§2841 Study by Secretary of Energy

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must study whether fuel producers, refiners, or other suppliers use profits from other parts of their business to help sell motor fuel at retail or wholesale. The Secretary must work with the Federal Trade Commission Chair, the Attorney General, and other agencies as needed. The study must look at things like how vertical integration helps subsidize fuel sales; whether those subsidies are predatory and hurt competition; profits in different parts of the petroleum industry; what would happen to competition, consumer fuel prices, and the industry’s health and structure if such subsidizing were banned; and any other related matters. The Secretary must give notice and let interested people submit written and oral information. The report and any recommended laws must go to Congress no later than the 18th month after June 19, 1978. If the President finds that temporary steps are needed while Congress reviews the report, he may issue rules under the procedures in section 6393(a) of title 42. No temporary step may be proposed after January 1, 1980, and any approved temporary step cannot last more than 18 months after Congressional approval. Such a step must be approved by both Houses of Congress as if it were a contingency plan under section 6422 of title 42, and the usual 60-day review period is extended to 90 days here. Money needed to carry out the study may be appropriated.