20101006Lost, Unaccounted-for Gas Report.pdf

EXECUTIVE OFFICES
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY nrr-ç:¡ "jt\t:Vb...ì
555 SOUTH COLE ROAD · P.O. BOX 7608 · BOISE,IDAHO 83707. [phone] · FAX: 377-6inlßocl-G AM 6: 2.9
September 30,2010
Ms. Jean Jewell
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
472 W. Washington St.
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, 10 83720-0074
RE: Intermountain Gas Company's Semi-Annual Report pertaining to Lost and
Unaccounted for Gas
Case No. INT-G-08-03
Dear Ms. Jewell:
Attached for filing with the Idaho Public Utilties Commission are the original and seven
copies of Intermountain Gas Company's Semi-Annual Report pertaining to Lost and
Unaccounted for Gas.
Additional information pertaining to Intermountain's Lost and Unaccounted for Gas can be found
in our most recent PGA filng, or Case No. INT-G-10-03. Please reference Exhibit 9, page 1 of
1 and Workpaper NO.6.
If there are any questions regarding the attached, please contact me at [phone].
V¡¡¡ïll
HartGi~V
Manager, Operations Services
Enclosures
cc: K. F. Morehouse
T. M. Clark
S. W. Madison
K. Barnard
Intermountain has a standing inter-disciplinary team that reviews the LUAF audit processes
currently in place, investigates potential sources of LUAF, and takes remedial action as needed
to continue to keep Intermountain's LUAF levels low.
Billing and meter audits are important processes that Intermountain has established to address
LUAF. Billing audits to identify Low Usage and Zero Usage are performed with each billing
cycle. Low Usage Reports are used to compare billed consumption against that same
customer's historical usage patterns. If the current month's billed consumption appears low in
relation to historical usage patterns, the account is flagged. A courtesy phone call is then made
to determine if there is a valid reason for the lower-than normal usage, or a check-for-dead
order is generated for the following day and a service technician is dispatched to field test the
meter for functionality.
Zero Usage Reports help to identify those meters where usage is arguably taking place, but not
registering on the meter. On those accounts that are not documented as being "off' by the
system, a check-for-dead order is generated and a service technician is dispatched to field test
the meter for functionality. Reports are also generated that review biled consumption for a
given meter size.
Intermountain also identifies the potential for incorrectly sized and/or type of meter in use by our
larger industrial customers. Some industrial customers consume natural gas differently over
time as the economy changes, the customer institutes plant and equipment improvements, or
conservation measures are implemented. A meter size and/or type which may have once been
warranted at the customer's premise may no longer be applicable and a change in installed
meter size and/or type might be necessary.
Also related to meter audits, and in conjunction with the billing audits previously noted,
Intermountain works to ensure billing accuracy of newly installed meters. A Service Tech
(different from the Service Tech that installed the meter) performs an audit of the delivery
pressure and drive rate of a newly installed meter as it relates to the customer and meter
manufacturer requirements. Any corrections are made prior to the first bill going out.
On a regular and programmed basis, Intermountain technicians check Intermountain's entire
distribution system for natural gas leaks using sophisticated equipment that can detect even the
smallest leak. When such leaks are identified, which is very infrequently, remedial action is
immediately taken. Unfortunately, human error by an outside contractor or even a home owner
sometimes leads to unintentional damage to our distribution system. When such a gas loss
situation occurs, án estimate is made of the escaped gas and that gas then becomes "found
gas" and not "lost gas".
The Intermountain Gas LUAF team has not met since the last report was submitted. The results
of our ongoing audit activities, as outlined below, continue to be monitored by the team.
The continuation of the audits and reporting as outlined in earlier quarterly reports provides the
following results to date:
Year
2008
2009
2010 (Aug.)
Check for Dead Orders
5,088
6,481
10,204
found dead
708
542
452
% found dead
13.00%
8.36%
4.43%
,
Year
2007
2008
2009
2010 (Aug.)
Year
2008
2009
2010 (Aug.)
Drive Rate errors
43
26
18
10
Pressure errors
15
20
17
Gas loss, as it is commonly referred to, is calculated as described in the April 2009 quarterly
report. A summary of findings for 2007 - 2010 (Aug.) is shown below:
2007 - 656 occurrences
2008 - 495 occurrences
2009 - 301 occurrences
2010 - 127 occurrences
254,455 therms of gas loss calculated
182,920 therms of gas loss calculated
130,251 therms of gas loss calculated
60,671 therms of gas loss calculated
Intermountain continues to monitor LUAF levels and looks for additional opportunities keep its
LUAF rate among the lowest in the natural gas distribution industry. As stated in earlier reports,
alterations to the billing factors, LUAF reporting, and LUAF audits have helped and wil continue
to help Intermountain control the quantities and costs associated with Lost and Unaccounted for
Gas.