Natural Gas Policy Act Amendments of 1983

Summary

Natural Gas Policy Act Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Findings and Purpose - Sets forth: congressional findings concerning natural gas, and the purposes of this Act. Title II: Amendments to the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to add to the definition of Btu. Sets forth a method of determining the number of Btu's per unit volume of natural gas. Defines definite price provision, indefinite price provision, market-out provision, and take-or-pay provision, for purposes of the use of such terms in a contract for the first sale of natural gas. Requires the price under any contract for the first sale of natural gas in effect on November 8, 1978, to remain the price after November 8, 1978, unless the contract expressly and specifically by its plain language authorizes prices established by Congress, in which case any price not in excess of the applicable maximum lawful price may apply. Repeals the annual inflation adjustment factors. Provides that the maximum lawful price for any first sale of natural gas shall be deemed to include all costs necessary to, or associated with, the delivery of marketable natural gas to the purchaser. Authorizes an adjustment to the seller for necessary costs which deprive the seller of a just and reasonable return. Authorizes the purchaser an adjustment if the purchaser provides the seller consideration in addition to the maximum lawful prices. Establishes a transportation rate of no less than $0.05 per million Btu's and requires all revenues in excess of such amount to be credited back to the pipeline's customers. Declares null and void all indefinite price provisions in all contracts for the first sale of natural gas. Deems all contracts for the first sale of natural gas which is affected by deregulation to include a market-out provision. Deems all take-or-pay provisions in effect as of enactment to be reduced by 50 percent. Declares null and void any first sale contract which restricts the right of the purchaser to contest the contract. Requires all first sale contracts to be filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and made available to the public. Confers jurisdiction on the FERC to resolve contract disputes, on petition by any party to a contract. Directs the FERC to promulgate a final rule establishing the interest rate at which refunds shall be paid by natural gas companies on any collections made in excess of approved rates. Directs the FERC to undertake and complete a comprehensive study of minimum bill and related provisions in interstate pipeline tariffs.

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

Timeline

1. 3 March 1983

   Introduced

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

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 3 March 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. 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

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 3 March 1983

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Tsongas, Paul E. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY] · R · Sponsor
• · sseg00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Natural Gas Policy Act Amendments of 1983