Show Answer to the Crisis In the view of industry users of natural gas deregulation of federal pricing controls at the wellhead will stimulate the search for new natural gas supplies supplies supplies sup sup- plies and increase production And by bringing the price up to a level dictated by market forces would forces it Would reduce reduce- demand thereby encouraging conservation and the efficient use of this vital fossil fuel Intrastate markets not regulated regulated regulated regu regu- by hy the Federal Power Commission have demonstrated demonstrate ed for years how totally unrealistic unrealistic unrealistic un un- realistic the imposed prices in interstate commerce truly arc are With the market calling calling calling call call- ing the shots hots supply and demand demand demand de de- de- de mand would finally get into proper balance The choice then is between unrealistically low prices and chronic shortages or the the- free market and adequate supplies for now and the foreseeable future For the short term purchases purchases purchases pur pur- chases by distressed interstate pipelines would be allowed for days to meet the needs of priority high-priority customers Emergency Emergency Emergency Emer Emer- gency sales of available gas would also be allowed without without without with with- out subjecting currently Independent Inde- Inde inde inde- pendent producers to to price ceilings and market re- re re re- For the long term sales at atthe atthe the wellhead would be deregulated deregulated deregulated for Cor new gas Statutory priorities would be established for essential agricultural and industrial users in interstate commerce subject to provisions provisions provisions pro pro- visions for residential and small commercial u users ers Whatever the legi legislative outcome outcome outcome out out- come the need for a dynamic range long-range solution to the natural gas shortage is impera impera- tive Evidence of this need is isas isas isas as close as the latest headlines or or our own lowered thermostats thermo thermo- stats |