E-Access Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (26 Jul 2022): Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
What this bill does
The E-Access Act, formally titled the Access to Consumer Energy Information Act, would direct the Department of Energy to develop guidelines helping electric and natural gas consumers—and third parties they authorize—access their own usage, pricing, and billing data. The Secretary of Energy would have 180 days after enactment to issue model data-sharing standards, developed in consultation with state regulators, federal agencies such as the FTC and NIST, utilities, and consumer and privacy groups. These guidelines would address how data should be provided (electronically, in near real-time, with at least 24 months of history), consumer consent procedures for sharing data with third parties, privacy protections, and conditions for releasing aggregated data without individual consent. The bill also adds these consumer-access programs to the list of activities eligible for support under existing state energy conservation planning law.
The bill primarily affects electric and gas utilities, state energy offices and regulators, and companies offering energy-management tools or services, as well as residential and business energy consumers who would gain clearer rights to obtain and share their own usage data. States could seek certification that their policies meet the new federal guidelines, and certified states would be eligible for federal funding to help implement related programs; $10 million is authorized for this purpose for fiscal year 2023.
Introduced in the House on July 26, 2022, by Rep. Peter Welch and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the bill did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 117th Congress. Further action would require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
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 the E-Access Act
This bill revises federal guidelines for state energy conservation plans, including by authorizing such plans to include programs that (1) enhance consumer access to, and understanding of, electric energy and natural gas usage and cost information, including consumers' own residential and commercial retail electric energy and natural gas information; and (2) facilitate the development and adoption of innovative products and services to assist consumers in managing energy consumption and expenditures.
Timeline
26 Jul 2022
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 8519 do?
- The E-Access Act, formally titled the Access to Consumer Energy Information Act, would direct the Department of Energy to develop guidelines helping electric and natural gas consumers—and third parties they authorize—access their own usage, pricing, and billing data. The Secretary of Energy would have 180 days after enactment to issue model data-sharing standards, developed in consultation with state regulators, federal agencies such as the FTC and NIST, utilities, and consumer and privacy groups. These guidelines would address how data should be provided (electronically, in near real-time, with at least 24 months of history), consumer consent procedures for sharing data with third parties, privacy protections, and conditions for releasing aggregated data without individual consent. The bill also adds these consumer-access programs to the list of activities eligible for support under existing state energy conservation planning law. The bill primarily affects electric and gas utilities, state energy offices and regulators, and companies offering energy-management tools or services, as well as residential and business energy consumers who would gain clearer rights to obtain and share their own usage data. States could seek certification that their policies meet the new federal guidelines, and certified states would be eligible for federal funding to help implement related programs; $10 million is authorized for this purpose for fiscal year 2023. Introduced in the House on July 26, 2022, by Rep. Peter Welch and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the bill did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 117th Congress. Further action would require reintroduction in a subsequent Congress.
- Has H.R. 8519 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 8519. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 8519?
- H.R. 8519 was sponsored by Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 8519?
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (26 Jul 2022).
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