End PG&E Lobbying Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7214

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-02-18T16:08:25Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled the "End PG&E Lobbying Act," aims to prevent conflicts of interest in the regulation of electric utilities by imposing a federal standard that bans former members of state regulatory authorities from lobbying or engaging in related activities before those authorities for two years after leaving their positions. It amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), a law that sets standards for state regulation of electric utilities to promote energy efficiency and fair practices.

Key Provisions

• Two-Year Lobbying Ban: Adds a new standard (Section 111(d)(22) of PURPA) prohibiting former members of a state regulatory authority (such as a public utility commission that oversees electric utilities) from:
• Appearing, lobbying, or practicing before the authority to influence decisions or actions.
• Seeking non-public information from the authority.
• Providing paid services related to any case, proceeding, application, or matter before the authority.

This ban lasts for two years starting from the date the membership ends.

• State Implementation Requirements: States must review and decide whether to adopt this standard for electric utilities under their ratemaking authority (the process of setting utility rates).
• States must begin consideration or set a hearing date within one year of the bill's enactment.
• States must complete the review and make a determination within two years.
• Handling of Prior Actions:
• Exempts states from these timelines if they have already implemented a similar standard, conducted a proceeding on it, or had their legislature vote on it within the three years before enactment.
• Adjusts references in PURPA to ensure prior or ongoing proceedings are not disrupted.
• Enforcement Timeline: Aligns with PURPA's existing framework, treating the new standard's enactment date as the reference point for compliance deadlines.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new mandatory federal standard under PURPA, which previously focused on energy policy issues like efficiency and renewable energy but did not address post-employment lobbying restrictions for regulators.
• Expands PURPA's Section 111 by adding this ethics-related provision, making it one of 22 standards states must consider (though not necessarily adopt).
• Modifies Sections 112 and 124 of PURPA to include specific timelines and exemptions for this standard, ensuring it integrates with the law's structure for state compliance without overriding existing state actions.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: State regulatory authorities (e.g., public utility commissions) will face new obligations to review and potentially enforce the ban, increasing administrative workload but promoting ethical oversight in utility regulation.
• On Citizens: Could enhance public trust in utility regulation by reducing the risk of "revolving door" practices where former regulators join utilities and influence decisions, potentially leading to fairer rate-setting and better consumer protections.
• On Electric Utilities: Utilities may need to adjust hiring practices for former regulators, limiting their access to insider influence for two years, which could slow advocacy efforts but encourage more transparent operations.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic state-level regulation of U.S. electric utilities.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Former State Regulators: Directly restricted from lobbying or related activities, affecting their career transitions to utility-related roles.
• Electric Utilities: Subject to state adoption of the ban, potentially complicating their engagement with regulators; the bill's title references PG&E (a major California utility), suggesting targeted concern over such practices.
• State Governments and Regulatory Authorities: Required to evaluate and implement the standard, balancing federal mandates with local priorities.
• Consumers and Ratepayers: Indirectly benefit from reduced conflicts of interest in utility rate decisions, which affect electricity costs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens ethics rules in utility regulation by leveraging PURPA's existing mechanism for federal standards, which states must consider but can adapt. It does not create federal enforcement but relies on state action, potentially leading to varied implementation across states.
• Constitutional: Raises federalism questions, as it influences state regulatory processes without direct federal override, aligning with PURPA's cooperative federal-state model but possibly prompting challenges if seen as overreach into state personnel matters.
• Political: Addresses concerns about undue industry influence on regulators, promoting accountability in an era of scrutiny over corporate lobbying; the bill's naming after a specific utility highlights bipartisan interest in curbing perceived abuses, though its general language applies nationwide.

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]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2026-01-22: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-22: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• End PG&E Lobbying Act — issued 2026-01-22 — PDF (4 pages)