Glossary of terms (A-C)
[Terms D-M] [ Terms N-Z]
We are committed to supplying our customers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. The educated consumer is the best consumer. That's why we have listed some of the more common terms you may hear regarding your natural gas service. If there is a particular term that you need defined and it is not listed on this page, please contact us via e-mail.
AGA: The American Gas Association
Agent: A legal representative of buyers, sellers or shippers of natural gas in negotiation or operations of contractual agreements.
Bio-Gas: Methane produced by the decomposition or processing of organic material.
BTU: British Thermal Unit. A unit of energy measurement or heating value of natural gas.
Burner Tip: The point at which natural gas is consumed.
Bundled Sales Service: A packaged service where the utility buys the natural gas and delivers the gas to your home. Currently, this service includes the cost of gas, transportation and delivery charges, and other approved charges. Also know as retail sales.
Capacity: The maximum amount of natural gas which can be delivered through a pipeline within a specific period of time.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A gas which is a product of combustion resulting when carbon unites with sufficient oxygen to produce complete combustion; a component of many natural gases.
Carbon Monoxide (CO): A poisonous, combustible gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon, or reduction of carbon dioxide.
CCF: One hundred cubic feet. A unit of measure for the volume of gas used.
City Gate: Location where gas ownership passes from gas supplier to an LDC at a measuring or regulating station, usually near a city limit.
Commodity Rate: The charge based on the unit of natural gas transported or purchased.
Contract Year: The billing period which the customer contracts with the supplier.
Conversion Factor: The factor required to change MCF to a Dekatherm (DTH). Suppliers may deliver natural gas in units of Dekatherm, and a gas meter measures in MCF.
Cost of Service: The LDC's cost of doing business, including operating expense, depreciation, taxes, and fair return on investments.
Cubic Foot: The amount of gas which will occupy one cubic foot at a pre-determined temperature and pressure.
Customer Choice: The ability of consumers and vendors to contract directly with each other for natural gas supplies. Under customer choice, supplies are transported through a utility's pipes to a consumer's premises.
Information provided by the A.G.A.
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