To condition the granting of State energy program financial assistance on compliance with rules banning spurious charges by regulated electric utilities, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · August 10, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
This bill, the No Utility Junk Fees Act, aims to eliminate excessive charges that electric utilities impose on residential customers for paying their bills. The legislation requires states to ban "spurious charges" such as payment convenience fees, which the bill defines as fees that exceed 150 percent of the utility's actual processing costs or $3, whichever is greater, or fees charged on payment methods that cost the utility nothing to process. States must also ensure utilities offer at least one free payment option without internet access and prohibit fees on automatic recurring payments. To enforce compliance, the federal government will withhold 10 percent of state energy program funding beginning the first full fiscal year after enactment, with states given 18 months to submit documentation of compliance and a 90-day cure period if they fall short. The Department of Energy must establish regulations within 9 months and maintain a public database tracking which states comply with the new rules.
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