Summary: In an address to an international energy conference, the work of GAO in the energy area was described. There are six strategic target areas of GAO energy work: (1) the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR); (2) emergency preparedness; (3) electricity supply and demand; (4) nuclear power regulation; (5) the Synthetic Fuels Corporation; and (6) the Pacific Northwest Power Act. In addition, GAO is expected to commit substantial resources to the areas of energy research and development and federal regulation of natural gas and nuclear power, including nuclear waste management. This year GAO has released two reports on natural gas pricing which analyzed the advantages of the continuation of the Natural Gas Policy Act over immediate price decontrol. GAO reported that continuation of the act would offer a smoother transition to price decontrol, lower consumer costs, and lessen a contract problem. GAO has issued three reports on the accelerated 5-year outer continental shelf leasing program which questioned the administration's estimated budgetary receipts for the program and suggested the use of increased royalty rates. GAO also investigated administration plans for leasing on-shore federal lands for oil, gas, and coal. GAO supports the administration's attempts to increase the leasing of federal lands for energy development, but is concerned about the protection of the public's interest. Since mid-1980, GAO has monitored SPR and has reported that the federal government is unprepared to cope with energy shortage emergencies and has questioned an administration decision to reduce the SPR fill rate. In the near future, GAO plans to address the issues of nuclear interface with the electric utility industry, the nuclear power infrastructure, nuclear power regulation, and the international implications of nuclear power development. In addition, GAO plans to study the implications of the administration's policy on energy research and development and report on the nation's ability to develop and deploy appropriate energy technology.
