SB 848 Summary

• Establishes the "Energy Pricing Protection Act" to prohibit excessive pricing of gasoline, propane, home heating oil, and other essential energy products during market disruptions.

• Defines "excessively increased price" as any price increase exceeding 10% compared to pre-disruption prices, unless the seller can demonstrate the increase is attributable to higher costs of bringing the product to market.

• Authorizes the Attorney General to bring class action lawsuits for actual damages or $100 per person, whichever is greater, and to seek civil fines up to $10,000 per violation for individuals or $1,000,000 for other entities.

• Creates criminal liability for intentional violations, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment and/or fines of $10,000 for individuals or $1,000,000 for other entities.

• Grants the Attorney General and local prosecutors investigative powers to demand testimony and documents from persons with relevant information about violations.