End Energy Hardship Act

This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to fund electric and natural gas utilities to eliminate residential customer arrears, support percentage-of-income payment programs, and improve energy affordability. It establishes a two-phase program, technical assistance, data collection, and reporting requirements.

Sec. 2, Utility Affordability Program: The Secretary must run a program to improve near-term and sustained affordability of utility service. Phase 1 provides competitive funding to eligible entities within 12 months, capped at the total arrears of their residential customers. Funds must be used to eliminate arrears, prioritizing pre-enactment arrears, then low-income customers (at or below 150% of federal poverty level or 60% of state median income), then households with seniors, disabled, young children, or medical needs. Recipients must implement a Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Program or equivalent alternative for at least 60 months, automatically enroll eligible customers, stop late fees and disconnections for arrears to be eliminated, and cannot recover costs from ratepayers. Up to 10% of funds may cover administrative costs. Phase 2 distributes remaining funds proportionally to Phase 1 recipients for equal credits to all residential customers. The Secretary must offer technical assistance to utilities, states, tribes, and nonprofits. Funding may offset costs of implementing Qualified Percentage of Income Payment Programs, with for-profit entities required to match 10%. The Energy Information Administration must annually collect and report data on arrears, disconnections, and program enrollment, disaggregated by state and ZIP Code. Noncompliant entities must repay funds. A report to Congress is due within 6 years. Authorized appropriations: $25 billion for Phases 1 and 2, and $1 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for technical assistance, program support, and data collection.