§ 2601. Findings
The Congress finds that the protection of the
public health, safety, and welfare, the preserva-
tion of national security, and the proper exer-
cise of congressional authority under the Con-
stitution to regulate interstate commerce re-
quire—
(1) a program providing for increased con-
servation of electric energy, increased effi-
ciency in the use of facilities and resources by
electric utilities, and equitable retail rates for
electric consumers,
(2) a program to improve the wholesale dis-
tribution of electric energy, the reliability of
electric service, the procedures concerning
consideration of wholesale rate applications
before the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission, the participation of the public in
matters before the Commission, and to provide
other measures with respect to the regulation
of the wholesale sale of electric energy,
(3) a program to provide for the expeditious
development of hydroelectric potential at ex-
isting small dams to provide needed hydro-
electric power,
(4) a program for the conservation of natural
gas while insuring that rates to natural gas
consumers are equitable,
(5) a program to encourage the development
of crude oil transportation systems, and
(6) the establishment of certain other au-
thorities as provided in title VI of this Act.
(Pub. L. 95–617, § 2, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3119.)
Editorial Notes
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in par. (6), is Pub. L. 95–617, Nov.
9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3117, known as the Public Utility Regu-
latory Policies Act of 1978. Title VI of this Act enacted
sections 824a–4 and 2645 of this title, section 918c of
Title 7, Agriculture, and sections 717x to 717z of Title
15, Commerce and Trade, amended section 717f of Title
15 and sections 1311, 1312, and
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:uscode2024_4d20ea207962920f739b9dbc Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code-2024/title-16/section-2601-findings--e1879991ec.md Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: d467cf1ec760b6487a6a585dc8be6061a04aaa24b3da5d52609f5f36d07ee67d Retained source evidence SHA-256: 72a43cc57356e1bf0a05943367577e19bc85e7cbd9dad8fb5069206089cb3850
Page 2195
TITLE 16—CONSERVATION
§ 2602
§ 2513. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–287, § 7, Dec. 19,
2014, 128 Stat. 3272
Section, Pub. L. 95–625, title X, § 1014, Nov. 10, 1978, 92
Stat. 3544, related to limitation of use of funds. See sec-
tion 200511(e) of Title 54, National Park Service and Re-
lated Programs.
§ 2514. Repealed. Pub. L. 113–287, § 7, Dec. 19,
2014, 128 Stat. 3272
Section, Pub. L. 95–625, title X, § 1015, Nov. 10, 1978, 92
Stat.
3544;
Pub.
L.
104–333,
div.
I,
title
VIII,
§ 814(d)(1)(M), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4196, related to sun-
set and reporting provisions.
CHAPTER 46—PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY
POLICIES
Sec.
2601.
Findings.
2602.
Definitions.
2603.
Relationship to antitrust laws.
SUBCHAPTER I—RETAIL REGULATORY POLICIES
FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES
2611.
Purposes.
2612.
Coverage.
2613.
Federal contracts.
SUBCHAPTER II—STANDARDS FOR ELECTRIC
UTILITIES
2621.
Consideration and determination respecting
certain ratemaking standards.
2622.
Obligations to consider and determine.
2623.
Adoption of certain standards.
2624.
Lifeline rates.
2625.
Special rules for standards.
2626.
Reports respecting standards.
2627.
Relationship to State law.
SUBCHAPTER III—INTERVENTION AND JUDICIAL
REVIEW
2631.
Intervention in proceedings.
2632.
Consumer representation.
2633.
Judicial review and enforcement.
2634.
Prior and pending proceedings.
SUBCHAPTER IV—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
2641.
Voluntary guidelines.
2642.
Responsibilities of Secretary.
2643.
Gathering information on costs of service.
2644.
Relationship to other authority.
2645.
Utility regulatory institute.
§ 2601. Findings
The Congress finds that the protection of the
public health, safety, and welfare, the preserva-
tion of national security, and the proper exer-
cise of congressional authority under the Con-
stitution to regulate interstate commerce re-
quire—
(1) a program providing for increased con-
servation of electric energy, increased effi-
ciency in the use of facilities and resources by
electric utilities, and equitable retail rates for
electric consumers,
(2) a program to improve the wholesale dis-
tribution of electric energy, the reliability of
electric service, the procedures concerning
consideration of wholesale rate applications
before the Federal Energy Regulatory Com-
mission, the participation of the public in
matters before the Commission, and to provide
other measures with respect to the regulation
of the wholesale sale of electric energy,
(3) a program to provide for the expeditious
development of hydroelectric potential at ex-
isting small dams to provide needed hydro-
electric power,
(4) a program for the conservation of natural
gas while insuring that rates to natural gas
consumers are equitable,
(5) a program to encourage the development
of crude oil transportation systems, and
(6) the establishment of certain other au-
thorities as provided in title VI of this Act.
