Bill > HR4785

This bill, known as the "Ethics in Energy Act of 2025," directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to create regulations preventing large electric and natural gas utilities from recovering certain political influence expenses from ratepayers. The bill defines "political influence activities" broadly, including expenses related to lobbying, influencing regulations, elections, public opinion, and government decisions, as well as trade association dues and advertising designed to improve a utility's reputation. Covered utilities - which include electric utilities with significant annual sales and major natural gas companies - will be required to submit annual detailed reports listing these expenses, with full transparency about billing amounts, dates, payees, and purposes. The FERC will be empowered to investigate and enforce these regulations, with penalties ranging from the full amount of the inappropriate expense to up to 20 times that amount. Half of any collected penalties will be returned to ratepayers as rebates, and half will support FERC's enforcement efforts. The goal is to prevent utility customers from indirectly funding political activities through their utility bills and to increase transparency in utility spending.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4785/all-info