[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Carroll County as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 4-8-2013]
A. 
All terms used herein are considered to have common public utility application. They are neither unique to the County of Carroll, nor are they meant to be subjected to precise scientific definition.
B. 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CHARACTER OF SERVICE
All delivery of natural gas under this rate schedule shall be on a firm basis.
COMMERCIAL
Activities related to the conduct or operation of a business enterprise, including a course of dealings which requires time, attention and labor of the person so engaged for the purpose of earning revenue, and includes, without limitation, any business, trade, profession, occupation or calling, whether for profit or nonprofit; a building or structure used in the operation of a business enterprise, whether for profit or nonprofit. Examples of commercial uses include, but are not limited to, stores for the sale of goods or services, repair establishments, offices, sales and/or service enterprises, churches, libraries, convalescent homes, nursing homes, schools, florists and greenhouses, medical clinics, veterinary offices, signs, clubs and lodges, funeral homes, banks and savings-and-loan associations, animal boarding facilities and other, like activities.
CONSUMPTION
The amount of service used over a given period of time as measured by a meter.
COUNTY
The County of Carroll, Virginia.
COUNTY GATE
The facility at which the utility receives delivery of natural gas from the Patriot Natural Gas Pipeline.
CUBIC FOOT
The unit of natural gas volume measured by a customer meter.
CUSTOMER
The individual, firm, or organization that purchases service at a specific location under a specific rate classification, contract, or rate schedule.
CUSTOMER CHARGE
The established fixed fee necessary to cover meter reading, billing, and other general service costs.
CUSTOMER CLASS
Specified category determined by the nature of the customer's operations and type of service required.
DISTRIBUTION CHARGE
The charge per therm of natural gas delivered by the utility to a customer.
FIRM
Gas distribution service that does not anticipate interruptions other than during emergencies.
INDUSTRIAL
Activities related to the production or manufacture of goods, tangible or intangible; a building or structure related to the manufacture of such goods. Examples of industrial uses include, but are not limited to, facilities where items are created or that manufacture textiles, apparel and other finished products made from fabrics, leather and similar materials, bakery products, manufacturing, blending, mixing and compounding of manufactured goods, bottling and canning facilities, cold storage, dry-cleaning plants, major repair facilities, recycling facilities, printing and publishing facilities, warehouses, metal fabrication, forging, extrusion and like activities.
MONTH
Not a calendar month, but instead the interval between successive regular meter reading dates. This can range from 26 to 35 calendar days.
NATURAL GAS COST
The cost of natural gas from the selected marketer multiplied by a factor of 1.4.
RESIDENTIAL or DWELLING
Activities relating to dwelling units where individuals live. Examples include, but are not limited to, single-family residences, apartment houses, boardinghouses, townhouses, or like structures. Where a residence includes a place of business, such as a home occupation, the residence shall constitute a commercial structure.
THERM
The unit of natural gas measurement used for billing purposes that takes into account not only volume, or cubic feet of gas consumed, but also the energy or heat content of the gas as determined by its chemical qualities.
TRANSPORTATION
The act of moving gas from a designated receipt point to a designated delivery point.
TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY
The amount of transportation rights a customer has on an interstate natural gas pipeline; for firm delivery.
TRANSPORTATION GAS
Natural gas that is purchased by the utility's customer directly from a producer or marketer, to be distinguished from consumer gas which is purchased by the utility for ultimate sale to the consumer, and is carried by the utility from the County gate, through the distribution grid to the customer's meter, for a fee.
UTILITY
Refers to the Carroll County Natural Gas Operation, or any division thereof.
A. 
Residential gas service.
(1) 
Applicability: available for individually metered dwelling units.
(2) 
Connection fee: $1,250.
(3) 
Monthly rate: is equal to the total of the following:
(a) 
Customer charge: $24 per meter.
(b) 
Distribution charge: $0.3350 per therm.
(c) 
Local adjustment rider: 5% of natural gas cost.
(d) 
Natural gas cost: cost of NG x 1.4.
(4) 
Minimum charge. The minimum charge shall be the customer charge.
(5) 
Purchased gas adjustment. The distribution charges specified in the monthly rate are subject to the purchased gas adjustment (PGA) rider, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(6) 
Local adjustment rider. This rate is subject to the local adjustment rider of 5% charge for natural gas.
(7) 
Late payment charge. A late payment charge of 10% will be applied to the balance of any account not paid by the close of business on the 20th day of the following month.
(8) 
Reconnection charge. There shall be a charge for reconnection of services of $75, plus the past due balance.
