(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.
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