A bill to amend the Department of Energy Authorization Act to authorize the Secretary of Energy to impose interim limitations on the cost of electric energy to protect consumers from unjust and unreasonable prices in the electric energy market.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 107-49.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 22, 2001
Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to direct the Secretary of Energy to impose an interim regional price limitation, or cost-of-service based rate, upon sales of electric energy at wholesale rate in interstate commerce subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) whenever: (1) FERC determines that the pertinent rate, charge, or classification is unduly preferential, unjust, or unreasonable, or the Secretary determines that it exceeds significantly the marginal cost of electric energy production; and (2) the continued existence of such rate, charge, or classification threatens public health and safety or regional economy, and FERC has otherwise failed to act to improve the situation.Authorizes the Governor of any State within such affected region to waive application of the price limitation.Exempts from the interim price limitations of this Act sales of electric energy generated by certain small power production or cogeneration facilities under the purview of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. 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 S.26 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
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine S.26 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
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine S.26 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
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine S.26 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.