
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC13552]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                       CHAPTER 134--ENERGY POLICY
 
                      SUBCHAPTER XII--MISCELLANEOUS
 
                 Part B--Other Miscellaneous Provisions
 
Sec. 13552. Use of energy futures for fuel purchases


(a) Fuel study

    The Secretary shall conduct a study--
        (1) to ascertain if the use of energy futures and options 
    contracts could provide cost-effective protection for Government 
    entities (including Government purchases for military purposes and 
    for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) and consumer cooperatives (or 
    any organization whose purpose is to purchase fuel in bulk) from 
    unanticipated surges in the price of fuel; and
        (2) to ascertain how such Government entities or consumer 
    cooperatives may be educated in the prudent use of energy futures 
    and options contracts to maximize their purchasing effectiveness, 
    protect themselves against unanticipated surges in the price of 
    fuel, and minimize fuel costs.

(b) Pilot program

    The Secretary shall conduct a pilot program, commencing not later 
than 30 days after the transmission of the study required in subsection 
(b) \1\ of this section, to educate such governmental entities, consumer 
cooperatives, or other organizations on the prudent and cost-effective 
use of energy futures and options contracts to increase their protection 
against unanticipated surges in the price of fuel and thereby increase 
the efficiency of their fuel purchase or assistance programs.
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    \1\ See References in Text note below.
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(c) Authorization of appropriations

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.

(Pub. L. 102-486, title XXX, Sec. 3014, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3128; 
Pub. L. 105-362, title IV, Sec. 401(f), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3282.)

                       References in Text

    Subsection (b) of this section, referred to in subsec. (b), was 
repealed and subsec. (c) of this section was redesignated (b) by Pub. L. 
105-362, title IV, Sec. 401(f), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3282. See 1998 
Amendment note below.


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 105-362 redesignated subsecs. (c) 
and (d) as (b) and (c), respectively, and struck out heading and text of 
former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: ``The Secretary, no later than 
12 months after October 24, 1992, shall transmit the study required in 
this section to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate.''
