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HR 1272 108th Congress House

Energy Markets Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003

Official title: To prohibit fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive acts in electric and natural gas markets, to provide for audit trails and transparency in those markets, to … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prohibit fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive acts in electric and natural gas markets, to provide for audit trails and transparency in those markets, to increase penalties for illegal acts under the Federal Power Act and Natural Gas Act, to reexamine certain exemptions under the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, to expand the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order refunds of unjust and discriminatory rates, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 13, 2003 See on congress.gov
Energy AccountingAdministrative procedureAffiliated corporationsAuditing
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
BankruptcyBriberyBrokersBurglaryBusiness recordsCommerceComputer networksConspiracyConsumer discountsConsumer protectionContractsCounterfeitingCrime and Law EnforcementDepartment of EnergyElectric power
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 24, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
Mar 13, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 13, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 24, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Energy Markets Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003 - Declares unlawful any practices that are fraudulent, manipulative, deceptive, or a contrivance in contravention of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations governing: (1) transmission and sales of electric energy; or (2) transportation and sales of natural gas. Subjects such practices to certain Federal Power Act (FPA) sanctions.

Amends the FPA to require FERC to promulgate criteria governing waivers and exemptions from requirements regarding: (1) issuance of securities; (2) accounts and recordkeeping; and (3) officials dealing in securities (including any prospective blanket order).

Places a moratorium upon such waivers and exemptions until the criteria required for promulgation become effective. Directs FERC to review previously issued waivers. Vitiates such waivers after a specified deadline unless they are found to comply with such criteria.

Amends the FPA and the Natural Gas Act to revise reporting requirements for transactions regarding transmission or sales of electric energy and of natural gas.

Sets forth prohibitions on the distribution or publication by an electric power or natural gas information processor of quotations and transactions of electric energy and natural gas in contravention of FERC rules.

Prohibits any person who owns, controls, or is under the control or ownership of a public utility, a natural gas company, or a public utility holding company from owning, controlling, or operating any electronic computer network or other multilateral trading facility utilized to trade electricity or natural gas.

Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.

Requires review by: (1) the Securities and Exchange Commission of certain exemptions granted under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to determine if they should continue in force and effect; and (2) the Financial Accounting Standards Board of accounting for contracts in energy trading and risk management activities.

Instructs FERC to adopt rules and procedures to protect electric consumers from self-dealing, interaffiliate abuse, and other harmful actions taken by persons owning or controlling public utilities.

Mandates annual FERC review of the activities and characteristics of any public utility authorized to sell electric energy at market-based rates to determine whether such rates are just and reasonable. Requires FERC to modify or revoke the authority of such a utility to sell at market-based rates for violations of law or for rates found to be unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory, or preferential.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1272: Energy Markets Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1272/
MLA
"H.R. 1272: Energy Markets Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1272/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1272, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1272/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1272: Energy Markets Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1272/)
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