15 U.S.C. § 717x: Conserved natural gas

Summary

When the Commission changes the base period in a curtailment plan, it must count gas that a local distribution company sold for a priority use before conservation and that was saved because of those conservation steps as still being used for that priority. The Commission must make rules for how to measure those saved gas amounts. This does not stop any part of a curtailment plan or other laws from shifting or using gas in emergencies to protect public health, safety, or welfare. Conservation measures means energy-saving steps started after the base period under the plan in effect on November 9, 1978. Local distribution company means a person or company that moves and sells natural gas to final users. Curtailment plan means a plan under the Natural Gas Act that sets service priorities when deliveries are cut, including changes required by the Natural Gas Policy Act.

Title 15, §717x

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Determination of entitlement

(1)For purposes of determining the natural gas entitlement of any local distribution company under any curtailment plan, if the Commission revises any base period established under such plan, the volumes of natural gas which such local distribution company demonstrates—

(A)were sold by the local distribution company, for a priority use immediately before the implementation of conservation measures, and

(B)were conserved by reason of the implementation of such conservation measures,

shall be treated by the Commission following such revision as continuing to be used for the priority use referred to in subparagraph (A).

(2)The Commission shall, by rule, prescribe methods for measurement of volumes of natural gas to which subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) apply.

(b)Conditions, limitations, etc.

Subsection (a) shall not limit or otherwise affect any provision of any curtailment plan, or any other provision of law or regulation, under which natural gas may be diverted or allocated to respond to emergency situations or to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

(c)Definitions

For purposes of this section

(1)

(2)The term “local distribution company” means any person engaged in the transportation, or local distribution, of natural gas and the sale of natural gas for ultimate consumption.

(3)The term “curtailment plan” means a plan (including any modification of such plan required by the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 [15 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.] ) in effect under the Natural Gas Act [15 U.S.C. 717 et seq.] which provides for recognizing and implementing priorities of service during periods of curtailed deliveries.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (c)(3), is Pub. L. 95–621, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3350, which is classified generally to chapter 60 (§ 3301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3301 of this title and Tables. The Natural Gas Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3), is act June 21, 1938, ch. 556, 52 Stat. 821, which is classified generally to this chapter (§ 717 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 717w of this title and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, and not as part of the Natural Gas Act which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2602 of Title 16, Conservation.

§717x Conserved Natural Gas