An interpretative analysis of the natural gas policy of the federal government as exemplified by the "Phillips case"
Loading...
Authors
Thompson, Wendell Clark
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1954
Date
Publisher
University of Pittsburgh
Language
en_US
Abstract
The Natural Gas Industry has from its beginning gained in importance to the American people with each passing year. As the public reliance on natural gas has increased the local, state and Federal governments have increased regulation of the industry. Most of this regulation has been of such a nature as to insure the public of increased natural gas supplies at reasonable prices. Little if any thought has been given to the welfare of the industry. The crest of regulation against the industry has been reached with the Supreme Court's decision in the "Phillips Case." If this interpretation is allowed to stand then there is strong reason to believe that the Natural Gas Industry has reached its zenith and must now start a decline under the burden of strangling regulation. Consequently, instead of increasing gas supplies at reasonable prices the increased regulation will in allprobability cause a decrease in natural gas supplies and an increase in price. It is the purpose of this paper to show how the regulation of the Natural Gas Industry has grown to such proportions that it no longer serves the purpose intended, but rather it is destroying the very things it was created to preserve. By looking at the possible results of the Phillips Case on the Gas Industry, certain plausible conclusions and predictions can be made for the future of the industry. Possible solutions to the dilemma of over-regulation are presented inthe hopes that future moves to regulate can be forestalled. Then perhaqps the present regulations can be reduced so that the industry can more adquately serve the public and at the same time strengthen and preserve itself.
Type
Thesis