FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:  

Audrey Casey

American Public Gas Association

Email: acasey@apga.org

APGA Commends the Introduction of the MPACT Act

Washington, DC (April 18, 2024) – Today, the American Public Gas Association (APGA), representing more than 730 local, community-owned natural gas systems in 38 states, issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Making Pipelines Accountable to Consumers and Taxpayers (MPACT) Act.

“Today, in an effort to address the longstanding burden of overcharges relayed to natural gas consumers, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Senator Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the Making Pipelines Accountable to Consumers and Taxpayers (MPACT) Act. APGA applauds the introduction of this bipartisan legislation, which brings much-needed reforms to outdated laws, protecting American consumers and eliminating inconsistencies in federal law.

For years, natural gas consumers have been burdened with an average of over $1 billion in annual overcharges due to antiquated statutes  that fail to protect against interstate pipelines’ unfair pricing practices. While the Natural Gas Act establishes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s authority to regulate said pipelines, the law lacks a mechanism that ensures consumers recoup these excessive fees. Unlike electric consumers who can trigger refunds for overcharges, natural gas consumers have been left without an equivalent safeguard.

The newly introduced bipartisan MPACT Act aims to rectify this imbalance by granting federal regulators the authority to mandate refunds from interstate natural gas pipeline companies when deemed appropriate, which will ensure fair pricing. This is a critical step towards ensuring that all energy consumers are treated equitably and protected from undue financial burdens.

In particular, this legislation holds significant promise for public gas utilities, which are the energy-delivering backbone for hundreds of communities nationwide. By empowering federal regulators with the authority to ensure fair pricing by mandating refunds, this bill aims to safeguard public gas utilities from the financial strain of overcharges. This is a win for the millions of Americans that depend on them for reliable, affordable natural gas.

APGA calls on other congressional leaders to recognize the urgency of this issue, lend their backing to this vital piece of legislation, and ultimately pass the MPACT Act.”