Energy Affordability and Reliability Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8448
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-28T15:09:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Energy Affordability and Reliability Act of 2026 (H.R. 8448) aims to create an Office of Energy Affordability within the Department of Energy (DOE) to review proposed DOE regulations and policies involving switches between energy types or sources (e.g., from fossil fuels to renewables). The goal is to ensure these changes prioritize energy affordability—defined as energy costs relative to a consumer's income or business operating costs—and promote reliable, cost-effective energy access.
Key Provisions
- Establishment: The Secretary of Energy must create the Office within the DOE's Office of Policy no later than 180 days after the bill's enactment.
- Core Duties:
- Review each proposed DOE regulation or policy on energy transitions to check for:
- Transparent analysis of short- and long-term effects on affordability and economic costs.
- Strategies to avoid harming affordability and to reduce related costs.
- Support for reliable consumer energy access and cost-effective solutions.
- Provide advice and guidance based on reviews.
- Review Process:
- Complete reviews within 30 days of receiving notice.
- Cannot block or prevent issuance of any regulation or policy.
- Reporting Requirements:
- Annual reports to Congress detailing analyses and recommendations for reviewed items.
- A one-time report after 5 years assessing the Office's overall effectiveness.
- Definitions:
- Appropriate congressional committees: House Energy and Commerce/Appropriations Committees; Senate Energy and Natural Resources/Appropriations Committees.
- Energy affordability: Energy costs proportional to residential, commercial, or industrial consumers' income or operational expenses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new dedicated office for affordability reviews, which does not currently exist in DOE structure.
- Mandates formal, timely affordability checks on energy transition policies, adding a layer of internal oversight without altering DOE's authority to issue regulations.
- Requires public-facing annual congressional reports, increasing transparency on DOE's economic impact assessments.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: DOE gains an internal check on regulations, potentially slowing reviews slightly but ensuring better economic justification; increases reporting workload.
- Citizens and Businesses: Could lead to more affordable and reliable energy by influencing policies to mitigate cost increases for households, factories, and offices.
- Energy Sector: Promotes balanced transitions, benefiting consumers and industries reliant on stable energy prices.
- No direct international effects noted, though it may indirectly shape U.S. energy policy reliability.
Main Stakeholders
- Department of Energy (DOE): Must establish and operate the Office; subject to its reviews.
- Congressional Committees: Receive reports and oversee the Office (House Energy and Commerce/Appropriations; Senate Energy and Natural Resources/Appropriations).
- Energy Consumers: Residential users, commercial buildings, and industrial operations affected by energy costs.
- Energy Producers and Policymakers: Involved in transitions between energy sources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens administrative review processes under existing DOE authority without granting veto power, aligning with requirements for cost-benefit analysis in regulations (e.g., similar to executive orders on regulatory impacts).
- Constitutional: Falls within Congress's power to organize executive agencies and oversee spending (Article I).
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Reps. Lawler and Gottheimer); emphasizes accountability in energy policy amid debates on affordability versus environmental goals, potentially influencing future DOE rulemaking without partisan mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-22: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-22: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Energy Affordability and Reliability Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-22 — PDF (4 pages)