Common ground (Where telecommunications regulation has been may be where natural gas should go)

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States)

OSTI ID:6332817

Danner, C

This article concentrate on analogies between regulating the telecommunications industry and regulating the natural gas industry. These analogies compare pipelines to phone lines and local distributing companies (LDCs) to central telephone exchanges. For pipelines and LDCs, the common lesson is that regulatory reform to recognize greater industry competiveness means less detailed control by government. Those interested in reform should focus on educational efforts to help public policymakers see the necessary linkage. In doing so, however, advocates should recognize the special need of government officials for trust and confidence in the industry itself during a regulatory transition. It may be true enough that the somewhat-ephemeral [open quotes]market[close quotes] will protect consumers when government backs off; however, it can only help for the regulator to believe that the industry's biggest players will hold up their end in any event.

• OSTI ID: 6332817
• Journal Information: Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States), Journal Name: Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States) Vol. 131:9; ISSN PUFNAV; ISSN 0033-3808
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294003* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Natural Gas
CALIFORNIA
DEREGULATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
PIPELINES
POLITICAL ASPECTS
STATE GOVERNMENT
USA