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COLUMBIA GAS OF KENTUCKY
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 Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
1
Table of Contents
Section 1
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
2
Table of Contents
Section 1
Table of Contents
Section 2
General Choice Program Information
Reference Materials
Credit Worthiness Requirements
Choice Overview
Customer List
Code of Conduct
Dispute Resolution
Glossary of Terms
Acronyms
Section 3
April 2014
FTP Set -up and Maintenance of Choice Accounts
Initial Access & Set-up
Timeline and Calendar
Reference Table Daily & Monthly Files
Revenue Class Codes
Action Codes
Audit/Error Code Descriptions
ACC and ACF Files Format
ACT File Format
AC1 and AC2 Files Format
BIL File Format
CON File Format
CONF File Format
DAT File Format
DET File Format
DIS File Format
DMD File Format
ERR and ER2 Files Format
NOP File Format
RATE File Format
RATE.DAT File Format
RAC1 and RAC2 File Format
RERR File Format
RS5500MK Reports
Solicitation List Format
Section 4
Capacity & Delivery Requirements
Pipeline Scheduling Point (PSP)
Capacity Assignment
Delivery Requirements
Balancing Service
Section 5
Customer Billing & Rates
Billing Options
Timeline
New Rate Process
Rate Change
Section 6
Supplier Invoicing
Timeline
Monthly Bill Image
Annual Reconciliation
Annual Reconciliation Bill Image
Section 7
Aviator
Access to Bill Viewer
Concern Database
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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General Choice Program Information
Section 2
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Reference Materials for the CKY Choice Program
The information and instructions in this presentation are in keeping with the Rules and Regulations set forth in the
following document:
•
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Tariff
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
5
Choice Marketer Requirements Overview
Marketers must complete all necessary steps in order to participate in the Columbia Gas Choice Program;
•
A Marketer must have a license to operate as a business in the state of Kentucky. Licensing by the PSC is
not required.
•
Submit financial information for credit evaluation ($50 nonrefundable fee) and provide financial security (as
applicable)
•
Submit all solicitation materials for review by Columbia.
•
Submit signed and completed CHOICE Aggregation Agreement and Purchase of Receivables Agreement.
•
Complete Columbia CHOICE® Program Training
•
Establish an Aggregation of at least 100 customers or annual throughput of 10,000 Mcf
•
Become connected with Columbia's Electronic Bulletin Board to accommodate electronic communication
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Creditworthiness Requirement
Marketers desiring to participate in the Columbia Gas
of Kentucky, Inc. (Columbia) Choice Program will be
evaluated to establish acceptable credit
levels. Marketers not meeting the necessary credit
level will be required to provide additional security in
the form of a letter of credit, cash deposit, and/or
appropriate guaranty to participate.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Current financial statements prepared in the last 12
months;
Most recent audited financial statements, 10K or 10Q
annual report, IRS 990 form (submit the same
financial documentation for a Parent, Affiliate, etc.,
that plans to issue financial security)
List of parent company and other affiliates;
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three
trade references; and
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of
banking institution contacts
Provide an estimate of the number of expected
customers or estimated annual throughput (Marketers
must maintain a minimum of 100 customers, or a
customer or group of customers with a minimum
annual throughput of 10,000 mcf) - Note: If an
estimate of either the expected customers or annual
throughput is not provided, Columbia can use the
minimum requirements to complete the credit
evaluation.
April 2014
The evaluation will be based on standard credit factors such
as previous customer history, Dun & Bradstreet financial and
credit ratings, trade references, bank information, unused line
of credit, and financial information. Columbia shall have sole
discretion to determine creditworthiness based on the above
criteria but will not deny creditworthiness without reasonable
cause.
A nonrefundable fee of $50.00 will be assessed for each
evaluation. Columbia reserves the right to conduct
evaluations during the course of the year when information
has been received by Columbia that indicates the
creditworthiness of a marketer has deteriorated. Columbia will
limit the number of charges to two per year.
The required information, along with a check for $50.00 made
payable to "Columbia Gas of Kentucky" should be sent
to:
Columbia Gas of Kentucky
Choice® Program
200 Civic Center Drive
Columbus, OH 43215
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Columbia Gas of Kentucky Customer Choice Overview
The CKY Choice Program is a pilot program slated to end March 31, 2014
Eligibility
Entire service territory of CKY. Customers must have normal annual requirements of less than
25,000 MCF at any delivery point, and is currently a customer under the GS or IUS Rate Schedules
(a new CKY customer would be under rate schedule GS).
Enrollment
Electronically through the CKY Web FTP site. Customers can sign a consent form, enroll via the
Internet or be enrolled telephonically through recorded voice verification. Marketers shall retain
Customer Consent Forms, telephone enrollment recordings, electronic consent forms and on-line
access to verification of the enrollment for twelve months following the termination of the Marketer’s
service to the customer.
Gas Deliveries
Required to use Aviator to nominate on CKY system.
Follow Daily Delivery Requirements as specified in the CKY tariff.
Make deliveries by using Pipeline Scheduling Point (PSP).
Firm Transportation is required.
One Aggregation pool that consists of either a minimum of a 100 customers or a group of customers
with a minimum annual throughput of 10,000 Mcf is required.
Rate Schedule
SVGTS – Small Volume Gas Transportation Service
Billing
Customers are billed nightly. Marketers are 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.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Solicitation Customer List
Columbia Gas will provide, upon written request, an eligible Customer List to Marketers via electronic means. The
Customer Lists are prepared using real time data on a best efforts basis. The list includes both customers currently on
Choice and customers currently not on Choice.
Steps to request a Solicitation List:
• Using Word or Notepad, in the .DAT file format, the supplier must provide the zip codes and
send the request electronically to their Analyst
• If a marketer is requesting a customer list for the entire state of Kentucky, they need only to
send a note to their Analyst
• If one marketer orders a list, the same list must be offered for purchase to all other
active Choice marketers, the customer list will be made available no less than 3 working days
after the date of the notice
• The fee is $0.06 per record
Format: XXX12345 = the supplier’s 3 digit marketer code + the five digit zip code
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Code of Conduct
Marketers must:
Communicate to the customer their rights and responsibilities. This communication shall also include:
•
The Marketer’s customer service address and a toll-free phone number.
•
A statement describing the dispute resolution procedures.
•
A statement that the Marketer must provide 30 days written notice prior to discontinuing service.
•
Notice that the Choice Program is subject to on-going Commission jurisdiction.
Provide in Writing:
•
Pricing
•
Payment Terms that are clear and understandable.
Accept any Columbia customer:
•
Eligible for Rate Schedule SVGTS
•
Offer at least one billing rate to all revenue classes.
•
Applies only if the Marketer is accepting new/renewed customers.
Refrain from practices that are:
•
Fraudulent
•
Deceptive
•
Misleading
Deliver gas on a firm basis.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Code of Conduct (continued)
Undergo a credit evaluation, at the Marketer’s expense, to assure that the Marketer is sufficiently
creditworthy.
Provide a ‘regulatory out’ provision in all contracts – if the Choice program is discontinued prior to the end
of the contract (without penalty to customer).
Provide Columbia and the customers at least thirty (30) days notice prior to the end of the customer’s
contract term of the Marketer’s intent to discontinue service to the customer.
To the maximum extent possible attempt to resolve disputes between the Marketer and the customers.
