Senate Bill No. 426 mandates the Department of Administrative Services to issue a request for proposals by October 1, 2026, to hire a national consultant for an impartial study on energy regulation in the state. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, particularly in light of legislative changes made by public act 11-80. The consultant will also analyze energy policy-making and utility regulation in other states, especially those with deregulated utilities, and provide recommendations for improvements based on best practices.

The bill outlines a timeline for the study, requiring the department to select a consultant by February 1, 2027, and submit the findings and recommendations to the relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2028. The estimated cost for this study is up to $1.6 million, which will be funded through the General Fund. The bill introduces new legal language regarding the study's requirements and deadlines while deleting any previous provisions that may conflict with these new mandates.