E-Access Act

The E-Access Act (S 1936) requires electric and gas utilities to provide consumers with detailed, machine-readable access to their energy usage data (including billing details, consumption patterns, and cost information) and enables consumers to share this data with third-party apps or services. Key provisions mandate that utilities make this data available in real-time or near real-time, in electronic format without extra charge, with strong privacy protections and standardized third-party authorization processes. The bill also sets guidelines for utilities to comply with open data standards (like Green Button Connect My Data), ensures fair access for app developers, and requires regular reporting on data-sharing performance. These changes directly affect millions of residential and commercial energy consumers and the utilities that serve them, aiming to increase transparency and support energy management tools.