Not less than 60 days and no more than 90 days prior to the expiration of a contract that automatically
renews for a period of 6 months or longer, Marketer shall notify customers of their right to:
•
Renew
•
Terminate
•
Renegotiate contract
•
Proposed changes in terms and conditions of contract
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Dispute Resolution
Tariff – Rules and Regulation
Each Marketer shall cooperate with Columbia and the Kentucky Public Service Commission to answer inquires
and resolve disputes for customers served under Columbia’s Small Volume Gas Transportation Service Rate
Schedule. As part of this ongoing cooperation the following is required:
1.
Marketer must provide a local or toll-free telephone number for customers to obtain information on their
account and a method to resolve disputes with the Marketer. The Marketer shall provide a copy of the
method to resolve disputes to Columbia and the Commission along with the name and phone number of a
contact person from the Marketer with whom the Commission and Columbia may contact concerning
customer complaints and who has the authority to resolve complaints.
2.
Marketer will, upon request by Columbia or the Commission, provide copies of all informational materials
and standard contracts, including updates to these materials if substantially changed. Marketer will also
provide copies of individual contracts as needed in order to resolve customer complaints.
3.
Each Marketer shall cooperate with Columbia and the Commission to answer inquiries and resolve
disputes. If a Marketer fails to negotiate or resolve customer disputes that arise from the customer’s
contract, complaints may be brought to the Commission through its normal complaint handling procedures.
4.
The Marketer is responsible for resolving disputes with customer.
5.
The Customer’s contract is between the customer and the approved participating Choice Marketer.
6.
It is the Marketer’s responsibility to manage their contractual relationship with the customer.
7.
CKY only recognizes the approved Choice Marketer. Third parties are not recognized on our system.
8.
Notify the customer, not less than sixty (60) days and no more than ninety (90) days, prior to the expiration
of a contract, of their right to renew, terminate or renegotiate a contract that will automatically renew
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky 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
imbalances.
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 it to 61 degrees at a constant PSIA of 14.73.
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.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Glossary of Terms (continued)
GCA
•
Gas Cost Adjustment, 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.
Imbalance
•
The difference between the Scheduled Quantities and the Actual Tendered Quantity.
Peak Day
•
The highest usage day during the winter season; a 24 hour period of delivery greater than any other day.
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.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Acronyms
BCF
CCF
CKT
CKY
CSD
DIS
DTH
FSS
FT
FT-A
FT-1
FTS
GTS
HDD
LIFO
MCF
MDQ
MDSQ
MMCF
PSIA
PSC
PSP
SCQ
SST
TCO
April 2014
One Billion Cubic Feet
One Hundred Cubic Feet
Central Kentucky Transmission
Columbia Gas of Kentucky
Commission’s Consumer Services Department
Distributive Information System
Dekatherm (Ten Therms, One Million Btu’s)
Firm Storage Service
Firm Transportation
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Rate Schedule
Firm Transportation - 1
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
Pounds per Square Inch Absolute
Public Service Commission
Pipeline Scheduling Point
Storage Contract Quantity
Storage Service Transportation
Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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FTP Set-up & Maintenance of Choice Accounts
Section 3
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Initial Access and Set-Up
If you do not have access to the Columbia Suppliers Choice 
website, http://www.columbiasuppliers.com/
follow the instructions provided below:
April 2014
•
A Columbia Gas representative will be assigned to you
and provide additional information regarding the
Supplier code assignment, user ID and password .
•
Once you have been provided your Supplier log in
information (User ID and Password ), review the
following pages for “Web Site Instructions “and
“Maintenance of Choice Accounts”.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Initial Access and Set-Up (continued)
Welcome to the Columbia Supplier
website. Beginning on this page we will
show you how to navigate this site to
learn more about Columbia’s Customer
Choice program.
Select Columbia Gas of Kentucky
April 2014
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Initial Access and Set-Up (continued)
.
This is the landing page for the Choice and
Transportation Programs. Any new
developments, reminders, technical problems,
etc will be posted here. Columbia suggests to
check this page daily.
•
Members:
– Logon into File Exchange by entering
your user ID and password in their
respective boxes. Both fields are
case sensitive. Access to Aviator is
available on all pages.
– Click on the Submit button
Additional Menu Items
•
Meter Reading Schedules – meter
reading dates for Columbia’s billing
cycles, Unit 1-21
•
Tariff
•
Rate Information – 2 years
•
Zip code Listing for PSP’s
•
Need Help?
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Initial Access and Set-Up (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
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Initial Access & Set-up (continued)
This section describes how to set-up and maintain your Choice account information and send it to Columbia.
The .DAT file is used by Marketers for setting up, changing, or deleting accounts from their Choice
Aggregation Group.
Using any text editor software available, such as WordPad or Notepad, 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,
changed, and/or 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. 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 following, 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.
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Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Kentucky 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 a 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
6th business day
Marketer is billed for previous months customer’s consumption
15th calendar day
Final .DAT file for Choice due for next month’s flow (CKY freezes file)
16th thru 19th calendar days
No processing of Choice files, .DAT file emptied for next processing cycle
XXXRate.DAT files continue to be processed daily
20th calendar day
Demand Curves posted
Rate changes (both automated and manual) due to Columbia Gas
Start entering accounts for next Choice processing cycle
21st thru 25th calendar days
Enter accounts, edit .DAT file and check returned files
Start entering rate changes (XXXRate.DAT) for next billing cycle
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 CKY billing system and re-audited
Accounts for 1st of month flow get coded as Choice in CKY billing system
.AC2, .ER2 , .RAC2 and .ACF files are uploaded to Marketers
Last day of the month
Payment made by the last day of the month to marketers for receivables for previous month’s receivables.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Reference Table/Daily and Monthly Files
Daily Files:
•
AC1 – Provides the accounts preliminarily accepted from the
XXX.DAT file uploaded the previous business day
Monthly Files:
•
AC2 – End of month file that shows accounts that will flow
gas the 1st of the month.
•
ACC – Daily accepted file containing supplemental information
regarding accounts (preliminary accepted file)
•
ACF – End of month accepted file containing supplemental
information regarding accounts.
•
BIL – File providing the meter reading and adjustment information
billed by the Columbia billing system. File may be produced
daily if Marketer has accounts in each billing cycle
•
CDT – File containing the customer count information from the
demand curves.
•
DET – Providing preliminary accounting and tax information.
•
CON – File with 24 months customer’s consumption requested
from the XXX.DAT file
•
DMD – File containing required nomination information for the
current group of active customers.
•
CONF – Confirmation file which is a record of the transactions
received each day as submitted through the .DAT file
•
ER2 – Final error file showing errors and accounts that will not
flow gas the 1st of the month.
•
DAT – File for enrolling, removing or changing accounts
•
GAC2 –File showing the GAS/GMB accounts that will flow gas
the 1st of the month.
•
DIS – Provides the Marketer with disconnected accounts
(inactive/ finaled with Columbia Gas)
•
GER2 – Final error file showing errors and accounts for
GAS/GMB accounts that will not flow gas the 1st of the month
•
ERR – Errors that occurred from the XXX.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.
•
NOP – File that shows accounts that have received a pending
termination notice for non-payment or non-access to their meters
•
•
RATE.DAT – File for submitting rate value changes
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.
•
RAC1 - Provides rate code changes preliminarily accepted from
the XXXRATE.DAT file uploaded the previous business day
•
REV – File provides the Supplier’s prior month billed revenues,
payment details and tax information where applicable.
