Inside Report (2)

Expect to pay 20-60 percent more for natural gas this winter.

Frost-belt congressmen are pushing hard for a freeze on natural gas prices. Oil industry lobbyists are pushing just as hard for decontrolling all natural gas prices. But don't expect immediate action on either proposal. Though there's a glut of natural gas, congressional sources warn that a smaller price hike this winter could mean a larger price shock during the '83-84 winter. Consumers might prefer to postpone larger natural gas bills for another year.

But for politicians it's better to have price shocks now - the '83-84 winter will be the one leading up to elections.m