HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-12-039 - Natural Gas RatesREPORT TO:Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
May 28, 2012
SUBMITTED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services
Department, x 4646
PREPARED BY:
Loraine Baillargeon, Manager Asset Optimization, x4532
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
May 22, 2012
REPORT NO.:
INS-12-039
SUBJECT:
NATURAL GAS RATES
RECOMMENDATION:
That the supply component of the natural gas rates be decreased to 17.5 cents per cubic
meter from 21.2 cents per cubic meter for system gas customers of the City of Kitchener
effective July 1, 2012; and,
That the transportation component of the natural gas rate remain at 6.182 cents per cubic
meter; and
That the delivery components of the natural gas rates be changed as proposed in INS-12-
039 - Appendix A for all Kitchener delivery customers effective July 1, 2012.
BACKGROUND:
Kitchener Utilities began a gas supply program in April 1998 to arrange supply for Kitchener
Utilities’ customers who did not choose to buy from a gas marketer. The program was initiated
with the goals of mitigating the impact of the natural gas price volatility and eliminating
retroactive billing that had become common place with our past provider, Union Gas.
Our system gas program uses a disciplined economic approach to secure natural gas contracts
in a portfolio to strive for a low risk, reasonable cost alternative to the current retail offerings.
The supply program is a cost-based service and does not cross-subsidize with other Kitchener
Utilities profits.
Since the beginning of the supply program, we have been able to meet our customers’ need for
stable, more predictable prices. We continue to mitigate the risk of price volatility through active
management of the portfolio.
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REPORT:
Gas rates are changed, at least annually, driven by various events. The gas rates have three
components, Gas Supply, Gas Transportation and Gas Delivery.
“Gas Supply rate” is the charge for the natural gas commodity, fuel and administration. The
Gas Supply rate is determined based on our committed purchases, forecast consumption,
overhead and inventory carryover. The total dollar value is divided by the forecast consumption
to determine the rate needed to recover the costs. The budget will be affected in that the
budget rate is higher than the proposed rate. Lower market prices have permitted this
reduction.
“Gas Transportation rate” is the rate charged to bring gas to the Ontario border via pipeline.
The historical practice has been to establish the transportation component of our natural gas
rates by using the National Energy Board (“NEB”) approved rate for TransCanada Pipelines
(“TCPL”) tolls. The NEB approved interim rates effective January 1, 2012 are at the same level
as the 2011 rates. The 2012 budget was determined using the current rate; therefore no impact
on budget is expected (except for variances in consumption from forecast).
“Gas Delivery rate(s)” are the rates charged for delivering gas within Ontario to the customer’s
meter. This includes transmission within Ontario (pipeline border to Kitchener, storage costs),
pipeline infrastructure and maintenance (within Kitchener), meter reading and bill processing.
For Delivery rates, the City’s past practice has been to match the base Delivery rates approved
by the Ontario Energy Board (“OEB”) for use by Union Gas in the Southern delivery area. The
OEB approved the final rates application as submitted and approved for the Union South
delivery area for implementation January 1, 2012. With respect to the Gas Delivery charges,
there are two components, a daily fixed charge and a variable rate that is charged for the actual
or estimated volumes consumed in a particular billing period. Over the past several years, the
variable rate has been decreasing and the fixed charge increasing. This shift is done to better
match the recovery of fixed costs to provide delivery service to utility customers by fixed
customer charges. The shift is revenue neutral, in total, to the Utility. The budget may be
impacted by consumption variances from forecast and rate variances as estimated proposed
rates were used in preparing the budget and the proposed rates are lower than the estimates.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Theme: Financial Management
Strategic Direction: -Invest and manage assets strategically;
-Ensure responsible use of public funds within a supportive policy framework;
-Maximize value through cost effective service delivery
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The combined impacts of the supply and delivery rates are expected to produce a decrease of
7.8% or approximately $72 per year for the average residential customer.
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Inestimations for Rate Category M1 customers, we use a 2,100 m3 annual consumption as an
average residential customer consumption.
Rate M2 customers (commercial/industrial) can expect to see an overall decrease of
approximately 5%.
The impact on large volume and contract customers will depend upon their consumption and
contract demand parameters.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Kitchener Utilities will work with the Communications Division to ensure that media are provided
with a media release to inform our customers, an insert is being prepared to be distributed with
utility bills in July, and an alert will be printed on the envelopes regarding rate changes.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services Department
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APPENDIX A
CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KITCHENER
NATURAL GAS
GENERAL SERVICE RATE M1
Applicability
To residential and non-contract commercial and industrial customers that consume less than 50,000 m3/year.
Rate
Daily Fixed Charge $ .69
and
VARIABLECOMMODITY &TRANSPORTATIONNET RATE
DELIVERYFUEL
RATE
3333
¢/m¢/m¢/m¢/m
3
First100m4.517217.56.18228.1992
3
Next150m4.322717.56.18228.0047
3
All Over 250 m3.862717.56.18227.5447
Supplemental Service to Commercial and Industrial Customers Under Group Meters
Combination of readings from several meters may be authorized where meters are located on contiguous pieces of property of
the same owner not delivered by a public right-of-way. In such cases, an additional service charge shall be rendered each
month in the amount of $15.00 per month for each additional meter so combined. This service is to assist in the administration
billing
of the for multiple meters on the same property. It does not contemplate amalgamating the consumption readings for
the purpose of qualifying for lower delivery rates..
Meter Readings
Gas consumption by each customer under this rate schedule shall be determined by periodic meter readings, provided that in
circumstances beyond the control of the Company, such as strikes or non-access to a meter. The Company may estimate the
monthly consumption between the meter readings and render a monthly bill to the customer.
Effective
July 1, 2012
Policy Relating to Terms of Service
1)Gas purchased under this rate schedule shall not be resold, directly or indirectly by the customer, unless resold as
“motor vehicle fuel gas”, as that term is defined in Ontario Regulation 805/82.
2)Customers who temporarily discontinue service during any twelve consecutive months without payment of the
monthly fixed charge for the months in which the gas is temporarily disconnected shall pay for disconnection and
reconnection.
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CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KITCHENER
NATURAL GAS
GENERAL SERVICE RATE – M2
Applicability
To residential and non-contract commercial and industrial customers that consume 50,000 m3 and more per year .
Rate
Daily Fixed Charge $2.30
and
VARIABLECOMMODITY &TRANSPORTATIONNET RATE
DELIVERYFUEL
RATE
3333
¢/m¢/m¢/m¢/m
3
First1,000 m4.464617.56.18228.1466
3
Next6,000 m4.385717.56.18228.0677
3
Next13,000 m4.150617.56.18227.8326
3
All over 20,000 m3.868517.56.18227.5505
Supplemental Service to Commercial and Industrial Customers Under Group Meters
Combination of readings from several meters may be authorized where meters are located on contiguous pieces of property of
the same owner not delivered by a public right-of-way. In such cases, an additional service charge shall be rendered each
month in the amount of $15.00 per month for each additional meter so combined. This service is to assist in the administration
billing
of the for multiple meters on the same property. It does not contemplate amalgamating the consumption readings for
the purpose of qualifying for lower delivery rates.
Meter Readings
Gas consumption by each customer under this rate schedule shall be determined by periodic meter readings, provided that in
circumstances beyond the control of the Company, such as strikes or non-access to a meter. The Company may estimate the
monthly consumption between the meter readings and render a monthly bill to the customer.
Effective
July 1, 2012
Policy Relating to Terms of Service
2)Gas purchased under this rate schedule shall not be resold, directly or indirectly by the customer, unless resold as
“motor vehicle fuel gas”, as that term is defined in Ontario Regulation 805/82.
3)Customers who temporarily discontinue service during any twelve consecutive months without payment of the
monthly fixed charge for the months in which the gas is temporarily disconnected shall pay for disconnection and
reconnection.
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CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KITCHENER
NATURAL GAS
FIRM INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACT RATE – M4
Applicability
To a customer who enters into a contract for a minimum term of one year, that specifies a daily contracted demand as follows:
33
Between 4,800 m and 140,870 m.
Rate
1. Bills will be rendered monthly and shall be the total of:
3
¢/m
i)A Monthly Demand Charge
3
First8,450 m of the daily contracted demand,45.2527
3
Next19,700m of the daily contracted demand,19.6336
33
All m over 28,150m of the daily contracted demand,16.3047
ii)A Monthly Delivery Charge
First 422, 250 m3 delivered per month .5762
Next volume equal to 15 days use of daily contracted demand .5762
For remainder of volumes delivered in the month .2371
iii)A Monthly Gas Supply Rate
Utility Sales
Commodity & Fuel 17.5
Transportation6.182
23.682
2. Over-run Charge
Authorized overrun gas is available provided that it is authorized by the Corporation in advance. The Corporation will not
unreasonably withhold authorization. Overrun means gas taken on any day in excess of 103% of contracted daily demand.
3
Authorized overrun will be available April 1 through October 31, and will be paid for at the rate of 2.0640/m for the delivery
3
and, if applicable, a gas supply rate of 23.682¢/m.
3
Unauthorized overrun in any month shall be paid for at the rate of 4.5172¢/m for the delivery and total gas supply charge for
3
system supplied volumes at the rate of 23.682¢/m.
3. Minimum Annual Charge
In each contract year, the customer shall purchase from the Corporation or pay for a minimum volume of gas equivalent to
150 days use of contracted demand. Overrun gas volumes will not contribute to the minimum volume. In the event that the
customer shall not take such minimum volume, the customer shall pay an amount equal to the deficiency from the minimum
33
volume times a rate of .89¢/m, and if applicable, a gas supply charge of 23.682¢/m.
In the event that the contract period exceeds one year, the annual minimum volume will be pro-rated for any part year.
Effective
July 1, 2012
Policy Relating to Terms of Service
Gas purchased under this rate shall not be resold, directly or indirectly by the customer.
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CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF KITCHENER
NATURAL GAS
INTERRUPTIBLE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACT RATE – M5
Applicability
To a Customer who:
3
A) enters into a contract for a minimum term of one year that specifies a daily contracted demand between 4,800 m and 140,870
3
m inclusive.
and,
B) has an alternate fuel supply and combustion system available.
Rate
1. The price of all gas delivered shall be determined on the basis of the following schedules:
Monthly Fixed Charge $498.20
and
3
¢/m
A) Delivery Charge
Daily Contracted Demand Level (CD)
33
4,800 m< CD17,000 m2.1854
33
17,000 m< CD 30,000 m2.0555
33
30,000 m< CD50,000 m1.9872
33
50,000 m< CD70,000 m1.9393
33
70,000 m< CD 100,000 m1.9050
33
100,000 m< CD 140,870 m1.8713
B) Gas Supply Rate
Utility Sales
Commodity & Fuel 17.5
Transportation6.182
23.682
2. Over-run Charge
Over-run gas must be authorized by the Corporation in advance. The Corporation will not unreasonably withhold
33
authorization. Unauthorized overrun gas take in any month shall be paid for at the rate of 28.1992¢/m (4.5172 ¢/m for the
3
delivery and 23.682¢/m for all gas supply volumes purchased).
3. Minimum Annual Charge
In each contract year, the customer shall purchase from the Corporation or pay for a minimum volume of gas equivalent to
3
150 days use of contracted demand which will not be less than 700,000 m per annum. Overrun volumes will not contribute
to the minimum volume. In the event that the customer shall not take such minimum volume, the customer shall pay an
3
amount equal to the deficiency from the minimum volume times 2.4992¢/m for the delivery charge and if applicable, a gas
3
supply charge of 23.682¢/m).
Effective
July 1, 2012
Policy Relating to Terms of Reference
Gas purchased under this rate shall not be resold, directly or indirectly by the customer.
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