•
RERR - Errors that occurred from the XXXRATE.DAT file
uploaded the previous business day
April 2014
File Available for Purchase:
•
ACT – This file will provide all the established accounts for a
Marketer as of the date of the last .AC2 file. Cost $0.015 per
record with a minimum charge of $55.00.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky 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
CODE
60
61
TYPE
RES
COM
DESCRIPTION
RESIDENTIAL A/C
COMMERCIAL A/C
IND
IND
IND
ELEC POWER GEN
INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL
DISTRIB - LP
INDUSTRIAL
TRANSMISSION
INDUSTRIAL
DISTRIB-OTHER
INDUSTRIAL A/C
04
05
COM
RES
Choice COMM - HEAT
Choice RES - NON-HEAT LP
62
63
64
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
IND
RES
COM
10
RES
Choice RES – HEAT and A/C
70
71
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 and A/C
Choice COMM - NGV
Choice COMM - INTRASTATE
RESIDENTIAL HEAT
COMMERCIAL NGV
COMMERCIAL HEAT
INTRASTATE UTILITY SERVICE
79
COM
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
RESIDENTIAL 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. The account must have already been
set up at Columbia Gas as a Choice account.
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 Marketer on the XXX.CON file.
4
Indicates that 24 months of an established Columbia Choice account’s consumption history is to be sent back to
the Marketer on the XXX.CON file.
5
Indicates that a change should be made to the customer’s rate code.
D
Indicates that an account should be deleted from the .DAT file. DO NOT PHYSICALLY delete the account from
the .DAT file.
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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/IND - NOT USED
0012
INVALID RES - NOT USED
0005 GTS Customer, not valid for Choice
•
Marketer code is not in GTS table - this
error may also be received in conjunction
with error 0023 if an incorrect Nomination
Group Number has been submitted.
0013
NOT USED
0014
INVALID GTS ACCOUNT
0006 MARK CD INV - DIS
•
Marketer code is not in the DIS tables.
0015
0003 ACCOUNT NOT AN ACTIVE ACCOUNT
•
Account is not an active account - re-verify
account number.
0004 ACCOUNT IS CAP – NOT USED
0007 INVALID REVENUE CLASS SELECTED
•
Revenue class must be 00, 11, 30, 41, 60,
61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 71.
•
CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM PROGRAM
Either the account is not set up as Columbia
Choice account or the Marketer cannot
remove the account from the program
because it was set up with a different
Marketer code.
0008 NOT COMPANY 32
•
Account or Marketer Rate Code is not valid
in Kentucky.
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Audit/Error Codes and Descriptions (continued)
0016 NOT USED ( ACCT IS ACTIVE CAP)
•
Account is an active CAP account.
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 ACCT NOT ACTIVE CHOICE CANNOT CHANGE
•
Action code ‘5’ was submitted but the account
cannot be changed because the account
belongs to another Marketer or has been
removed from the program.
0019 ALREADY SET UP
•
This account is already set up as a Choice
account by another Marketer or the Marketer
making the request. If the account is set up by
the Marketer making the request, then the
additional message for Marketer XXX01 will be
displayed. XXX will be the three-character
Marketer code and the 01 will be the appropriate
billing code.
0020 CANNOT REQUEST CONSUMPTION
•
Consumption cannot be provided because the
Marketer requesting the consumption does not
have this account as a Choice customer.
0022 NO MATCH - TCO AREA
•
PSP does not agree with the PSP on table
used in conjunction with Marketer Code and
Nomination Group Number to get a valid PSP.
0023 NOM GROUP NUMBER INVALID
•
Nomination Group Number supplied by
Marketer is invalid or not on tables used to get
a valid PSP.
0024 60 DAYS ARREARS >0
•
The account is not on an ‘active payment
plan’ or ‘active budget’ and the ‘tariff only’
arrears are 60-days in arrears.
0025 PAYPLAN ARREARS >0
•
The account is on an ‘active payment plan’
and the account is in arrears for the payment
plan.
0026 BUDGET ARREARS >0
•
The account is an ‘active’ budget and the
account is in arrears for the budget plan.
0027 CONTRACT NUMBER INVALID
•
The contract number is not in the GTS tables.
0021 NOT USED
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Audit/Error Codes and Descriptions (continued)
0028 CANNOT BE CHANGED, REMOVE FOUND
•
Account cannot be changed because a
removal was previously transmitted in the
.DAT file. Check the .DAT file and delete
(using a ‘D’ action code) the removal and
then submit the change.
0029 INVALID ENROLLMENT TYPE
0030 NOT USED
0031 NOT USED
0032 NOT FOUND OR CANNOT UPDATE
•
The account cannot be found in DIS and
cannot be updated – re-verify account
number.
0036 ACCOUNT IS SLAM BLOCK
•
Client has requested to be removed from
the Marketer’s call list. Prevents account
from being signed with a marketer by
placing a block on the account.
0037 PENDING TRANS PREV ENROLL PERIOD
•
The account has a pending add transaction
(‘1’ or ‘ 3’ action code) for the previous
enrollment period that must be final
(accepted in .AC2) before an add for the
current enrollment period can be
processed; this transaction should be
resubmitted after the .AC2 for the previous
enrollment period is posted.
0033 NOT USED
0038 MARKETER RATE CODE EXPIRED or
MARKETER CODE NOT EFFECTIVE
•
Marketer Rate Code is expired or has not
been established in Columbia’s System.
0034 NOT USED
0039 INVALID DOLLAR VALUE FORMAT
0035 INVALID RATE
April 2014
•
Mcf Dollar Value submitted is not in the
required format (XX.XXXX) or is a negative
value
0040 INVALID MARKETER RATE CODE - BILLING
•
Marketer bills gas costs
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
28
.ACC and .ACF Files Format
Both files provide the accounts that were accepted and additional customer information from the .DAT file
uploaded the previous business day. These files include supplemental information about the customers that
can be used when building a customer database.
The XXXMMDDY.ACC file, where XXX reflects the Marketer and state for 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; provides the
accounts that were accepted from the DAT file uploaded on the previous business day. The .ACF file will
provide a final number of records accepted for the current month’s flow and will be created on the date
specified in the timeline/calendar.
NOTE: The .ACC file is a preliminary list of accounts that are accepted for Choice . The .ACF will contain
the final list of accounts accepted for Choice .
April 2014
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29
.ACC and .ACF Files Format (continued)
Columns 67-70:
•
Filler
Column 1:
•
Action code
Columns 2-6:
•
Marketer Number
Columns 71-110:
•
Filler
Columns 7-39:
•
Marketer Name
Columns 111-112:
•
Revenue Class Old
Columns 40-47:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 113-114:
•
Revenue Class New
Columns 48-50:
•
Customer Sequence Number
Column 51:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 52-60:
•
Customer PSID Number
Column 127:
•
Customer Middle Initial
Columns 128-147:
•
Customer Last Name
Columns 61-66:
•
Effective Date (YYYYMM)
April 2014
Columns 115-126:
•
Customer First Name
Columns 148-180:
•
Service Address
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
30
.ACC and .ACF Files Format (continued)
Columns 181-219:
•
Service Address, City, State, Zip+4, Carrier
Route
Columns 261-265:
•
5 Digit Marketer Rate Code
Columns 266-272:
•
Filler
Columns 220-231:
•
Customer Home Phone
Columns 232-243:
•
Customer Business Phone (if available)
Columns 244-247:
•
Customer Business Phone Extension (if
available)
Columns 273-276:
•
Standard Industrial Code
Columns 277-284:
•
Marketer Nomination Group
Columns 248-257:
•
Date Processed (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 258-259:
•
Company Number
Column 260:
•
Valid Customer PCID Check Digit Number
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
31
.ACT File Format
The .ACT file provides all the established
accounts for a Marketer 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 Marketer’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
month’s 15th deadline would not be included.
