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S 1735 109th Congress Senate

Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005

Official title: A bill to improve the Federal Trade Commission's ability to protect consumers from price-gouging during energy emergencies, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 20, 2005 Introduced by: Cantwell, Maria Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative procedureAlternative energy sourcesAutomobile industryCivil actions and liability
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Climate change and greenhouse gasesCoastal zoneCongressCongressional investigationsCongressional reporting requirementsConsumer educationCrime and Law EnforcementDisastersEconomic impact statementsEconomic statisticsEconomics and Public FinanceElectronic government informationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnergy prices
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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
Sep 20, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 20, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10238-10239)
Sep 20, 2005
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action September 20, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - States that during any presidentially-declared energy emergency it is unlawful to sell crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates in, or for use in, the area involved at a price that: (1) is unconscionably excessive; or (2) indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage of the circumstances to increase prices unreasonably.

Makes it unlawful to: (1) report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) false or misleading data and information regarding the wholesale price of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates; or (2) use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at wholesale, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance, in contravention of FTC-prescribed rules and regulations.

Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the health, safety, welfare, or economic well-being of American citizens is at risk because there exists either: (1) an actual or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates due to a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in national energy markets for such products.

Empowers the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce this Act.

Prescribes maximum civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.

Instructs the FTC to: (1) facilitate price transparency in wholesale crude oil and petroleum product markets; and (2) conclude a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other appropriate agencies relating to information sharing.

Instructs the Comptroller General to investigate periodically the extent to which major oil companies and automobile manufacturers have invested in alternative fuels production, infrastructure, and technology development.

Directs the National Academy of Sciences to review expenditures and activities by major U.S. companies to protect the energy supply system from terrorist attacks, international supply disruptions, and natural disasters, and ensure a stable and reasonably priced supply of such products to consumers.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1735: Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1735/
MLA
"S. 1735: Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1735/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1735, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1735/.
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[S. 1735: Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-1735/)
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