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United States · Bill · S

S. 615 (98th)

Natural Gas Consumer Regulatory Reform Amendments of 1983

reportedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

28 February 1983

Last action

26 July 1983 · Reported

Status

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Provisions of measure incorporated into measure S. 1715 ordered to be reported.

Sponsors

Sen. McClure, James A. [R-ID]

Subjects

Energy

Source updated

24 March 2026

Energy

Summary

Natural Gas Consumer Regulatory Reform Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Purchased Gas Cost - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to prohibit, until 1986, the guaranteed passthrough to natural gas customers of price increases resulting from an interstate pipeline paying more for its gas, unless the pipeline applies to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for an increase and such application is approved. Directs the FERC to permit recovery if the costs sought to be recovered were just, reasonable, and prudently incurred. Title II: Removal of Wellhead Price Control and Repeal of Jurisdiction Over Certain First Sales - Provides for the removal of price controls on all first sales of natural gas by January 1, 1986. Repeals FERC jurisdiction over all interstate sales of committed or dedicated natural gas, as of January 1, 1985. Repeals provisions permitting the President or Congress to reimpose price controls. Title III: Transitional Price and Contract Provisions - Sets forth transitional pricing provisions establishing price limits which terminate upon the removal of all price controls. Grants purchasers subject to a take-or-pay contract the right to refuse volumes in excess of 70 percent of available deliverability. Authorizes either party to a contract for the first sale of natural gas (which was in effect as of enactment and was not amended) to terminate the contract beginning January 1, 1985, provided the terminating party: (1) gives notice as specified; (2) does not materially breach the contract prior to the end of the notice as specified; (3) offers the other party a release from all future duties and obligations. Sets forth the obligations of parties upon termination. Provides that no price escalator clause can operate to establish a price for natural gas higher than the gas cap price (a price used in determining maximum price during the transitional period). Title IV: Removal of Impediments to Interstate Movements of Gas - Revises provisions relating to interstate and intrastate sales and transportation to: (1) authorize the FERC to permit any interstate pipeline to transport natural gas on behalf of any person; (2) authorize the FERC to permit any intrastate pipeline or local distribution company to transport natural gas on behalf of any person; and (3) authorize the FERC to permit any pipeline or local distribution company to sell natural gas to any pipeline or local distribution company. Authorizes the FERC to permit any pipeline or local distribution company to assign surplus gas to any other pipeline or distribution company. Provides that interstate pipelines and local distribution companies shall not be subject to FERC jurisdiction on the basis of their buying natural gas in certain "covered transactions." Directs the FERC to order any interstate pipeline, upon application by a producer of natural gas or by a purchaser of natural gas from a producer, to carry gas under contract between producer and purchaser upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it considers just and reasonable if the Commission finds that the pipeline has the available capacity. Provides that the consideration for such carriage shall be five cents per million Btu's plus the cost of such transportation. Title V: Repeal of Certain Restrictions on Natural Gas and Petroleum Use Pricing - Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to repeal: (1) prohibitions on the use of natural gas and petroleum as a primary energy source in new electric powerplants and new major fuel-burning installations; (2) the prohibition on the construction of new powerplants without alternate fuel capability; (3) the authority of the Secretary of Energy to prohibit the use of natural gas in certain boilers used for space heating; (4) the prohibition on the use of natural gas for decorative outdoor lighting; and (5) the authority of the Secretary to restrict increased uses of petroleum by existing powerplants. Repeals the incremental pricing provisions of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 28 February 1983

    Introduced

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

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 28 February 1983

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 9 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt.1.

    Source: Committee

  4. 10 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt. 1.

    Source: Committee

  5. 11 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt. 1.

    Source: Committee

  6. 12 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt. 1.

    Source: Committee

  7. 22 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt. 1.

    Source: Committee

  8. 28 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held at Tulsa,Okla. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt. 2.

    Source: Committee

  9. 29 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held at Oklahoma City, Okla. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 Pt. 2.

    Source: Committee

  10. 6 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-85 pt. 3.

    Source: Committee

  11. 14 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  12. 19 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  13. 20 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  14. 21 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  15. 26 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  16. 27 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  17. 28 April 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  18. 4 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  19. 5 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  20. 10 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  21. 11 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  22. 18 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  23. 24 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  24. 25 May 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  25. 8 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  26. 9 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  27. 14 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  28. 15 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  29. 16 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  30. 21 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  31. 22 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  32. 23 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  33. 28 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  34. 29 June 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  35. 13 July 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  36. 14 July 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  37. 19 July 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  38. 20 July 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  39. 21 July 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Committee consideration and Mark Up Session held.

    Source: Committee

  40. 26 July 1983

    Reported

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Provisions of measure incorporated into measure S. 1715 ordered to be reported.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

1 official file

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