Please note there is a fee of $.015 per record with a
minimum charge of $55.00.
Columns 1-8:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 9-11:
•
Customer Sequence Number
Column 12:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 13-45:
•
Customer Name
Columns 46-78:
•
Service Address
Columns 79-99:
•
City
Columns 100-101:
•
State
Column 102:
•
Filler
Columns 103-112:
•
Zip Code plus 4
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
32
.ACT File Format (continued)
Column 113:
•
Hyphen
Columns 153 -183:
•
Filler
Columns 114-117:
•
Postal Carrier Route
Columns 184-217:
•
Mailing Street Address
Columns 118-122:
•
Five-digit Marketer Code
Columns 218-249:
•
Mailing Street Address Overflow
•
(if necessary)
Columns 123-130:
•
Effective Date (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 131-138:
•
Nomination Group Number
Columns 270-271:
•
Mailing State
Column 139:
•
Tax Exempt Code Added (Y-Yes or N-No)
• This indicates if the account is tax
exempt.
Columns 140-150:
•
Filler
Columns 151-152:
•
Revenue Class Code
April 2014
Columns 250-269:
•
Mailing City
Column 272:
•
Filler
Columns 273-282:
•
Mailing Zip Code plus 4
Column 283:
•
Budget Yes (Y) or No (N)
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
33
.AC1, .AC2 & .GAC2 Files
The XXXMMDDY.AC1 file, where XXX reflects the CSP, X reflects the state in which the marketer is operating,
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 XXXMMDDY. AC2 file, provides all the accounts that were accepted from the previous enrollment cycle. Keep in
mind that the accepted accounts you see in the daily .AC1 file may not be the same accounts you see in the final
.AC2 file. It is possible that accounts you saw in your .AC1 file may have been disconnected between the time you
saw them in the .AC1 file and the time the final .AC2 file posts.
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.
The .GAC2 file provides all the accepted GAS/GMB accounts from the previous processing cycle that will flow gas the
1st of the month.
The .AC1 file 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.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
34
.AC1, .AC2 & .GAC2 Files (continued)
Column 1:
•
Action Code
Columns 2-9:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 76-83:
•
Nomination Group Number
Columns 84-86:
•
Filler
Columns 10-12:
•
Customer Sequence Number
Column 13:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
Columns 14-19:
•
Effective Date (YYYYMM)
Columns 20-31:
•
Rate Code and Filler
Columns 87-88:
•
Billing Unit
Columns 89-91:
•
Filler
Column 92:
•
Tax exemption indicator “N” or “Y”
Column 93:
•
Enrollment Type
• “I” = Internet
• “T” = Telephonic
• “W”= Written
Columns 32-39:
•
Filler
Columns 40-59:
•
Customer Last Name
Columns 60-71:
•
Customer First Name
Column 72:
•
Customer Middle Initial (if available)
Columns 73-75:
•
Filler
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
35
.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
Marketer. If a Marketer is participating in
more than one State program, the XXX may
vary slightly from State to State to avoid
confusion.
.BIL Detail Record (11) - current
month billing information format
below:
Columns 17-18:
•
Billing Unit
Columns 19-22:
•
Location Number - Internal CKY use
Columns 23-24:
•
Revenue Class
Columns 25-32:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 33-35:
•
Customer PCID Sequence Number
Columns 1-2
•
Record-type
Columns 3-10
•
System Creation Date (YYYYMMDD)
Column 36:
•
Check Digit Number
Columns 11-16:
•
Revenue Cycle Date (YYYYMM)
Columns 37-45:
•
Customer PSID Number
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
36
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 46-78:
•
Customer Name
Columns 79-111:
•
Customer Name Overflow
Columns 179-185:
•
Taxing District
Columns 112-144:
•
Service Address
Columns 186-193:
•
Columns 145-175:
•
Service City, State and Zip Code
Columns 194-197:
Columns 176-178:
•
County Code
Bath
Bourbon
Boyd
Bracken
Carter
Clark
Clay
Estill
Fayette
Floyd
April 2014
011
017
019
023
043
049
051
065
067
071
Franklin
Greenup
Harrison
Jessamine
Johnson
Knott
Lawrensce
Lee
Letcher
lewis
•
073
089
097
113
115
119
127
129
133
135
Madison
Martin
Mason
Montgomery
Nicholas
Owsley
Pike
Robertson
Scott
Woodford
Meter Number
Meter Calculated or Read/AMR
151
159
161
173
181
189
195
201
209
239
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
37
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
•
Columns 198-205:
•
•
Columns 206-213:
•
•
To-Date (YYYYMMDD)
Columns 214-221:
•
•
From-Date (YYYYMMDD)
From-Read
To-Read
•
•
Columns 242-251:
•
Sign +/•
Total Current Amount
Columns 252-261:
•
Sign +/•
Total Current Tax Exempt
Columns 222-229:
•
•
Column 241:
•
Rebill – Code
•
Yes – Y, No – N
Columns 262-269:
•
Sign +/•
Sales Tax
Columns 230-239:
•
Sign +/-
•
Usage by Volume in MCF
Column 240:
•
Final Bill
•
Yes – Y, No – N
April 2014
Columns 270-279:
•
Sign +/•
Previous Balance
Columns 280-289:
•
Sign +/•
Total Account Balance
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
38
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 337-346:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Current Balance
Columns 290-299:
•
Sign +/•
Pay This Amount
Columns 347-396:
•
+/- Marketer Charges 1
•
+/- Marketer Charges 2
•
+/- Marketer Charges 3
•
+/- Marketer Charges 4
•
+/- Marketer Charges 5
Columns 300-304:
•
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 305-310:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Rate
Columns 397-405:
•
Columbia Rate Schedule
Columns 311-316:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Discount
Columns 317-326:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Previous Balance
Columns 327-336:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Current Charges
April 2014
Columns 406-415:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Customer Charge
Columns 416-425:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Transportation Charges
Columns 426-435:
•
Sign +/•
Supplemental Charges
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
39
.BIL Detail Record Format (continued)
Columns 436-445:
•
Sign +/•
Delayed Payment Penalty
Columns 487-496:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Budget Amount
Columns 446-455:
•
Sign +/•
Agency Handling Fee
Columns 497-506:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Budget Arrears
Column 456:
•
Customer on Budget
•
Yes-Y, No-N
Columns 507-516:
•
Sign +/•
Columbia Budget Balance
Columns 457-466:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Budget Amount
Columns 517-539:
•
Blank
Columns 467-476:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Budget Arrears
Columns 477-486:
•
Sign +/•
Marketer Budget Balance
April 2014
Column 540-548:
•
Sign +/•
Filler
Columns 549-557:
•
Sign +/•
Filler
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
40
.BIL Adjustment Record File Format (continued)
.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:
•
•
Marketer Rate Code
Customer Sequence Number
Columns 44-53:
Columns 27-34:
•
April 2014
Transaction – Date (YYYYMMDD)
•
Sign +/-
•
Transportation
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
41
.BIL Adjustment Record File Format (continued)
Columns 54-63:
•
Sign +/-
•
Gas Cost Amount
Columns 64-71:
•
Adjustment Period Date (YYYYMMDD)
Column 93:
Incremental Balancing Fee Indicator (Y-Yes or N-No)
This indicates whether an account is charged
Incremental Balancing Fees in addition to Optional
Balancing Fees.
