The federal government is so poorly staffed to investigate oil speculation and price gouging that its agents might as well be “cops going after criminals with water pistols,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr.

In a meeting Monday with the Bucks County Courier Times’ editorial board, the Pennsylvania Democrat called for a national effort to define price gouging and make it illegal.

Responding to questions about the price of home heating oil, Casey also suggested a needed expansion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP.

PECO estimates nearly 100,000 of its customers are eligible for LIHEAP grants, which are based on income. But with home heating oil prices skyrocketing to more than double last year’s prices, even more will struggle to pay energy bills — especially seniors on fixed incomes.

“When people can’t afford to heat their homes, things start to get real serious in this country,” Casey said.

Casey said he sent a letter on June 16 to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission calling for a new investigation into price gouging, which is defined differently by all 50 states. So far, there’s been no response from the FTC.