§ 98-97. TXU gas distribution tariffs and schedules.
(a)
Effective immediately upon the passage of this section, the maximum general service rate for sales of natural gas rendered to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers within the city limits of Palestine, Texas by TXU Gas Distribution, a division of TXU Gas Company, a Texas corporation, its successors and assigns, is hereby fixed and determined as set forth in Item A.
(b)
The residential and commercial rates set forth above shall be adjusted upward or downward from a base of $2.7535 per mcf by a gas cost adjustment factor expressed as an amount per 1,000 cubic feet (mcf) of natural gas for changes in the intercompany city gate rate charge as authorized by the Railroad Commission of Texas or other regulatory body having jurisdiction for gas delivered to the Palestine distribution system, according to Item B. The industrial rates shall be adjusted in accordance with their contract terms.
(c)
Residential and commercial rates shall also be subject to weather normalization adjustments according to Item C.
(d)
The residential and commercial rates set forth above shall be adjusted upward or downward for changes in taxes and other governmental impositions, rental fees or charges according to Item D. Industrial rates shall be adjusted in accordance with their contract.
(e)
In addition to the aforesaid rates, company shall have the right to collect such reasonable charges as are necessary to conduct its business and to carry out its reasonable rules and regulations. The charges set forth in Items E and F, are approved. Services for which no charge is set out may be performed and charged for by company at a level established by the normal forces of competition.
(f)
In addition to the aforesaid rates, company is authorized to recover the current rate case expense through a surcharge designed for a six-month nominal recovery period. The surcharge per mcf will be calculated by dividing the rate case expense to be recovered by one-half of the adjusted annual sales volume to residential, commercial, and industrial rates-N customers. The company will provide monthly status reports to the city to account for the collection of rate case expense.
(g)
The rates set forth in this section may be changed and amended by either the city or company in the manner provided by law. Service hereunder is subject to the orders of regulatory bodies having jurisdiction, and to the company's rules and regulations currently on file in the company's office.
(h)
Unless otherwise noted herein, other than TXU gas distribution (a named party), no person or entity has been admitted as a party to this rate proceeding.
(i)
It is hereby found and determined that said meeting at which this section was passed was open to the public, as required by Texas law, and that advance public notice of the time, place and purpose of said meeting was given.
(j)
Item A. Rates. Subject to applicable adjustments, the following rates are the maximum applicable to residential, commercial and industrial consumers per meter per month or for any part of a month for which gas service is available at the same location.
(1)
Residential:
a.
Customer charge ..... $8.0000
b.
All consumption per mcf ..... 4.7865
If the service period is less than 28 days in a month the customer charge is $.2857 times the number of days service. If the consumption contains a portion of an mcf, a prorata portion of the per mcf charge will be made.
(2)
Commercial:
a.
Customer charge ..... $14.00
b.
First 20 mcf, per mcf ..... 4.7923
c.
Next 30 mcf, per mcf ..... 4.4923
d.
Over 50 mcf, per mcf ..... 4.3423
If the service period is less than 28 days in a month the customer charge is $.5000 times the number of days service. If the consumption contains a portion of an mcf, a prorata portion of the per mcf charge will be made.
Bills are due and payable when rendered and must be paid within 15 days from monthly billing date.
Residential off-peak sales discount:
An off-peak sales discount of $.25 per mcf will apply to residential customers' volume purchased in excess of eight mcf for each of the billing months May through October.
Industrial:
Monthly rates: Subject to the company's limitations on the availability of each rate, customer shall receive service under its choice of one of the following rates in accordance with the rate selected by customer as provided in the contract:
Rate 1*
First 125 mcf or less\$281.99
All over 125 mcf, per mcf\2.177
Rate 2*
First 600 mcf or less\1,219.24
All over 600 mcf, per mcf\1.880
Rate 3*
First 1,250 mcf or less\2,260.47
All over 1,250 mcf, per mcf\1,759
* The rate to be charged the customer is the contract rate negotiated with the customer but shall not exceed these rates.
In all other respects, industrial rates-N shall remain in effect as filed with the city. One hundred percent of the increase in industrial margin is to accrue to the benefit of TXU gas distribution.
Transportation rates:
The fee for industrial transportation service shall not exceed the rate specified in the contract with the industrial customer.
(i)
Item B. Gas cost adjustment. Each residential and commercial monthly bill at the above rates shall be adjusted for gas cost as follows:
(1)
The city gate rate increase or decrease applicable to current billing month residential and commercial sales shall be estimated to the nearest $0.0001 per mcf based upon:
a.
The city gate rate estimated to be applicable to volumes purchased during the current calendar month, expressed to the nearest $0.0001 per mcf (shown below as "Re"), less
b.
The base city gate rate of $2.7535 per mcf, multiplied by
c.
A volume factor of 1.0000 determined in establishing the above rates for the distribution system as the ratio of adjusted purchased volumes divided by adjusted sales volumes.
