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119-s-3222119th CongressWALLET
Stop Shut-Offs During Shutdowns Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
Ban utility shut-offs during HHS funding lapses. This bill would stop electric and natural gas service terminations when interim continuing appropriations or full-year appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services are not in effect.
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- Households: Utilities must make reasonable efforts to safely reconnect customers who lose service. Customers could not be charged reconnection fees, late fees, or other penalties, and utilities may not increase the cost of service during the lapse.
- Utilities: Costs a utility incurs to comply with the shutdown prohibition cannot be recovered retroactively from consumers. A State regulatory authority may approve an alternative recovery mechanism only if the costs are substantial, prudently incurred, and not reasonably recoverable by rates, market prices, or supplemental funding, and only after notice and an opportunity for comment.
- State regulators and rules: The bill would amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to consolidate the termination prohibition and update the procedural framework governing service terminations.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No utility shutoffs during shutdowns
If enacted, the bill would stop electric and natural gas companies from disconnecting household service when HHS has no interim or full-year appropriations. Utilities would have to make reasonable efforts to safely reconnect customers who lost service. Customers could not be charged reconnection fees. Late fees and other penalties would be waived. Utilities could not raise the cost of service during the lapse. The bill would also bar retroactive electric bill charges for utility costs of complying with the shutoff ban. A State regulator could allow cost recovery only after public notice and if costs are substantial, prudently incurred, and not recoverable another way.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov