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B26-0631 • 2025

Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Lewis George
Last action
2026-03-31
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill failed and did not become law, so these protections were never enacted.

Temporary Ban on Cutting Off Power During Rate Plan Reviews

This bill temporarily stops electric companies in the District of Columbia from cutting off power for unpaid bills while a court reviews and changes electricity rates.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule that bans disconnecting electric service for non-payment during specific review periods called 'remand interim periods'.
  • Defines the 'remand interim period' as the time after a judge cancels an approved rate plan until a new one starts.
  • Requires companies to wait at least 15 days after this review period ends before cutting off power for unpaid bills.
  • Sets an expiration date so these rules end automatically if not renewed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Electric utility companies operating in the District of Columbia
  • Customers who receive electricity service and may face disconnection for non-payment

Terms To Know

Vacatur
A court order that cancels or voids a previous decision, such as an approved rate plan.
Remand interim period
The time between when a judge cancels a rate plan and when a new one is officially started.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only applies to disconnections caused by non-payment of bills or fees.
  • The rules expire automatically after the emergency version ends plus an additional period, lasting no more than about seven months total.
  • The official status shows this specific bill failed and did not become law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  2. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  3. 2026-03-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0631 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
1 ___________________________ 2 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 3 4 5 6 A BILL 7 8 _________________________ 9 10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 11 12 _________________________ 13 14 15 To amend, on a temporary basis, the Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 16 1999 to disallow electricity service disconnection in a period of time after an order approved 17 by the Public Service Commission is vacated and remanded. 18 19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act 20 may be cited as the “Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026”. 21 Sec. 2. The Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999, effective May 22 9, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-107; D.C. Official Code § 34-1501 et seq.), is amended by adding a new 23 section 106b to read as follows: 24 “Sec. 106b. Disconnection of service during remand interim period prohibited. 25 “(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “remand interim period” means the period of 26 time after the issuance of a judicial order vacating a multi-year rate plan approved by the Commission 27 and before a new rate plan is approved and instituted. 28 “(b) An electric company may not disconnect electric service for non-payment of a bill or fees 29 during a remand interim period or for 15 calendar days thereafter. 30 “(c) This section shall sunset 90 days after the effective date of the Rate Plan Vacatur Interim 31 Protections Emergency Amendment Act of 2026.”. 32

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Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 33 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 34 statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 35 October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 36 Sec. 4. Effective date. 37 (a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 38 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 39 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 40 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia 41 Register. 42 (b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 43