(2)
Correction of the estimated adjustment determined by Item B(1) above for the second preceding billing month shall be included as part of the adjustment for the second following billing month. The correcting factor (shown below as "c") shall be expressed to the nearest $0.0001 per mcf based upon:
a.
The corrected adjustment amount based upon the actual city gate rate, less
b.
The estimated adjustment amount billed under Item B(1) above, divided by
c.
Distribution system residential and commercial sales mcf recorded on the company's books during the prior year for the month that the correction is included as part of the adjustment.
In summary, the gas cost adjustment (GCA) shall be determined to the nearest $0.0001 per mcf by Item B(1) and Item B(2) as follows:
GCA = [Item B(1) + Item B(2)]
GCA = [(1.0000) (Re $2.7535) + C]
(j)
Item C. Weather normalization adjustment. The Weather Normalization Adjustment clause authorized in the rate ordinance dated July 24, 1995 will continue in effect with one change. The actual residential base load will be used to determine the residential heating load rather than the residential class base load. There is no change in the determination of the base load for commercial customers. The revised weather normalization adjustment clause reads as follows:
Effective with bills rendered during the October 2000 through May 2001 billing months, and annually thereafter for the October through May billing months, the above residential and commercial consumption rates for gas service, as adjusted, will be subject to a weather normalization adjustment each billing cycle to reflect the impact of variations in the actual heating degree days during the period included in the billing cycle from the normal level of heating degree days during the period included in the billing cycle. The weather normalization adjustment will be implemented on a per mcf basis and will be applicable to the heating load of each customer during the period included in the billing cycle. It will be determined separately for residential and commercial customers based on heating degree data recorded by the Waco weather station. The adjustment to be made for each billing cycle will be calculated according to the following formula:
WNA = NDD-ADD / ADD × M × AHL
Where: WNA = Weather normalization adjustment
NDD = Normal heating degree days during the period covered by the billing cycle
ADD = Actual heating degree days during the period covered by the billing cycle
M = Weighted average margin per mcf included in the commodity portion of the rates effective during the October through May billing months
AHL = Actual heating load per customer
The heating load to which the weather normalization adjustment is to be applied for residential and commercial customers is determined by subtracting the base load for the customer from the total volume being billed to the customer. The base load of a customer is the average level of nonheating consumption.
The weather normalization adjustment is subject to a 50 percent limitation factor based on temperatures being 50 percent warmer or colder than normal. The weather normalization adjustment will be calculated to the nearest $.0001 per mcf.
(k)
Item D. Tax adjustment. Each monthly bill at the above residential and commercial rates, as adjusted above, shall be adjusted for municipal franchise fees (street and alley rental taxes) and the state gross receipts taxes imposed by V.T.C.A., Tax Code §§ 182.021—182.024. Each monthly bill, as adjusted above shall also be adjusted by an amount equivalent to the proportionate part of any new tax, or any tax increase or decrease, or any increase or decrease of any other governmental imposition, rental fee, or charge (except state, county, city and special district ad valorem taxes and taxes on net income) levied, assessed or imposed subsequent to December 31, 1999, upon or allocated to the company's distribution operations, by any new or amended law, ordinance or contract. Municipal franchise fees (street and alley rental taxes) and the state gross receipts taxes imposed by V.T.C.A., Tax Code §§ 182.021— 182.024 shall continue to be collected pursuant to individual industrial contracts.
(l)
Item E. Schedule of service charges.
(1)
Connection charge. In addition to the charges and rates set out above, the company shall charge and collect the sum of:
Schedule Charge Business hours $35.00 After business hours 52.50 For each reconnection of gas service where service has been discontinued at the same premises for any reason, for the initial inauguration of service, and for each inauguration of service when the billable party has changed, with the following exceptions:
a.
For a builder who uses gas temporarily during construction or for display purposes.
b.
Whenever gas service has been temporarily interrupted because of system outage or service work done by company; or
c.
For any reason deemed necessary for company operations.
(2)
Read for change charge. A read for change charge of $12.00 is made when it is necessary for a company employee to read the meter at a currently served location because of a change in the billable party.
(3)
Returned check charges. A returned check handling charge of $16.25 is made for each check returned to the company for any reason.
(4)
Delinquent notification charge. A charge of $4.75 shall be made for each trip by a company employee to a customer's residence or place of business when there is an amount owed to the company that is past due. This charge shall not be made when the trip is required for safety investigations or when gas service has been temporarily interrupted because of system outage or service work done by company.
(m)
Item F. Main line extension rate. The charge for extending mains beyond the free limit established by franchise for residential, commercial, and industrial customers shall be based on the actual cost per foot of the extension.
(Ord. No. O-28-00, 11-13-2000)
Editor's note
With the city's concurrence, section 98-97, Lone Star Gas Company tariffs and schedules was deleted as being superseded by Ord. No. O-28-00, adopted Nov. 13, 2000 and derived from 1968 Code, § 31-38; Ord. No. O-19-95, §§ 1—5, adopted July 24, 1995.