The METRIC Act (H.R. 7607)

Summary

The Modernizing EIA Tracking and Reporting to Increase Consistency Act (the "METRIC Act") is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 20, 2026. The main purpose of the bill is to improve the measurement and reporting of United States energy use in order to enhance energy performance, transparency, and decision-making.

Key Provisions:

1. Study on Primary Energy Indicators: The bill requires the Secretary of Energy, with support from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), to conduct a comprehensive study on the validity, limitations, and potential alternatives to the current indicators used for measuring primary energy in national energy accounting. The study will evaluate the conceptual basis and limitations of the existing primary energy metric, analyze alternative indicators, review international best practices, and provide recommendations for improvements.

2. Complementary Incident Energy Statistics: The bill amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to require the EIA Administrator to:

   • Develop, collect, analyze, and report on "incident energy" - the total amount of energy entering energy conversion processes.
   • Use surveys, models, and analytical approximations to estimate incident energy for energy sources where direct data collection is not feasible.
   • Integrate and publish incident energy data alongside primary and final energy statistics to enable side-by-side comparisons of energy conversion efficiency and system performance.

Potential Impact:

The METRIC Act aims to modernize how the U.S. measures and accounts for its national energy use. By addressing the limitations of the current primary energy metric and incorporating new "incident energy" reporting, the bill seeks to:

• Improve the accuracy and transparency of energy statistics to better reflect the efficiency and value of different energy sources, especially renewable and non-combustible technologies.
• Support evidence-based policymaking, market efficiency, and alignment with the ongoing energy transition towards greater electrification and decarbonization.
• Strengthen the quality and international comparability of U.S. energy data and statistics.

Overall, the METRIC Act is focused on enhancing the measurement and reporting of energy use in the United States to better inform decision-makers, researchers, and the public about the nation's energy system and its performance.