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119-s-4351119th CongressWALLET

Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would give federal energy regulators _broader enforcement powers to bar bad actors from energy markets_. It would let the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission prohibit or suspend people who break electricity rules and ban false natural gas price reports.

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  • Energy market participants would face new bans. The Commission could bar any person who violates sections 221 or 222 from buying or selling electric energy, electric energy products (including financial transmission rights), or transmission services in its jurisdiction.
  • Natural gas sellers and reporters would be held to a stricter accuracy rule. The bill would make willfully reporting false information about natural gas transportation or sales to a federal agency or a private price-reporting entity illegal and allow suspension from natural gas markets for violators.
  • Enforcement would reach beyond named individuals. The bill would change legal language from "individual" to "person" and cover direct and indirect engagement, so companies and intermediaries could be barred as well.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New bans for electricity market violators

If enacted, the bill would let the Commission bar or suspend any person found to have violated market rules in wholesale electricity. The ban could stop a person from buying or selling electric energy, electric energy products (including financial transmission rights), or transmission services. The bill would also broaden who counts as a covered "person" and say bans can apply to direct or indirect activity. The text does not set effective dates or monetary penalties in this section.

Stricter rules for natural gas markets

If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to willfully report false natural gas price or availability information to federal or private price-reporting agencies. It would also let the Commission bar or suspend any person who violated market-manipulation rules from buying or selling natural gas or transmission services. The bill would change wording from "individual" to "person" and say bans can cover direct or indirect activity. The text does not set effective dates or specific monetary penalties in this section.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]

NV • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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