(Pub. L. 95–617, § 2, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3119.)
Editorial Notes
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in par. (6), is Pub. L. 95–617, Nov.
9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3117, known as the Public Utility Regu-
latory Policies Act of 1978. Title VI of this Act enacted
sections 824a–4 and 2645 of this title, section 918c of
Title 7, Agriculture, and sections 717x to 717z of Title
15, Commerce and Trade, amended section 717f of Title
15 and sections 1311, 1312, and 1314 to 1316 of Title 30,
Mineral Lands and Mining, and enacted provisions set
out as a note under section 2621 of this title. For com-
plete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short
Title note below and Tables.
CODIFICATION
This section was not enacted as part of title I of Pub.
L. 95–617 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
SHORT TITLE
Pub. L. 95–617, § 1, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3117, provided
that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter, and sections
823a, 824a–1 to 824a–4, 824i to 824k, 825q–1, and 2701 to
2708 of this title, section 918c of Title 7, Agriculture,
sections 717x to 717z and 3201 to 3211 of Title 15, Com-
merce and Trade, section 6808 of Title 42, The Public
Health and Welfare, and sections 2001 to 2012 of Title 43,
Public Lands, amending sections 796, 824, 824a, 824d, and
825d of this title, section 717f of Title 15, sections 1311,
1312, and 1314 to 1316 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and
Mining, and sections 6801 to 6807 of Title 42, and enact-
ing provisions set out as notes under sections 824, 824a,
824d, 825d, and 2621 of this title] may be cited as the
‘Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978’.’’
§ 2602. Definitions
As used in this Act, except as otherwise spe-
cifically provided—
(1) The term ‘‘antitrust laws’’ includes the
Sherman Antitrust Act (15 U.S.C. 1 and fol-
lowing), the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12 and fol-
lowing), the Federal Trade Commission Act (15
U.S.C. 14[41] and following), the Wilson Tariff
Act (15 U.S.C. 8 and 9), and the Act of June 19,
1936, chapter 592 (15 U.S.C. 13, 13a, 13b, and
21A).
(2) The term ‘‘class’’ means, with respect to
electric consumers, any group of such con-
sumers who have similar characteristics of
electric energy use.
(3) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Fed-
eral Energy Regulatory Commission.
(4) The term ‘‘electric utility’’ means any
person, State agency, or Federal agency,
which sells electric energy.
(5) The term ‘‘electric consumer’’ means any
person, State agency, or Federal agency, to
which electric energy is sold other than for
purposes of resale.
(6) The term ‘‘evidentiary hearing’’ means—
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal. Every person who shall make any contract or engage in any combination or conspiracy hereby declared to be illegal shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $100,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $1,000,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 1. Trusts, etc., in restraint of trade illegal; pen-
alty
Every contract, combination in the form of
trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of
trade or commerce among the several States, or
with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal.
Every person who shall make any contract or
engage in any combination or conspiracy hereby
declared to be illegal shall be deemed guilty of
a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be
punished by fine not exceeding $100,000,000 if a
corporation, or, if any other person, $1,000,000, or
by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or by
both said punishments, in the discretion of the
court.
(July 2, 1890, ch. 647, § 1, 26 Stat. 209; Aug. 17,
1937, ch. 690, title VIII, 50 Stat. 693; July 7, 1955,
ch. 281, 69 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 93–528, § 3, Dec. 21,
1974, 88 Stat. 1708; Pub. L. 94–145, § 2, Dec. 12,
1975, 89 Stat. 801; Pub. L. 101–588, § 4(a), Nov. 16,
1990, 104 Stat. 2880; Pub. L. 108–237, title II,
§ 215(a), June 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 668.)
Page 4
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 1
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2004—Pub. L. 108–237 substituted ‘‘$100,000,000’’ for
‘‘$10,000,000’’, ‘‘$1,000,000’’ for ‘‘$350,000’’, and ‘‘10’’ for
‘‘three’’.
1990—Pub. L. 101–588 substituted ‘‘$10,000,000’’ for ‘‘one
million dollars’’ and ‘‘$350,000’’ for ‘‘one hundred thou-
sand dollars’’.
1975—Pub. L. 94–145 struck out from first sentence
two provisos granting anti-trust exemption to State
fair trade laws.
