Tonko Introduces Slate of Affordability Bills to Lower Energy Costs

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Ranking Member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, introduced several new bills that would help address the cost-of-living crisis for American households by delivering urgently-needed utility bill relief and establishing a comprehensive energy affordability agenda. The legislation authored by Tonko includes:

• The End Energy Hardship Act: establishes a federal program to fund forgiveness of residential customer utility debt. Roughly 1 in 6 households are behind on their energy bills, and 14 million Americans have utility debt so severe that it has been or will soon be sent to collections. To qualify for funding, utilities must adopt a program to cap eligible customers' bills at no more than 6% of each household's income for at least 60 consecutive months. Capping utility bills at a set percentage of income provides customers with predictable and more affordable bills each month and prevents arrears from accumulating. The legislation would also provide federal funding to help offset the potential ratepayer impacts of administering these percentage of income payment programs.
• The Data Center Fairness Fee Act: requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose a charge on the owners of data centers based on electricity consumption. The revenues raised would be made available to State and Tribal Governments to fund energy affordability programs, such as LIHEAP, and electric grid upgrades to benefit residential utility customers.
• The State Energy Oversight Act: creates a Department of Energy (DOE) program to provide financial and technical assistance to state public utility commissions, which are responsible for overseeing utility rates, to support staffing, modeling, analysis, and other activities to increase commission capacity and improve public participation in proceedings. The bill would authorize $50 million for each of Fiscal Years 2027 through 2031 to be allocated to states through a DOE-determined formula.
• The Regional Energy Hubs Act: authorizes the DOE to fund state governments to establish regional energy hubs across the nation that help residents navigate and access energy efficiency incentives and affordability programs. This proposal is modeled after the success of programs like New York's Capital Region Clean Energy Hub and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension System.

"There's a lot of talk in Washington about skyrocketing energy costs; but the American people don't want more discussion about rising utility bills - they need action," Congressman Tonko said. "This slate of legislation I'm introducing responds to that need with near-term utility bill relief that provides tangible savings for consumers and puts us on a path to a more affordable energy system. When it comes to lowering energy costs, there's no time to waste. I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this legislation that will deliver relief for countless Americans struggling to pay their energy bills."

Since President Trump took office, household electric bills have gone up on average 18% nationally, with estimates expecting that number to continue to rise. Tens of millions of U.S. households have reported difficulty paying their energy bills, often reducing or forgoing food or medicine to keep the lights and heat on.

These latest bills build upon Congressman Tonko's track record as a leader in the national energy affordability policy conversation. Tonko is a long-time champion of existing federal energy affordability programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). He is the author of H.R. 1355, the bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act, which would reauthorize and strengthen WAP.

Additional details, including supporting organizations, bill text, and section-by-section summaries on each of Tonko's bills can be found below.

H.R.10466: The End Energy Hardship Act

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This bill is supported by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP).

Alexander Ratner, senior federal policy counsel at the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy, said "No one should have to choose between paying an energy bill and buying groceries. Rep. Tonko's bill would help wipe out utility payment debts and put stronger protections in place so bills stay affordable. This is a smart way to give families relief today and more stability tomorrow."

"It is absolutely unacceptable that American families are having to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table because of how unaffordable essential utility services have become in our for-profit monopoly utility system," said Marissa P. Gillett, Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and former Chairman of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. "Rep. Tonko's bill is an important first step in delivering real relief from skyrocketing utility bills. We look forward to continuing working with him and others in the fight for structural change that addresses the roots of the affordability crisis, including excess utility profit."

H.R.10467: The Data Center Fairness Fee Act

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H.R.10468: The State Energy Oversight Act

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This bill is supported by Evergreen Action, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), and the Future of Heat Initiative.

"At a time when Americans are paying historically high energy costs, the State Energy Oversight Act will help ease their burden by giving states the resources and funding they need to hold utilities accountable for the rates they charge, while putting consumers first," said Evergreen Action Federal Affairs Director Dani Hupper. "Keeping the lights on at home should not come at the expense of paying for other basic needs. Families deserve affordable energy and a government that will stand up to the utility companies profiting off of them."

"State public utility commissions are the peoples' best defense against skyrocketing bills and exploding data center energy use. Unfortunately these commissions are outdated, underfunded, and understaffed, and families and businesses are paying the price. This bill would strengthen states' affordability arsenal through much-needed funding and technical support for commissions," said Arjun Krishnaswami, FAS Senior Advisor.

"Utilities come to rate cases with teams of lawyers and expert witnesses. State regulators often have a few staff and a mountain of filings. When they don't have the capacity to scrutinize a spending request, families absorb the difference on their energy bills. The State Energy Oversight Act gives regulators the support they need and it gives consumer advocates a real seat at the table. We're glad to support it," said Jamie Van Nostrand, Policy Director, The Future of Heat Initiative, and former Chair of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

H.R.10469: The Regional Energy Hubs Act

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This bill is supported by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).