BILL Drivers Act

This bill directs the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to analyze and report on changes in the main cost components of retail electricity bills for residential and small business customers in each state over the preceding seven years. It also requires publication of the results in a consumer-friendly format.

Sec. 3, EIA analysis of electricity cost components: The EIA Administrator, consulting with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), must conduct and publish a standardized analysis for each state of changes over the preceding seven years in principal electricity cost components for residential and small business customers. The analysis must identify changes in generation costs, transmission costs, distribution costs, state and local taxes and fees, and state policy cost components. It must also distinguish federal, state, and local policy-related costs and assess the impacts of large load additions like data centers. The analysis must be market-structure neutral to allow comparison across states with different electricity market structures. The EIA must use publicly available data, including EIA Form 861 and reports from independent market monitors. FERC must provide technical assistance. A report to Congress is due within 180 days of enactment.

Sec. 4, Regional reliability and cost context: In conducting the analysis, the EIA must consider findings from the most recent Long-Term Reliability Assessment by the Electric Reliability Organization regarding load growth, resource adequacy, and transmission needs. The EIA must summarize how these findings relate to electricity cost trends and include that summary in the report to Congress. This section does not require the Electric Reliability Organization to conduct a new assessment.

Sec. 5, Publication and transparency: FERC and the EIA must publish the analysis results in a clear, consumer-friendly format on their respective websites.

Sec. 6, Definitions: Defines key terms including 'Administrator' (EIA Administrator), 'Commission' (FERC), 'electricity cost component' (identifiable cost categories like generation, transmission, distribution, state policy costs), 'State policy cost component' (costs from state laws like net metering, renewable portfolio standards, and public benefits requirements), 'residential customer', and 'small business customer'.

Sec. 7, Rule of construction: Nothing in the bill alters existing ratemaking authority, requires changes to retail electricity rates, or assigns cost responsibility to any specific utility or customer class.