This Part reviews some of the more important developments in energy prices during the year 1973. Part II, the basic report on Retail and Wholesale Prices for Primary and Secondary Energy Sources in the United States, covers the period 1960—1972. While energy prices changed moderately during this 13—year period, the changes were relatively small in comparison with the dramatic increases that occurred in 1973.

The definitions and concepts used in this Part of the study are also used in Part II. The energy sources priced are the same and include natural gas, distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, motor gasoline, coal, and electricity. While twenty-four Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas will be covered in Part II, in Part I the number is limited to nine, one for each Census region, as follows: Boston, Massachusetts; New York City; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Los Angeles, California. Moreover, the market sectors for which energy prices were compiled were reduced to four: substitutable and non-substitutable residential baseload, home heat, industrial use, and service stations.

On the other hand, this Part, unlike Part II, includes the pricing of selected crude oils both at the wellhead and delivered to designated refinery centers. The field price of natural gas and the price of coal at the mine are also considered. In addition, in the appendix to this Part are price control chronologies on the petroleum industry, public utilities, and the coal industry, as well as a chronology on actions and agreements of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) having a significant effect on crude oil prices.