B 26-0630 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This bill temporarily prevents electric companies from cutting off power to customers who fail to pay their bills during a specific period after a rate plan is overturned by a court. It directly affects electricity providers and residential or commercial customers in the District of Columbia who might otherwise face service disconnection. The law defines a "remand interim period" as the time between when a court vacates an approved rate plan and when a new plan is approved, during which companies cannot disconnect service for non-payment or for 15 days after that period ends. This emergency measure is designed to protect consumers from losing essential electricity service while rate plans are being reviewed and reapproved. The act will remain in effect for no longer than 90 days after approval.
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Council Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Mar 30, 2026 Signed Apr 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was re-enrolled with a significant amendment to the core protection against electricity disconnections. The original text prohibited disconnection during a court remand period and for 15 days after. The new version adds a financial threshold, allowing disconnection only if a household's average outstanding balance exceeds $1,000, with specific calculation rules for single-family and multifamily homes.
Scope change
The scope of protection was narrowed; the automatic 15-day grace period after a rate plan vacatur is now conditional on the amount of debt owed by the customer.
REQUIREMENT

The 15-day post-remand disconnection ban now only applies if the household's average outstanding balance is $1,000 or less. Disconnection is permitted if the debt exceeds this threshold.

DEFINITION

New rules were added to calculate the $1,000 threshold for multifamily residences where individual unit meters are not available, requiring the total debt to be divided by the number of units.

Floor votes · Council Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

8–5
Passed
Total votes 13
Mar 31, 2026
D Democratic11
8 Yea 3 Nay
72% Yea
I Independent2
2 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
0
Amendments
1
Mar 31, 2026
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (8-5)
council
Mar 31, 2026
Introduced
Amendment (Allen)
legislature
Mar 30, 2026
Introduced
B26-0630 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Janeese Lewis George
Janeese Lewis George
DDemocratic
DC
Ward 4