WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power, chaired by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), will hold a legislative hearing on a discussion draft of H.R.__, the Energy Consumers Relief Act, next Friday, April 12, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Since 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed or finalized a series of new rules estimated to cumulatively impose billions of dollars in new compliance costs across the economy, including rules affecting our nation’s energy sector. Costs of these energy-related rules will ultimately be passed on to American businesses and families in the form of more expensive electricity bills, higher prices at the gas pump, and other increased costs.
To help shield Americans from higher energy costs and provide greater transparency, the Energy Consumers Relief Act will require that before EPA finalizes any new energy-related rules estimated to cost more than $1 billion, the agency must submit a report to Congress detailing certain cost, energy price, and job impacts, and the Secretary of Energy must make certain additional determinations relating to the rule. The Act would protect consumers by prohibiting EPA from finalizing those energy-related rules that are estimated to cost over $1 billion and that are determined to cause significant adverse effects to the economy.
“It is commonsense policy to want to understand how any rule costing over a billion dollars will affect energy prices, employment, and the economy - this will protect consumers and will make sure EPA does its job," said Whitfield.as they are posted.
