US House of Representatives passes Energy Consumer Relief Act of 2013

On August 1, 2013, the US House of Representatives passed the Energy Consumer Relief Act of 2013, which would prohibit the EPA from promulgating rules that have an estimated cost of over $1 billion. If passed in the Senate, the bill would require the EPA to provide cost/benefit reports to Congress for prospective energy regulations. Additionally, the EPA would be required to preserve the statistical data used to estimate the costs and benefits of proposed rules for Congressional review. The Secretary of Energy, FERC and the EIA would also be required to independently create, and submit to Congress, an “Initial Determination on Increases and Impacts” for each rule proposed by the EPA. If in the initial determination it is found that an increase/impact will occur, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the EPA, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall determine if the rule will adversely affect the economy and public that determination in the federal register.

For more information on HR 1582, visit GovTrack.

Written by: Garrett Lent, Research Assistant

Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

August 2013