Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced
Summary
Stronger enforcement against energy market misconduct. This bill would give regulators new authority to ban people or firms from energy markets and to punish willful false reporting about natural gas prices and availability.
Show full summary
- Market participants. Traders, brokers, and firms could be barred from buying or selling electric energy, electric energy products (including financial transmission rights), or transmission services if they violate covered market rules. The ban can be unconditional or conditional, and it can be permanent or for a time the Commission sets.
- Price reporters and data providers. People who willfully and knowingly submit false information to a federal agency or a private price-reporting agency with intent to fraudulently affect compiled data could face prohibitions and civil penalties. The rule covers reports about wholesale prices, availability, and facility operations for interstate natural gas.
- Scope and reach. The bill replaces the term "individual" with "person" and adds "directly or indirectly," widening who the Commission can target to include entities and intermediaries.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New bans and reporting rules for gas
If enacted, the bill would make it unlawful to willfully and knowingly report false wholesale natural gas information to federal or private price-reporting agencies when intended to fraudulently affect their compiled data. It would let FERC bar any person who violated those reporting rules or related gas-market rules from buying or selling natural gas or transmission services, temporarily or permanently, and apply to direct or indirect actions. The bill would also change enforcement wording to replace "individual" with "person" and to clarify reach over direct and indirect conduct.
Trading bans for electricity market traders
If enacted, the bill would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to bar any person who violated market rules from buying or selling electric energy, electric energy products (including financial transmission rights), or transmission services under FERC jurisdiction. The ban could be temporary or permanent and could apply to direct or indirect trading. The bill would also change enforcement wording to use the term "person" and to clarify that prohibitions can reach direct and indirect activity.
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.
View on Congress.gov