To establish a Consumer Energy Commission to assess and provide recommendations regarding recent energy price spikes from the perspective of consumers.

June 14, 2001

Mr. RUSH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

To establish a Consumer Energy Commission to assess and provide recommendations regarding recent energy price spikes from the perspective of consumers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Consumer Energy Commission Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--

(1) there has been a sharp increase in the price of gasoline, home heating oil, natural gas, and propane in the United States;

(2) electricity prices are expected to continue to rise as a result of high natural gas prices, and certain regions have experienced price spikes in wholesale electricity costs;

(3) price spikes undermine the ability of low-income families, the elderly, and small businesses (including agricultural producers) to afford essential energy services;

(4) the Department of Energy has determined that the economy would be likely to perform better with stable or predictable energy prices;

(5) price spikes can be caused by many factors, including insufficient inventories, supply disruptions, refinery capacity limits, insufficient infrastructure, possible over-regulation or under-regulation, flawed deregulation, excessive consumption, over-reliance on foreign supplies, insufficient research and development of alternative energy sources, opportunistic behavior by energy companies, and abuse of market power;

(6) consumers and small businesses have few options other than to pay higher energy costs when prices spike; and

(7) the impact of price spikes, and possible responses to price spikes, on consumers and small businesses should be examined.

SEC. 3. CONSUMER ENERGY COMMISSION.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established a commission to be known as the `Consumer Energy Commission'.

(b) MEMBERSHIP-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall be comprised of 11 members.

(2) APPOINTMENTS BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE- The majority leader and minority leader of the Senate and the majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 2 members--

(A) 1 of whom shall represent consumer groups focusing on energy issues; and

(B) 1 of whom shall represent the energy industry.

(3) APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT- The President shall appoint 1 member from each of--

(A) the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy;

(B) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

(C) the Federal Trade Commission.

(4) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS- The appointment of a member of the Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c) TERM- A member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.

(d) INITIAL MEETING- Not later than 20 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission.

(e) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON- The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Commission.

(f) INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES- The Federal agencies specified in subsection (b)(3) shall provide the Commission such information and such administrative expenses as the Commission requires to carry out this section.

(g) DUTIES-

(1) STUDY-

(A) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall conduct a nationwide study of significant price spikes in major United States consumer energy products during the 10 years preceding the date of enactment of this Act.

(B) ENERGY PRODUCTS- The Commission shall study the prices of--

(i) electricity;

(ii) gasoline;

(iii) home heating oil;

(iv) natural gas; and

(v) propane.

(C) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED- The study shall--

(i) focus on the causes of the price spikes, including insufficient inventories, supply disruptions, refinery capacity limits, insufficient infrastructure, possible over-regulation or under-regulation, flawed deregulation, excessive consumption, over-reliance on foreign supplies, insufficient research and development of alternative energy sources, opportunistic behavior by energy companies, and abuse of market power; and

(ii) investigate market concentration, potential misuse of market power, and any other relevant market failures.

(2) REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report that contains--

(A) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission; and

(B) recommendations for legislation and administrative actions to protect consumers from future price spikes in consumer energy products.

END