CT SB00457

Caps the petroleum products gross earnings tax by deeming "gross earnings" for gasoline and gasohol to be based on a maximum price of $3.00 per gallon; any consideration from prices exceeding that threshold is excluded from the tax calculation

Prohibits companies from billing petroleum products gross earnings tax amounts in excess of the actual tax liability imposed under the capped calculation; violations on or after April 15, 2012, are treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices

Expands the definition of "energy resource" subject to price gouging protections to include gasohol and number 2 heating oil used exclusively for heating purposes

Establishes an automatic abnormal market disruption trigger whenever the wholesale price of motor gasoline or gasohol rises 15% or more over any day within the prior 90 days and exceeds $3.00 per gallon, initiating a 30-day enforcement period with monitoring by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection using Oil Price Information Service data

Authorizes the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to impose fines of up to $10,000 per violation on large sellers of motor gasoline or gasohol who engage in unconscionably excessive pricing during an abnormal market disruption, and declares the first 90 days after enactment an abnormal market disruption period