Document: 385 U.S. 83 87 S.Ct. 265 17 L.Ed.2d 181 UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY, Petitioner,v.FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION et al. No. 49. Argued Oct. 19 and 20, 1966. Decided Nov. 14, Vernon W. Woods, Shereveport, La., for petitioner. Peter Schiff, Washington, D.C., Bruce R. Merrill, Houston, Tex., respondents. Mr. Justice WHITE delivered the opinion of Court. 1 United Gas Pipe Line Company Continental Oil executed a contract effective January 31, 1953, providing sale by purchase gas produced from Johnson Bayou Field in State Louisiana, at prices stated contract. The was to run 10 years year thereafter unless terminated either party on 90 days' notice. To effectuate delivery United's nearby Mud Lake transmission line transportation into Beaumont, Texas, area, constructed several thousand feet pipeline, separators storage tanks. United, its part, short length separator, meter station valves. sought, granted accepted certificate public convenience necessity authorizing continued construction operation facilities necessary therefor. 14 F.P.C. 582. Likewise, issued under terms 15 1650. 2 In October 1962 elected terminate end primary term. Negotiations new were fruitless. Continental, after refusing offer continue purchasing day-to-day basis old rate, filed rate increase with Commission asking an date 1963. filing over protest.1 advance notice then ceased 1963, has since refused that source. Following petition order show cause full hearing, found ceasing take Field, had abandoned used this purpose as well service rendered these facilities, contrary provisions § 7(b) Natural Act which forbid such abandonment without consent being first obtained.2 Accordingly, ordered 'renew Continental' directed purchases be Continental's volumes consistent previously force. 31 1079, 1086. Court Appeals upheld Commission's order, 5 Cir., 350 F.2d 689, we certiorari, 383 924, 86 930, 844, because case involved important question concerning jurisdiction Act. We affirm. 3 agree refusal receiving constituted 'facilities' 'service' applies. That section places conditions or any thereby. covered are those 'subject Commission,' further identification requires resort other sections Section 1(b)3 declares apply to: (1) natural interstate commerce, (2) commerce resale ultimate consumption (3) companies engaged sale. Under 7(c)4 no company is permitted engage gas, undertake extension therefor acts operations. Thus 'facilities subject Commission' reached required consumer. Conversely, it would seem beyond argument proscription abandoning 'any service' include both sale, twin functions 4 convinced Commission. They solely taking gas. could not, therefore, do not understand position otherwise. however, insists there fact been 'abandonment.' It true neither removed nor disconnected. Their use have resumed time so desired. But physical alteration sine qua non restricting 7(b). Here transporting taken intention doing long present rates effect. found, own action 'operationally dormant period indefinite duration.' 1083. addition, interest went facilities. 'We regulatory responsibility assure once dedicated market will available demands * *.' 1082. As instant proceeding unmistakably revealed, adequately met if powerless 'certificated transport gas,' ibid., operate. hold conduct within meaning reasonable interpretation shall disturb it. corollary conclusion, inescapably presented face itself, before can cease through very purpose. contends words only particular field. view free abandon decide itself wholly apart what interstate. nothing Act, legislative history our cases called attention persuasively supports narrow justify recognizing but preceding all. 6 gives separate distinct matter, whether hire resale. FPC v. East Ohio Co., 338 464, 70 266, 94 L.Ed. 268; Transcontinental Corp., 365 1, 81 435, 377; Panhandle Eastern Co. FPC, 8 359 675. Here, course, some What more, Sunray Mid-Continent 364 137, 149—150, 80 1392, 1399, 1400, 1623, clearly recognized term confined sales extends 'movement commerce' one who engages performing §§ 7(e) more clear here 'service,' commerce. statutory prior approval, underlying findings, cannot escaped. 7 Even so, argues authority therefore exceeded ordering amounts specified expired set unilaterally Continental. does many grant same express sales. Neither blanket exemption 16, power 'to perform all acts, issue orders, rules, regulations may find appropriate carry out Act.' 52 Stat. 830, U.S.C. 717o. Where regulate respects expressly must so. us, services consent. quite proper reactivated restored, even though resumption entail legally established price. Undoubtedly, incident regulating This than authorizes undertook when sought received certification perform.5 After begun 1953 markets built asserted issuance certificate.6 Both means thereof necessity. 'able willing *' volunteered.7 A accordingly formally United. now wishes agreed perform—the gas—without finding 'that future permit(s) abandonment.' precisely forbids. 9 claims need serve customers forced approved regard competition bound sell deprives property due process law. view, premature. inappropriate permit asked findings made. reactivate restore until obtained. If resorts Commission, every opportunity economic constitutional grounds abandonment. For reasons herein stated, judgment affirmed. 11 ordered. 12 Judgment unsuccessfully petitioned rehearing approving increase, 29 525, did seek judicial review order. provides 'No natural-gas portion permission approval obtained, supply depleted extent continuance unwarranted, 824, 717f(b). text provides: 'The domestic, commercial, industrial, use, local distribution production gathering gas.' 821, 717(b). section, relevant person upon completion proposed therefor, acquire operate extensions thereof, force respect operations Added February 7, 1942, 56 83, 717f(c). said, imply compel initial reach reactivation service. application certificate, docketed September 1954, appears Docket G—2818, Company. complete supra, n. 6; abbreviated version (Emphasis added.)

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