January 2008

A Natural Gas Glossary

Sorting Through the BTUs and the PSCs

BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (Btu): The quantity of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. A THERM is 100,000 Btus.

GAS MARKETER: A company that competes to provide natural gas service to consumers; it arranges the buying and selling of natural gas to your home or business.
Walton EMC Natural Gas is a gas marketer.

GAS DISTRIBUTOR: A company that owns gas pipeline and maintains the infrastructure for gas delivery. Atlanta Gas Light is a distributor.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (PSC): The governing body for the natural gas
industry in Georgia, which is responsible for regulating base rates and protecting consumers’ interests.

PILOT LIGHT: A small flame that is utilized to ignite gas at the main burner(s).

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO): A poisonous gas formed by incomplete combustion of
carbon, or reduction of carbon dioxide. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your
home to protect yourself against CO poisoning.

FIXED RATE: The price per therm, determined by a marketer and based on the
market price of natural gas, set for a fixed period of time; Walton EMC offers fixed
rates on a 12-billing cycle schedule.

VARIABLE RATE: The price per therm, determined by a marketer and based on
the market price of natural gas, on a month-to-month basis. The price is set on
the 5th of each month.

DEDICATED DESIGN DAY CAPACITY (DDDC): A base charge that recovers costs
associated with delivering gas to your home or business; based on your gas use
on the coldest day of the year.

CONSOLIDATED BILLING: If you’re a Walton EMC electricity customer-owner or
an EMC Security customer, we can consolidate all your charges on one convenient
bill.

 

 

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