§16471 Consumer Privacy and Unfair Trade Practices

Summary

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can make rules to protect people who buy electricity. The rules can keep customer energy data private, stop a customer’s electric service from being switched without the customer’s informed consent or state approval, and prohibit offering or selling goods or services to a customer unless the law or the customer allows it. The FTC must follow section 553 of title 5 when making these rules. If a State has equal or stronger rules, the State’s rules apply instead. "State regulatory authority" — the state agency that regulates utilities (see section 796(21) of title 16). "Electric consumer" and "electric utility" — the customer and the company that supplies electricity (see section 2602 of title 16).