PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
No official summary is available in the imported record yet.
People & committees
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] · D–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 5, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2026-09-16 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed End Energy Hardship Act would create federal grants to help electric and natural gas utilities erase residential customers’ unpaid bills. Utilities receiving these grants would have to offer income-based bill assistance or a roughly equivalent program for at least five years. They would also have to stop fees, debt collection, and shutoffs for unpaid bills expected to be covered by the grants.
This Act may be cited as the End Energy Hardship Act.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) may only use such funding to eliminate the arrears of residential customers served by such eligible entity.
The term eligible entity means a distribution utility that provides electric or natural gas utility service to a retail or end-use customer.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall implement a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or an alternative energy affordability program described in clause (ii) for a period of not fewer than 60 consecutive months beginning not later than 12 months after the date on which the eligible entity receives such funding.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall stop issuing late fees or penalties to, carrying out any arrears collection with respect to (including the sale of debt to third parties), and disconnecting the service of a residential customer served by the eligible entity for arrears of the residential customer that are expected to be eliminated by funding received under paragraph (1).
The Secretary of Energy would administer the affordability program for electric and natural gas distribution utilities. “Arrears” means any unpaid or overdue residential customer balance. References to States would include the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions.
The Secretary shall carry out a program to improve the near-term and sustained affordability of service provided by eligible entities.
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
The term eligible entity means a distribution utility that provides electric or natural gas utility service to a retail or end-use customer.
The term arrears means any unpaid or overdue balance a residential customer owes to an eligible entity.
The term State means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States.
Phase 1 would require competitive grants within 12 months after enactment. A utility’s grant could not exceed its residential customers’ total unpaid balances, and the money would be designated for eliminating those balances, subject to the administrative-cost allowance described below.
the Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, provide funding to eligible entities on a competitive basis in accordance with this subsection.
The funding provided under paragraph (1) to an eligible entity shall be in an amount no greater than the aggregate total arrears of residential customers served by such eligible entity.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) may only use such funding to eliminate the arrears of residential customers served by such eligible entity.
may use not more than 10 percent of such funding for administrative costs
If a grant could not eliminate all residential debt, the utility would prioritize: first, balances incurred before enactment; second, customers whose gross household income is at or below the higher of 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of State median income; and third, households with someone aged 60 or older, someone with a disability, a child under six, or someone whose medical condition requires utility service.
To the extent funding received by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) is insufficient to eliminate the arrears of all residential customers served by the eligible entity, the eligible entity shall prioritize the elimination of— (i) first, the arrears of each residential customer served by the eligible entity that were incurred prior to the date of enactment of this section; (ii) second, the arrears of each residential customer served by the eligible entity who has a gross household income at or below the greater of— (I) 150 percent of the Federal poverty level; and (II) 60 percent of the median income of the State in which the residential customer resides; and (iii) third, the arrears of each residential customer who is part of a household served by the eligible entity that includes— (I) 1 or more individuals who have attained 60 years of age; (II) 1 or more individuals who are disabled; (III) 1 or more individuals who have not yet attained 6 years of age; or (IV) 1 or more individuals who have a medical condition that requires service by an eligible entity.
A Phase 1 recipient would have to start a qualifying income-based payment program, or an approved alternative, within 12 months after receiving funding and operate it for at least 60 consecutive months. An alternative, such as tiered discounts, would need the Secretary’s determination that it is designed to provide roughly equivalent help to customers eligible for the income-based program and meets other appropriate design requirements.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall implement a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or an alternative energy affordability program described in clause (ii) for a period of not fewer than 60 consecutive months beginning not later than 12 months after the date on which the eligible entity receives such funding.
An alternative energy affordability program described in this clause is an energy affordability program, such as a tiered discount program, that the Secretary determines— (I) is designed to provide assistance— (aa) with respect to amounts charged by an eligible entity; (bb) to residential customers served by the eligible entity who are eligible to enroll in a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program; and (cc) that is roughly equivalent to the assistance provided by a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program; and (II) meets other appropriate design requirements for energy affordability programs.
To the extent possible, Phase 1 recipients would have to enroll income-eligible customers whose debt they eliminated in their qualifying payment program or approved alternative.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent possible, enroll each residential customer served by the eligible entity who has a gross household income described in subsection (j)(5)(B), and with respect to whom the eligible entity has eliminated arrears, in the Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or alternative energy affordability program implemented pursuant to clause (i).
a gross household income at or below the greater of— (i) 150 percent of the Federal poverty level; and (ii) 60 percent of the median income of the State in which such residential customers reside
For a utility whose rates are regulated by a State agency, committing Phase 1 funding would depend on the utility either filing a tariff—a formal utility rate-and-service document—to establish or amend a qualifying program, or documenting that it already administers one.
