(a) Any person engaged in the business of selling petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, on a wholesale basis who has sufficient knowledge of an impending shortage in the availability of petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, or any officer or manager of a firm or corporation engaged in such business who has such knowledge, shall cause to be given immediate written notice of any possible inability as a result of such shortage to deliver petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and to each retail oil dealer engaged in the business of supplying petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, for residential heating that such person, firm or corporation customarily supplies with petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, on a wholesale basis. No such person engaged in the business of selling petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, on a wholesale basis and no such officer or manager shall discriminate, in the percentage of supplies delivered, against independent retail oil dealers in favor of dealers affiliated with such supplier.

(b) Any person engaged in the business of distributing or selling petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, on a wholesale basis who intends to terminate the supply of petroleum products, as defined in section 16a-22c, to a retail dealer shall give written notice at least fourteen days in advance of such termination to the retail dealer, the municipality or municipalities in which the retail dealer distributes and the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection concerning such proposed termination of supply.

(c) Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined one thousand dollars for each violation.

(P.A. 73-638, S. 1, 2; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 79-14, S. 1, 3; P.A. 90-304, S. 6; P.A. 00-223; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: October, 1979, P.A. 79-14 made former provisions Subsecs. (a) and (c) and inserted new Subsec. (b) re notice to retailer of wholesaler's intent to terminate supply; P.A. 90-304 expanded section to apply to all persons selling petroleum products, where previously applicable to sellers of fuel oil; P.A. 00-223 amended Subsec. (a) by removing reference to “advance” knowledge, by deleting provision re notice “at least thirty days in advance” and by requiring immediate written notice to the secretary, made technical changes in Subsec. (b) and increased penalty from $500 to $1,000 in Subsec. (c); pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.

See Sec. 19a-214 re suspension of delivery of fuel oil and bottled gas to rental residences.