Energy Utility Lobbying Ban Act

The Energy Utility Lobbying Ban Act requires states to adopt specific restrictions on former state regulatory officials who seek to lobby electric utilities regarding matters they previously handled. To receive full federal funding for energy programs, a state must prohibit these former employees from advocating before their former agency in cases where they had personal and substantial involvement or where the matter was pending under their responsibility within a year of their departure. The Secretary of Energy will annually review state laws to ensure compliance, withholding 10 percent of a state's financial assistance if it fails to meet these requirements, though funds are restored if the state corrects the issue in the following year. States have a 90-day cure period to remedy noncompliance and may implement the necessary restrictions through legislation, administrative rules, or binding regulatory orders.