1974—Pub. L. 93–528 substituted ‘‘a felony, and, on
conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not ex-
ceeding one million dollars if a corporation, or, if any
other person, one hundred thousand dollars, or by im-
prisonment not exceeding three years’’ for ‘‘a mis-
demeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be punish
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** “Antitrust laws,” as used herein, includes the Act entitled “An Act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies,” approved July second, eighteen hundred and ninety; sections seventy-three to seventy-six, inclusive, of an Act entitled “An Act to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other purposes,” of August twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-four; an Act entitled “An Act to amend sections seventy-three and seventy-six of the Act of August twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, entitled ‘An Act to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other purposes,’ ” approved February twelfth, nineteen hundred and thirteen; and also this Act.“Commerce,” as used herein, means trade or commerce among the several States and with foreign nations, or between the District of Columbia or any Territory of the United States and any State, Territory, or foreign nation, or between any insular possessions or other places under the jurisdiction of the United States, or between any such possession or place and any State or Territory of the United States or the District of Columbia or any foreign nation, or within the District of Columbia or any Territory or any insular possession or other place under the jurisdiction of the United States: Provided, That nothing in this Act contained shall apply to the Philippine Islands. The word “person” or “persons” wherever used in this Act shall be deemed to include corporations and associations existing under or authorized by the laws of either the United States, the laws of any of the Territories, the laws of any State, or the laws of any foreign country.
**(b)** This Act may be cited as the “Clayton Act”.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 12. Definitions; short title
(a) ‘‘Antitrust laws,’’ as used herein, includes
the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to protect trade and
commerce against unlawful restraints and mo-
nopolies,’’ approved July second, eighteen hun-
dred and ninety; sections seventy-three to sev-
enty-six, inclusive, of an Act entitled ‘‘An Act
to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the
Government, and for other purposes,’’ of August
twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and ninety-
four; an Act entitled ‘‘An Act to amend sections
seventy-three and seventy-six of the Act of Au-
gust twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and nine-
ty-four, entitled ‘An Act to reduce taxation, to
provide revenue for the Government, and for
other purposes,’ ’’ approved February twelfth,
nineteen hundred and thirteen; and also this
Act.
Page 20
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 13
‘‘Commerce,’’ as used herein, means trade or
commerce among the several States and with
foreign nations, or between the District of Co-
lumbia or any Territory of the United States
and any State, Territory, or foreign nation, or
between any insular possessions or other places
under the jurisdiction of the United States, or
between any such possession or place and any
State or Territory of the United States or the
District of Columbia or any foreign nation, or
within the District of Columbia or any Territory
or any insular possession or other place under
the jurisdiction of the United States: Provided,
That nothing in this Act contained shall apply
to the Philippine Islands.
The word ‘‘person’’ or ‘‘persons’’ wherever
used in this Act shall be deemed to include cor-
porations and associations existing under or au-
thorized by the laws of either the United States,
the laws of any of the Territories, the laws of
any State, or
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 12. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Price; selection of customers** It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce, either directly or indirectly, to discriminate in price between different purchasers of commodities of like grade and quality, where either or any of the purchases involved in such discrimination are in commerce, where such commodities are sold for use, consumption, or resale within the United States or any Territory thereof or the District of Columbia or any insular possession or other place under the jurisdiction of the United States, and where the effect of such discrimination may be substantially to lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce, or to injure, destroy, or prevent competition with any person who either grants or knowingly receives the benefit of such discrimination, or with customers of either of them: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall prevent differentials which make only due allowance for differences in the cost of manufacture, sale, or delivery resulting from the differing methods or quantities in which such commodities are to such purchasers sold or delivered: Provided, however, That the Federal Trade Commission may, after due investigation and hearing to all interested parties, fix and establish quantity limits, and revise the same as it finds necessary, as to particular commodities or classes of commodities, where it finds that available purchasers in greater quantities are so few as to render differentials on account thereof unjustly discriminatory or promotive of monopoly in any line of commerce; and the foregoing shall then not be construed to permit differentials based on differences in quantities greater than those so fixed and established: And provided further, That nothing her
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 13. Discrimination in price, services, or facili-
ties
(a) Price; selection of customers
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in
commerce, in the course of such commerce, ei-
ther directly or indirectly, to discriminate in
price between different purchasers of commod-
ities of like grade and quality, where either or
any of the purchases involved in such discrimi-
nation are in commerce, where such commod-
ities are sold for use, consumption, or resale
within the United States or any Territory there-
of or the District of Columbia or any insular
possession or other place under the jurisdiction
of the United States, and where the effect of
such discrimination may be substantially to
lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly
in any line of commerce, or to injure, destroy,
or prevent competition with any person who ei-
ther grants or knowingly receives the benefit of
such discrimination, or with customers of either
of them: Provided, That nothing herein con-
tained shall prevent differentials which make
only due allowance for differences in the cost of
manufacture, sale, or delivery resulting from
the differing methods or quantities in which
such commodities are to such purchasers sold or
delivered: Provided, however, That the Federal
Trade Commission may, after due investigation
and hearing to all interested parties, fix and es-
tablish quantity limits, and revise the same as
it finds necessary, as to particular commodities
or classes of commodities, where it finds that
available purchasers in greater quantities are so
few as to render differentials on account thereof
unjustly discriminatory or promotive of monop-
oly in any line of commerce; and the foregoing
shall then not be construed to permit differen-
tials based on differen
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 13. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce, to lease or make a sale or contract for sale of goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies, or other commodities, whether patented or unpatented, for use, consumption, or resale within the United States or any Territory thereof or the District of Columbia or any insular possession or other place under the jurisdiction of the United States, or fix a price charged therefor, or discount from, or rebate upon, such price, on the condition, agreement, or understanding that the lessee or purchaser thereof shall not use or deal in the goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies, or other commodities of a competitor or competitors of the lessor or seller, where the effect of such lease, sale, or contract for sale or such condition, agreement, or understanding may be to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce.
