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HR 2596 118th Congress House

Stop PG&E Price Gouging During Emergencies Act

Official title: To prohibit natural gas price gouging after a disaster, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 13, 2023 Introduced by: Harder, Josh Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Commerce
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 21, 2023
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.
Apr 13, 2023
Introduced in House
Apr 13, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Latest action April 21, 2023

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Stop PG&E Price Gouging During Emergencies Act

This bill prohibits utility companies from selling, in any county where a declared major disaster applies, natural gas at a price that (1) is unconscionably excessive, and (2) indicates that the utility company is taking unfair advantage of the disaster to unreasonably increase prices.

The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, including a maximum civil penalty of $100 million for a violation.

In addition, the Department of Justice may bring a criminal action with a maximum penalty of $500 million for a violation.

State attorneys general also may bring a civil action to enforce the prohibitions of this bill.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2596: Stop PG&E Price Gouging During Emergencies Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-2596/
MLA
"H.R. 2596: Stop PG&E Price Gouging During Emergencies Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-2596/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2596, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-2596/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2596: Stop PG&E Price Gouging During Emergencies Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-HR-2596/)
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