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Glossary of Terms

Not familiar with a term?  We've got you covered!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

S

Saddle

A fitted plate held in place by clamps, straps, heat fusion, or welding over a hole punched or drilled in a gas main to which a branch line or service line connection is made. The saddle also may serve as a reinforcing member for repair. 

Safety Shutoff Device

A device that will shut off the gas supply to the controlled burner(s) in the event the source of ignition fails. This device may interrupt the flow of gas to the main burner(s) only or to the pilot(s) and main burner(s) under its supervision. 

Sales Agreement

An agreement between a purchaser/buyer and seller (e.g., producer, marketer, pipeline, LDC) which defines the terms and conditions of a purchase/sale and title transfer of gas quantities. 

Sales for Resale

Sales made to a local distribution company, pipeline, or municipality where the gas will be resold by the purchaser. 

Sales Level

The sales volume being applied to the cost of service to develop rates. See TRANSPORTION LEVEL, THROUGHPUT LEVEL. 

Sales Refund Objective (SRO)

A provision included in many prior settlements, and often examined by Staff, that if actual volumes exceed an agreed level during the period of time the rates are in effect, the pipeline agrees to refund the fixed costs received in the commodity rate. The SRO can be offset by increases in certain jurisdictional costs. The SRO has not been used with the Modified Fixed Variable classification method.

Sales, Interdepartmental

Sales to other departments of a company (gas, electric, steam, water, etc.) and dollar value of such sales if the charges are at tariff or other specified rates for the energy supplied. 

Sales/Transportation Service

Under traditional sales service agreements, transmission and distribution companies purchase gas from suppliers, transport the gas to customers and sell it to them. Under transportation service agreements, transmission and distribution companies transport gas supplies for customers who have purchased the gas directly from other parties. 

Salt Cavern

An underground natural gas storage cavern which has been developed in a salt dome by the solution mining process.

SCF

Standard Cubic Feet

Scheduling

A process by which nominations are first consolidated by receipt point, by contract, and verified with upstream/ downstream parties. If the verified capacity is greater than or equal to the total nominated quantities, all nominated quantities are scheduled. If verified capacity is less than nominated quantities, nominated quantities will be allocated according to scheduling priorities.

Scheduling Coordinator

Submits balanced schedules and provides settlement-ready meter data to the independent system operator. The scheduling coordinator also settles with generators and retailers, the PX and the ISO; maintains a year-round, 24-hour scheduling center; provides non-emergency operating instructions to generators and retailers, and transfer schedules in and out of the power exchange, or PX. The PX itself is considered a scheduling coordinator.

Scheduling Penalty

A monthly or daily penalty assessed on the difference between the volume scheduled to be tendered by the shipper to the pipeline and the volume actually tendered for delivery. The purpose of the penalty is to maintain high throughput on the pipeline and prevent disruption of deliveries to other transportation and sales customers. Because the damage caused by the shipper failing to tender scheduled volumes cannot be remedied after the fact, there is no notice or make-up period involved. 

Scraper

A device used to clean deposits of paraffin or other foreign substances from tubing or flow lines. See PIG and RABBIT.

State Regulatory Assessment
A permanent line item on Nebraska customers’ bills that represents Black Hills Energy's share of paying for the Public Service Commission, whose operating budget for gas regulation is prorated to the three investor-owned utilities, based on customer count. The Assessment charge amount may vary and also covers Public Advocate fees, which include fees for consultants that the Public Advocate or Public Service Commission hires to investigate any Black Hills Energy cases.
System Safety Maintenance Adjustment (SSMA)
The SSMA was adopted by the IUB in December 2011 and allows utilities to file for a return on eligible investments made since the most recent rate case, plus the cost of depreciation on those investments, within IUB limits.

Eligible investments are those made to maintain a safe, reliable gas system and fulfill federal, state and local government mandates and regulations. The IUB conducts a thorough review of all submitted expenses and investments and approves the amount the utility can recover. The SSMA reduces the lag in recovering system maintenance investments, thereby delaying the need for a full rate case and the significant investment in time and expenses required from everyone involved.

Did You Know?

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 44 percent of your energy bill goes for heating and cooling. Reducing use here saves you money on your utility bill.

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