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 14. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 14. Sale, etc., on agreement not to use goods of
competitor
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in
commerce, in the course of such commerce, to
lease or make a sale or contract for sale of
goods, wares, merchandise, machinery, supplies,
or other commodities, whether patented or
unpatented, for use, consumption, or resale
within the United States or any Territory there-
of or the District of Columbia or any insular
possession or other place under the jurisdiction
of the United States, or fix a price charged
therefor, or discount from, or rebate upon, such
price, on the condition, agreement, or under-
standing that the lessee or purchaser thereof
shall not use or deal in the goods, wares, mer-
chandise, machinery, supplies, or other com-
modities of a competitor or competitors of the
lessor or seller, where the effect of such lease,
sale, or contract for sale or such condition,
agreement, or understanding may be to substan-
tially lessen competition or tend to create a mo-
nopoly in any line of commerce.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 3, 38 Stat. 731.)
§ 15. Suits by persons injured
(a) Amount of recovery; prejudgment interest
Except as provided in subsection (b), any per-
son who shall be injured in his business or prop-
erty by reason of anything forbidden in the anti-
trust laws may sue therefor in any district court
of the United States in the district in which the
defendant resides or is found or has an agent,
without respect to the amount in controversy,
and shall recover threefold the damages by him
sustained, and the cost of suit, including a rea-
sonable attorney’s fee. The court may award
under this section, pursuant to a motion by such
person promptly made, simple interest on actual
damages for the period beginning on the date
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 14. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Every combination, conspiracy, trust, agreement, or contract is declared to be contrary to public policy, illegal, and void when the same is made by or between two or more persons or corporations, either of whom, as agent or principal, is engaged in importing any article from any foreign country into the United States, and when such combination, conspiracy, trust, agreement, or contract is intended to operate in restraint of lawful trade, or free competition in lawful trade or commerce, or to increase the market price in any part of the United States of any article or articles imported or intended to be imported into the United States, or of any manufacture into which such imported article enters or is intended to enter. Every person who shall be engaged in the importation of goods or any commodity from any foreign country in violation of this section, or who shall combine or conspire with another to violate the same, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof in any court of the United States such person shall be fined in a sum not less than $100 and not exceeding $5,000, and shall be further punished by imprisonment, in the discretion of the court, for a term not less than three months nor exceeding twelve months.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 8. Trusts in restraint of import trade illegal;
penalty
Every combination, conspiracy, trust, agree-
ment, or contract is declared to be contrary to
public policy, illegal, and void when the same is
made by or between two or more persons or cor-
porations, either of whom, as agent or principal,
is engaged in importing any article from any
foreign country into the United States, and
when
such
combination,
conspiracy,
trust,
agreement, or contract is intended to operate in
restraint of lawful trade, or free competition in
lawful trade or commerce, or to increase the
market price in any part of the United States of
any article or articles imported or intended to
be imported into the United States, or of any
manufacture into which such imported article
enters or is intended to enter. Every person who
shall be engaged in the importation of goods or
any commodity from any foreign country in vio-
lation of this section, or who shall combine or
conspire with another to violate the same, is
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction
thereof in any court of the United States such
person shall be fined in a sum not less than $100
and not exceeding $5,000, and shall be further
punished by imprisonment, in the discretion of
the court, for a term not less than three months
nor exceeding twelve months.
(Aug. 27, 1894, ch. 349, § 73, 28 Stat. 570; Feb. 12,
1913, ch. 40, 37 Stat. 667.)
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
1913—Act Feb. 12, 1913, inserted ‘‘as agent or prin-
cipal’’.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
SHORT TITLE
Section 77, formerly § 78, of act Aug. 27, 1894, as added
by Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 305(d), Sept. 30, 1976, 90
Stat. 1397; renumbered § 77 and amended Pub. L. 107–273,
div. C, title IV, § 14102(c)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 1
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 15 U.S.C. § 8. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.