On the heels of reported record third-quarter profits from most major oil companies, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-TN, has ordered a Senate hearing to investigate rising energy prices, complete with testimony from oil company executives.

Reuters reported that Frist also asked the Senate’s permanent subcommittee on investigations to launch an investigation into energy price profiteering.

“If there are those who abuse the free enterprise system to advantage themselves and their business at the expense of all Americans, they ought to be ashamed,” Frist said.

Though no announcement of a date has been made, Frist said he asked the Senate Energy Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee to hold a joint hearing to look into the reasons why energy prices have gotten so high.