H.R. 8568In committeeEnvironment & energy
Bill limits utility profit rates and customer fee pass-throughs
Data as of July 11, 2026
This bill would require private electric and gas utilities to use the lowest allowed profit rate, which could lower customer bills.60-second read · 5 questions answered below
Decoded
What does this do?
This bill changes how much profit privately owned electric and gas utilities can earn for their shareholders. It would require that profit rate to be set at the lowest point of an acceptable range, based on a five-year average of expected U.S. stock market returns. A utility could receive a higher rate only if it proves the need and publicly explains the difference, including the dollar impact on the average household's monthly bill.
Who does it affect?
This bill applies only to investor-owned, privately owned electric and gas utilities. Electric cooperatives and publicly owned utilities run by cities or states are not covered.
Why does it matter?
Where regulators currently can set the profit rate anywhere within an acceptable range, this bill would require the lowest point in that range, which directly affects the rates customers pay on their utility bills. The bill also bars utilities from charging customers for costs like lobbying, political advertising, executive travel, entertainment, legal fees for rate cases, and fines.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- Utilities can't bill lobbying costs to customers
- Bans passing fines, legal fees to ratepayers
Where does it stand?
- Introduced
- House committee — You are here
- House vote
- Senate
- President's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
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Official title
To amend the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require investor owned electric utilities and gas utilities and transmission providers to, when establishing or calculating a return on equity, establish or calculate the return on equity at the lowest return on equity in an established range of reasonableness, and for other purposes.
- Introduced:
- April 29, 2026
- Latest action:
- April 29, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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