(a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall monitor the market for electric generation services and electric distribution services to end use customers and take actions to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices, anticompetitive or discriminatory conduct, and the unlawful exercise of market power.

(b) (1) Upon complaint or upon its own motion, for cause shown, the authority shall conduct an investigation of any possible anticompetitive or discriminatory conduct affecting the retail sale of electricity or any unfair or deceptive trade practices. Such investigations may include, but are not limited to, (A) the effect of mergers, consolidations, acquisition and disposition of assets or securities of electric suppliers, as defined in section 16-1, or transmission congestion on the proper functioning of a fully competitive market, or (B) targeting, with an artificially elevated electric generation services rate, a customer eligible for standard service who is (i) a hardship case for purposes of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 16-262c, (ii) having moneys due and owing deducted from such customer's bill by the electric distribution company pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 16-262c, (iii) receiving other financial assistance from an electric distribution company, or (iv) otherwise protected by law from shutoff of electricity services.

(2) The authority may require an electric supplier to provide information, including documents and testimony, in accordance with the procedures contained in subsection (a) of section 16-8 and section 16-8c.

(3) Confidential, proprietary or trade secret information provided under this section may be submitted under a duly granted protective order. Any hearings that may be held during the course of the investigation may also be conducted in camera to prevent the inadvertent revelation of such confidential information.

(4) The office of the Attorney General and the Office of Consumer Counsel shall have the right to participate in such investigations under appropriate nondisclosure agreements.

(5) At the conclusion of the investigation, and notwithstanding any previously granted protective orders, if the authority finds that facts exist that indicate any violation of state or federal law, it shall transmit such written findings along with supporting information gathered in its investigation to appropriate enforcement officials. Such referrals may recommend that further investigation be made or that immediate enforcement procedures be initiated. Such referrals may be made to the office of the Attorney General, the Department of Consumer Protection, the United States Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or any other appropriate enforcement agency. The authority may intervene as permitted by law in any proceeding initiated under this subsection. The results of such investigations may also serve as a basis for authority sanctions, after notice and hearing, under subsection (l) of section 16-245.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed so as to restrict the right of any person to pursue any other remedy available to the person under law.

(P.A. 98-28, S. 32, 117; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 14-75, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 98-28 effective July 1, 1998; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” and “department” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” and “authority”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 14-75 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provision re effect of mergers, consolidations, acquisition and disposition of assets or securities as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re customer targeting in Subdiv. (1) and by making technical changes in Subdivs. (4) and (5), effective September 1, 2014.