Columns 72-81:
•
Sign +/•
MCF
Column 82:
•
Check Digit Number
Columns 83-92:
“Add” date (YYYY-MM-DD)
• This is the date the account was
added (with a “1” code) by this
Marketer. This date is what is used
to determine whether an account is
“grandfathered” or is charged
Incremental Balancing Fees in
addition to Optional Balancing Fees.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
42
.BIL Balance Record File Format (continued)
.BIL Detail Record (9) - current month balance
record information format below:
Gas Measurement Billing information is located in the BIL
file following the BIL Detail Record – current month balance
record information (highlighted below).
Columns 1-9:
•
Balance Record Indicator (all nines)
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 Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
43
.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 Marketer on the XXX .CON
file.
•
4 indicates 24 months of an
established Columbia Choice
account. Consumption history is to be
sent to the Marketer on the XXX.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 MCF.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
44
.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.
The .CONF file is produced daily, however it will be empty if there is no activity to report.
Column 1:
•
Action code
Columns 2-9:
•
Customer PCID Number
Columns 10-12:
•
Customer SEQUENCE
Column 13:
•
Customer CHECK DIGIT
Column 14 - 19
•
Filler
Column 40:
•
Enrollment Type
Columns 41-59:
• Filler
Columns 60-62:
• Marketer code
Columns 63-70:
• Date YYYYMMDD
Columns 20-24:
•
Marketer rate code
Columns 71-74:
• 24 Hour Time HHMM
Columns 25-31:
•
Filler
Columns 75-79:
• Record sequence number
Columns 32-39:
•
Nomination Group number
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
45
.DAT File Format
The .DAT file is utilized by the Marketers to add, delete or change an account on the FTP Web Site. Marketer’s
enter the Action Code in the first column followed by the account information which is included in columns 2 through
40 described on the next page. Files can be submitted daily up through the 15th of the month preceding the
effective flow date.
The Marketer must start with a “clean” .DAT file after each enrollment period.
NOTE: Columns = Spaces
.DAT FILE FORMAT:
Codes are ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘5’, ‘D’ (see explanation of each below):
1 - Account to be set up on Choice.
2 - Account to be removed from Choice
3 - Account to be set up on Choice and 24 months consumption sent to Marketer.
4 - 24 months consumption of an established Columbia Choice customer sent to Marketer
5 - Change to customer’s rate code
D - Account to be deleted from the .DAT file. DO NOT physically delete the account from the .DAT file.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
46
.DAT File Format (continued)
Columns 32-39:
•
Enter eight digit Nomination Group number
(precede with zeros)
Column 1:
•
Enter the 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
•
Filler (Leave blank)
SPECIAL NOTE:
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 Marketer at their own
discretion.
April 2014
Column 40: ONLY NEEDED FOR ACTION CODES 1
and 3
Enter Enrollment Type
• “I” = Internet
• “T” = Telephonic
• “W”= Written
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.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
47
.DET File Format Layout
The .DET file is the Marketer Detail file – record
layouts. There are four (4) record types that can be
in each file:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Detail record (type = 1)
Adjustment detail record (type = 2)
Control total record (type = 3)
Customers # record (type = 4)
NOTES:
•
Total MCF = (current month MCF + any adjusted
MCF)
•
Total gas cost = (current month gas cost + any
gas cost adjustments)
•
Total tax = (State tax current month + any State
tax adjustments)
•
Grand total = (Total gas cost + Total tax)
•
Values for the revenue-classes are:
•
R = residential
•
C = commercial
•
I = industrial
April 2014
Detail Record:
Column 1:
•
Record Type
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Columns 4-14:
•
PCID – Sequence No
Column 15:
•
PCID Ck Digit number
Columns 16-20:
•
Marketer number
Columns 21-23:
•
County Code
Column 24:
•
Revenue Class
Columns 25-33:
•
Marketer current month MCF
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
48
.DET File Format Layout, Detail Record
Columns 34-42:
•
Marketer adjustment MCF
Columns 97-107:
•
Total tax
Columns 43-51:
•
Total MCF
Columns 108-118:
•
Grand Total
Columns 52-60:
•
Marketer current month gas cost
Columns 61-69:
•
Marketer adjustment gas cost
Columns 70-78:
•
Total gas cost
Columns 79-87:
•
State tax current month
Columns 88-96:
•
State tax adjustment
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
49
.DET File Format Layout, Marketer and Adjustment
Adjustment Detail Record
Marketer Detail File
All numeric fields are defined as signed
unpacked numbers. This allows us to retain
negative values in the numeric fields.
A conversion chart of values for signed
unpacked numbers are below:
A=1
B=2
C=3
D=4
E=5
F=6
G=7
H=8
I = 9
{ =0
J = -1
K = -2
L = -3
M = -4
N = -5
O = -6
P = -7
Q = -8
R = -9
} = -0
Column 1:
•
Record Type
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Columns 4-14:
•
PCID – Sequence No
Column 15:
•
PCID Ck Digit number
Columns 16-20:
•
Marketer number
Columns 21-26:
•
Marketer adjustment date
Columns 27-35:
•
Marketer adjustment MCF
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
50
.DET File Format Layout, Adjustment and Control Record
Adjustment Detail Record, (continued)
Control Total Record
Column 36-44:
•
Marketer adjustment gas cost
Column 1:
•
Record Type
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Note: Marketer adjustment date = YYYYMM
Columns 4-14:
•
Filler
Column 15:
•
Filler
Column 16-20:
•
Marketer number
Columns 21-24:
•
Filler
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
51
.DET File Format Layout, Control Total Record, (continued)
Columns 25-33:
•
Marketer current month MCF
Columns 88-96:
•
State tax adjustment
Columns 34-42:
•
Marketer adjustment MCF
Columns 97-107:
•
Total tax
Columns 43-51:
•
Total MCF
Columns 108-118:
•
Grand total
Columns 52-60:
•
Marketer current month gas cost
Columns 61-69:
•
Marketer adjustment gas cost
Columns 70-78:
•
Total gas cost
Columns 79-87:
•
State tax current month
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
52
.DET File Format Layout, Customer Number Record
Customer Number Record
Column 1:
•
Record type
Columns 84-87:
•
Factor
Columns 2-3:
•
Company
Columns 88-98:
•
Billing amount
Columns 4-15:
•
Filler
Columns 16-20:
•
Marketer number
Columns 21-67:
•
Message
Columns 68-74:
•
Customers
Columns 75-83:
•
Times (literal)
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
53
.DIS File Format
The .DIS file shows the customers who have
been disconnected and are inactive in our
billing system.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code
The XXXMMDDY.DIS file where XXX reflects
the Marketer and state for which they operate,
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 Marketers about accounts that have
been removed from CKY service for various
reasons.
Columns 6-7:
•
Company Number (i.e. 32 for CKY)
Upon receiving an account in this file, the
Marketer should check with the customer to
validate activity on the account.
