Definitions

Definitions
An association that represents 192 local natural gas utilities that deliver gas to more than 53 million homes and businesses across the nation. The AGA is a clearinghouse for gas energy information and a catalyst in technical and energy policy matters.
A charge that applies to all transportation gas that crosses gate stations in the WPS gas distribution system.
An optional service for gas transportation customers who have purchased Peak Day Backup Service. This option allows them to purchase firm gas commodity from WPS for a portion of their gas load.
The interstate pipeline company that delivers natural gas to WPS. ANR is regulated by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
The amount of gas nominated by a transportation customer (or the customer's supplier or broker) and recognized by ANR Pipeline Co. as gas delivered to the WPS city gate station for that customer's use.
A measure of heat energy, representing the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit at sea level
Refers to the time on clocks in the Central Time Zone, whether it is Central Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time.
A special permit, commonly issued by a state Commission, which allows a utility to engage in business, construct facilities or perform some other service. Also, a permit issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission allowing a party to transport natural gas, or sell it for resale, in interstate commerce, or to construct, acquire or operate any facilities necessary for that purpose. The Commission involved may attach any reasonable terms and conditions that public convenience and necessity may require.
The point at which WPS accepts delivery of gas from ANR Pipeline or Guardian Pipeline.
Gas used during the distribution process, and gas that flows into the WPS distribution system but is never metered as being used by a customer or the utility. An adjustment factor is applied per therm to account for this.
Utilities and transportation customers must balance gas use every day, comparing the amount of gas nominated with actual use to account for all gas that flows through a pipeline.
A method used by transportation customers to balance daily actual use with nominated gas use. Daily cashout was developed by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to encourage transportation customers to keep their nominations as close to actual use as possible.
A company's estimated gas use for the day.
A measure of the need for air conditioning (cooling) based on temperature and humidity. Although cooling degree days are published for many weather stations, a standard has not been generally accepted.
A measure of the coldness of the weather experienced, based on the extent to which the daily mean temperature falls below a reference temperature, usually 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
The point at which gas leaves a transporter's system, completing a sale or transportation service transaction between the pipeline company and a sale or transportation service customer.
A unit of heating value equivalent to 10 therms or 1,000,000 Btus.
A docket number is assigned to each issue the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin places on its agenda, in order to more easily track its progress through the process.
A federal agency that protects human health and safeguards the natural environment — air, water and land.
A federal agency that regulates interstate wholesale energy transactions, including gas transportation and electric transmission, to ensure reasonable rates.
A FERC ruling effective Nov. 1, 1993, that essentially prohibits pipeline companies from buying and selling gas. Order 636 unbundled gas services, giving customers more options for buying, transporting and storing natural gas.
The utility provides uninterrupted gas supply and gas distribution service, except in emergencies.
A superior force, "act of God" or unexpected and disruptive event that may relieve a party from a contract or obligation.
A period of 24 consecutive hours beginning at a specified hour (9:00 CST) on a given calendar day and ending at the same specified hour on the next calendar day.
The research, development and commercialization organization of the natural gas industry.
A pipeline interchange located in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana, which serves as the delivery point for natural gas futures contracts.
A market or supply area pooling/delivery area where gas supply transactions occur to facilitate the movement of gas between and among interstate pipelines. Transactions can include a change in title, a change in transporter or other similar items.
The utility provides gas supply and gas distribution service. However, customers agree to have their service interrupted when demand is high. Interruptible rates are lower than firm system rates.
A change in a gas nomination that is made between the hours of 6 p.m. (the evening before the gas day starts) through 5 p.m. of the gas day.
Natural gas that has been liquefied by reducing its temperature to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit at atmospheric pressure. It remains a liquid at minus 116 degrees Fahrenheit and 673 psig. It occupies 1/600 of the volume of the vapor at standard conditions.
WPS and other utilities that distribute natural gas from the city gate to customers' meters. ANR Pipeline Co. delivers gas to the WPS city gate.
A nonregulated buyer and seller of natural gas.
Refers to the maximum daily consumption of natural gas, in dekatherms, used by customers of WPS in the Wausau and Manitowoc areas.
A thermal unit of energy equal to 1,000,000 Btus (that is, the equivalent of 1,000 cubic feet of gas having a heating content of 1,000 Btus per cubic foot, as provided by contract measurement terms). (See Dekatherm.)
An optional service offered to interruptible system customers who want firm service for part of their gas load.
Delivery of natural gas on an as-needed basis, without the need to precisely specify the delivery quantity in advance. No-notice delivery is generally made at the city gate or burner tip.
An optional service offered to transportation customers who want some firm service from WPS for part of their gas load.
Combining customers' gas usage to reduce fees for daily imbalances.
An adjustment factor that applies to all gas delivered to the city gate for a customer's use. This factor accounts for the different gas measurement assumptions WPS and ANR Pipeline Co. use.
A state regulatory agency that ensures utility services are provided to customers at reasonable rates.
A pricing mechanism applied to Firm System Sales Service and Interruptible System Sales Service. WPS periodically increases or decreases the rate charged to firm and interruptible customers for gas commodity and interstate pipeline services, in response to changes in costs recovered for these products and services. All Purchased Gas Adjustments are approved by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
A transportation customer, marketer or local distribution company that holds a natural gas capacity contract on a pipeline. The shipper is responsible for nominating and transporting natural gas.
Natural gas supplies purchased, owned and sold by the local distribution company.
A gas company schedule detailing the terms, conditions and rate information that apply to various types of natural gas service. Tariffs are filed with and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or a state regulatory body.
A measure of the heat content of gas equal to 100,000 Btus.
The customer (or the customer's broker) delivers gas commodity to the WPS distribution system. WPS then delivers this gas commodity to the customer's meter.
A group of Wisconsin gas utilities, including WPS. WDG formed 20 years ago to address ANR Pipeline issues at FERC.