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HR 5796 116th Congress House

E–Access Act

Official title: To enhance consumer access to electric energy and natural gas information, to allow for the adoption of innovative products and services to help consumers mana… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To enhance consumer access to electric energy and natural gas information, to allow for the adoption of innovative products and services to help consumers manage their energy usage, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 6, 2020 Introduced by: Welch, Peter Democratic · Vermont See on congress.gov
Energy Administrative law and regulatory proceduresConsumer affairsDepartment of EnergyElectric power generation and transmission
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Energy efficiency and conservationEnergy prices
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 6, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Feb 6, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 6, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Access to Consumer Energy Information Act or the E-Access Act

This bill revises federal guidelines for state energy conservation plans.

The bill authorizes state energy conservation 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.

The Department of Energy (DOE) must issue guidelines that establish model data sharing standards and policies for states to provide electric and gas consumers with access to retail electric energy information and retail natural gas information. States may submit to DOE a description of their data sharing standards and policies for certification that they meet such guidelines.

DOE must periodically review and revise the guidelines to reflect changes in technology, privacy needs, and the market for electric energy and natural gas and related services.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5796: E–Access Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5796/
MLA
"H.R. 5796: E–Access Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5796/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5796, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5796/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5796: E–Access Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5796/)
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