Stop the Rate Hikes Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5141

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-02-12T09:06:14Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Stop the Rate Hikes Act" (H.R. 5141) aims to protect consumers from frequent increases in electricity rates by amending federal law to encourage states to limit how often utility companies can request rate hikes. Specifically, it seeks to cap such requests at once every year.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), which outlines standards that state regulatory authorities must consider when reviewing electric utility rates.
• New Standard Added: It introduces a 22nd standard requiring each electric utility to request no more than one rate increase per year. This is framed as a measure states must evaluate in their rate-setting processes for retail electricity services.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Prior to this bill, PURPA required states to consider various standards for utility regulation (e.g., cost allocation and environmental factors) but did not specifically address the frequency of rate increase requests.
• The change adds a consumer-focused limit on the timing of rate requests, shifting emphasis toward predictability and stability in utility billing rather than allowing multiple requests within a short period.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Consumers may experience fewer and more predictable electricity bill increases, potentially reducing financial strain from back-to-back rate hikes.
• On Government Agencies: State public utility commissions (regulatory bodies that oversee utilities) would need to incorporate this new consideration into their approval processes, possibly leading to more structured review timelines.
• On Utilities: Electric utility companies could face restrictions on timing their rate adjustment requests, which might delay revenue recovery but encourage better financial planning.
• International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. energy regulation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Electric Utilities: Companies providing retail electricity services, who would be limited in how often they can seek rate changes.
• State Regulatory Authorities: Public utility commissions in each state, responsible for evaluating and implementing the new standard during rate proceedings.
• Consumers and Households: Residential and small business electricity users, who stand to benefit from reduced frequency of rate hikes.
• Federal Government: The Department of Energy and Congress, through oversight of PURPA enforcement.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: This builds on PURPA's framework, which balances federal guidance with state authority over utility regulation. It does not mandate enforcement but requires "consideration," preserving states' flexibility under the U.S. Constitution's federalism principles (where energy regulation is largely a state matter).
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with interstate commerce or due process, as it aligns with Congress's authority to regulate energy policy via PURPA.
• Political: The bill could spark debate over consumer protection versus utility operational needs, potentially influencing state-level energy policies and future federal interventions in rate regulation. As an introduced bill referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, its passage would depend on bipartisan support for affordability measures.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-04: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-09-04: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Stop the Rate Hikes Act — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (2 pages)