Electricity Gouging Refund Act of 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 26, 2003

Electricity Gouging Refund Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Power Act to instruct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order a refund (including interest) for that portion of charges on the transmission or sale of electric energy between June 1, 2000, and June 19, 2001, which the Commission finds unjust and unreasonable.

States that the total amount of such refunds shall be not less than $8.9 billion.

Directs the Commission to order the renegotiation of the long-term electricity contracts entered into between the energy companies and the State of California between January 1 and May 31, 2001.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA] · D–CA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Mar 26, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mar 26, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4444)
Mar 26, 2003
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Mar 26, 2003 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.723 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.723, 108th Congress: Electricity Gouging Refund Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/723

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s723/BILLS-108s723is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.723 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.723 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.723, 108th Congress: Electricity Gouging Refund Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/723

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s723/BILLS-108s723is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.723 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.723 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.723, 108th Congress: Electricity Gouging Refund Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/723

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s723/BILLS-108s723is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.723 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.723 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.723, 108th Congress: Electricity Gouging Refund Act of 2003

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/723

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2003-03-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/108/bills/s723/BILLS-108s723is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:51Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.723 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.