§ 6408. — Market survey and consumer protection.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC6408]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 90--PROPANE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Sec. 6408. Market survey and consumer protection
(a) Price analysis
Beginning 2 years after establishment of the Council and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce, using only data provided by the
Energy Information Administration and other public sources, shall
prepare and make available to the Council, the Secretary of Energy, and
the public an analysis of changes in the price of propane relative to
other energy sources. The propane price analysis shall compare indexed
changes in the price of consumer grade propane to a composite of indexed
changes in the price of residential electricity, residential natural
gas, and refiner price to end users of No. 2 fuel oil on an annual
national average basis. For purposes of indexing changes in consumer
grade propane, residential electricity, residential natural gas, and end
user No. 2 fuel oil prices, the Secretary of Commerce shall use a 5-year
rolling average price beginning with the year 4 years prior to the
establishment of the Council.
(b) Authority to restrict activities
If in any year the 5-year average rolling price index of consumer
grade propane exceeds the 5-year rolling average price composite index
of residential electricity, residential natural gas, and refiner price
to end users of No. 2 fuel oil in an amount greater than 10.1 percent,
the activities of the Council shall be restricted to research and
development, training, and safety matters. The Council shall inform the
Secretary of Energy and the Congress of any restriction of activities
under this subsection. Upon expiration of 180 days after the beginning
of any such restriction of activities, the Secretary of Commerce shall
again conduct the propane price analysis described in subsection (a) of
this section. Activities of the Council shall continue to be restricted
under this subsection until the price index excess is 10.1 percent or
less.
(Pub. L. 104-284, Sec. 9, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3375.)
