S 5306 Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.
Affordable Electricity Rates Act of 2026
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.
Summary
- Amends the Federal Power Act to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider whether rates would result in unaffordable retail electricity prices for consumers when determining if rates are "just and reasonable"
- Creates a presumption that rates are unaffordable if they would result in retail electricity price increases of 5 percent or more
- Prohibits FERC from approving rates or charges if the Commission determines they would result in unaffordable retail electricity prices for consumers
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Richard Blumenthal’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT $9,500
- FREEPOINT COMMODITIES LLC $6,600
- ALIX PARTNERS $6,600
- PALANTIR $6,600
- KRUX INC. $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Richard Blumenthal → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Aug 6, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. · senate
- Aug 6, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
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.”. <all>
Comments