e-KNOW Act

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 1, 2010

Electric Consumer Right to Know Act or e-KNOW Act - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to grant an electric consumer the right to access the consumer's retail electric energy information in electronic machine-readable form, in a manner that is timely and provides adequate protections for the information's privacy and security.

Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a model rule prescribing minimum national standards to implement such right of access.

Includes within such right of access an Internet website of retail electric energy information.

Requires the Secretary of Energy, in determining whether to award federal smart grid support to a retail electric utility, to give preference to any applicant that has implemented policies for electric consumer access to retail electric energy information at least as stringent as those prescribed by the model rule.

Sets forth procedures for state consideration of the FERC model.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7] · D–MA

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 1, 2010
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 1, 2010
Introduced in House
Jul 1, 2010
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jul 1, 2010 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5696 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5696, 111th Congress: e-KNOW Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/5696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2010-07-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr5696/BILLS-111hr5696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.5696 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5696 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5696, 111th Congress: e-KNOW Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/5696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2010-07-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr5696/BILLS-111hr5696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5696 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5696 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5696, 111th Congress: e-KNOW Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/5696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2010-07-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr5696/BILLS-111hr5696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5696 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5696 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.5696, 111th Congress: e-KNOW Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/5696

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2010-07-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr5696/BILLS-111hr5696ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T16:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.5696 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.