Columns 12-19:
•
Customer PCID number
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
Columns 8-11:
•
Location Number – An internal Columbia
tracking number based on the Area Office
that serves the customer
Columns 20-22:
•
Customer PCID Sequence Number
Column 23:
•
Customer Check Digit Number
All the above would cause the customer to be
disconnected on our system.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
54
.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 CKY processed the order in our
system
Columns 89-94:
•
Customer Activity Type (The transaction
code from the CKY 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 Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
55
.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
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
56
Demand Curves
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 1. Normalized Dth Calendar Months
Compan Cust
y Id
Type
32
32
Annual
Calenda
2010-05 2010-06 2010-07 2010-08 2010-09 2010-10 2010-11 2010-12 2011-01 2011-02 2011-03 2011-04 r Dth
MktrId PSP
Nom
Group
Class
CHO
XX
17-15
XXXX
C
19366
13313
13394
13394
15561
30466
47388
69810
78663
62402
50911
30104 444771
CHO
XX
17-15
XXXX
R
4288
2077
2008
2008
2936
8527
15090
23552
26933
21024
16335
8490 133268
23654
15390
15402
15402
18497
38993
62478
93362 105596
83426
67246
38594 578039
Total
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Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
57
Demand Curves
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 Marketers deliver on calendar months. This report reflects that
difference. Volumes on this report are increased for retainage and decreased for customer attrition.
Report 2. Normalized Dth Billing
Months
Compan Cust
y Id
Type
32
32
Annual
Billing
2010-05 2010-06 2010-07 2010-08 2010-09 2010-10 2010-11 2010-12 2011-01 2011-02 2011-03 2011-04 Dth
MktrId PSP
Nom
Group
Class
CHO
XX
17-15
XXXX
C
24966
16062
13164
12641
13548
20231
34730
58741
77866
74050
58363
40410 444771
CHO
XX
17-15
XXXX
R
6601
3131
2047
1878
2029
4561
10054
19081
26673
25284
19421
12508 133268
31567
19193
15211
14519
15577
24792
44784
77822 104539
99334
77784
52918 578039
Total
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Demand Curves
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.
Report 3. Dth Summary
Compa Cust
ny Id Type
MktrId PSP
Nom
Group Class
32
CHO
XX
17-15
XXXX
C
1228
0.99
1.047 457821 444771
-4
5549
0
0
0
32
CHO
XX
17-15
XXXX
R
1833
0.99
1.047 138076 133268
-4
1965
0
0
0
365 day
Avg
Daily
Daily Deliver
Dth
y Dth PSP Name
PORTSMOUT
0 1219 1219 H
PORTSMOUT
0
365
365 H
Total
3061
0
0
April 2014
Num
Cust
Prior 12 Annual
Attritio
Months Normal Peak Peak
n
BTU
Actual Calenda Design Deman
Factor Factor Dth
r Dth Temp d Dth
595897 578039
Over/U
nder
Deliver
y%
7514
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
Over/U
nder
Deliver
y Dth
Weathe Daily
r Daily Like In
Dth
Kind
Adjust Adjust
1584
1584
59
.ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 Files
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 CSP
•
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 .ERR file is reviewed daily in order to
maximize enrollment and minimize customer
complaints.
April 2014
These file provides 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).
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 XXMMDDY. ER2
•
XX reflects the CSP
•
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.
Additional Information:
Both the .ERR and .ER2 files provide a total number
of accounts at the bottom of the file processed from the .DAT
file. The number of accounts accepted from the .DAT file and the
number of accounts that are rejected and sent back on the
.ERR and .ER2 files. This total also shows the number of
accounts that were deleted from the .DAT file. This total,
however, does not include the 2 coded accounts that were
removed from the program. They are included in the number
of records processed.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
60
. ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 File Formats
Column 1
•
Action Code
Columns 71-110:
•
Audit Error Description (see Audit/Error
Codes and Descriptions)
Columns 2-6:
•
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 111-112:
•
Current Revenue Class
Columns 7-39:
•
Marketer Name
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 67-70:
•
Audit Error Code (see Audit/Error Codes and
Descriptions)
April 2014
Columns 181-219:
•
Service City, State, Zip+4, and Carrier
Route
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
61
. ERR, .ER2 & .GER2 File Formats (continued)
Columns 220-231:
•
Customer Home Phone
Columns 232-243:
•
Customer Business Phone (if available)
Columns 244-247:
•
Business Phone Extension (if available)
Columns 248-257:
•
Date Processed
Columns 258-259:
•
Company Number
Column 260-265:
•
5 Digit Marketer Rate Code
Columns 266-272:
•
Filler
Columns 273-276:
•
Standard Industrial Code (Classification)
April 2014
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62
.NOP File Format
The XXXMMDDY. NOP file, where XXX reflects the
Marketer and state for 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, provides information to the Suppliers about
customer accounts that have been issued a
pending termination notice for non-payment or nonaccess to their meter.
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code
Columns 6-7:
•
Company Number (32)
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
Columns 24-32:
•
Customer PSID Number
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63
.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 38-45:
•
Filler (zeros)
Columns 95-99:
•
Five digit Marketer Rate Code
Columns 100-107:
•
Filler (zeros)
Note:
Columns 46-47:
•
Revenue Class Code
Account Status Codes
Columns 48-80:
•
Customer Name
Columns 81-88:
•
Date of Transaction (YYYYMMDD)
Date the notice occurred
April 2014
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
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 Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
64
.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.
Columns 117 -121:
•
Supplier Rate Code
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 127- 134:
•
Rate Effective Date
Columns 1-48:
•
Filler
Columns 49 -65:
•
Company
Columns 122 -126:
•
Filler
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
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
65
RATE.DAT File Format
The XXXRATE.DAT file, where XXX reflects the Marketer and
state for which they operate, 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.
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.
NOTE:
A “clean” XXXRATE.DAT file will be posted daily.
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.RAC1 File Format
The XXXMMDDY.RAC1 file, where XXX reflects the Marketer and state for
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.
The .RAC1 file contains preliminary accepted marketer rate codes and
dollar values from the RATE.DAT file that were uploaded the previous
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code (5 characters)
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,
Columns 25-31:
•
Last Billed Dollar Value (mcf)
•
XX.XXXX
then the submission period starts on the next business day.
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.RAC2 File Format
The XXXMMDDY.RAC2, where XXX reflects the Marketer and state for
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.
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.
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 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)
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.
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68
.RERR File Format
Columns 1-5:
•
Marketer Rate Code (5 characters)
The .RERR file:
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:
XXX reflects the Marketer
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
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69
.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 Supplier and State, MK reflects the report name,
MM reflects the month and Y reflects the last digit of
the year the record is created.
This report provides the Supplier’s prior month billed
revenue. The report provides details by Supplier
rate code as well as a summary page.
Total Supplier payment is the payment amount prior
to any offsetting, that will be made to the Supplier
on the last day of each month.
Note: The following are examples of offsets to
Supplier payments: .ACT/.ACF file request charges,
billing rate changes in excess of allowable number,
local gas purchase charges, demand/supply curve
non-compliance charges, balancing charges, or any
other miscellaneous charges. Your monthly GTS
invoice will reflect these charges.
A Supplier who participates in the Company’s
Accounts Receivable Purchase program (POR), the
report provides detail on the purchased receivables
and the supplier payment .
The .REV file is available in report format and does
not require an import.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference
Manual
70
RS5500MK and Related RS5600T3 Reports
Field Definitions
RS5500MK Marketer Number – A sorting convention used in the production of these reports. First two letters represent
a specific Marketer, the middle position and the last two digits represent a specific billing rate code as
defined by the Marketer. Codes are defined by Marketers to segregate or organize customers under
different billing rates.
RS5500MK DIS and GAS Billing Cycle – Represents the period of time the report represents. A cycle represents one
month. DIS and GAS are customer accounting systems; DIS for low-pressure accounts and GAS for highpressure accounts. DIS activity is reported in a same-month time frame; GAS is on a one-month lag.
