Access to Consumer Energy Information Act
Latest action (10 Jul 2014): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 5073, the Access to Consumer Energy Information Act (E-Access Act), would direct the Secretary of Energy to promote policies giving electricity consumers access to their own usage data. It would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to add consumer energy-data access and innovative energy-management programs as criteria states can use to qualify for federal state energy plan funding. The bill also requires the Secretary, within 180 days of enactment and after consulting state regulators, federal agencies, consumer and privacy groups, and utility and industry representatives, to issue voluntary guidelines for how utilities should provide "retail electric energy information"—covering usage, pricing, and cost data—to consumers and their authorized third parties, including timeliness, data formats, privacy/security protections, and access for multitenant buildings.
The bill primarily affects electric utility customers, state energy offices, and utilities, by encouraging more standardized, timely, and secure consumer access to their electricity usage and billing data, potentially enabling new energy-management tools and services. States could seek federal certification that their data-sharing policies meet the guidelines, and certified states could receive federal funding—$10,000,000 authorized for fiscal year 2015—to help implement these programs.
The bill was introduced on July 10, 2014, by Rep. Peter Welch and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It did not advance further and received no vote before the 113th Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Access to Consumer Energy Information Act or E-Access Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to encourage and support the adoption of policies that allow electricity consumers access to their own electricity data.
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize state energy conservation plans to include programs that: (1) enhance consumer access to, and understanding of, energy usage and price information, including consumers' own residential and commercial electricity information; and (2) allow for development and adoption of innovative products and services to assist consumers in managing energy consumption and expenditures.
Directs the Secretary to issue voluntary guidelines, meeting specified criteria, which establish model standards to implement retail electric energy information access in states.
Authorizes states to submit to the Secretary a description of their data sharing policies regarding consumer access to electric energy information for DOE certification that they meet such voluntary guidelines.
Directs the Secretary, subject to appropriations, to make federal funds available to any DOE-certified state to assist it in implementing its energy conservation plan.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 5073 do?
- H.R. 5073, the Access to Consumer Energy Information Act (E-Access Act), would direct the Secretary of Energy to promote policies giving electricity consumers access to their own usage data. It would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to add consumer energy-data access and innovative energy-management programs as criteria states can use to qualify for federal state energy plan funding. The bill also requires the Secretary, within 180 days of enactment and after consulting state regulators, federal agencies, consumer and privacy groups, and utility and industry representatives, to issue voluntary guidelines for how utilities should provide "retail electric energy information"—covering usage, pricing, and cost data—to consumers and their authorized third parties, including timeliness, data formats, privacy/security protections, and access for multitenant buildings. The bill primarily affects electric utility customers, state energy offices, and utilities, by encouraging more standardized, timely, and secure consumer access to their electricity usage and billing data, potentially enabling new energy-management tools and services. States could seek federal certification that their data-sharing policies meet the guidelines, and certified states could receive federal funding—$10,000,000 authorized for fiscal year 2015—to help implement these programs. The bill was introduced on July 10, 2014, by Rep. Peter Welch and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It did not advance further and received no vote before the 113th Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
- Has H.R. 5073 become law?
- Not yet. As of 10 Jul 2014, H.R. 5073 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 5073?
- H.R. 5073 was sponsored by Sen. Peter Welch [D-VT] (Democrat-VT), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 5073?
- Introduced (10 Jul 2014).
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