H.R. 9630: Better Information through Line-item Labeling Drivers Act

This bill would require the Energy Information Administration (EIA), working with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to analyze and publish a standardized, state-by-state report on why retail electricity bills for homes and small businesses have changed over the past seven years.

What the analysis would cover

The report would break electricity costs into major components and show how each one has changed in each state. At a minimum, it would look at:

• Electricity generation costs, including the cost to produce or buy power and maintain enough supply to meet demand
• Transmission costs
• Distribution costs
• State and local taxes and fees, such as sales taxes, gross receipts taxes, and utility-related local fees
• State policy-related cost components

It would also try, where practical, to separate out costs tied to federal, state, and local policies, including taxes and public policy mandates.

Other topics the report would address

The EIA would also be directed to:

• Compare electricity cost components across states, even where states use different market structures, such as vertically integrated utilities or competitive retail markets
• Use existing public data, including EIA Form 861 and reports from independent market monitors in regions with organized wholesale electricity markets
• Assess, where practical, how large new electricity users, such as data centers, may be affecting electricity cost trends
• Take into account the most recent long-term reliability assessment from the electric reliability organization, especially regarding load growth, resource adequacy, and transmission needs

Publication and timing

The bill would require the findings to be posted in a clear, consumer-friendly format on both the FERC and EIA websites. The EIA would also have to send a report to Congress within 180 days after the bill becomes law.

What the bill would not do

The bill says it would not change existing authority over retail electricity rates, require utilities to change their rates, or assign responsibility for costs to any specific utility or customer group. Its focus is on transparency and analysis, not rate-setting.

Relevant Companies

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