Summary

Prohibits a former member of a State utility regulatory authority from lobbying, appearing before, or providing paid services in matters before that same State regulatory authority for two years after leaving office, and adds that prohibition as a new federal standard under PURPA. Requires each State regulatory authority, with respect to each electric utility it regulates, to begin consideration of that two-year post-employment restriction within 1 year of enactment and to complete its consideration and determination within 2 years, with limited exceptions for States that already acted or recently debated a comparable rule.

• Establishes a federal two-year ban on former state utility regulators lobbying or providing paid services before their former state authority.
• Ban includes seeking or using nonpublic information from the same state regulatory authority.
• Adds the new standard to PURPA so it becomes a federal baseline for state utility regulation.
• Requires state regulatory authorities to begin considering the standard within 1 year and decide within 2 years for each electric utility they regulate.
• Exempts States that already implemented or considered a comparable rule, or where the legislature voted on the issue in the past 3 years.
• Does not appropriate funds or alter the tax code in the text provided.
• Imposes administrative duties on State regulatory authorities (potential unfunded mandate).