Natural Gas Rates for Wisconsin Businesses
Most businesses served by Wisconsin Public Service receive Commercial and Industrial Firm Natural Gas Service.
- Who Is This Rate For?
- How Reliable Is the Service This Rate Provides?
- How Is the Gas I Use Measured?
- What Charges Are Involved?
Who Is This Rate For?
Commercial and Industrial Firm Natural Gas Service is designed for:
- businesses, schools, government facilities, and
- buildings where two or more households are served through a single meter.
How Reliable Is the Service This Rate Provides?
Commercial and Industrial Firm Natural Gas Service provides uninterrupted service for your business, except in emergencies. This means gas is available to you whenever you need it. The only exception — as with any gas service — is when unexpected events occur (such as a severe storm or a contractor digging into a gas line) that make it impossible to deliver gas to your business. When this happens, WPS responds immediately to restore service.
How Is the Gas I Use Measured?
The amount of gas flowing through your meter is measured in hundred cubic feet (CCF). But you are charged based on the average heat content of the gas delivered — or the number of therms used. One therm is equal to 100,000 British Thermal Units (Btus). One Btu represents the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit at sea level.
Your bill shows how much gas (CCF) your business used for the past month and a calculation that converts the amount of gas used (CCF) to reflect the heat content of the gas (therms). The heat content of gas may vary. WPS determines the heat content of the gas received from our supplier during the 30 days preceding your last meter reading date. The result is shown on your monthly bill.
What Charges Are Involved?
Two types of charges appear on your monthly gas bill:
- Local Distribution Service - showing what it costs to deliver gas to your home or business, and
- Gas Supply Service - showing what it costs WPS to buy gas and transport it over the interstate pipeline system
Local Distribution Service
Local Distribution Service is made up of Fixed and Volumetric charges.
The Fixed charge covers many costs of safe, reliable delivery of natural gas. These costs exist regardless of how much gas a customer uses. For example, fixed costs include:
- The gas piping that's required to deliver gas
- Labor and supplies required to maintain the gas main
- Labor and supplies to read the meter
- Qualified people to respond to gas emergencies
The Fixed Charge is the same for all customers with similar gas use.
The Volumetric charge on your bill varies each month based on how many therms of gas you use.
Local Distribution Service Charges on Your Gas Bill| Annual Natural Gas Usage (Customer Class) | Type of Customer | Fixed Charge | Volumetric Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 2,000 therms (Cg-FST) | Year-round (12-month) |
$7.00 per month | $0.3062 per therm |
| Seasonal* (6-month) |
$14.00 per month | $0.3062 per therm | |
| 2,001 to 20,000 therms (Cg-FS) | Year-round (12-month) |
$21.00 per month | $0.1762 per therm |
| Seasonal* (6-month) |
$42.00 per month | $0.1762 per therm | |
| 20,001 therms to 200,000 therms (Cg-FM) | Year-round (12-month) |
$95.00 per month | $0.1165 per therm |
| Seasonal* (6-month) |
$190.00 per month | $0.1165 per therm | |
| 200,001 or more therms (Cg-FL) | Year-round (12-month) |
$623.00 per month | $0.0618 per therm |
| Seasonal* (6-month) |
$1,246.00 per month | $0.0618 per therm |
*If your seasonal facility is used during the summer months, you'll be billed for gas service May through October. If your seasonal facility is used during the winter months, you'll be billed for gas service November through April. Your gas service may remain connected all year. Any incidental gas use during the "off season" will be included on your first bill of the following season. If you use more than 100 therms of gas during the off-season, WPS will send you a bill during the off-season.
Gas Supply Service
Gas Supply Service is the purchase, transportation and storage of gas, as well as the management of gas supplies for our customers. It includes:
- Gas Supply Acquisition Service - the purchase and management of gas supplies, as well as the carrying costs of gas bought in the summer and stored for winter use
- Natural Gas Costs - the actual price we pay to purchase gas from suppliers, including the costs of interstate pipeline transportation and storage services
Please note that WPS does not profit from the price of gas, which appears on your bill as Natural Gas Costs. This charge reflects WPS's actual cost for gas.
Several factors can influence your business's monthly gas use. Major factors that can be measured by WPS are summarized in the lower left-hand corner of your bill.
See the Wisconsin Rate Book for more information.