The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a final rule that updates civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. The increase applies to penalties within the DOE's jurisdiction, ensuring that CMPs retain their deterrent effect. The adjustment, calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, becomes effective on January 14, 2021. This rule complies with federal regulations and has been reviewed to ensure it does not impose new information collection requirements or significant adverse effects on energy supply.
Simple Explanation
The rule from the Department of Energy is like adjusting the price tags on fines to keep them strong and fair, because prices change over time. They use a special math tool called the Consumer Price Index to decide how much to change these fines, so they stay a good reminder to follow the rules.