Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Chapter 15B — Natural Gas
§ 717. Regulation of natural gas companies
Statutory text
Necessity of regulation in public interest
As disclosed in reports of the Federal Trade Commission made pursuant to S. Res. 83 (Seventieth Congress, first session) and other reports made pursuant to the authority of Congress, it is declared that the business of transporting and selling natural gas for ultimate distribution to the public is affected with a public interest, and that Federal regulation in matters relating to the transportation of natural gas and the sale thereof in interstate and foreign commerce is necessary in the public interest.
Transactions to which provisions of chapter applicable
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, to the sale in interstate commerce of natural gas for resale for ultimate public consumption for domestic, commercial, industrial, or any other use, and to natural-gas companies engaged in such transportation or sale, and to the importation or exportation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in such importation or exportation, but shall not apply to any other transportation or sale of natural gas or to the local distribution of natural gas or to the facilities used for such distribution or to the production or gathering of natural gas.
Intrastate transactions exempt from provisions of chapter; certification from State commission as conclusive evidence
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any person engaged in or legally authorized to engage in the transportation in interstate commerce or the sale in interstate commerce for resale, of natural gas received by such person from another person within or at the boundary of a State if all the natural gas so received is ultimately consumed within such State, or to any facilities used by such person for such transportation or sale, provided that the rates and service of such person and facilities be subject to regulation by a State commission. The matters exempted from the provisions of this chapter by this subsection are declared to be matters primarily of local concern and subject to regulation by the several States. A certification from such State commission to the Federal Power Commission that such State commission has regulatory jurisdiction over rates and service of such person and facilities and is exercising such jurisdiction shall constitute conclusive evidence of such regulatory power or jurisdiction.
Vehicular natural gas jurisdiction
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any person solely by reason of, or with respect to, any sale or transportation of vehicular natural gas if such person is—
not otherwise a natural-gas company; or
subject primarily to regulation by a State commission, whether or not such State commission has, or is exercising, jurisdiction over the sale, sale for resale, or transportation of vehicular natural gas.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Natural Gas Act
Pub. L. 75–556 § 1 · 52 Stat. 821
Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 717
June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 1, 52 Stat. 821
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 1, 52 Stat. 821Enacted provision · exact public law section
Section 1. necessity for regulation of natural-gas companies (a) As disclosed in reports of the Federal Trade Commission made pursuant to S. Res. 83 (Seventieth Congress, first session) and other reports made pursuant to the authority of Congress, it is hereby declared that the business of transporting and selling natural gas for ultimate distribution to the public is affected with a public interest, and that Federal regulation in matters relating to the transportation of natural gas and the sale thereof in interstate and foreign commerce is necessary in the public interest. (b) The provisions of this Act shall apply to the transportation Application of provisions. of natural gas in interstate commerce, to the sale in interstate commerce of natural gas for resale for ultimate public consumption for domestic, commercial, industrial, or any other use, and to natural-gas companies engaged in such transportation or sale, but shall not apply Exemptions. to any other transportation or sale of natural gas or to the local distribution of natural gas or to the facilities used for such distribution or to the production or gathering of natural gas.Public Law not identified
Added · 15 U.S.C. § 717(c)
Subsec. (c). Act Mar. 27, 1954, added subsec. (c)
Unresolved: No Public Law or Statutes at Large citation in the Code source.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c). Act Mar. 27, 1954, added subsec. (c).Energy Policy Act of 1992
Pub. L. 102–486 title IV § 404(a)(1) · 106 Stat. 2776
Added · 15 U.S.C. § 717(d)
Pub. L. 102–486 added subsec. (d)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–486 added subsec. (d).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Section 1 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717) is amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection: “(d) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any person solely by reason of, or with respect to, any sale or transportation of vehicular natural gas if such person is— “(1) not otherwise a natural-gas company; or “(2) subject primarily to regulation by a State commission, whether or not such State commission has, or is exercising, jurisdiction over the sale, sale for resale, or transportation of vehicular natural gas.”.Energy Policy Act of 2005
Pub. L. 109–58 title III § 311(a) · 119 Stat. 594
Inserted · 15 U.S.C. § 717(b)
Pub. L. 109–58 inserted “and to the importation or exportation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in such importation or exportation,” after “such transportation or sale,”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–58 inserted “and to the importation or exportation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in such importation or exportation,” after “such transportation or sale,”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Scope of Natural Gas Act.— Section 1(b) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717(b)) is amended by inserting “and to the importation or exportation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in such importation or exportation,” after “such transportation or sale,”.
3 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 unresolved
Editorial Notes
Amendments1954–2005 · 3 rounds
2005
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–58 inserted “and to the importation or exportation of natural gas in foreign commerce and to persons engaged in such importation or exportation,” after “such transportation or sale,”.
1992
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–486 added subsec. (d).
1954
Subsec. (c). Act , added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Termination of Federal Power Commission; Transfer of Functions
The Federal Power Commission was terminated, and its functions, personnel, property, funds, etc., were transferred to Secretary of Energy (except for certain functions which were transferred to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) by sections 7151(b), 7171(a), 7172(a), 7291, and 7293 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
State Laws and Regulations
Pub. L. 102–486, title IV, § 404(b), , 106 Stat. 2879, provided that:
“The transportation or sale of natural gas by any person who is not otherwise a public utility, within the meaning of State law—
“(1) in closed containers; or
“(2) otherwise to any person for use by such person as a fuel in a self-propelled vehicle,
shall not be considered to be a transportation or sale of natural gas within the meaning of any State law, regulation, or order in effect before . This subsection shall not apply to any provision of any State law, regulation, or order to the extent that such provision has as its primary purpose the protection of public safety.”
Emergency Natural Gas Act of 1977
Pub. L. 95–2, , 91 Stat. 4, authorized President to declare a natural gas emergency and to require emergency deliveries and transportation of natural gas until the earlier of , or termination of emergency by President and provided for antitrust protection, emergency purchases, adjustment in charges for local distribution companies, relationship to Natural Gas Act, effect of certain contractual obligations, administrative procedure and judicial review, enforcement, reporting to Congress, delegation of authorities, and preemption of inconsistent State or local action.
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 11969
Ex. Ord. No. 11969, , 42 F.R. 6791, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12038, , 43 F.R. 4957, which delegated to the Secretary of Energy the authority vested in the President by the Emergency Natural Gas Act of 1977 except the authority to declare and terminate a natural gas emergency, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12553, , 51 F.R. 7237.
Proclamation No. 4485
Proc. No. 4485, , 42 F.R. 6789, declared that a natural gas emergency existed within the meaning of section 3 of the Emergency Natural Gas Act of 1977, set out as a note above, which emergency was terminated by Proc. No. 4495, , 42 F.R. 18053, formerly set out below.
Proclamation No. 4495
Proc. No. 4495, , 42 F.R. 18053, terminated the natural gas emergency declared to exist by Proc. No. 4485, , 42 F.R. 6789, formerly set out above.
Credits
1938–2005 · 4 acts
- 1938June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 1, 52 Stat. 821
- 1954Mar. 27, 1954, ch. 115, 68 Stat. 36
- 1992Pub. L. 102–486, title IV, § 404(a)(1), , 106 Stat. 2879
- 2005Pub. L. 109–58, title III, § 311(a), , 119 Stat. 685.
Show as published
(June 21, 1938, ch. 556, § 1, 52 Stat. 821; Mar. 27, 1954, ch. 115, 68 Stat. 36; Pub. L. 102–486, title IV, § 404(a)(1), , 106 Stat. 2879; Pub. L. 109–58, title III, § 311(a), , 119 Stat. 685.)