Proposed Bills Seek to Minimize Dodd-Frank Impact on Energy Markets
Two recently proposed House bills, H.R. 3527 and H.R. 2682, attempt to clarify definitions and exemptions in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in favor of electric coops that participate in derivatives trading. Under Dodd-Frank, coops and other end-users that use swaps for hedging purposes fear they could be miscast as swap dealers or larger traders seeking to profit from speculation on derivatives and would be subject to substantial burdens and costs. The first proposed bill seeks to exclude coops from the definition of a swap dealer. The second bill would clarify exemptions for companies that use derivatives solely to manage risk. A more detailed description of the bills and their potential impact on coops can be found here.
