Case for natural-gas deregulation. [Report]

Journal Article · Wed Mar 03 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Backgrounder; (United States)

OSTI ID:7045791

Copulos, M R

Political pressures kept the Reagan administration from taking the bold step of deregulating natural gas in an election year. The debate over phased decontrol has produced confusion over what the price consequences will be, with opponents warning of a sharp increase that will be politically disruptive and supporters warning that continued control will cripple US efforts to increase domestic energy development. A review of this debate examines the relationship of the domestic resource base, the response of drilling activities to price, and the effect of alternate forms of fuel to see how gas prices will change. The review covers the Natural Gas Act of 1938, the 1954 Phillips v. Wisconsin decision, and the Natural Gas Pricing Act of 1978 to show that the market is historically a better allocator of resources than regulation. The market distortions caused by continued price controls warrant immediate or, at least, accelerated decontrol. Failure to do so will undermine national energy policy and ultimately increase consumer prices. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7045791
• Journal Information: Backgrounder; (United States), Journal Name: Backgrounder; (United States) Vol. 170; ISSN BCKGD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030600 -- Natural Gas-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
294003* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Natural Gas
DEREGULATION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NATURAL GAS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PRICES