For any eligible entity with respect to which a State agency has ratemaking authority, the Secretary shall condition the obligation of funding to such eligible entity under paragraph (1) on the eligible entity— (i) filing a tariff with such State agency to— (I) establish a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or an alternative energy affordability program described in subparagraph (A)(ii); or (II) amend an existing program to be a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or an alternative energy affordability program described in subparagraph (A)(ii); or (ii) submitting documentation to the Secretary that demonstrates that such entity administers an existing Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or an alternative energy affordability program described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
Phase 1 recipients would have to stop late fees, penalties, collection—including debt sales—and service shutoffs for balances expected to be eliminated by the grant. They also could not charge their ratepayers to recover those same balances.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall stop issuing late fees or penalties to, carrying out any arrears collection with respect to (including the sale of debt to third parties), and disconnecting the service of a residential customer served by the eligible entity for arrears of the residential customer that are expected to be eliminated by funding received under paragraph (1).
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) may not collect revenue from the ratepayers of such eligible entity to cover the costs of arrears expected to be eliminated by such funding.
Phase 1 recipients would have to coordinate with State agencies and, where appropriate, nonprofit organizations, and seek data-sharing agreements to support income verification and enrollment in relevant energy affordability and efficiency programs. They would also have to report their use of funds, compliance, and other affordability efforts to the Secretary.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall coordinate, and seek to enter into agreements to exchange data, with State agencies and, as appropriate, nonprofit organizations responsible for verifying income eligibility and enrolling residential customers in relevant (as determined by the Secretary) Federal and State energy affordability and energy efficiency programs.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall report to the Secretary on— (i) the use of such funding by the eligible entity; (ii) compliance by the eligible entity with the requirements of this paragraph; and (iii) other efforts by the eligible entity to reduce the arrears of, and improve energy affordability for, residential customers served by the eligible entity.
A Phase 1 recipient could use up to 10% of its funding for administrative costs of eliminating debt, establishing the required affordability program, and complying with the grant conditions.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) may use not more than 10 percent of such funding for administrative costs associated with— (i) eliminating the arrears of residential customers served by the eligible entity; (ii) establishing a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or an alternative energy affordability program described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and (iii) complying with any other requirement established by this paragraph.
A qualifying income-based payment program would be administered by a utility or by a State with utility participation. It would enroll residential customers with gross household income no higher than the greater of 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of State median income. It would automatically enroll customers participating in other low-income programs that the Secretary identifies as having identical or stricter eligibility requirements.
The term Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program means a program that— (A) is administered by an eligible entity, or administered by a State with the participation of an eligible entity; (B) enrolls residential customers served by the eligible entity who have a gross household income at or below the greater of— (i) 150 percent of the Federal poverty level; and (ii) 60 percent of the median income of the State in which such residential customers reside; (C) automatically enrolls residential customers served by the eligible entity who participate in another low-income assistance program that the Secretary identifies as having eligibility requirements for enrollment in the low-income assistance program that are identical to or more stringent than the program;
The qualifying payment program would limit monthly charges to a fixed share of gross household income. For customers with natural gas heating, the ceiling would be 6% total, with no more than 3% for electricity and 3% for heating. For customers with electric heating, the ceiling would be 6%. The bill would also allow income-based tiers, although the tier provision contains an unclear cross-reference.
limits the monthly amount charged to each residential customer enrolled in the program for service provided by an eligible entity to a fixed percentage of the gross household income of such customer, which percentage shall be not more than— (i) for such a customer with natural gas heating, 6 percent of the gross household income of such customer, provided that the monthly amount charged for electric service shall be not more than 3 percent of such gross household income and the monthly amount charged for such heating service shall be not more than 3 percent of such gross household income; or (ii) for such a customer with electric heating, 6 percent of the gross household income of such customer;
may implement a system that tiers the monthly amount charged to a residential customer enrolled in the program (in an amount not to exceed the amount allowed under subparagraph (C)) based on the gross household income of the residential customer described in subparagraph (B)
Qualifying payment programs would have to coordinate and share enrollment-related data with relevant State agencies and, where appropriate, nonprofit organizations. They would also have to promote access to home energy audits, weatherization services, and other residential energy and efficiency programs.
supports, coordinates with, and shares data with relevant State agencies and, as appropriate, nonprofit organizations that support the enrollment of residential customers in the program, including data relating to verifying that a residential customer has a gross household income described in subparagraph (B)
promotes access to home energy audits, weatherization services, and other residential energy and energy efficiency programs that improve energy affordability for residential customers enrolled in the program
Qualifying payment programs would prohibit service shutoffs for enrolled customers who pay every monthly charge fully and on time after enrollment. They would also include debt management that forgives no more than one-twelfth of a customer’s unpaid balance when the latest monthly charge is paid fully and on time; the text does not promise forgiveness of exactly one-twelfth.
prohibits the service disconnection of any residential customer enrolled in the program, provided that the residential customer makes a full and timely payment of each monthly amount charged to the customer after the date on which the customer is enrolled in such program
implements an arrears management program that forgives no more than 1/12 of the arrears of a residential customer enrolled in the program upon the full and timely payment of the most recent monthly amount charged to the customer.
