Rule 515-7-3-.01 - DefinitionsAs used in this Utility Rule 515-7-3, the following terms shall have the following definitions:
(a) "Act" means the Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act as provided for in O.C.G.A. § 46-4-150 et seq.(b) "Affiliate" means another person which controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such person.(c) "Ancillary service" means a service that is ancillary to the receipt or delivery of natural gas, including without limitation storage, balancing, peaking, and customer services.(d) "Applicant" means any person who has filed an application for a certificate of authority with the Georgia Public Service Commission to sell or offer to sell any commodity sales service or distribution service in intrastate commerce to retail customers who primarily receive firm service within the State of Georgia.(e) "Commission" means the Georgia Public Service Commission.(f) "Commodity sales service" means the sale of natural gas exclusive of any distribution or ancillary service.(g) "Consumer" means a retail customer of commodity sales service or of firm distribution service who uses such service or services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.(h) "Consumer preferred method of communication" shall mean the method of written communication agreed upon by the marketer and the consumer regarding the method of notification the consumer shall receive in compliance with Commission rules. Such preferred method of communication may include but need not be limited to: first class mail, bill message, email, text or other electronic means supported by the marketer.(i) "Customer service" means a function related to serving a retail customer including without limitation billing, meter reading, turn-on service, and turn-off service. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person may perform one or more customer services without first becoming certificated in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 46-4-153; provided however, that such service may only be performed in compliance with all stated and federal laws pertaining to the safety of natural gas pipelines and distribution systems and any other applicable safety standards.(j) "Delivery Group" means a set of individual delivery points on one or more interstate pipeline suppliers to a gas company that may be aggregated and utilized for the distribution of gas to a particular set of retail customers.(k) "Distribution service" means the delivery of natural gas by and through the intrastate instrumentalities and facilities of a gas company or of a marketer certificated pursuant to Code Section 46-4-153, regardless of the party having title to the natural gas.(l) "Electing Distribution Company" or "EDC" means a gas company that elects to become subject to the provisions of the Act and satisfies the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 46-4-154.(m) "Electric activities" means all activities associated with the generation, transportation, marketing, and distribution of electricity.(n) "Electric Membership Corporation" or "EMC" means any person defined in paragraphs (3) or (5) of O.C.G.A § 46-3-171 or any joint venture of EMCs, their affiliates or subsidiaries.(o) "EMC gas affiliate" means a separately organized person, the majority interest of which is owned or held by or, with respect to a cooperative, managed by one or more cooperatives or electric membership corporations and which applies to the Commission for a certificate of authority pursuant to O.C.G.A § 46-4-153.(p) "Firm" means a type of distribution service that ordinarily is not subject to interruption or curtailment.(q) "Gas" means natural gas.(r) "Gas activities" means all activities associated with the transportation, marketing, and distribution of natural gas conducted by a person certificated pursuant to O.C.G.A § 46-3-153. Such terms shall not mean the production, transportation, marketing or distribution of liquefied petroleum gas.(s) "Gas company" means any person to whom a certificate of public convenience and necessity has been issued by the Commission to own, operate, acquire, or construct any intrastate pipeline or distribution system, or any extension thereof, for the sale of natural gas.(t) "Interruptible" means a type of distribution service that is subject to interruption or curtailment.(u) "Low-income residential consumer" means any person who meets the definition of a person who is qualified for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, as promulgated by the Department of Human Resources, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 46-1-5.(v) "Majority interest" means the ownership of greater than 50 percent of the partnership interests in a general or limited partnership; the membership interests of a limited liability company; or the stock in a for-profit corporation that entitles the shareholder to vote and share in common or preferred dividends.(w) "Marketer" means any person certificated by the Commission to provide commodity sales service or distribution service pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 46-4-153 or ancillary services incident thereto.(x) "Person" means any corporation, whether public or private; company; individual; firm; partnership; or association, including a cooperative or an electric membership corporation.(y) "Regulated gas service" means gas service provided by a regulated provider of natural gas.(z) "Regulated provider of natural gas" means the entity selected by the Commission to provide to consumers natural gas commodity service and ancillary services incident thereto in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 46-4-166.(aa) "Retail customer" or "retail purchaser" means a person who purchases commodity sales service or distribution service and such purchase is not for the purpose of resale.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 515-7-3-.01
O.C.G.A. §§ 46-2-30, 46-4-150 et seq. (See especially, O.C.G.A. §§ 46-4-153, 46-4-153.1, 46-4-160).
Original Rule entitled "Definitions" adopted as ER. 515-7-3-0.5-.01. F. Nov. 12, 1996; eff. Nov. 5, 1996, the date of adoption.Amended: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Feb. 10, 1998; eff. Mar. 2, 1998.Amended: F. May 23, 2000; eff. June 12, 2000.Amended: F. Aug. 13, 2002; eff. Sept. 2, 2002.Amended: F. Sept. 3, 2002; eff. Sept. 23, 2002.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Feb. 15, 2008; eff. Mar. 6, 2008.Amended: F. June 18, 2018; eff. July 8, 2018.