RS5500MK Revenue Class – Used to define customers by usage. To the left of the revenue class number is a
description of the customers whose usage falls under that class.
RS5500MK Number of Customers – Represents the number of customers on Columbia Gas’ records.
RS5500MK Purchased A/R – In Kentucky, the Choice Program requires remittance of 98% Marketer receivables as
the gas is delivered. Your receivables will always appear in this column.
RS5500MK Total Marketer Payment – This amount is the payment that will be made to the Marketer on the last day of
each month. In some cases, adjustments, billing rate changes in excess of allowable number, or any other
miscellaneous charge CKY might bill you will be listed here, and the amount Columbia will remit to you will
be adjusted accordingly. These adjustments will always be documented on the summary page which will be
the top page of the package sent via regular mail on the last day of the month following the flow month.
April 2014
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71
Solicitation List Format
Column 1
•
Filler
Columns 71-73
•
Filler
Column 2
•
Revenue Class
•
R, C, or I
Columns 74-78
•
Service Address Zip Code
Columns 3-9
•
Filler
Columns 10-42
•
Service Address
Columns 43-45
•
Filler
Columns 46-65
•
Service Address City
Columns 66-68
•
Filler
Columns 69-70
•
Service Address State
April 2014
Columns 79-81
•
Filler
Columns 82-85
•
Service City Postal Rte Number
Columns 86-88
•
Filler
Columns 89-121
•
Mailing Address
Columns 122-124
•
Filler
Columns 125-157
•
Mailing Address Overflow
Columns 158-160
•
Filler
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
72
Solicitation List Format (continued)
Columns 201-203
•
Filler
Columns 161-180
•
Mailing Address City
Columns 204-215
•
Customer First Name
Columns 181-183
•
Filler
Columns 216-218
•
Filler
Columns 184-185
•
Mailing Address State
Column 219
•
Customer Middle Initial
Columns 220-222
•
Filler
Columns 186-188
•
Filler
Columns 189-193
•
Mailing Address Zip Code
Columns 223-242
•
Customer Last Name
Columns 194-196
•
Filler
Columns 197-200
•
Mailing Address Postal Rte Number
Columns 201-203
•
Filler
April 2014
Columns 243-245
•
Filler
Columns 246-278
•
Business Name
Columns 279-281
•
Filler
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
73
Solicitation List Format (continued)
Columns 282-314
•
Customer Name 2
Columns 315-322
•
Filler
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Capacity & Delivery Requirements
Section 4
April 2014
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75
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)
Portsmouth
April 2014
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Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
76
Choice Capacity Release
Assignment of Firm Capacity
•
Columbia will assign a pro-rata share of its firm contracted capacity under Columbia Gas Transmission Corp’s Rate
Schedule FTS, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Rate Schedule FT-A, and Central Kentucky Transmission Rate Schedule
FTS (collectively “FTS”). Marketer agrees to accept assignment of said FTS in an amount equal to the Marketer’s
Daily Delivery Requirements at Columbia’s city gate.
•
Each month, when the Daily Delivery Requirement is determined for the following month, Columbia will assign to the
Marketers its pro-rata share of Columbia’s upstream FTS capacity for the Marketer to use in the following month.
Marketers that receive assigned FTS capacity by Columbia are subject to the terms and conditions of the tariffs of
those pipeline companies on whose facilities capacity is assigned.
•
Columbia may recall any FTS capacity assigned to Marketer pursuant to this rate schedule in order to assure reliable
service to customers in any instance where a Marketer fails to deliver the Daily Delivery Requirement of its
Aggregation Pool.
•
Marketer shall provide the necessary assistance required to complete the mandatory firm capacity assignment
transactions.
April 2014
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77
Daily Delivery Requirements (DDR)
Daily Delivery Requirements (DDR) shall be calculated by Columbia by determining the estimate of the normalized
annual consumption of all Customers that will be in the Marketer’s Aggregation Pool during the following month, and
dividing that aggregate sum by 365. Columbia shall convert the quotient to a Dth basis using Columbia’s annual Btu
content, and shall adjust for Company use and Unaccounted For. The resultant quantity shall be the Daily Delivery
Requirement for each Marketer’s Aggregation Pool.
Demand Curves are posted on the columbiachoice.com website in 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.
•
Columbia may reduce the DDR in the months of Oct., Nov., and April to meet operational needs.
•
Flow according to DDR Flat Demand
•
Marketers required to deliver gas supplies to Columbia at the Primary Firm City Gate Delivery Points designated in
the Marketer’s assigned firm transportation capacity on a daily basis.
•
Demand Curves posted on or before the 20th of each month..
•
Deliveries based on 63-degree F.
Non Compliance Charges to the DDR
•
Non SFO, OFO OMO days- Failure to deliver according to the demand curve requirements will result in the
•
marketer being charged a fee equal to 30% of the price reported in Platts Gas Daily “Prices of Spot Gas Delivered
to Pipelines” adjusted for retainage and commodity charges, multiplied by the difference in DTH, plus a charge for
all other costs incurred by Columbia
•
SFO, OFO or OMO days- On days when Columbia has a limitation or interruption in affect, additional penalty
charges will be assessed at an amount equal to $25.00 multiplied by the difference in Dth between the DDR and
the actual deliveries on that day.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
78
Balancing Service
Columbia will provide the Marketer with a Balancing Service on a daily and seasonal basis that balances the
Marketer’s Daily Demand Requirements and the consumption of the Marketer’s Aggregation Pool.
Balancing Charge
The Marketer shall pay Columbia a throughput-based balancing charge equal to the Purchased Gas Demand
cost less a credit for assigned capacity.
The Purchase Gas Demand Cost is the Demand Rate component of Columbia’s most recent Gas Cost
Adjustment Clause Report. The credit is the projected annual cost of assigned FTS capacity less estimated
annual storage commodity costs (storage injection, withdrawal, shrinkage, and commodity transportation cost)
divided by the estimated, annualized usage of the customers served under rate schedule SVGTS.
The charge shall be calculated quarterly in accordance with Columbia’s Gas Cost Adjustment Clause Report.
April 2014
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Customer Billing & Rates
Section 5
April 2014
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80
Billing
The Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Program requires consolidated billing with a signed Purchase of
Receivables agreement.
CKY issues payments to the Marketer by the last business day of the following calendar month for 98% of the
Marketer’s revenues from the previous billing month less marketer, balancing, and billing charges and any
other outstanding balances the Marketer owes Columbia.
Marketer Charge
•
Each Marketer shall pay Columbia $0.05 per Mcf for all volumes delivered to the Marketer's Aggregation
Pool during each billing month.
Balancing Charge
•
Columbia will provide the Marketer with a Balancing Service on a daily and seasonal basis that balances
the Marketer's Daily Demand Requirements and the consumption of the Marketer's Aggregation Pool. The
Marketer shall pay Columbia a throughput-based Balancing Charge. The charge is calculated quarterly and
can be found on Sheet No. 7a in the CKY tariff
Billing Charge
•
CKY charges Marketers $0.20 per monthly customer bill and bills the customer according to the Marketer
Aggregation Pool.
April 2014
Columbia Gas of Kentucky Choice Reference Manual
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Time Line for Rate Codes
Example:
CKY RATE CODES
Marketer has three accounts to flow gas on May 1st:
•
•
•
•
•
After the 1st day of the month, if any New Rate
Codes are established, CKY provides new and
existing rates to the Marketer
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:
Marketer has until the 20th of the month to submit
any changes and or new Rate Codes no later than
4 p.m. Eastern Time.
If the Marketer submits any changes, then CKY
faxes a pre-bill asking the Marketer to review and
confirm before Unit 21 bills.
Marketer then confirms all new and existing rates
by signing the fax cover letter.
NOTE:
No response constitutes confirmation of Rates
June: 12345678-001-8
XXX03
$3.30
15678912-002-7
XXX01
$2.00
14789123-001-2
XXX03
$3.30
Marketer 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 Marketer wishes to
change in July
In order for the Marketer to affect the July billings for Customer
1 and 3, the Marketer 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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Marketer Rate Statement
Establishing a new rate code:
–
To request a new rate code, the Marketer
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 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 falls 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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CKY Rate Process: Rate Changes
The XXXRATE.DAT file is an automated process utilized by the Marketer 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 Marketer 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 Marketer 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 Marketer 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 Marketer’s 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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Natural Gas Supplier Invoicing
Monthly Billing
•
•
•
•
•
The marketer 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 marketer begins
approximately the 6th working day of the month.
The Receivables credit amount will appear on the invoice.
Any non-compliance charges will appear on the invoice.
The Balancing Charge, Billing Charge, and Marketer Charge will appear on the invoice.
Payment will be made to the marketer by the last business day of the month for the prior month billing.
Annual Reconciliation
•
On July 31st of each year, Columbia will reconcile the imbalance between the Marketer’s deliveries and their
customer’s usage for the 12- months ending July 31st. If the imbalance is negative, the Marketer must purchase
the deficient volume from Columbia. If the imbalance is positive, the Company will purchase the excess from the
Marketer. The price to be paid to resolve any such imbalance will be the average price during the reconciliation
period reported in PLATTS Inside FERC’s Gas Market Report in the monthly report titled “Prices of Spot Gas
Delivered to Pipelines,” under the column heading “Index” for “Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., Appalachia”,
adjusted for Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation’s FTS Retainage, and commodity charges.
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Bill Image
ADJUSTMENT SUMMARY INFORMATION
Miscellaneous Adjustment
Marketer Billing Rate
$
50.00
ACT File Charge
$
55.00
Marketer Charge
$ 1,131.50
Billing Charge
$ 3,200.00
Balancing Charge
$ 20,140.70
RATE SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Nomination Group: 0000
True-Up Period: OPT 1 YRLY
Next true-up date : JUL 20XX
Rate Schedule: MKT
Rate
Volume
Amount
Transportation Charges
Base Rate
All Gas (Mcf)
0.0000
0.0
$0.00
Rate Schedule MKT Total
$0.00
Nomination Group 0000 Total
$0.00
Volume
Marketer Receivables
Choice Marketer Commodity Payment (Mcf)
Amount
22,630.0
$113,150.00 Credit
Current Charges Total
$113,150.00 Credit
SUMMARY OF GAS RECEIPTS
Nom Group
0000
0000
From Date To Date
Shipper
MM-DD-YYYYMM-DD-YYYYMARKETER
MM-DD-YYYYMM-DD-YYYYMARKETER
Source
INTER: CKT
INTER: TCO
Dth
Mcf
27,568
13,556
41,124
IMBALANCE/ALLOCATION SUMMARY
Nomination Group 9999
INTER: CKT
INTRA: TCO
(Dth)
(Dth)
Beginning Imbalance
(38,596.0)
Current Month Activity
Volume Received
Adjustment
Allocations
27,568.0
0.0
21,308.0
13,556.0
0.0
3,056.0
(32,336.0)
10,500.0
0.0
0.0
10,500.0
Remaining Volume
Unbilled Imbalance
Monthly Imbalance
Ending Imbalance
0.0
(32,336.0)
0.0
Average Btu of 1.0658
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Annual Reconciliation
Columbia of Kentucky reads meters and bills customers on a
billing month basis. The first billing cycle is read just prior to the
first day of the month and represents gas consumed, for the
most part, in the previous month. The final billing cycle is
processed near the end of the month and represents gas
consumed primarily in the current month. This is why the billed
portions of the current month are represented by the lower left
triangle in each calendar month. The upper right triangles
represent the unbilled portion of the month, i.e. gas that was
consumed but not billed.
The illustrations below show calendar months as rectangles and
billing months as parallelograms. Billing months can also be
thought of as the previous month’s unbilled volume (upper
triangle) plus the current month’s billed volume (lower triangle).
Deliveries by Marketers
Marketers 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 August – July. The
unbilled portion of last July was supplied in the previous
calendar year. That is why the true-up must leave a
positive imbalance for July 31 – the balance is there to
cover consumption that occurred during July, but was not
billed. If the imbalances were adjusted to zero, Columbia
would be returning gas to the Marketers that was
consumed by their customers, but not yet billed.
Payments for this imbalance gas will be included in the
August payment.
Payments to Marketers
Payments for the program year are made by billing months as
represented below. They include compensation for gas
delivered during the unbilled portion of July last year, but not for
the unbilled portion of July this year. This represents 12 full
months of consumption.
April 2014
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
ADJUSTMENT SUMMARY INFORMATION
Miscellaneous Adjustment
Marketer Charge
Billing Charge
Balancing Charge
$ 670.00
$ 2,000.00
$11,926.00
RATE SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Nomination Group: 0000
True-Up Period: OPT 1 YRLY
Next true-up date : JUL 2012
Rate Schedule: MKT
Rate
Volume
Amount
Transportation Charges
Base Rate
All Gas (Mcf)
0.0000
0.0
$0.00
5.3690
1746.0
$9,374.27
Other Charges
Annual Cashout - Gas Sale to Supplier (Dth)
Rate Schedule MKT Total
$9,374.27
Nomination Group 9999 Total
$9,374.27
Volume
Marketer Receivables
Choice Marketer Commodity Payment (Mcf)
Amount
13,400.0
$67,000.00 Credit
Current Charges Total
$57,625.73 Credit
SUMMARY OF GAS RECEIPTS
Nom Group
9999
9999
From Date To Date
Shipper
07-01-2011 07-31-2011 MARKETER
07-01-2011 07-31-2011 MARKETER
Source
INTER: CKT
INTER: TCO
Dth
Mcf
25,688
15,996
41,684
IMBALANCE/ALLOCATION SUMMARY
Nomination Group 9999
INTER: CKT
(Dth)
INTRA: TCO
(Dth)
Beginning Imbalance
(32,336.0)
10,500.0
Current Month Activity
Volume Received
Adjustment
Allocations
25,688.0
0.0
0.0
15,996.0
0.0
14,336.0
(6,648.0)
12,160.0
7,258.0
0.0
12,160.0
Remaining Volume
Unbilled Imbalance
Monthly Imbalance
Ending Imbalance
1,746.0
(4,902.0)
Average Btu of 1.06
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Aviator
Section 7
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Aviator Web Site
The following Marketers’ information can be
retrieved from the Aviator Web Site:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
April 2014
Daily nominations
The TCO or pipeline contract on which the
gas is delivered
The Pipeline Scheduling Point in which the
customer is located
Pool volumes
Shipper
Customer rank
Nomination group
Path
MDQ
Bill Viewer Access to download invoices
Customer concern database
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Accessing the GTS Bill Viewer
Choice Marketers can access their Choice invoices for their company through the Aviator website
(www.ldcaviator.com). This allows Marketers 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
NGS are encouraged to check the
database daily, as there is a three day
response time.
•
•
•
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
The NGS 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
•
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
(CTRL-Click).
•
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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