Phase 2 could begin no earlier than 24 months after enactment. The Secretary would distribute appropriated funding not spent under Phase 1 among Phase 1 recipients in proportion to their residential customer counts. Each recipient would have to give every residential customer it serves an equal credit.
the Secretary shall, not earlier than 24 months after the date of enactment of this section, provide any funding appropriated to carry out this section that is not expended under subsection (b) to each eligible entity that received funding under subsection (b) in accordance with this subsection.
The funding provided under paragraph (1) to an eligible entity shall be in an amount that is proportionate to the number of residential customers served by such eligible entity.
An eligible entity that receives funding under paragraph (1) shall use such funding to provide a credit to each residential customer served by such eligible entity in an equal amount.
The Secretary would have to offer technical assistance to utilities, States, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, explain, and encourage participation in affordability programs. Assistance could cover debt management, discounts, rebates, home energy audits, existing low-income home energy assistance, and energy efficiency programs.
the Secretary shall offer technical assistance to eligible entities, States, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations to support the development and implementation of, participation in, and public education about Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Programs and other energy affordability measures, which may include arrears management programs, eligible entity bill discount rates, eligible entity bill rebates, home energy audits, assistance provided pursuant to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, and residential energy and energy efficiency programs.
Subject to available funds, the Secretary would provide additional funding to utilities or States to offset implementation costs of qualifying income-based payment programs that utilities might otherwise pass to residential customers. Eligible costs could include software, technology upgrades, and nonadministrative program costs.
the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of funds, provide funding to eligible entities or States to offset the costs that an eligible entity may pass on to residential customers served by the eligible entity that are associated with the implementation by the eligible entity of a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program, which may include software and technology upgrades necessary to support the administration of the Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program and the non-administrative costs of carrying out the Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program.
To qualify for this additional implementation funding, a utility would have to show that a significant number of its income-eligible residential customers are enrolled, with the Secretary determining what counts as significant. A for-profit utility would also have to provide an owner-funded match equal to 10% of the funding it receives under this provision.
To be eligible to receive funding under this subsection, an eligible entity shall— (A) demonstrate that a significant number, as determined by the Secretary, of residential customers served by the eligible entity that have a gross household income described in subsection (j)(5)(B) are enrolled in a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program; and (B) for any eligible entity that is a for-profit entity, be required to match 10 percent of funding received under this subsection with funding provided by the owners of such eligible entity.
Starting within 12 months after enactment, the Energy Information Administration would collect annual data from every eligible utility. The data would cover residential debt amounts and customer counts for balances older than 90, 120, and 180 days, the number of shutoffs for unpaid bills, and enrollment in qualifying income-based payment programs.
Beginning not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall annually collect data from each eligible entity relating to— (A) the aggregate amount of arrears older than 90 days of residential customers served by the eligible entity, with the aggregate amounts of arrears older than 90, 120, and 180 days disaggregated; (B) the number of residential customers served by the eligible entity who have arrears older than 90 days, with the numbers of residential customers who have arrears older than 90, 120, and 180 days disaggregated; (C) the number of instances of disconnection of service by the eligible entity due to an unpaid or overdue balance; and (D) the number of residential customers served by the eligible entity who are enrolled in a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program.
The Energy Information Administration would coordinate this collection with its existing efforts where practicable to avoid duplicate reporting burdens. It would publish an annual report with measures broken down by State and ZIP Code.
The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate the data collection required under this subsection with the existing data collection efforts of the Energy Information Administration to avoid the duplication of reporting burdens on eligible entities.
The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall annually publish a report, which shall include metrics, disaggregated by State and ZIP Code, related to data collected pursuant to paragraph (1).
If the Secretary determined that a utility failed to comply with the section’s requirements, the Secretary would have to require repayment of funding provided to that utility under the section.
If the Secretary determines that an eligible entity has failed to comply with the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall require repayment of any funding provided to the eligible entity under this section.
Within six years after enactment, the Secretary would have to report to Congress on the effectiveness of qualifying payment programs and approved alternatives receiving funding or technical assistance. The report would recommend improvements to program design, enrollment, and participation in relevant federal and State affordability and efficiency programs.
Not later than 6 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to Congress on— (1) the effectiveness of Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Programs, or any alternative energy affordability programs described in subsection (b)(4)(A)(ii), that have received funding or technical assistance under this section; and (2) recommendations to improve the design of such programs, increase the enrollment of residential customers in such programs, and increase the participation in relevant Federal and State energy affordability and energy efficiency programs of residential customers who are eligible for such programs.
The bill would authorize $25 billion for Phases 1 and 2, available until spent, plus $1 billion for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 for technical assistance, payment-program support, and data collection and reporting. These are authorizations for appropriations, not provisions that themselves supply the money.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $25,000,000,000 to remain available until expended to carry out subsections (b) and (c).
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out subsections (d), (e), and (f).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 5, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 16, 2026.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-05T14:38:14Z. 2026-09-16: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 2026-09-16: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2026-09-16. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place outside competitive or formula allocation was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; formal earmark disclosures and accompanying materials are not supplied.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow carve-out, special exemption, or preferential exception was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. Eligibility rules and assistance priorities concern the program’s intended beneficiaries. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 5, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI