Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 515-7-9-.01 - Definitions

As used in this Utility Rule 515-7-9, the following terms shall have the following definitions:

(a) "Ancillary service" means a service that is ancillary to the receipt or delivery of natural gas, including without limitation storage, balancing, peaking, and customer services.

(b) "Commission" means the Georgia Public Service Commission.

(c) "Commodity sales service" means the sale of natural gas exclusive of any distribution or ancillary service.

(d) "Consumer" means a firm retail customer of commodity sales service and distribution service who uses such service or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes.

(e) "Consumer preferred method of communication" shall mean the method of written communication agreed upon by the marketer and the consumer regarding the method of notification the consumer shall receive in compliance with Commission Rules. Such preferred method of communication may include but need not be limited to: first class mail, bill message, email, text or other electronic means supported by the marketer.

(f) "Customer," for the purposes of this rule, shall have the same meaning as the term "consumer."

(g) "Customer service" means a function related to serving a consumer or retail customer including without limitation billing, meter reading, turn-on service, and turn-off service.

(h) "Distribution service" means the delivery of natural gas by and through the intrastate instrumentalities and facilities of a gas company or of a marketer certificated pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 46-4-153, regardless of the party having title to the natural gas.

(i) "Electing Distribution Company" or "EDC" means a gas company that elects to become subject to the provisions of this article and satisfies the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 46-4-154.

(j) "Fixed-term agreement" means a plan offered by a marketer to a consumer for the sale of natural gas, exclusive of any distribution or ancillary service, where all marketer charges and fees and terms and conditions of service remain the same for a specified period of time, unless modified by mutual consent of the marketer and the consumer.

(k) "Low-income residential consumer" means any person who meets the definition of a person who is qualified for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as promulgated by the Department of Human Resources, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 46-1-5.

(l) "Marketer" means any person certificated by the Commission to provide commodity sales service or distribution service pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 46-4-153 or ancillary services incident thereto.

(m) "Non-residential firm retail customer" means a small business or any other customer who purchases gas for purposes other than resale or residential use, and who either contracts for such service at the marketer's published price, whose actual or estimated gas usage for the previous or ensuing 12-month period is less than 15,000 therms or whose premises billed at the metering point is less than 15,000 square feet. For purposes of this rule, the term "non-residential firm retail customer" shall be synonymous with "consumer" and "customer", as provided in Commission Utility Rule Chapter 515-7-6.

(n) "Published price" means the charge assessed by a marketer for a therm of natural gas, and, if applicable, any separate or additional charges for interstate capacity and customer service that are on file with the Georgia Public Service Commission pursuant to Commission Rule 515-7-3-.04(14).

(o) "Regulated provider of natural gas" means the entity selected by the Commission to provide to consumers natural gas commodity service and ancillary services incident thereto in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 46-4-166.

(p) "Standard pricing unit" shall be the price charged for a therm of natural gas.

(q) "Variable-term agreement" means a plan offered by a marketer to a consumer for the sale of natural gas, exclusive of any distribution or ancillary service, where the marketer's charges and fees and terms and conditions of service may be subject to modification.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 515-7-9-.01

O.C.G.A. §§ 46-2-30, 46-4-150 et seq. (See especially, O.C.G.A. §§ 46-4-156, 46-4-158.2, 46-4-160).

Original Rule entitled "Definitions" adopted. F. Aug. 13, 2002; eff. Sept. 2, 2002. Amended: F. June 18, 2018; eff. July 8, 2018.