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<br />residential, commercial, and institutional user priority over industrial and <br />utility sector users. I n the event of shortages, lower priority service is <br />to be curtailed first. Pipeline companies must submit curtailment plans <br />covering its customers to FERC which reflect the national priority system. <br />NGPA also directed that current curtailment plans be modified such that <br />essential agricultural users and certain industrial users cannot be curtailed <br />unless residential, commercial, and institutional service is threatened. 65 <br /> <br />2.3.2.3 Emergency Provisions of NGPA. NGPA authorized the President <br />to declare a natural gas supply emergency when shortages exist or are <br />imminent. During such times, the President may authorize purchases <br />under any contract terms he deems necessary to supplement supplies. If <br />further measures are required to ensure supplies, the President may <br />directly allocate supplies as necessary. 66 These powers are practically <br />i,dentical to those granted the President as a result of the emergency of <br />1976-77.* <br /> <br /> <br />2.3.3 Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 (FUA) <br />As for crude petroleum, FUA prohibits the use of natural gas as a <br />primary energy source in new and existing power plants and in new major <br />fuel burning installations as of January 1, 1990.53 Between May 9, 1979 <br />and December 31, 1989, natural gas consumption in existing power plants <br />is to be limited to the average proportions it and alternate fuels were used <br />during the three years 1974-1976. <br />The objective of FUA with regard to natural gas use is to mandate Its <br />uses. Exemptions to the natural gas prohibitions are authorized by FUA, <br />though the granting of such exemptions is keyed to serving the public <br />interest. 67 As natural gas supplies increase or decrease, DOE can evaluate <br />requests based on the extent to which the requested use is in the public <br />interest. <br /> <br />*The Emergency Natural Gas Act of 1977 (P. L. 95-2) gave the President <br />direct allocation authority of natural gas supplies which wholly superseded <br />the FPC's control. This authority expired April 30, 1977. <br /> <br />2-24 <br />