Subject to prior contractual rights, every person, firm or corporation owning or operating any gas well from which natural gas is produced, sold or used off the premises on which such well is located shall make available, upon request, to any person engaged in agricultural activities upon such premises, sufficient gas from the production of such well for the operation of pumps necessary for the pumping of such amount of water, produced from wells on such premises, as may be necessary and proper for the irrigation of such portion of said premises as may be devoted to the growth of agricultural products or to pasture or orchard uses. The person at whose request the gas is furnished shall receive the gas at the wellhead and pay therefor the price not to exceed that at which the gas is sold at the wellhead. All cost of installation, including the gas meter, shall be borne by the person at whose request the gas is furnished. Provided, however, that the owner or operator of the well may cease deliveries of gas upon fifteen (15) days' written notice if the person requesting delivery fails to make payments for delivered gas within forty-five (45) days after billing is made by the owner or operator. The owner or operator shall be permitted a reasonable surcharge for the cost of meter maintenance, determination of volumes, accounting and other operational costs incurred by the owner and operator in connection with the furnishing of the gas.

Added by Laws 1977, c. 38, § 2.