By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Feb. 16�The Texas Railroad Commission has set a hearing for 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at its Austin headquarters to explore ways to stabilize natural gas prices for consumers.
The conference will help the commission formulate recommendations for the Texas legislature.
Later this year the commission plans to hold a broader hearing examining all aspects of the Texas gas industry from production to consumption.
Speakers invited to the Feb. 26 event include representatives of consumers, city government, utilities, and gas suppliers. They will discuss incentives for utilities to minimize the gas costs passed onto consumers, better notification to consumers about anticipated price fluctuations, and the impact of price swings on industries such as agriculture.
Chairman Michael Williams and Commissioners Charles Matthews and Tony Garza will draft recommendations and vote on them at their Mar. 1 public meeting. Those proposals will be forwarded to the House Committee on Energy Resources and the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
Williams said, "In recent months, all Texans have been affected by higher natural gas prices and the impact may be felt for some time to come. By bringing together consumer, utility, and regulatory representatives, the commission looks to refine short-term solutions that can benefit everyone."
The commission observed that the commodity cost of natural gas is not regulated by government, but is market driven. The commission has jurisdiction over the cost of transporting, storing, and delivering gas to consumers outside city limits. Cities have jurisdiction on the cost of delivery within their boundaries. The commission noted that delivery costs generally are not affected by commodity cost changes.
