and charges prohibited.--If the 
        Commission determines under paragraph (1) that a rate or charge 
        is likely to result in retail electricity prices that are 
        unaffordable for electric consumers (as defined in section 3 of 
        the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
        2602)), such rate or charge shall not be considered to be just 
        and reasonable for purposes of this part.''.
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