The United Gas Improvement Co. v. Continental Oil Co., et al., 1964, is a U.S Supreme Court case that revolved around the issue of whether or not natural gas producers were subject to regulation by the Federal Power Commission (FPC). The dispute arose when United Gas Improvement Company filed a complaint with the FPC against several independent natural gas producers, including Continental Oil Company and others, alleging they had been charging excessive rates for their product. The defendants argued that as independent producers who sold directly to interstate pipelines rather than consumers, they were exempt from such regulations under Section 1(b) of the Natural Gas Act. However, in its decision delivered by Justice Goldberg on June 22nd, 1964; the court ruled in favor of United Gas Improvement Company stating that these companies fell within jurisdictional reach of FPC's regulatory powers regardless if sales are made directly to pipeline companies or end users. This ruling clarified and expanded federal authority over pricing practices within this sector ensuring fairer prices for consumers.

The dissenting opinion in the United Gas Improvement Co. v. Continental Oil Co. case argued that the majority's decision was inconsistent with previous rulings and could potentially disrupt established business practices within the natural gas industry. The dissenters believed that, under existing law, a company selling its own production of natural gas at wholesale should not be considered a "natural-gas company" subject to regulation by Federal Power Commission (FPC). They contended that such an interpretation would extend FPC jurisdiction beyond what Congress intended when it enacted Natural Gas Act of 1938, which aimed to regulate interstate transmission and sale for resale of natural gas but did not intend to cover producers or gatherers who sold their own product directly to consumers or local distributors without involving interstate transactions.