No Big Fossil Bailouts on Your Power Bill Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
Limits the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's emergency power to keep fossil-fuel power plants online. This bill would narrow when FERC can order plants to stay running and make the agency and utilities give the public more notice, cost details, and environmental review.
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- Households and ratepayers would get clearer information about costs. FERC must analyze rate impacts and utilities must notify customers in writing within 60 days with expected fuel, maintenance, capital, or labor costs.
- Plant owners and grid operators would face new limits on emergency orders. Orders could not delay or reverse permanent retirements unless no other option exists and the regional Transmission Organization asks in writing.
- Regulators and communities gain more transparency and review. FERC would have to consider alternatives that reduce environmental harm, hold public hearings, consult state and local agencies, and publish a public online docket with analyses and cost estimates.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Limits on forcing plant retirements
The bill would bar the Commission from ordering a plant to delay or undo a permanent retirement or closure. The only exception would be a narrow case where (1) the emergency cannot be met any other way and (2) the applicable Transmission Organization sends a written request to delay the retirement. Any such written request would have to be posted on the public docket before the order is issued.
Transparency for emergency power orders
This bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make a public online docket for emergency power orders. It would publish proposed and final orders and any Transmission Organization written requests on that docket. Each order would include a report on the emergency, alternatives considered (including ways to reduce environmental harm), and estimated extra costs to utilities and customers like fuel, maintenance, capital, or labor. For first-time orders the Commission would try to do these analyses 'to the maximum extent practicable.' For renewed or reissued orders the Commission would fully follow the analysis rules, hold a public hearing, check whether rates would rise or laws could be broken, and consult state and local agencies.
Utility notice to customers after orders
If enacted, each electric utility affected by an emergency order would have to send written notice to its customers within 60 days. The notice would identify the order and tell customers how to find it. The notice would describe actual and expected impacts of the order, including extra costs like fuel, maintenance, capital, or labor, and any other relevant information for customers.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov