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COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA
CHOICE REFERENCE MANUAL
April 2014
This manual is for information and educational purposes only. The tariff and other rules, regulations and laws prevail.
.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
1
Table of Contents
Section 1
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
2
Table of Contents
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
April 2014
Table of Contents
Outline
2
General Choice Program Information
Reference Materials
Virginia Choice Requirements
Credit Worthiness Requirements
Choice Overview
Customer Lists
Code of Conduct
Dispute Resolution
Glossary of Terms
Acronyms
4
FTP Set Up & Maintenance of Choice Accounts 16
Initial Access & Set Up
Timeline & Calendar
Reference Table Daily & Monthly Files
Revenue Class Codes
Action Codes
Audit Error Codes/Descriptions
ACT File Format
AC1 & .AC2 & GAC2 File Formats
BIL File Format
CAN File Format
CON File Format
CONF File Format
DAT File Format
DBR File Format
DET File Format
DIS File Format
DMD File Format
ERR & .ER2 & GER2 File Formats
GCB File Format
NOP File Format
PAY & MTH File Formats
RAC1 File Format
RAC2 File Format
RATE File Format
RATE.DAT File Format
REM File Format
RERR File Format
REV File Format (RS5500MK Reports)
Solicitation List File Format
Section 4
Capacity and Delivery Requirements
Pipeline Scheduling Point (PSP)
Capacity Assignment
Delivery Requirements
Balancing Service
79
Section 5
Customer Billing & Rates
Billing Options
Timeline
New Rate Code Process
Rate Change Process
84
Section 6
Supplier Invoicing
Timeline
Monthly Bill Image
Annual Reconciliation
Annual Reconciliation Bill Image
89
Section 7
Aviator
Access to Bill Viewer
Customer Concern Database
94
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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General Choice Program Information
Section 2
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Reference Materials for the CGV Choice Program
The information and instructions in this presentation are in keeping with the Rules and Regulations set forth in the
following 3 documents:
•
•
•
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Tariff
The CGV Gas Supply Operations Plan
The Virginia Retail Access Rules
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
5
General Columbia Gas of Virginia CHOICE Requirements
•
CSP must be licensed by the VSCC.
•
CSP agrees to participate by signing an Competitive Service Provider Service Agreement.
•
Establish acceptable Credit Worthiness prior to participating. Columbia reserves the right to check credit when
the need arises ( See slide 12 for requirements).
•
CSP must establish an aggregation pool which consists of at least 100 customers or at least 10,000 mcf of
annual throughput. The aggregation pool is comprised of those customers within each CSP’s customer group
located within the same Pipeline Scheduling Point. The PSP is determined by the zip code at the service
address. Columbia will provide the zip code list. Following is list of each PSP.
Rockville
Charlottesville
Richmond
Norfolk
Lewisburg
46-30
46-31
30CS-33
30CS-34
26-17
•
CSP is required to follow the Columbia Gas of Virginia Statewide Choice Gas Supply Operations Plan, Rate
Schedule CSPS, the SCC’s Rules Governing Retail Access to Competitive Energy Services, and CGV’s
General Terms and Conditions, as amended from time to time.
•
CSP must complete mandatory Choice Marketer Training.
•
CSP must be able to communicate using Columbia’s Electronic Bulletin Board
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
6
Creditworthiness Requirements
A CSP desiring to provide service under this Rate
Schedule must be credit worthy, as determined by CGV in
its reasonable judgment. The CSP will be required to
Provide the following information as part of the credit
evaluation process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6
7
8
9
10
11
April 2014
Proof of license from the SCC, pursuant to
20 VAC 5-312-40, to conduct business as a
competitive service provider for residential and
small commercial customer within Columbia’s
certificated service territory
A copy of the most recent application for such
license;
Most recent annual report, 10K or 10Q and current
financial statements prepared since the last audited
report;
List of parent company and other affiliates;
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of 3
trade references;
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of one
or more banking institution contacts;
List of unbundling programs in which the CSP is
participating;
Confirmation that the CSP is not operating under
bankruptcy or insolvency law;
Confirmation that no significant lawsuits or
judgments are outstanding;
Confirmation that the CSP is not aware of any
adverse condition that could case a material
change in financial conditions; and
Any additional financial related information as
determined by CGV
The evaluation will be based on standard credit factors such
as previous customer history, Dun & Bradstreet financial and
credit ratings, trade references, bank references, unused
lines of credit and financial information. Columbia shall have
sole discretion to determine creditworthiness based on the
above criteria but will not deny creditworthiness reasonable
cause.
A fee of $280.00 will be assessed for each evaluation. This
Fee is for the cost Columbia incurs to obtain credit reports
($40) and the cost Columbia incurs to activate a CSP ($240).
Columbia reserves the right to conduct additional evaluations
at any time during the course of the program. No additional
credit report fee will be charged to the CSP.
The required information, along with a check for $280.00
made payable to “Columbia Gas of Virginia” should be sent
to:
Columbia Gas of Virginia
200 Civic Center Dr, Floor 7
Columbus, OH 43215
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
7
Columbia Gas of Virginia Customer Choice Overview
Eligibility
Any CGV Customer that is current on their gas bill.
Enrollment
Electronically through the CGV Web FTP site. Customers can sign a consent form, enroll via the
internet or be enrolled telephonically through recorded voice verification. CGV does not require a
copy of the customer contract between the CSP and the customer. The deadline is the 15th of the
month to serve customers the following month. Customer are accepted monthly.
Gas Deliveries
Required to use Aviator to nominate on the CGV system.
Follow Daily Delivery Obligation as specified in the CGV tariff and the Gas Supply Operations Plan.
Make deliveries by using PSPs (formerly TCO market areas).
Firm Transportation is required and there is mandatory assignment of capacity.
Capacity and storage are outlined in the Gas Supply Operations Plan.
CSP Aggregation pools are required
Rate Schedules
RTS
SGTS
UGLTS
ACTS
Residential Transportation Service
Small General Transportation Service
Unmetered Gas Light Transportation Service
Air Conditioning Transportation Service
Billing
Customers are billed nightly. The CSP is billed after all the meters have been read or calculated for
the billing cycle and nominations have been confirmed, approximately the 6th working day of the
month. Two billing options are available to the CSP (refer to the tariff). Customers are billed in CCF.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Customer Solicitation List
A Customer List is available to an existing CSP on the columbiasuppliers website. The list will be updated or
replaced every six months. The list is provided at no cost.
Steps to obtain the Customer Lists:
•
•
•
•
•
April 2014
Access the Columbia Choice website @ www.columbiasuppliers.com
Double click on Columbia Gas of Virginia
Sign in by using the CSP VCMP number and password
• Click the submit button
Select Customer List
Click on the file name you wish to view.
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct can be found in the Rules Governing Retail Access to Competitive Energy Services (VAC 5-312-30)
Marketing – 20 VAC 5-312-70
•
All information presented by the CSP must be accurate and understandable, that is not misleading.
•
CSP’s must provide to prospective residential customers an estimated annual bill including all distribution
charges, and an average cost per MCF.
•
Customer Service contracts must include:
• Price or explanation how price will be calculated
• Length of the service contract, including any provisions for automatic contract renewal
• Provisions for termination by the customer and by the competitive service provider including
disclosure of any minimum state requirements of the local distribution company.
• Statement of any minimum contract terms, minimum or maximum usage requirements, minimum
or fixed charges, other charges, and any required deposit
• Applicable fees – start-up fees, cancellation fees, late payment fees and insufficient fund fees
• Notice of billing terms and conditions
• A toll-free telephone number and an address for inquiries and complaints
• Bold caption “Customers Right to Cancel” that a customer has 10 days after mailing of notice by
the local distribution company of customers right to cancel.
• Confirmation of the customers request for enrollment and the approximate date the customers
service shall commence.
• A notice that, upon request by the customer, the competitive service provider shall provide a copy
of its dispute resolution procedure.
• A notice that, upon any change in the terms and conditions of the contract must be communicated
to the customer at least 30 days in advance of implementing such changes.
Prior to the enrollment of a customer with a CSP, an aggregator shall provide notice to the customer identifying
the name, toll-free telephone number , and address for the selected CSP.
•
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Code of Conduct (continued)
Enrollment and switching – 20 VAC 5-312-80
•
CSP may offer to enroll customers upon receiving a license from the Virginia State Corporation
Commission (VSCC); EDI certification; and completing registration from the local distribution company.
•
CSP shall maintain adequate records allowing it to verify a customers enrollment authorization. Such
records must be retained for at least 12 months and shall be provided within five business days upon
request.
•
A CSP must send customer a written contract prior to sending the enrollment request to the local
distribution company.
•
Upon receipt of enrollment, the local distribution company, within one day of receiving a request, must
mail notification to the customer advising them of the enrollment request.
•
When a CSP terminates a customer’s contract, they must notify the customer at least 30 days prior to the
date service is scheduled to terminate
•
If a CSP decides to exit the program, at least 60 days advance written notice is required to be sent to the
customers, LDC and VSCC.
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution Procedure - 20 VAC 5-312-110
•
This dispute resolution procedure shall become effective at the time Columbia initiates full or phased-in retail
access to competitive energy services, and shall address complaints, disputes, or alleged violations of the
provisions of this chapter that may arise between the local distribution company and competitive service
provider.
•
A CSP shall establish an explicit dispute resolution procedure that clearly identifies the process that shall be
followed when resolving customer disputes.
•
A CSP shall furnish to customers an address and 24 hour toll free phone number for customer inquiries and
complaints regarding services provided by the CSP. The telephone number shall be stated on all customer
billing statements.
•
A CSP shall immediately direct a customer to contact the appropriate local distribution company in case of
emergency.
•
The CSP shall retain customer billing and account records and complaints for at least three years.
•
In the event a customer is referred to the LDC by the CSP, or to the CSP by the LDC, for a response to an
inquiry or complaint, the party that is contacted second shall resolve the inquiry or complaint in a timely fashion
or contact the other party to determine responsibility for resolving the inquiry or complaint.
•
If the dispute cannot be resolved the CSP shall provide the customer with the toll free phone number and
address of the SCC.
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Glossary of Terms
Balancing
Equalizing a shipper’s receipts of gas into a pipeline with withdrawals out of a pipeline system. Balancing
may be accomplished daily, monthly or seasonally, with penalties accessed for excessive transportation
imbalance.
BTU
A btu, British Thermal Unit, is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one (1) pound of water
from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 61 degrees Fahrenheit at a constant pressure of 14.73 psia.
Capacity
Total volume of gas that can flow through a pipeline over a given period of time, considering factors such as
pipeline diameter, pressure, and time interval.
Capacity Assignment
The ability to reassign interstate pipeline capacity to other entities on a non-discriminatory basis. A shipper
with excess capacity could relinquish space back to the pipeline for it to resell.
Daily Scheduled Quantities
Volumes of transported gas (Dth/Day) to be delivered by interstate pipeline at Shipper’s direction for
Shipper’s account, after retainage of interstate pipeline’s company use and unaccounted for volumes.
Firm Service
The highest quality sales or transmission service offered to customers under a filed rate schedule which
anticipates no planned interruption.
FTS
Firm Transportation Service from Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation.
Gas Supply Operations Plan
Operational parameters & requirements that govern CGV Choice program
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Glossary of Terms (continued)
Human Needs
A term used in curtailment plans to describe those customers relying upon natural gas for heat for the
protection of life: residences, nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, etc.
Imbalance
The difference between the Scheduled Quantities and the Actual Tendered Quantity.
Opt-Out
Customers ability to request to have their names removed off of the eligible customer list
Peak Day
The highest usage day during the winter season; a 24 hour period of delivery greater than any other day.
PGA
Purchased Gas Adjustment Factor, a provision of regulatory rules permitting a gas company to recover in
customer bills on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the amount it pays in purchase costs for the gas supplied to a
customer.
Purchase of Receivables (POR)
Agreement whereby Columbia purchases CSP’s gas cost at 96% of all gas cost billed (optional)
Retail Access Rules
Rules governing Retail Access to Competitive Service Providers
Storage
Typically, depleted gas wells used to store gas which has been transferred from its original location.
Summer Season
That part of a contract year from the beginning of April through the end of October.
Winter Season
That part of a contract year from the beginning of November through the end of the following March.
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Acronyms
BCF
CCF
CGV
CSP
DIS
DTH
FSS
FTS
GTS
HDD
LIFO
MCF
MDQ
MDSQ
MMCF
POR
PSIA
PSP
SCC
SCQ
TCO
VSCC
April 2014
One Billion Cubic Feet
One Hundred Cubic Feet
Columbia Gas of Virginia
Competitive Service Provider
Distributive Information System
Dekatherm (Ten Therms, One Million Btu’s)
Firm Storage Service
Firm Transportation Service (tariff)
Gas Transportation Service
Heating Degree Day
Last In First Out
One Thousand Cubic Feet
Maximum Daily Quantity
Maximum Daily Storage Quantity
One Million Cubic Feet
Purchase of Receivables
Pounds per Square Inch Absolute
Pipeline Scheduling Point
State Corporation Commission
Storage Contract Quantity
Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation
Virginia State Corporation Commission
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
15
FTP Set-Up & Maintenance of Choice Accounts
Section 3
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Intial Access and Set Up
April 2014
•
If you are not set up on the Columbia Gas of
Virginia CHOICE web site, follow the
instructions provided below:
•
Contact the appropriate Columbia Gas
representative for supplier code assignment,
user ID and password. The request for this is
included in the New Supplier Setup Sheet.
•
Follow the “Web Site Instructions” on the
following slides. The site address is
http://www.columbiasuppliers.com
•
Once you have completed setting up your new
Supplier account and reviewed the “Web Site
Instructions,” then proceed to the “Setup and
Maintenance of CHOICE Accounts” to setup
your customer CHOICE accounts with CGV.
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Web Site Instructions
Welcome to the “How To” section
of the Customer CHOICE
program’s web site.
Beginning on this page we will
show you how to navigate this
site.
Select Columbia Gas of Virginia
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Web Site Instructions (continued)
For CGV you would see this page
Members Sign in:
Logon into file exchange by entering your
User ID and Password in their respective
boxes.
Click the submit button
Additional Menu Items
•
What’s New
•
Meter Reading Schedule – meter reading
dates for Columbia’s billing cycles,
Units 1-21
•
Gas Tariff
•
Rate Information
•
Zip Code Listing
•
Need Help
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Web Site Instructions (continued)
Select Choice for additional information regarding
the Choice Program.
Links include:
•
Become a Supplier
•
Policy & Procedures
•
Find a Form
•
Customer List
•
Customer Concern Database
•
Weather Data
•
Frequently Asked Questions
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Set-up and Maintenance of CHOICE Accounts Overview
This slide describes how to set-up and maintain your CHOICE account information and send it to
Columbia.
The .DAT file is used by the CSP for setting up, changing, or deleting accounts from their CHOICE Aggregation
Groups.
Using any text editor software available, such as WordPad or Note Pad, create a file by entering the account
information in the .DAT file format provided in this manual.
The file must be saved as XXX.DAT. The XXX is the 3-digit marketer code assigned by Columbia Gas.
When you have entered your account information, up-load the file onto the internet by the daily deadline shown
on the timeline/deadline calendar (5:00 p.m. EST).
A copy of a .DAT file must always remain in your directory. DO NOT delete the .DAT file from the web site.
The timeline/calendar included with these instructions gives an illustration of the different time restrictions
involved with your .DAT file.
On the deadline indicated in timeline/calendar (15th of the month), the file will be “frozen” with any setup,
changes and deleted accounts that you have added. (If the 15th of the month falls on a weekend or holiday,
the previous business day is the deadline). An empty .DAT file will be placed in your directory the day
following the freeze.
New accounts, for the next processing cycle, should be added after the date specified on the timeline calendar.
A new .DAT file can be started on the 16th - however, no processing of files will begin until the 20th of the month,
or the next business day, if the 20th falls on a holiday or weekend.
SPECIAL NOTE: DO NOT USE ANY WORD PROCESSING SOFTWARE TO ENTER OR CHANGE
ACCOUNTS, USE THE RECOMMENDED TEXT EDITOR SOFTWARE, WORDPAD OR NOTEPAD.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
21
Virginia Timeline and Calendar
Date Period:
45 days prior to gas flow
What to do/what to look for:
Submit request for new rate code(s) to be established
(Example: Submit new rate code request by 5/15 for 7/1 flow)
1st business day
Preliminary Accounting and Tax information for previous month (.DET file)
New Rate Codes request due for next month’s flow
2nd business day
.RATE file available providing summary of current rate code values
1st thru 15th calendar days
Enter accounts, edit .DAT file and check returned files
1st thru 20th calendar days
Enter rate changes and check returned files
4th business day
RS5500 (.REV file) placed on FTP by CGV for the previous month receivables
6th business day
CSP is billed for previous months customer’s consumption
15th calendar day
Final .DAT file for Choice due for next month’s flow (CGV freezes file)
16th thru 19th calendar days
Start entering accts for the next Choice processing cycle. No processing of Choice files,
.DAT file emptied for next processing cycle
XXXRate.DAT files continue to be processed daily
20th calendar day
Payment mailed, by the 20th of the month, for collections made on Non-POR CSPs’ behalf
Demand and Supply Curves posted
Rate changes (both automated and manual) due to Columbia Gas
21st thru 25th calendar days
Enter accounts, edit .DAT file and check returned files
Start entering rate changes (XXXRate.DAT) for next billing cycle
Payment mailed , by the 25th of the month, for collection made of CSP participating in the POR program
26th thru end of month
Enter accounts, edit .DAT file and check returned files
Frozen .DAT file (from the 15th) and the daily .RAC1 data gets uploaded into CGV billing system and re-audited
Accounts for 1st of month flow get coded as Choice in CGV billing system
.AC2, .ER2 , .RAC2 are available for the CSP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TIME PERIOD
DAILY
By 5:00 PM each business day Upload .DAT and XXXRATE.DAT files (except on non-processing dates)
By noon each business day
Returned files available (except on non-processing dates)
NOTES: If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, file is due the previous business day. ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Reference Table/Daily & Monthly Files
Monthly Files:
Daily Files:
•
AC1 – Daily file showing all the accounts accepted from the XXX.DAT
file uploaded the previous business day (preliminary accepted file)
•
BIL – File providing the meter reading and adjustment information
billed by the DIS billing system. File may be produced daily if the CSP
has accounts in each billing cycle
•
CAN - Daily file that shows accounts that were rescinded
the previous business day
•
CON – Consumption file with 24 months customer’s consumption
requested from the XXX.DAT file
•
RERR - Errors that occurred from the XXXRATE.DAT file
uploaded the previous business day
•
ACT -This file will provide all the established accounts for a CSP
as of the date of the last .AC2 file.
•
AC2 – End of month file showing accounts that will flow gas the
1st of the month
•
DET – Providing preliminary accounting and tax information
•
DMD – File containing required nomination information for the
current group of active customers
•
ER2 – End of the month error file showing errors and accounts
that will not flow gas the 1st of the month
•
DBR – The .DBR file is a monthly file that shows the gas costs that
have been removed from Columbia’s records and sent to CSP for
collection. This file is produced for the CSP that has chosen NOT
to have Columbia purchase their receivables.
•
GCB - The Gas Cost Balance file will provide ten gas cost
balances for suppliers who have non-purchased receivables.
•
MTH – Monthly summary of the Pay file (for CSP that has nonpurchased receivables). This file is produced for the CSP who had
chosen NOT to have Columbia purchase their receivables.
•
CONF – Confirmation file which is a record of the transactions
received each day as submitted through the .DAT file
•
DAT – File for enrolling, removing or changing accounts
•
DIS – Provides the CSP with disconnected accounts (inactive/final with
Columbia Gas)
•
ERR – Daily file that shows rejected accounts from the XXX.DAT file
uploaded the previous business day
•
NOP – File that shows accounts that have received a Termination
Notice or have been terminated from the program due to non-payment
or arrearages
•
PAY – List of customer payment activity (for CSP that has nonpurchased receivables). This file is produced for the CSP who has
chosen NOT to have Columbia purchase their receivables.
•
RAC1 - Provides rate code changes preliminarily accepted from the
XXXRATE.DAT file uploaded the previous business day
•
RAC2 - File that shows rate code changes that will be used for
billing customers starting with unit 1 of the effective month.
•
RATE.DAT – File for submitting rate code changes for existing rate
codes
•
•
REM – Provides accounts that will be removed from the CSP’s
customer data base as a result of the customer’s election of another
CSP including the LDC. The generated removals will appear with code
2 and the accounts coded for removal by Columbia will appear as an S
transaction.
RATE – File provides active rate codes and the associated
price value per unit of measure for each billing cycle. This
Report is available the 2nd business day of each month.
•
REV – File provides the Supplier’s prior month billed revenues,
payment details and tax information where applicable.
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Revenue Class Codes
CODE
00
01
03
TYPE
RES
N/A
RES
DESCRIPTION
RESIDENTIAL NON-HEAT
DEFAULT VALUE-DO NOT USE
CHOICE RES – HEAT
04
05
COM
RES
CHOICE COMM - HEAT
CHOICE RES - NON-HEAT LP
63
64
IND
IND
06
IND
CHOICE IND - ALL
65
IND
07
IND
CHOICE IND - A/C
66
IND
08
09
COM
RES
CHOICE COMM - NON-HEAT
CHOICE RES - A/C
67
70
IND
RES
10
RES
CHOICE RES - HEAT&A/C
71
COM
11
12
COM
COM
COMMERCIAL NON-HEAT
CHOICE COMM - A/C
77
78
COM
COM
13
14
15
30
31
41
53
COM
COM
COM
RES
COM
COM
COM
CHOICE COMM - HEAT&A/C
CHOICE COMM - NGV
CHOICE COMM - INTRASTATE
RESIDENTIAL HEAT
COMMERCIAL NGV
COMMERCIAL HEAT
INTRASTATE UTILITY SERVICE
79
COM
April 2014
CODE
60
61
62
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
TYPE
RES
COM
IND
DESCRIPTION
RESIDENTIAL A/C
COMMERCIAL A/C
ELEC POWER
GENERATION
INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL
DISTRIB - LP
INDUSTRIAL
TRANSMISSION
INDUSTRIAL
DISTRIB-OTHER
INDUSTRIAL A/C
RESIDENTIAL
HEAT AND A/C
COMMERCIAL
HEAT AND
OTHER SALES
MUTUAL
ASSOCIATION
FIELD SALES
24
Action Code Definitions
The following characters are to be used in the first column in the DAT file:
1
Indicates that an account is to be set up as a Choice account
2
Indicates that an account should be removed from the Choice program
3
Indicates that an account should be set up as a Choice account and 24 months of the account’s
consumption history is to be sent back to the CSP in the XXX.CON file
4
Indicates that 24 months of an established Choice customer’s consumption history is to be sent back to
the CSP in the XXX.CON file (must be a customer of the requesting CSP)
5
Indicates that a change should be made to the customer’s rate code
D
Indicates that a pending account should be deleted from the .DAT file. DO NOT PHYSICALLY delete
the account from the .DAT file. The code is used to delete an accepted account that was submitted
during the current enrollment period.
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Audit/Error Codes and Descriptions
0001 ACCOUNT NOT ON DIS
•
Account not in DIS database - Re-verify customer
account number.
0002 CHECK DIGIT IN ERROR
•
Check digit submitted does not agree with check
digit on DIS database - re-verify customer account
number’s check digit.
0009 LOCATION INVALID
0010 INVALID RECORD ON FILE
•
Could not process record, invalid format
0011 INVALID COMM
0012 INVALID RES
0003 ACCOUNT NOT AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT
•
Account is not an active account - re-verify
account number.
0004 ACTION CODE IS NOT VALID
•
Action code is not valid. Action codes are 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, D
0005 GTS CUSTOMER, NOT VALID FOR CHOICE
•
GTS Customers are not eligible for Choice.
0006 MARKETER CODE IS NOT VALID
•
Marketer code is not in the DIS tables.
0013 INVALID IND
0014 INVALID RATE
•
The account has a GTS Rate
0015 CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM PROGRAM
•
Either the account is not set up as a
Columbia Choice account or the CSP
cannot remove the account from the
program because it was set up with a
different Marketer code.
0007 INVALID REVENUE CLASS SELECTED
•
Revenue class must be 00, 11, 30, 41, 60, 61, 62,
63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 71.
0008 NOT COMPANY 38
•
Account is not an Virginia account.
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Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Audit/Error Codes and Descriptions (continued)
0016 NOT USED (CUST CREDIT INVALID FOR CHOICE)
0017 DUPLICATE ACCOUNT REMOVAL
TRANSMISSION
•
Account removal was transmitted twice in the .DAT
file, check the .DAT file and delete (using a ‘D’
action code) one of the entries.
0018 ACCOUNT NOT ACTIVE CHOICE CANNOT CHANGE
•
Action code ‘5’ was submitted but the account
cannot be changed because the account belongs
to another CSP or has been removed from the
program.
0019 ALREADY SET UP
•
This account is already set up as a Choice account
by another CSP or the CSP making the request. If
the account is set up by the CSP making the
request, then the additional message for CSP
XXX01 will be displayed. XXX will be the threecharacter marketer code and the 01 will be the
appropriate billing code.
0020 CANNOT REQUEST CONSUMPTION
•
Consumption cannot be provided because the CSP
requesting the consumption does not have this
account as a Choice customer.
0021 PROPANE CUSTOMER, NOT VALID FOR Choice
•
Propane customers are not valid for Choice
April 2014
0022 NO MATCH TCO AREA
•
PSP does not agree with PSP Area on table
used in conjunction with Marketer Code and
Nomination Group Number to get a valid PSP.
0023 DUP ACCT ADD DIFF
•
The account has been submitted to be added
by two different CSPs.
0024 CANNOT BE CHANGED, REMOVE FOUND
•
CSP has submitted a marketer billing code
change as well as a remove for this account.
Our system will not process the change
because the account does not need to be
changed.
0025 NOT USED
0026 NON RES ACCT IN RES ONLY MARKETER
AS OF 11/07 NO LONGER APPLICABLE
•
CSP has submitted a residential acct with a
commercial marketer billing code.
0027 NON COMM ACCT IN COMM ONLY MARKETER
AS OF 11/07 NO LONGER APPLICABLE
•
CSP has submitted a Commercial acct with a
residential marketer billing code.
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
27
Audit/Error Codes and Descriptions (continued)
0028 MARKETER CODE EXPIRED or MARKETER CODE
NOT EFFECTIVE
•
Marketer rate code is expired or has not been
established in Columbia’s system.
0036 NOM GROUP NUM INVALID
•
Nomination Group Number supplied by CSP is
invalid or not on tables used to get a valid
PSP.
0029 NOT USED
0030 NOT USED
0031 NOT USED
0037 NOT USED
0032 ACCOUNT NOT FOUND OR CANNOT UPDATE
•
The account is not on Choice or cannot be
changed because the account is with another
CSP.
0038 POSTAL ROUTE IN ERROR
•
The 4-digit zip code extension does not match
the 4-digit zip code extension on the
customer’s service address.
0039 INVALID DOLLAR VALUE FORMAT
0033 NOT ELIGIBLE UNTIL REMOVED FROM
BUDGET
0034 NOM GROUP NUMBER INVALID
•
This occurs when the marketer code was found
on the table but the contract number is zero.
•
MCF Dollar Value submitted is not in the
required format (XX.XXXX) or is a negative
value
0040 INVALID MARKETER RATE CODE - BILLING
•
CSP bills gas costs
0035 MARK CD INVALID
•
This occurs when the zip code is found but it’s
the wrong PSP match between the marketer
table and the zip code table.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
28
.ACT File Format
The .ACT file provides all the established
accounts for a CSP as of the date of the
last .AC2 file. This file can be used when
building a customer database or to verify the
information contained in a CSP’s
database.
For example, an .ACT file ran in the middle of a
month would contain all confirmed accounts
as of the previous .AC2 file. The accounts
that had been added since the previous
Column 12:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 13-45:
•
Customer Name
Columns 46-78:
•
Service Address
Columns 79-99:
•
City
month’s 15th deadline would not be included.
Columns 100-101:
•
State
Columns 1-8:
•
Customer PCID Number
Column 102:
•
Filler
Columns 9-11:
•
Customer Sequence Number
April 2014
Columns 103-112:
•
Zip Code plus 4
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
29
.ACT File Format (continued)
Column 113:
•
Hyphen
Columns 114-117:
•
Postal Carrier Route
Columns 118-122:
•
Five-digit Marketer Code
Columns 123-130:
•
Effective Date (YYYYMMDD)
Column 131:
•
Budget Customer Indicator “Y” or “N”
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
30
.AC1, .AC2 & .GAC2 Files
The XXXMMDDY.AC1 file, where XXX reflects the
Natural Gas Supplier and the state in which they
operate, MM reflects the month, DD reflects the day,
and the Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is
created. This file provides all the accounts that were
accepted from the .DAT file that was uploaded the
previous business day. As you build your .DAT file
during the month, the .AC1 file will continue to build as
well.
The .AC2 file provides all the accounts that were
accepted to the Columbia billing system from the
previous processing cycle. Keep in mind that the
accepted accounts you see in the .AC1 file may not be
the same accounts you see in the final .AC2 file that is
generated after unit 21 bills in Columbia’s billing
system. It is possible that accounts you saw in your
.AC1 file may have been disconnected and final
between the time you saw them in the .AC1 file and the
time the final .AC2 file posts.
April 2014
The .GAC2 file provides all the accepted GAS/GMB
accounts from the previous processing cycle that will flow
gas the 1st of the month.
.AC1 contains preliminary accepted accounts. Do not
assume that accounts showing in the .AC1 will be
accepted in the final .AC2 or .GAC2 files.
NOTE - When you begin building your new .DAT file for
the next billing cycle (on the 16th of the month
generally), you will not see the .AC1 file until the 20th of
the month when we begin processing files again for the
new billing cycle.
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
31
.AC1, .AC2 & .GAC2 File Formats (continued)
Column 1:
•
Action Code
Columns 2-9:
•
Columns 20-31:
•
12-Digit Control Code – 5 digit Natural Gas
Supplier rate code, and up to six characters that
were used at the Natural Gas Supplier’s discretion
Customer PCID Number
Columns 10-12:
•
Customer Sequence Number
Column 13:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 14-19:
•
April 2014
Effective Date (YYYYMM)
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
32
.BIL File Format
This file will provide the meter reading and
adjustment information billed by the DIS system.
The XXX in the name of the file is an abbreviated
three-digit code to identify the CSP and the state
in which the CSP is operating. If a CSP is
participating in more than one state program, the
XXX may vary slightly from state to state to avoid
confusion.
April 2014
Columns 19-22:
•
Location Number - Internal CGV use
Columns 23-24:
•
Revenue Class
Columns 25-32:
•
Customer PCID Number
.BIL Detail Record (11) - current
month billing information format
below:
Columns 33-35:
•
Customer Sequence Number
Columns 1-2
• Record-type
Column 36:
•
Customer Check Digit
Columns 3-10
• System Creation Date (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 37-45:
•
Customer PSID Number
Columns 11-16:
• Revenue Cycle (YYYYMM)
Columns 46-111:
•
Customer Name & Overflow
Columns 17-18:
• Billing Unit
Columns 112-144:
•
Service Address
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
33
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 145-164:
•
Service City
Columns 198-205:
• From-Date (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 165- 166:
•
State for Facility
Columns 206-213:
•
Columns 167-175:
•
Zip Code for facility
Columns 214-221:
•
Columns 176-178:
•
County Code
047 – Culpeper
153 – Prince William
•
•
Sign +/-
•
Usage by volume in CCF
Serial number of gas meter
Columns 194-197:
•
Calc / Read / AMR
April 2014
To-Read
Columns 230-239:
Taxing District
Columns 186-193:
•
From-Read
Columns 222-229:
Columns 179-185:
•
To-Date (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 240-240:
• Final Bill
Y – Yes, N - No
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
34
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 241-241:
•
Rebill – Code
•
Yes – Y, No – N
Columns 290-299:
•
Sign +/•
Pay This Amount
Columns 242-251:
•
Sign +/•
Total Current Amount
Columns 300-304:
•
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 252-261:
•
Sign +/•
Total Current Tax Exempt
Columns 262-269:
•
Sign +/•
Sales Tax
Columns 270-279:
•
Sign +/•
Previous Balance
Columns 280-289:
•
Sign +/•
Total Account Balance
April 2014
Columns 305-310:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Rate / CCF
Columns 311-316:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Discount
Columns 317-326:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Previous Balance
Columns 327-336:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Current Charges
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
35
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 337-346:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Current Balance
Columns 436-445:
•
Sign +/•
Delayed Payment Penalty
Columns 347-396:
•
Reserved for future use
Columns 446-455:
•
Sign +/•
Agency Handling Fee
Columns 397-405:
•
CGV Transportation Rate
Columns 406-415:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Customer Charge
Columns 416-425:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Transportation Charges
Columns 426-435:
•
Sign +/•
Supplemental Charges
April 2014
Column 456:
•
Customer on Budget
•
Yes-Y, No-N
Columns 457-466:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Budget Amount
Columns 467-476:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Budget Arrears
Columns 477-486:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Budget Balance
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
36
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 487-496:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Budget Amount
Columns 497-506:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Budget Arrears
Columns 507-516:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Budget Balance
Columns 517-518
•
Billing Unit
Columns 519-539
•
Filler
Columns 540-548`
•
Sign +/•
Filler
Columns 549-557
•
Sign +/•
Filler
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
37
.BIL Adjustment Record File Format
.BIL
Adjustment Record (15)-current month
adjustment information format below:
Columns 1-2:
•
Record – type 15
Columns 3-6:
•
Location
Columns 7-15:
•
Customer PSID Number
Columns 16-23:
•
Columns 35-38:
•
Transaction – Type
•
CAOR = CAB adjustment, over read
•
CAUR = CAB adjustment, under read
•
CAOC = CAB adjustment, over calculated
•
CAUC = CAB adjustment, under calculated
•
CAAF = CAB adjustment, adjustment on final bill
•
CAAI = CAB adjustment, adjustment on initial bill
•
CADM = CAB adjustment, dead meter
•
CAFM = CAB adjustment, fast meter
•
CAMA = CAB adjustment, manual adjustment
•
AMRA = CAB AMR adjusted reading
Customer PCID Number
Columns 39-43:
Columns 24-26:
•
•
Customer Sequence Number
Columns 27-34:
•
Transaction – Date (YYYYMMDD)
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 44-53:
•
Sign +/-
•
Transportation Charges
Columns 54-63:
•
•
April 2014
Sign +/Gas Cost Amount
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
38
.BIL Adjustment Record File Format
Columns 64-71:
•
Adjustment Period Date (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 72-81:
•
Sign +/•
CCF
Column 82:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 83-92:
•
“Add” date (YYYY-MM-DD)
• This is the date the account was added (with a “1” or “3” code) by this marketer.
Column 93:
•
Always a Y
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
39
BIL Balance Record File Format
.BIL Detail Record (9) - current month balance
record information format below:
Columns 1-9:
•
Balance Record Indicator (all nines)
Gas Measurement Billing information is located in the BIL
file following the BIL Detail Record – current month balance
record information (highlighted below).
Columns 10-15:
•
Sign +/•
Record Count
Columns 16-27:
•
Sign +/•
Total Account Balance (last two digits are
decimal $xx.xx)
Columns 28-56:
•
Filler
Columns 57-58:
•
Balance Record Indicator (all nines)
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
40
.CAN File Format
The .CAN file provides a list of accounts that were
rescinded, using the “C” code by CGV the previous
business day.
Columns 1
•
Code will be “C” indicating the account has
rescinded their pending enrollment .
Column 20:
•
Filler
Column 21:
•
Customer Check Digit number
Columns 2-7:
•
Filler
Column 22-28:
•
Filler
Columns 8-15:
•
Customer PCID number
Columns 29-33:
•
Five digit Marketer Rate Code
Column 16:
•
Filler
Columns 17-19:
•
Customer Sequence number
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
41
.CON File Format
The .CON file provides a list of valid accounts with 24
months of consumption from the .DAT file uploaded
the previous business day. These accounts had
either a ‘3’ or ‘4’ action code in column 1.
Column 1:
•
Codes 3 and 4
3 - indicates an account should be
set up as a CHOICE account and 24
months consumption history is to be
sent to the CSP on the
XXX .CON file.
4 - indicates 24 months consumption
history of an established Columbia
CHOICE account should be sent to
the CSP in the CON file.
Columns 2-13:
•
Marketer Rate Code
April 2014
Columns 14-21
•
Customer PCID number
Columns 22-24:
•
Customer sequence number
Column 25:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 26-34:
•
Customer PSID number
Columns 35-586
•
24 Months Consumption
•
Each month has the following information:
• Revenue Cycle (YYYYMM)
• Meter Read Date (YYYYMMDD)
• Consumption (999999999) in CCF
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
42
.CONF File Format
The .CONF file is a confirmation record of the transactions received each day as submitted through the .DAT file. Please
note that this is not an accept or reject confirmation, rather a response file including date and time stamp, of your previous
day’s submission. This file can be used to verify the information submitted to Columbia for processing.
Column 1:
•
Action code
Columns 2-9:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 10-12:
•
Customer SEQUENCE
Column 13:
•
Customer CHECK DIGIT
Column 14 - 19
•
Filler
Columns 60-62:
• Marketer code
Columns 63-70:
• Date YYYYMMDD
Columns 71-74:
• 24 Hour Time HHMM
Columns 75-79:
• Record sequence number
Columns 20-24:
•
Marketer rate code
Columns 25-59:
•
Filler
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
43
.DAT File Format
The .DAT file is utilized by the Competitive Service Provider to add, delete or change an account on the FTP Web Site.
The CSP enters the Action Code in the first column followed by the account information which is included in columns 2
through 31 described on the next page. Files can be submitted daily up through the 15th of the month.
Example: the following transactions would be submitted in the .DAT file:
1123456780012
XXV01
The number 1 at the beginning of the PCID number is to enroll a customer in CHOICE.
The CSP must start with a “clean” .DAT file after each enrollment period.
Columbia automatically removes the contents, after the file has been processed on the 15th of each month
NOTE: Columns = Spaces
.DAT FILE FORMAT:
Codes are ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘5’, ‘D’ (see explanation of each below):
12345D-
April 2014
Account to be set up on CHOICE
Account to be removed from CHOICE
Account to be set up on CHOICE & 24 months consumption sent to CSP
24 months consumption of an established Columbia CHOICE customer sent to CSP
Change to customer’s rate code
Account to be deleted from the .DAT file. DO NOT physically delete the account from the .DAT file
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
44
.DAT File Format (continued)
Column 1
•
Action Code
Columns 2-9:
•
Enter the customer PCID (8 character)
Number
Columns 10-12:
•
Enter the customer SEQUENCE
(3 character) Number
Column 13:
•
Enter the customer CHECK DIGIT
(1 character) Number
Column 14 - 19:
•
Leave Blank
Columns 20-31:
•
Enter in the 12 digit control as the
following:
• Enter a 5-digit marketer rate code in
the first 5 positions. The first 3
characters are the marketer code
and the last two characters are the
rate number. The next 7 characters
are not required and can be used by
the CSP at their own discretion
SPECIAL NOTE:
The “D” code is used during the current
enrollment period when an account in the
.DAT file has been entered in error. To remove
or delete an account that has been enrolled in
error during the current enrollment period, use
the “D” action code
Do not confuse this code with the “2” code
which is used to remove an account from the
program after set-up has already occurred
Except for the “D” transaction code, two action
codes can not be submitted in the same
enrollment period. For example, a “3” Add &
Consumption is submitted on the 1st day of the
month, then a “5” Change is submitted on the
10th day of the month. Both will be ignored and
no action will be processed.
Here is an example:
3123456780011
XXV01
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
45
.DBR File Format
The .DBR file is a monthly file that shows the gas costs that have been removed from Columbia’s records
and sent to the CSP for collection. This file is produced for those who have chosen NOT to have Columbia
purchase their receivables. There are 3 reasons an account will appear on the Balances Removed Report,
the account has been disconnected, the customer has been removed from Choice, or the rate code has been changed.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Code
Columns 54-56:
•
Sequence Number
Column 6:
•
Blank
Column 57:
•
Blank
Column 7:
•
Dash ( - )
Column 8:
•
Blank
Columns 9-41:
•
Marketer Name
Columns 42-44:
•
Revenue Class
Columns 45-52:
•
PCID Number
Column 53:
•
Blank
April 2014
Column 58:
•
Check Digit
Columns 59-91:
•
Customer Name
Columns 92-128:
•
Service Address
Columns 129-148:
•
City
Columns 149-150:
•
State
Columns 151-155:
•
Zip Code
Columns 156-165:
•
Balance Removed
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
46
.DET File Format Layout
The .DET file is the CSP Detail file (electronic
version of the RS5500MK).
There are 4 record types that can be in each file:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Detail record
Adjustment detail record
Control total record
Customers # record
A conversion chart of values for signed
unpacked numbers are below:
April 2014
J = -1
K = -2
L = -3
M = -4
N = -5
O = -6
P = -7
Q = -8
R = -9
} = -0
Column 1:
•
Record Type 1
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
All numeric fields are defined as signed
unpacked numbers. This allows us to retain
negative values in the numeric fields.
A=1
B=2
C=3
D=4
E=5
F=6
G=7
H=8
I = 9
{ =0
Detail Record:
Columns 4-14:
•
PCID & Sequence Number
Column 15:
•
PCID Ck Digit Number
Columns 16-20:
•
CSP Rate Code
Columns 21-23:
•
County Code
Column 24:
•
Revenue Class
Columns 25-33:
•
CSP current month MCF
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
47
.DET File Format Layout, Detail Record (continued)
Columns 34-42:
•
CSP Adjustment MCF
Columns 97-107:
•
Total Tax
Columns 43-51:
•
Total MCF
Columns 108-118:
•
Grand Total
Columns 52-60:
•
CSP Current Month Gas Cost
Columns 61-69:
•
CSP Adjustment Gas Cost
Columns 70-78:
•
Total Gas Cost
Columns 79-87:
•
State Tax Current Month
Columns 88-96:
•
State Tax Adjustment
April 2014
NOTES:
Total MCF = (CSP curr mo MCF + CSP adj MCF)
Total gas cost = (CSP curr mo gas cost + CSP adj gas
cost)
Total tax = (State tax curr mo + State tax adj.)
Grand total = (Total gas cost + Total tax)
Values for the Revenue-class are:
•
R = residential
•
C = commercial
•
I = industrial
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
48
.DET File Format Layout, Adjustment Record
Adjustment Detail Record
Column 1:
•
Record Type 2
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Columns 4-14:
•
PCID & Sequence Number
Column 15:
•
PCID Ck Digit Number
Columns 16-20:
•
CSP Rate Code
Columns 21-26:
•
CSP Adjustment Date
(YYYYMM)
Columns 27-35:
•
CSP Adjustment MCF
Columns 36-44:
•
CSP Adjustment Gas Cost
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
49
.DET File Format Layout, Control Record
Control Total Record
Column 1:
•
Record Type 3
Columns 52-60:
•
CSP Current Month Gas Cost
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Columns 61-69:
•
CSP Adjustment Gas Cost
Columns 70-78:
•
Total Gas Cost
Columns 4-15:
•
Filler
Column 16-20:
•
CSP Number
Columns 79-87:
•
State Tax Current Month
Columns 21-24:
•
Filler
Columns 88-96:
•
State Tax Adjustment
Columns 25-33:
•
CSP Current Month MCF
Columns 34-42:
•
CSP Adjustment MCF
Columns 97-107:
•
Total Tax
Columns 108-118:
•
Grand Total
Columns 43-51:
•
Total MCF
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
50
.DET File Format Layout, Customer Number Record
Customer Number Record
Column 1:
•
Record Type 4
Columns 84-87:
•
Factor
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Columns 88-98
•
Billing Amount
Columns 4-15:
•
Filler
Columns 16-20:
•
CSP number
Columns 21-67:
•
Message
Columns 68-74:
•
Customers
Columns 75-83:
•
Times (literal)
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
51
.DIS File Format
The .DIS file shows the customers who have
been disconnected and are inactive in
Columbia’s billing system.
The XXXMMDDY.DIS file where XXX reflects
the CSP and the state in which the CSP is
operating, MM reflects the month, DD reflects
the day, and the Y reflects the last digit of the
year the record was created. This provides
information to the CSP about accounts that
have been removed from CGV service for
various reasons.
If a CSP is participating in more than one
state program, the XXX may vary slightly
from state to state to avoid confusion.
Upon receiving an account in this file, the
CSP should check with the customer to
validate activity on the account.
The customer has taken one or more of the
following actions:
•
re-established an account at a new
address
•
changed ownership
•
moved out of the Columbia service
territory
All the above would cause the customer to
be disconnected on our system
April 2014
The .DIS file reflects service changes and should not
be confused with the .NOP file.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 6-7:
•
Company Number (i.e. 38 for Virginia)
Columns 8-11:
•
Location Number – An internal Columbia
tracking number based on the Area Office
that serves the customer
Columns 12-19:
•
Customer PCID number
Columns 20-22:
•
Customer PCID Sequence Number
Column 23:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
52
.DIS File Format (continued)
Columns 24-32:
•
Customer PSID Number
Columns 33-34:
•
Unit Number (The unit of the billing cycle)
Columns 35-36:
•
Book Number (The book of the unit for the
billing cycle)
Columns 81-88:
•
Customer Activity Date (YYYYMMDD) =
Date CGV processed the order in our
system
Columns 89-92:
•
Customer Activity Type (The transaction
code from the CGV billing system, internal
use)
Column 37:
•
Account Status Code
Columns 38-45:
•
Disconnect Date (YYYYMMDD) = Date
account became inactive
Columns 46-47:
•
Revenue Class Code
Columns 48-80:
•
Customer Name
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
53
.DMD File - Steps to Import Into Excel
To import the .DMD comma delimited file into Excel do the
following steps:
•
•
•
Move the .DMD file to your hard drive
Open Excel
Open the .DMD file – Should bring up the Import
Wizard
•
Import Wizard – Step 1
•
Radial Button – Delimited (Default)
•
Select Next
•
Import Wizard – Step 2
•
Delimiters – Select Comma
•
Remove any other selected Delimiters
Select Next
•
•
•
•
Import Wizard – Step 3
Column Data Format
•
Select Text
Select Finish
File should now be in a spreadsheet format.
Save the file.
April 2014
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54
.DMD File - Demand Curves (Continued)
•
Report 1 Calendar Month Report provides the normalized volumetric information for the current group of
customers based on their actual historical consumption. Volumes on this report are increased for retainage and
decreased for customer attrition.
•
Report 2 Billing Month Report provides the normalized billing month volumetric information based on actual
historical information. Columbia bills the customer on billing cycles and CSP deliver on calendar months. This
report reflects that difference. Volumes on this report are increased for retainage and decreased for customer
attrition.
•
Report 3 Dth Summary Report provides number of customers, operational information, and daily and annual
volumes.
Note:
The volumes on all reports include unaccounted-for volumes, hence they represent volumes at the city gate.
Report 3 shows the unaccounted-for factor.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
55
.DMD File Demand Curves (continued)
April 2014
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.ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 File Formats
The .ER2 & .GER2 files:
The .ERR file:
This file reflects the accounts rejected from the .DAT file
that was uploaded the previous business day.
This file is an alert to correct any accounts submitted
incorrectly or accounts that are unable to be coded for
CHOICE the previous business day.
Accounts that are re-submitted correctly and can be
coded for CHOICE will then be dropped off the .ERR file
and shows up on the .AC1 file.
The XXXMMDDY. ERR file:
•
XX reflects the NGS
•
X reflects the state
•
MM reflects the month
•
DD reflects the day
•
Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is
created
NOTE: It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that the .ERR
file is reviewed daily in order to maximize enrollment and
minimize customer complaints.
April 2014
These files provide the accounts that were rejected from the
final .DAT file uploaded on the deadline provided on the
timeline/calendar (usually the 15th of the month), and will
not flow gas the 1st of the month.
.ER2 file, shows the rejected accounts
.GER2 file, shows the rejected GAS/GMB accounts
These accounts cannot be corrected for this billing cycle but
will have to be resubmitted with corrections on your new
.DAT file for the next billing cycle.
The XXXMMDDY. ER2 & .GER2
•
XX reflects the NGS
•
X reflects the state
•
MM reflects the month
•
DD reflects the day
•
Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is
created.
Additional Information:
The .ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 files provide a total number of
accounts at the bottom of the file processed from the .DAT file.
This total also shows the number of accounts that were deleted
from the .DAT file. This total, however, does not include the code
2 accounts that were removed from the program. They are
included in the number of records processed.
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
57
.ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 File Formats
Column 1
• Action Code
Columns 71-110:
• Audit Error Description (see Audit/Error
Codes and Descriptions)
Columns 2-6:
• Natural Gas Supplier Rate Code
Columns 7-39:
• Natural Gas Supplier Name
Columns 111-112:
• Current Revenue Class
Columns 113-114:
• Old Revenue Class
Columns 40-47:
• Customer PCID Number
Columns 115-126:
• Customer First Name
Columns 48-50:
• Customer Sequence Number
Column 127:
• Customer Middle Initial
Column 51:
• Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 128-147:
• Customer Last Name
Columns 52-60:
• Customer PSID Number
Columns 148-180:
• Service Address
Columns 61-66:
• Effective Date (YYYYMM)
Columns 181-219:
• Service City, State, Zip+4, Carrier Route
Columns 67-70:
• Audit Error Code (see Audit/Error Codes and
Descriptions)
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
58
.ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 File Formats (continued)
Columns 220-247:
•
Blank
Columns 248-257:
•
Date Processed
Columns 258-259:
•
Company Number
Column 260:
•
Filler
Columns 261-272:
•
12 Digit Control Code-5 digit Natural Gas
Supplier rate code, and up to six
characters that were used at the Natural
Gas Supplier’s discretion
Column 273-276:
•
Standard Industrial Code
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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.GCB File Format
This Gas Cost Balance file will provide ten gas
cost balances for the CSP who have
non purchased receivables.
Note:
Gas Cost balances will show negative for
budget customers with a credit balance. To see
the cash transfer, check the .PAY or .MTH files.
Columns 9-11:
•
Customer PCID Sequence Number
Columns 13-45:
•
Customer Name
Columns 112-131:
•
City
Columns 132-133:
•
State
Columns 134-142:
•
Zip + 4
Columns 1-8:
•
Customer PCID Number
Column 12:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 79-111:
•
Service Address
Column 143:
•
Sign ( + or -)
Column 144-152:
•
Total of 10 Gas Costs
Column 153:
•
Sign (+ or -)
Columns 46-78:
•
Customer Name Overflow
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
60
.GCB File Format (continued)
Columns 154-162:
•
Current Payment
Columns 163-170:
•
Current Payment Date
Column 207:
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 208-216:
•
Columns 171-175:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 176-183:
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Gas Cost Amount
Columns 217-221:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 222-229:
Column 184:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 185-193:
•
Gas Cost Amount
Columns 194-198:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 199-206:
•
April 2014
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Column 230:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 231-239:
• Gas Cost Amount
Columns 240-244:
• Supplier Rate Code
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
61
.GCB
File Format (continued)
Columns 245-252:
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Columns 286-290:
Column 253:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 291-298:
Columns 254-262:
•
Gas Cost Amount
Column 299:
Columns 263-267:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 268-275:
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Column 276:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 277-285:
•
Gas Cost Amount
April 2014
•
•
Supplier Rate Code
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 300-308:
•
Gas Cost Amount
Columns 309-313:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 314-321:
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Column 322:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
62
.GCB File Format (continued)
Columns 323-331:
•
Gas Cost Amount
Columns 332-336:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 337-344:
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Column 345:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 346-354:
•
Gas Cost Amount
Column 368:
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 369-377:
•
Gas Cost Amount
Columns 378-382:
• Supplier Rate Code
Columns 383-390:
• Supplier Rate Code Start Date
Column 391:
Columns 355-359:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 360-367:
•
Supplier Rate Code Start Date
April 2014
•
Sign ( + or - )
Columns 392-400:
• Gas Cost Amount
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
63
.NOP File Format
The XXXMMDDY. NOP file, where XXX reflects the CSP
and the state in which the CSP operates, MM reflects
the month, DD reflects the day, and the Y reflects the
last digit of the year the record is created, provides
information to the CSP about customer accounts that
have been issued a pending termination notice for nonpayment or non-access to their meter.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 12-19:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 20-22:
•
Customer PCID Sequence Number
Column 23:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 24-32:
•
Customer PSID Number
Columns 6-7:
•
Company Number (38)
Columns 8-11:
•
Location Number - An internal Columbia
tracking number based on the Area office that
serves the customer.
April 2014
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64
.NOP File Format (continued)
Columns 33-34:
•
Unit Number
(The unit of the billing cycle)
Columns 35-36:
•
Book Number
(The book of the unit for the billing cycle)
Column 37:
•
Account Status Code
(See Note for Status Code Description)
Columns 89-94:
•
CCTNNP – customer receives a 10-day
disconnection notice for non-payment of
arrears or
•
CCTNFA – customer receives a 10-day
disconnection notice for failure to grant
Columbia access to the meter for a 12 month
period or longer
Columns 95-99:
•
Five digit Marketer Rate Code
Columns 100-107:
•
Filler (zeros)
Columns 38-45:
•
Filler (zeros)
Note:
Columns 46-47:
•
Revenue Class Code
Columns 48-80:
•
Customer Name
Columns 81-88:
•
Date of Transaction (YYYYMMDD)
Date the notice occurred
April 2014
Account Status Codes
Code
Description
B
C
D
F
V
Active Account
Active Delinquent
Active Account, Shut Off For Non Pay
Final, Actual Read
Active Account, Shut Off for Access
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
65
.PAY & .MTH File Format
The .PAY file is a daily file indicating customer
payments applied to the gas cost portion of the
customer’s invoice. These files are produced for
CSP choosing NOT to have Columbia purchase their
receivables.
The .MTH file is a monthly file with the same format
as the .PAY file that ties directly to the RS5500MK
report.
Columns 1-5:
• Marketer Rate Code
Columns 6-13:
• Customer PCID Number
Columns 14-16:
• Customer Sequence Number
Column 17:
• Customer Check Digit
Column 18:
• Sign (+ or -)
Columns 19-26:
• Transaction Amount
April 2014
Columns 27-29:
• Account Type
•Res = Residential
•Com =Commercial
Columns 30-62:
• Customer Name
•Business Name
•Customer Last Name
•Customer First Name
•Customer Middle Initial
Columns 63-68:
• Transaction Category
• PAYMNT = Payment
• CSHTFR = Cash Transfer, including CTCM
• RTNCHK = Return Check
• PTTYCH = Petty Cash
• VOUCHR = Journal Voucher
• REFUND = Security Deposit, Annual
Interest
• PAYMFA = Federal Assistance Payment
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
66
.RAC1 File Format
The XXXMMDDY.RAC1 file, where XXX reflects the Marketer and the
state in which the CSP operates, MM reflects the month, DD reflects the
day, and the Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is created.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code (5 characters)
The .RAC1 file contains preliminary accepted marketer rate codes and
dollar values from the RATE.DAT file that were uploaded the previous
Columns 6-7:
•
Filler
business day and are to be effective for the next month’s Unit 1 billing .
In addition, the .RAC1 file will contain the last billed dollar value for the
marketer rate codes that were submitted during the submission period.
Columns 8-14:
•
New Dollar Value (mcf)
XX.XXXX
NOTE – Marketer rate codes and/or dollar values can be changed
throughout the submission period which starts on the 21st of one month
through the 20th of the following month.
Columns 15-16:
•
Filler
It is recommended that all marketer rate value submissions be sent to
Columbia by the 19th of the month. This will allow one day to submit any
final corrections on the 20th prior to Unit 1 billing of the effective month.
Columns 17-22:
•
Effective Date (YYYYMM)
Any Marketer rate codes and/or dollar values submitted on the last day of
the submission period, normally calendar day 20, that are rejected cannot
be corrected and will not be used for unit 1 billing of the effective month.
Columns 23-24:
•
Filler
If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, then the submission period ends
on the previous business day. If the 21st falls on a weekend or holiday,
then the submission period starts on the next business day.
April 2014
Columns 25-31:
•
Last Billed Dollar Value (mcf)
XX.XXXX
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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.RAC2 File Format
The XXXMMDDY.RAC2, where XXX reflects the Marketer and the state in
which the CSP operates, MM reflects the month, DD reflects the day, and
the Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is created.
The .RAC2 file is generated on the last day of the Marketer Rate Code
submission period, normally calendar day 20, and will reflect the marketer
rate codes and dollar values to be used for customer billing starting with Unit
1 billing for the effective month.
The .RAC2 file will be used as the pre-bill verification eliminating the
hard copy pre-bills with the exception of new marketer codes. Hard
copy pre-bills will still be sent for new marketer codes.
NOTE – Marketer rate codes and dollar values can be changed throughout
the submission period which starts on the 21st of one month through the 20th
of the following month.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code (5 characters)
Columns 6-7:
•
Filler
Columns 8-14:
•
New Dollar Value (mcf)
XX.XXXX
Columns 15-16:
•
Filler
Columns 17-22:
•
Effective Date (YYYYMM)
It is recommended that all marketer rate value submissions be sent to
Columbia by the 19th of the month. This will allow one day to submit any
final corrections on the 20th prior to Unit 1 billing of the effective month.
Any Marketer rate codes and/or dollar values submitted on the last day of
the submission period, normally calendar day 20, that are rejected cannot
be corrected and will not be used for unit 1 billing of the effective month.
If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, then the submission period ends on
the previous business day. If the 21st falls on a weekend or holiday, then the
submission period starts on the next business day.
April 2014
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.RATE File Layout – Supplier Billing Rates
The XXMMDDY.RATE file, where XX in the name of
the file is an abbreviated two-digit code to identify
the Supplier , MM reflects the month, DD reflects the
Day and Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is
created.
This report provides active rate codes and the associated
price value per unit of measure for each billing cycle. This
report is available the 2nd business day of each month.
Columns 1-48:
•
Filler
Columns 49 -65:
•
Company
Columns 117 -121:
•
Supplier Rate Code
Columns 122 -126:
•
Filler
Columns 127- 134:
•
Rate Effective Date
Columns 135 - 138:
•
Filler
Columns 139 - 148:
•
Price Value (MCF)
Columns 66 -72:
•
Billing Cycle (Month/Year)
Columns 73 -79:
•
Filler
Columns 80 -116:
•
Supplier Name
April 2014
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RATE.DAT File Format
The XXXRATE.DAT file, where XXX reflects the Marketer and
the state in which the CSP operates, is used to submit
marketer rate codes and dollar values via the FTP Web Site.
This automated process will allow marketer rate submissions
on a daily basis starting on the 21st of one month and ending
on the 20th of the following month. Dollar values can be
changed for the same marketer code throughout the
submission period. The last dollar value for a marketer code
received and accepted by Columbia will be the dollar value
used for billing starting with unit 1 of the effective month.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code (5 characters)
Columns 6-7:
•
Filler
Columns 8-14:
•
Dollar Value (mcf)
XX.XXXX
If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, then the submission
period ends on the previous business day.
If the 21st falls on a weekend or holiday, then the submission
period starts on the next business day.
NOTE:
A “clean” XXXRATE.DAT file will be posted daily.
April 2014
The dollar value is a 7 character field and must be
entered with a decimal point between the dollars and
cents.
All 7 characters must be entered.
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
70
.REM File Format
The REM file provides accounts that will be
removed from the Competitive Service Provider’s
customer base as a result of the customer's
election of another CSP, including the LDC.
The accounts will be removed from the current
CSP and enrolled with the new Competitive
Service Provider or returned to LDC tariff service.
The automatic removal process no longer
requires an action code ‘2’ submitted by the
current CSP. The ‘S’ code indicates the
customer will be returned to tariff.
The REM file may also provide accounts that will
remain with their current CSP as a result of the
customer rescinding a current enrollment with
another CSP. These accounts will be designated
by an ‘N’ in Column 1.
.
April 2014
Column 1:
The code will be ‘2’ or ‘S’ indicating the
account will be removed from the CSP;
Or
‘N’ indicating the customer will remain
with their current CSP.
Columns 2-9:
Customer PCID Number
Columns 10-12:
Customer Sequence number
Column 13:
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 14-19:
Effective Date (YYYYMM)
Columns 20-31:
Marketer Rate Code
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
71
.RERR File Format
The .RERR file:
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code (5 characters)
This file is a daily file that reflects the marketer rate codes
and/or dollar values that rejected from the RATE.DAT that
was uploaded the previous business day. Marketer rate
codes and/or dollar values that are re-submitted correctly
during the submission period will then be dropped off the
.RERR file and will report in the .RAC1 file.
The XXXMMDDY.RERR file:
XX reflects the Marketer
X reflects the operating state
MM reflects the month
DD reflects the day
Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is
created
NOTE: It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that the
.RERR file is reviewed daily in order to maximize
the opportunities to revise dollar values during the
submission period.
Columns 6-7:
•
Filler
Columns 8-14:
•
Dollar Value (mcf)
•
XX.XXXX
Columns 15-16:
•
Filler
Columns 17-20:
•
Audit Error Code (see Audit/Error Codes
and Descriptions)
Columns 21-22:
•
Filler
Columns 23-61:
•
Audit Error Description (see Audit/Error
Codes and Descriptions)
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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.REV File Format - RS5500MK
The XXXMKMMY.REV file, where XXX in the name of
the file is an abbreviated three-digit code to identify
the CSP and State, MK reflects the report name, MM
reflects the month and Y reflects the last digit of the
year the record is created.
CSP payment will be made by the 20th of each month
for non-purchased receivables and by the 25th of the month
purchased receivables.
This report provides the CSP’s prior month billed
revenue. The report provides details by supplier
rate code(s), as well as a summary page.
For CSPs who participate in the Company’s
Accounts Receivable Purchase program (POR), the
report provides detail on the purchased receivables
and the supplier payment . This total will be reflected under
the Purchased AR column in the report.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
73
REV File - RS5500MK
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
74
.REV File Format – DI18306-1
DI18306-1 Detail of Payments by CSP (Non-Purchased Accounts Receivables)
The XXXDIMMY.REV file, where XXX in the name of the file is an abbreviated three-digit code to identify the CSP
and State, DI reflects the report name, MM reflects the month and Y reflects the last digit of the year the record is
created.
This report provides a CSP with payment detail by Supplier rate code, and the total expected payment.
CSP payment will be made by the 20th of each month for non-purchased receivables.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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.REV File Format – DI18306-1
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
76
Solicitation List Layout
Column 1
•
Filler
Columns 107-109
•
Filler
Columns 2-34
•
Customer Name
Columns 110-113
•
Street Address Zip + 4
Columns 35-37
•
Filler
Column 114-116
•
Filler
Columns 38-70
•
Service Address
Columns 117-149
•
Mailing Address
Columns 71-73
•
Filler
Columns 148-152
•
Filler
Columns 74-93
•
Service Address City
Columns 153-185
•
Mailing Address Overflow
Columns 94-96
•
Filler
Columns 186-188
•
Filler
Columns 97-98
•
Service Address State
Columns 189-208
•
Mailing City
Columns 99-101
•
Filler
Columns 209-211
•
Filler
Columns 102-106
•
Service Address Zip
Columns 212-213
•
Mailing State
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
77
Solicitation List Layout (continued)
April 2014
Columns 214-216
•
Filler
Columns 256-258
• Filler
Columns 217-221
•
Mailing Zip code
Columns 259-262
• Location
Columns 222-224
•
Filler
Columns 263-270
• Filler
Columns 225-228
•
Mailing Address Zip +4
Columns 271-271
• Revenue Class
Column 229-231
•
Filler
Columns 272-274
• Filler
Columns 232-239
•
PCID
Columns 275-283
• Current Month Cons
Columns 238-240
•
Filler
Column 284-286
• Filler
Columns 241-243
•
Seq Number
Columns 287-292
• Current Month Cycle
Columns 242-246
•
Filler
Columns 293-295
• Filler
Columns 247-255
•
PCID
Columns 296-304
• Current Month -1 Cons
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
78
Solicitation List Layout (continued)
Columns 305-307
•
Filler
Columns 356-358
•
Filler
Columns 308-313
•
Current Month -1 Cycle
Columns 359-367
•
Current Month -4 Cons
Columns 314-316
•
Filler
Columns 368-370
•
Filler
Columns 317-325
•
Current Month -2 Cons
Columns 371-376
•
Current Month -4 Cycle
Columns 326-328
•
Filler
Columns 377-379
•
Filler
Columns 329-334
•
Current Month -2 Cycle
Columns 380-388
•
Current Month -5 Cons
Columns 335-337
•
Filler
Columns 389-391
•
Filler
Columns 338-346
•
Current Month -3 Cons
Columns 392-397
•
Current Month -5 Cycle
Column 347-349
•
Filler
Columns 350-355
•
Current Month -3 Cycle
April 2014
Columns 398-400
•
Filler
Columns 401-409
•
Current Month -6 Cons
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
79
Column 410-412
•
Filler
Solicitation List Layout (continued)
Columns 461-463
•
Filler
Columns 413-418
•
Current Month -6 Cycle
Columns 464-472
•
Current Month -9 Cons
Columns 419-421
•
Filler
Column 473-475
•
Filler
Columns 422-430
•
Current Month -7 Cons
Columns 476-481
•
Current Month -9 Cycle
Columns 431-433
•
Filler
Columns 482-484
•
Filler
Columns 434-439
•
Current Month -7 Cycle
Columns 485-493
•
Current Month -10 Cons
Columns 440-442
•
Filler
Columns 494-496
•
Filler
Columns 443-451
•
Current Month -8 Cons
Columns 497-502
•
Current Month -10 Cycle
Columns 452-454
•
Filler
Columns 503-505
•
Filler
Columns 455-460
•
Current Month -8 Cycle
Columns 506-514
•
Current Month -11 Cons
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Solicitation List Layout (continued)
Columns 515-517
•
Filler
Columns 518-523
•
Current Month -11 Cycle
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Capacity & Delivery Requirements
Section 4
April 2014
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82
Pipeline Scheduling Point
The CSP must establish an Aggregation pool which consists of at least 100 customers or at least 10,000 mcf of
annual throughput. The aggregation pool is comprised of those customers within each CSP’s customer group located
within the same Pipeline Scheduling Point. The PSP is determined by the zip code at the service address. Columbia
will provide the zip code list. Following is list of each PSP.
Pipeline Scheduling Point (PSP)
Charlottesville
Norfolk
Lewisburg
Richmond
Rocksville
KY/WV MISC
April 2014
46-31
30CS-34
26-17
30CS-33
46-30
26-18
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
83
Capacity Assignment
As per the Statewide Choice Gas Supply Operations Plan, “the Company will assign each CSP upstream
interstate pipeline firm transportation service (“FTS”) capacity equal to 1/365th of the annual normalized demand of
the CSP’s Nomination Group(s) for the PSP where the customers reside.
•
As participation in the CHOICE program grows, city gate and upstream FTS capacity will be assigned to
participating CSPs, in order by the phases set forth below:
•
•
•
Phase 1:
Phase 2:
Phase 3:
•
Phase 4:
TCO FTS1 capacity and equivalent upstream CGT FTS-1 capacity
TCO Market Expansion FTS capacity, including Transco Zone 5 FTS capacity
Any additional FTS capacity acquired in the future to serve core market sales and CHOICE
customer demand
Long-haul Transco FTS capacity3
CGV is currently in Phase 1.
•
Each month, for each PSP, CGV will determine if an incremental assignment of FTS capacity is required. The
incremental capacity assignment will be equal to the company DDO of the CSP’s Nomination Group(s), minus the
capacity previously assigned to the CSP. If the result is zero or negative, no incremental capacity will be assigned
to the CSP.
•
Each assignment of capacity will be at the maximum applicable interstate pipeline tariff rate for a 12-month period.
Capacity Recall
•
FTS capacity assigned by the Company exceeds the Company calculated DDO
•
If CSP elects to quit the Choice program
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
84
Daily Delivery Obligation (DDO)
The company will establish the Daily Delivery Obligation (Demand Curves) using the most recent 12-months normalized
historic usage for each customer within the participating CSP’s Nomination Group and dividing that total by 365.
Demand Curves are posted on the File Exchange database available on our columbiasuppliers.com websitei n a comma
delimited format.
Main Points:
•
Flow gas by calendar month - Receive payment by billing month.
•
Expect more deliveries than collections October-January.
•
Increasing Apparent Gas Banks and Negative Cash Flow in the Fall.
•
Expect more collections than deliveries February-April.
•
Decreasing Apparent Gas Banks and Positive Cash Flow in the Spring.
•
Flow according to DDO Flat Demand
•
Demand Curves posted on or before the 20th of each month.
•
Chronic Imbalances is default condition and may result in the termination of the CSP.
•
Balancing point temperature is 62-degree.
•
Peak Demand Dth on Report 3 shows your customers' peak day consumption on Columbia’s design peak day.
Non Compliance Charges to Daily Delivery Obligation
Failure to deliver according to the DDO requirements will subject the CSP to the following charges:
•
Non OFO days – for under deliveries, the CSP shall purchase gas at the higher of 120% of the Daily Index
Price on the day that the under delivery occurred or 120% of the First of the Month Index Price, plus all
applicable upstream penalty costs. For over deliveries, CGV shall purchase gas from the CSP at the lower of
80% of the daily index price on the day of the over delivery or 80% of the First of the Month Index Price.
•
OFO days – for under deliveries, the CSP shall purchase gas at the higher of 120% of the Daily Index Price
on the day that the under delivery occurred or 120% of the First of the Month Index Price, plus $10.00 per
dth, plus all applicable upstream penalty costs. For over deliveries, CGV shall purchase gas from the CSP at
the lower of 80% of the daily index price on the day of the over delivery or 80% of the First of the Month
Index Price. In addition the CSP shall pay $10.00 per dth for all delivered volumes plus all upstream penalty
costs
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Virginia Choice Reference Manual
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Balancing Service
Per the Statewide Choice Gas Operations Plan, CGV will support CSP (Competitive Service Provider)
deliveries by making up the difference between the CSP’s required daily delivery
obligation and the actual consumption of the CSP’s customers. In effect, CGV will balance
system deliveries on behalf of CSP customers in the same way that it balances deliveries to
its sales customers.
April 2014
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Customer Billing & Rates
Section 5
April 2014
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Billing Options
The Columbia Gas of Virginia allows the CSP to choose from two billing options in rendering a bill to a participating
customer. The CSP can opt for dual or consolidated billing. The billing option must selected at the time the CSP
signs the CSPS Agreement. Their election can be changed annually. Even with the new Purchase of
Receivables Agreement, the CSP currently still has the option of dual billing.
CSP (Dual Billing)
•
Gas Costs Only
Columbia Gas of Virginia (Consolidated Billing)
•
Transportation + Gas Costs
•
Transportation Only
•
There is no charge for billing and no administrative fees
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Time Line for Rate Codes
Example:
CGV RATE CODES
CSP has three accounts to flow gas on May 1st:
•
•
•
•
•
After the 1st day of the month, if any New Rate
Codes are established, CGV provides new and
existing rates to the CSP
May: 12345678-001-8
XXX03
$3.30
15678912-002-7
XXX03
$3.30
14789123-001-2
XXX03
$3.30
On the 2nd business day each month Columbia
provides a .RATE file which provides a summary
of all prior month rate codes and dollar values.
Customer #2 negotiates a different rate ($2.00/Mcf) for the
month of June. Using an established rate code, XXX01,
this is how the change would appear for June:
CSP has until 4 p.m. on the 20th of the month to
submit any new rate codes and changes. If the
20th is on the weekend/holiday, it is the previous
business day.
If the CSP submits any new rate codes or
changes, then CGV faxes a pre-bill asking the
CSP to review and confirm before Unit 21 bills.
CSP then confirms all new rate codes and
changes by signing the fax cover letter.
NOTE:
No response constitutes confirmation of Rates
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June: 12345678-001-8
XXX03
$3.30
15678912-002-7
XXX01
$2.00
14789123-001-2
XXX03
$3.30
CSP submitted the #2 account through the .DAT file using a “5”
code to change the rate code
Note: Changing the rate code XXX03 to $2.00 would have
affected all three accounts
The XXX03 is a variable rate that the CSP wishes to change in
July
In order for the CSP to affect the July billings for Customer 1
and 3, the CSP must submit a Rate Statement for a rate
code change to XXX03 by June 20th. (Proposed new
amount to be $2.95/Mcf)
July: 12345678-001-8
XXX03
$2.95
15678912-002-7
XXX01
$2.00
14789123-001-2
XXX03
$2.95
Note: No Change to .DAT file was needed
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Manual Marketer Rate Code Process
Establishing a new rate code:
•
To request a new rate code, the CSP must
email their Choice Analyst a minimum of
45 days prior to the flow month.
(ex: requested by 5/15 available 7/1)
•
Dollar values must be submitted at the time
of the request for new rate codes to
prevent an account from being added to a
rate code that has no dollar value attached.
Once the rate code has been created, if
the dollar value needs to be changed, this
can be done using the automated rate
entry process by the 20th of the month.
•
If the 20th fall on a weekend or holiday the
new rates are due the previous business
day.
On the 2nd business day each month Columbia
provides a .RATE file which provides a summary
of all your prior month rate codes and dollar
values.
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CGV Rate Process: Rate Changes
The XXXRATE.DAT file is an automated process utilized by the CSP to change the price point attached to their marketer
rate codes. New rate information can be submitted from the 21st of the current month through the 20th of the following
month. The information is due by 5:00 pm EST. There is one exception to the automated process, Marketer rate codes
that have never had a dollar value assigned will need to be submitted manually via the current manual process.
If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the submission period ends on the previous business day. If the 21st falls on a
weekend or holiday the submission period starts the next business day.
•
The CSP will submit changes using their 5 digit market rate code and a 7 digit dollar value. The dollar value
must be submitted with a decimal point between the dollars and cents fields.
Example:
ABC12 XX.XXXX
The CSP must start with a clean Rate.Dat file every day. An “empty” Rate.Dat file is posted daily.
It’s recommend that all rate value submissions are sent to Columbia by the 19th of the month. This will allow
one day to submit any final corrections prior to unit 1 billing.
•
The CSP will receive either an RAC1 or an RERR file that provides the rates that were preliminarily
accepted or rejected from the XXXRATE.DAT file uploaded the previous business day.
•
After unit 21 bills the CSPs will receive an RAC2. The RAC2, final acceptance file, provides the rate values
that will be used for customer billing starting with unit 1 for the effective month. The .RAC2 file will replace
the hard copy pre-bills that are normally sent. The exception will be marketer rate code changes that are
submitted manually. Hard copy pre-bills will still be sent for them.
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Supplier Invoicing
Section 6
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Supplier Invoicing
Monthly Billing
•
The CSP delivers gas on a daily basis and the customers are billed on a 21 unit billing cycle. After all meters
have been read or calculated and nominations have been confirmed the process for billing the CSP begins
approximately the 6th working day of the month.
•
If the CSP participates in the Purchase of Receivables Program, the receivables credit amount will appear on the
invoice. An adjustment will be processed to reflect any amount owed CGV and will be withheld from the
receivables.
•
Payment for the prior month billing will be made by the 20th of the month to the CSP that has non purchased
receivables and by the 25th of the month to the CSP that has purchased receivables .
Annual Reconciliation
•
On March 31st of each year, Columbia will reconcile the imbalance between CSP’s deliveries and their
customer’s usage for the 12- month period ending March 31st. If the imbalance is negative, the CSP must
purchase the deficient volume from Columbia at the average of the Frist of the Month indices for each of the prior
twelve months. If the imbalance is positive, the Company will purchase the excess from the CSP at the same
index.
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Monthly Bill Image
RATE SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Nomination Group: 0000
True-Up Period: OPT 1 YRLY
Next true-up date : MAR 20xx
Rate Schedule: MSF
Rate
Volume
Amount
Rate Schedule MSF Total
Bank Penalty
0.0000
$0.00
54,658.00
$0.00
Nomination Group 0000 Total
$0.00
Current Charges Total
$0.00
SUMMARY OF GAS RECEIPTS
Nom Group
0000
From Date To Date
Shipper
MM-DD-YYYYMM-DD-YYYYSUPPLIER
Source
INTER: TCO
Dth
38,566
Mcf
0
IMBALANCE/ALLOCATION SUMMARY
Nomination Group 0000
INTER: TCO
(Dth)
Beginning Imbalance
78,685.2
Current Month Activity
Volume Received
Adjustment
Allocations
38,566.0
0.0
19,032.0
Remaining Volume
Unbilled Imbalance
Monthly Imbalance
Ending Imbalance
98,219.2
0.0
0.0
98,219.2
Average Btu of 1.023
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Annual Reconciliation (continued)
Deliveries by CSP
CSPs deliver gas by calendar months as represented below. Current year deliveries represent 12 full months of
consumption. These deliveries as designed to cover gas consumed for the calendar months of April – March.
The unbilled portion of last March was supplied in the previous calendar year. That is why the true-up must leave
a positive imbalance for March 31 – the balance is there to cover consumption that occurred during March, but
was not billed. If the imbalances were adjusted to zero, Columbia would be returning gas to the CSP that was
consumed by their customers, but not yet billed. Payments for this imbalance gas will be included in the April
payment.
Please note the imbalance due to unbilled volumes is illusionary. Gas is burned the day it is delivered. There is
no physical gas in the bank. The imbalance is positive because it is the difference between deliveries and
payments, not between deliveries and consumption.
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Bill Image – Annual Reconciliation
RATE SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Nomination Group: 0000
True-Up Period: OPT 1 YRLY
Next true-up date :MAR 20XX
Rate Schedule: MSF
Rate
Volume
Amount
$0.00
Rate Schedule MSF Total
$92,685.29 Credit
18,645.2
4.9710
Bank Purchase Credit (Dth)
$92,685.29 Credit
Nomination Group 9999 Total
$92,685.29 Credit
Current Charges Total
$92,685.29 Credit
SUMMARY OF GAS RECEIPTS
Nom Group
0000
From Date To Date
Shipper
03-01-20XX 03-31-20XX SUPPLIER
Source
INTER: TCO
Dth
Mcf
37,539
IMBALANCE/ALLOCATION SUMMARY
Nomination Group 0000
INTER: TCO
(Dth)
Beginning Imbalance
65,288.0
Current Month Activity
Volume Received
Adjustment
Allocations
37,539.0
0.0
54,826.8
Remaining Volume
Unbilled Imbalance
Monthly Imbalance
Ending Imbalance
48,000.2
29,355.0
(18,645.2)
29,355.0
Average Btu of 1.03
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Aviator
Section 7
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Accessing the GTS Bill Viewer
The Choice CSP can access their GTS invoices for their company through the Aviator website (www.ldcaviator.com).
This allows the CSP easy access to view their invoices 24 hours a day.
You must request an access code from your Choice Analyst
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Accessing the GTS Bill Viewer (Continued)
•
To Access GTS Bill/Viewer:
– Click on the GTS Bill Viewer tab
•
To view the Invoice
– Enter the Invoice Group number and the
Access Code, then click Submit.
– The Invoice Group Name will be displayed
in the Account Verification field.
Be advised after five unsuccessful attempts
to log in with an incorrect Account Group /
Access Code the account will be locked. If
an user is not authorized, a message will
appear stating user is not authorized to view
invoices.
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Accessing the GTS Bill Viewer (Continued)
•
Click Yes to verify the account information is
correct.
The Billing Month Grid will be displayed.
•
Select a billing month hyperlink in the
Select Bill Month grid.
Adobe Reader will be launched displaying
the invoice in .pdf format.
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Customer Concern Database
The Customer Concern Database is an automated process using Aviator to move and store information about
customer issues. The database can be used for concerns raised by both Choice and GTS customers. It is
viewed by Columbia and the Marketer. The site is password protected. Each person responsible for
monitoring the Concern Database will be assigned a User ID and password.
Benefits to the Marketer include, but are not limited to:
• automated electronic process
• increase efficiency and lower processing costs
• happier customers due to the speed of the responses
• ability to view all information about the customer concern
• status of all customer concerns easily available
• automatic three-day reminder message
• password protected so the Marketer knows the concerns of its own customers
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Customer Concern Database (continued)
Marketers are encouraged to check
the database daily, as there is a three
day response time.
•
•
•
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Access the Aviator site @
www.ldcaviator.com
Log in using your assigned
USERID and Password
Click on the Choice Concerns
Hyperlink at the top of the page
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Customer Concern Database (continued)
The Marketer will have two options displayed
from the drop down menu
•
The Concern List screen provides a
listing of concerns. This screen will default
to active concerns which need attention
based upon its status. New concerns will
be highlighted in yellow and after three
days, if not completed, the concerns will be
highlighted in red.
•
The Reports screen allows users to
generate reports based upon predefined
criteria.
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Customer Concern Database (continued)
•
Click on the ID of the concern in the Waiting for
Marketer status and access the Concern Details
screen.
•
Review the customer concern and expectations for
resolution.
--To navigate away from the page without
saving the data entered, click Return
•
Enter a response in the Response Form field.
•
Click Send Response to electronically return the
concern and go back to the Concern List screen.
•
The response will be returned and the concern
status will be updated to Waiting on
Nisource/Commission
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Customer Concern Database (continued)
•
To access reports select: Choice
Concerns/Reports
•
The Concerns Reports screen allows users to
generate reports based upon predefined criteria.
Multiple columns can be selected using
(CTRLClick).
•
Reports can be opened in an Excel format. The
report must be run before it can be exported.
•
Additionally, if using IE7 or IE8, automatic
prompting for downloads must be checked in
Internet Options for this functionality to work
properly.
•
•
•
Default filters are displayed.
Click Run to display results.
Click Export to open in Excel format.
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