Energy Affordability and Reliability Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Introduced
Summary
Energy affordability would get a dedicated office at the Department of Energy to review how proposed energy-transition rules and policies affect costs and reliability. The office would review proposals and offer advice to limit price increases and support reliable energy access.
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- Families, businesses, and industry would see proposed DOE rules screened for short- and long-term effects on energy costs and for strategies to reduce bill impacts. This focuses reviews on residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.
- The Department of Energy would host an Office of Energy Affordability inside its Office of Policy to review any proposed regulation or policy tied to energy transitions. Reviews would be completed within 30 days and the office could advise but would not block rule issuance.
- Congress would receive regular oversight. The office must send annual reports with analyses and mitigation recommendations to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Appropriations Committee, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Secretary must report on the office's effectiveness within 5 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New Office to Review Energy Costs
If enacted, this bill would require the Department of Energy to create an Office of Energy Affordability inside DOE's Office of Policy within 180 days. The Office would review every proposed DOE rule or policy that requires or relates to a transition between energy types or sources. The Office would finish each review within 30 days after notice and could give advice and guidance but could not stop a rule from being issued. Each year the Office would send Congress a report analyzing short‑term and long‑term effects on energy affordability and recommending ways to reduce cost impacts. Five years after the Office starts, the Secretary would report to Congress on the Office's effectiveness. The bill would also name which congressional committees get the reports and define "energy affordability" as energy cost compared to a user's income or operating costs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov