State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Connecticut > Title42 > Chap743h > Sec42-234

      Sec. 42-234. Abnormal market disruptions and prices of energy resources: Definitions; unconscionably excessive price prohibited; ability of Commissioner of Consumer Protection or courts to establish certain acts or practices as unfair or unconscionable not limited. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Energy resource" shall include, but not be limited to, middle distillate, residual fuel oil, motor gasoline, propane, aviation gasoline and aviation turbine fuel, natural gas, electricity, coal and coal products, wood fuels and any other resource yielding energy;

      (2) "Seller" shall include, but not be limited to, a supplier, wholesaler, distributor or retailer involved in the sale or distribution in this state of an energy resource;

      (3) "Abnormal market disruption" refers to any stress to an energy resource market resulting from weather conditions, acts of nature, failure or shortage of a source of energy, strike, civil disorder, war, national or local emergency, oil spill or other extraordinary adverse circumstance.

      (b) No seller during any period of abnormal market disruption or during any period in which an imminent abnormal market disruption is reasonably anticipated shall sell or offer to sell an energy resource for an amount that represents an unconscionably excessive price.

      (c) Evidence that (1) the amount charged represents a gross disparity between the price of an energy resource that was the subject of the transaction and the price at which such energy resource was sold or offered for sale by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to (A) the onset of an abnormal market disruption, or (B) any period in which an imminent abnormal market disruption is reasonably anticipated, and (2) the amount charged by the seller was not attributable to additional costs incurred by the seller in connection with the sale of such product, shall constitute prima facie evidence that a price is unconscionably excessive.

      (d) This section shall not be construed to limit the ability of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection or the courts to establish certain acts or practices as unfair or unconscionable in the absence of abnormal market disruptions.

      (Oct. 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-2, S. 10; Oct. 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-4, S. 3.)

      History: Oct. 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-2 effective October 31, 2005; Oct. 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-4 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to make a technical change, effective December 1, 2005.