UNIFORM REPORTING OF LOST AND UNACCOUNTED-FOR GAS

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220 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

220 CMR 115.00: UNIFORM REPORTING OF LOST AND UNACCOUNTED-FOR GAS

Section

115.01: Purpose and Scope 115.02: Definitions 115.03: Applications for Exceptions from Provisions of .00 115.04: Annual Reporting Requirements 115.05: Gas Company Procedures Manual

115.01: Purpose and Scope

(1) Purpose. .00 establishes regulations governing the reporting of Lost and Unaccounted-for Gas (LAUF) to the Department of Public Utilities, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

(2) Scope. .00 applies to every gas company, municipal gas department, or other person engaged in the distribution of natural gas within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

115.02: Definitions

For the purposes of .00, the following definitions apply:

Company-use Gas. Gas that is used by the Gas Company in the conduct of its operations, including gas for building heat, backup power generation, and process equipment such as line heaters.

Department. Department of Public Utilities, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Division. Pipeline Safety Division of the Department.

External Damage. The unintentional release of gas from external damage to pipelines, such as by third parties.

Fugitive Emissions. Gas leak emissions from pipelines, metering and regulating stations, and services.

Gas Company. Refers to every gas company, municipal gas department, or other person engaged in the distribution of natural gas, as provided in M.G.L. c. 164, §§ 1 and 34.

Intentional Venting/Purging. The intentional release of gas to the atmosphere, usually through a designed vent (e.g., a pneumatic device), during pipeline maintenance and repair, installation, or abandonment.

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220 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

Lost and Unaccounted-for Gas (LAUF). An amount of gas that is the difference between the total gas purchased by a Gas Company and the sum of: (a) Total gas delivered to customers; and (b) Total gas used by a Gas Company in the conduct of its operations (i.e., Company-use Gas).

115.03: Applications for Exceptions from Provisions of .00

Any Gas Company may make a written request to the Department for an exception to the provisions of .00, in whole or in part. The request shall justify why the exception should be granted and shall demonstrate why the exception sought does not detract from the safety objectives of .00. The request shall include details on the need for the exception, specific information on the circumstances surrounding the requested exception, the provisions of .00 from which the exception is sought, the time period for which the exception is sought, and a description of any safety consequences that might result from the exception. Documentation in support of the request shall also be submitted.

The Department may deny the exception or grant the exception as requested, or as modified by the Department and subject to conditions. Any exception shall be issued in writing and may be made by the Director of the Division. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Director regarding a request for an exception may appeal the Director’s decision to the Department. Any appeal shall be in writing and shall be made not later than ten business days following issuance of the written decision of the Director.

115.04: Annual Reporting Requirements

(1) Each Gas Company shall file with the Department no later than March 15th annually a report of LAUF for the previous calendar year. The report shall contain measurements of LAUF components as specified by the Department and shall be in a format approved by the Department. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following items: (a) Total amount of LAUF; (b) Total gas purchased by the Gas Company; (c) Total gas delivered to customers; (d) Amount and description of any adjustment to LAUF made by the Gas Company, such as Company-use Gas; and (e) Amount of LAUF attributable to each of the LAUF components identified and defined by the Department, including but not limited to the following: 1. Fugitive Emissions; 2. External Damage; and 3. Intentional Venting/Purging.

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220 CMR: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

(2) Each Gas Company shall use operational and billing data to determine the total amount of LAUF and to identify and measure each of its components, and shall use sound engineering practices and operational data to identify and measure all sources and locations where LAUF occurs in the natural gas systems.

(3) The annual LAUF reports shall be made available to the public on the Department’s website or in a manner deemed appropriate by the Department.

115.05: Gas Company Procedures Manual

Each Gas Company shall incorporate procedures for all requirements of 220 CMR 115.00 into its written procedures under 49 CFR Part 192 as applicable, to ensure compliance with M.G.L. c. 164, §§ 105A, 147 and .00.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

.00: M.G.L. c. 164, §§ 66, 76, 76C, 105A, and 147.