Connecticut General Statutes 16-245u – Unfair and discriminatory conduct and unfair trade practices in electric market prohibited. Investigations
(a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall monitor the market for electric generation services and electric distribution services to end use customers and take actions to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices, anticompetitive or discriminatory conduct, and the unlawful exercise of market power.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 16-245u
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Authority: means the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and "department" means the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Consumer: means any private dwelling, boardinghouse, apartment, store, office building, institution, mechanical or manufacturing establishment or other place of business or industry to which water is supplied by a water company. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- distribution company: means any person providing electric transmission or distribution services within the state, but does not include: (A) A private power producer, as defined in §. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- Electric distribution services: means the owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling of poles, wires, conduits or other fixtures along public highways or streets for the distribution of electricity, or electric distribution-related services. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- Electric generation services: means electric energy, electric capacity or generation-related services. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- Electric supplier: means any person, including an electric aggregator or participating municipal electric utility that is licensed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in accordance with §. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- Person: means an individual, business, firm, corporation, association, joint stock association, trust, partnership or limited liability company. See Connecticut General Statutes 16-1
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(b) (1) Upon complaint or upon its own motion, for cause shown, the authority shall conduct an investigation of any possible anticompetitive or discriminatory conduct affecting the retail sale of electricity or any unfair or deceptive trade practices. Such investigations may include, but are not limited to, (A) the effect of mergers, consolidations, acquisition and disposition of assets or securities of electric suppliers, as defined in § 16-1, or transmission congestion on the proper functioning of a fully competitive market, or (B) targeting, with an artificially elevated electric generation services rate, a customer eligible for standard service who is (i) a hardship case for purposes of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of § 16-262c, (ii) having moneys due and owing deducted from such customer’s bill by the electric distribution company pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of § 16-262c, (iii) receiving other financial assistance from an electric distribution company, or (iv) otherwise protected by law from shutoff of electricity services.
(2) The authority may require an electric supplier to provide information, including documents and testimony, in accordance with the procedures contained in subsection (a) of § 16-8 and § 16-8c.
(3) Confidential, proprietary or trade secret information provided under this section may be submitted under a duly granted protective order. Any hearings that may be held during the course of the investigation may also be conducted in camera to prevent the inadvertent revelation of such confidential information.
(4) The office of the Attorney General and the Office of Consumer Counsel shall have the right to participate in such investigations under appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
(5) At the conclusion of the investigation, and notwithstanding any previously granted protective orders, if the authority finds that facts exist that indicate any violation of state or federal law, it shall transmit such written findings along with supporting information gathered in its investigation to appropriate enforcement officials. Such referrals may recommend that further investigation be made or that immediate enforcement procedures be initiated. Such referrals may be made to the office of the Attorney General, the Department of Consumer Protection, the United States Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or any other appropriate enforcement agency. The authority may intervene as permitted by law in any proceeding initiated under this subsection. The results of such investigations may also serve as a basis for authority sanctions, after notice and hearing, under subsection (l) of § 16-245.
(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed so as to restrict the right of any person to pursue any other remedy available to the person under law.