§3392 Natural Gas for Essential Industrial Process and Feedstock Uses

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must make a rule that, as much as possible, stops interstate pipelines from cutting natural gas for essential industrial processes or feedstock uses. Cuts are allowed only if they still keep deliveries at or above the minimum the Secretary sets, or if the cut is needed to serve high-priority users, or if it is needed for essential agricultural uses that have curtailment priority under section 3391. This protection applies only if the Commission finds that switching to another fuel is not economically practical and no other fuel is reasonably available. The Secretary must also tell the Commission how much gas (by volume or percent) each person or group needs for these essential uses, excluding those listed in section 3391(f)(1)(B). Definitions: "essential industrial process or feedstock use" — industrial gas uses the Secretary calls essential; "high-priority user" — as defined in section 3391(f)(2).