(9) 
Miscellaneous service charges. Charges for additional services provided shall be made on the basis of the miscellaneous services requested on a per-individual hourly rate of $45.
(10) 
Therm factor. Meters registering in cubic feet or any denomination thereof are subject to a monthly therm factor adjustment as set forth in the therm factor rider, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(11) 
Term of service: continuous until customer notice.
(12) 
Deposit: fee of $25 per meter.
B. 
Commercial gas service.
(1) 
Applicability: available for firm commercial service customers.
(2) 
Connection charge: $2,300.
(3) 
Monthly rate: is equal to the total of the following:
(a) 
Customer charge: $37.20 per meter.
(b) 
Distribution charge: $0.3350 per therm.
(c) 
Natural gas cost: cost of NG x 1.4.
(d) 
Local adjustment rider: 5% of natural gas cost.
(4) 
Minimum charge. The minimum charge shall be the customer charge.
(5) 
Purchased gas adjustment. The distribution charges specified in the monthly rate are subject to the purchased gas adjustment (PGA) rider, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(6) 
Local adjustment rider. This rate is subject to the local adjustment rider of 5% charge for natural gas.
(7) 
Late payment charge. A late payment charge of 10% will be applied to the balance of any account not paid by the close of business on the 20th day of the following month.
(8) 
Reconnection charge. There shall be a charge for reconnection of services of $150, plus the past due balance.
(9) 
Miscellaneous service charges. Charges for additional services provided shall be made on the basis of the miscellaneous services requested on a per-individual hourly rate of $45.
(10) 
Therm factor. Meters registering in cubic feet or any denomination thereof are subject to a monthly therm factor adjustment as set forth in the therm factor rider, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(11) 
Term of service. Customers must remain on this rate schedule for a period of no less than 12 months before switching service unless it is determined by the County that the customer no longer qualifies for this service.
(12) 
Deposit: fee of $25 per meter.
C. 
Industrial gas service.
(1) 
Applicability: available for firm industrial service customers.
(2) 
Connection fee: $4,600.
(3) 
Monthly rate: is equal to the total of the following:
(a) 
Customer charge: $450 per meter.
(b) 
Distribution charge: $0.305 per therm.
(c) 
Local adjustment rider: 5% of total cost of service.
(d) 
Natural gas cost: cost of NG x 1.4.
(4) 
Minimum charge. The minimum charge shall be the customer charge.
(5) 
Purchased gas adjustment. The distribution charges specified in the monthly rate are subject to the purchased gas adjustment (PGA) rider, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(6) 
Local adjustment rider. This rate is subject to the local adjustment rider of 5% charge for natural gas.
(7) 
Late payment charge. A late payment charge of 10% will be applied to the balance of any account not paid by the close of business on the 20th day of the following month.
(8) 
Reconnection charge. There shall be a charge for reconnection of services of $75, plus the past due balance.
(9) 
Miscellaneous service charges. Charges for additional services provided shall be made on the basis of the miscellaneous services requested on a per-individual hourly rate of $45.
(10) 
Therm factor. Meters registering in cubic feet or any denomination thereof are subject to a monthly therm factor adjustment as set forth in the therm factor rider, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(11) 
Term of service. Customers must remain on this rate schedule for a period of no less than 12 months before switching service unless it is determined by the County that the customer no longer qualifies for this service.
(12) 
Deposit: fee of $25 per meter.
D. 
Carroll County reserves the right to provide special rates for industrial customers for the purposes of capital investment and job creation/retention for economic development purposes.
E. 
Carroll County also reserves the right to provide special rates for industrial customers who have a constant demand of 100 or more therms per day and purchase their own natural gas from a marketer and the Carroll County natural gas system is a transporter of the customer's natural gas.
The provision of service shall be subject to the policies adopted and from time to time amended by action of the Carroll County Board of Supervisors and available in the offices of the County of Carroll Administrator and/or the natural gas utilities specialist.
A. 
Carroll County provides a variety of services at the customer's request. Services are charged on the basis of the following fees:
Miscellaneous Services
Fees
Returned check/draft charge
$35
Delinquent processing fee
$36
Late payment penalty
1.5%/month
Turn on gas service - seasonal
$30
Turn off gas service - seasonal
$30
Gas service restoration - nonpay
$50
Unauthorized meter operation
$150
Removal of unauthorized meter
$150
Gas meter replacement
$150
B. 
Late payment charge. Unless the bill is paid within 15 days from the due date, or on or before the expiration date as shown on the bill, 1.5% will be added to the amount of the bill.