Municipal utilities call on Congress to act on high gas prices

Washington (Platts)--26Aug2005

Calling current high US natural gas prices a "crisis," the trade group
representing municipally owned utilities appealed to the heads of
the Senate Energy and House Resources Committees to address gas supply issues
when Congress resumes business in September.
     Saying the cost of natural gas has tripled in five years, leading to the
loss of 2.5-mil manufacturing jobs while costing consumers $200-bil, American
Public Gas Association CEO Bert Kalisch said in a late Thursday letter that
"our industry, economy, and country are in a crisis."
     Kalisch called on Congress to pass a stand-alone bill focused on natural
gas that would open access to more domestic supplies, accommodate liquefied
natural gas imports and accelerate development of methane hydrate
technologies.
     Kalisch also predicted a voter backlash to high gas prices. "When the
bills reflecting these current gas prices are received this winter by
homeowners across America, I expect the fallout will extend far beyond the
local communities we serve," he said.

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