Advancing its reputation as one of the more innovative pipelinesin the industry when it comes to rate making, Reliant Energy GasTransmission (REGT) submitted a rate filing with FERC that willgive customers an ‘in-kind’ balancing option. The plan is part ofto its Automatic Nomination Service (ANS), a ‘just-in-time’ supplymanagement service.

Reliant was the first to file and get approved an hourly firmtransportation service for power generators. In August the pipelineimplemented another new rate schedule, its Internet-based AutoNomservice, which was designed to communicate real-time consumptiondata so that end-users could improve management of supplies anddeliveries. This new in-kind balancing option will provide anothertool that can be used by AutoNom customers to eliminate the extrawork and costs associated with tracking imbalances and cash-outs.

“Our objective with the AutoNom Service has been to usetechnology to simplify for our customers-especially the smallercustomers-the day-to-day burdens associated with procuring andmanaging energy supplies,” said Dale C. Earwood, president andchief operating officer of Reliant Energy Interstate Pipelines.”The new in-kind balancing option will allow customers simply tocontract, start flowing gas and let the system do all of the work.In that way, we are letting customers turn back the clockoperationally to a simpler time in our industry, withoutsacrificing any of the benefits of today’s numerous supply choicesin the marketplace,” Earwood added.

REGT’s Rate Schedule ANS uses electronic metering and electroniccommunication via the Internet to obtain and communicateup-to-the-minute information on deliveries at an end-user’sfacility. At various times throughout the day, REGT accesses thisinformation, uses it to re-nominate receipts and deliveries for theshipper, and instantaneously communicates this information viae-mail to the shipper and its suppliers. With the election of thein-kind balancing option, REGT will resolve any customer imbalanceswithout the need to resort to any cash-out mechanism. No rate ischarged for basic Rate Schedule ANS service, although there will bea nominal fee associated with the election of the in-kind balancingoption by non-maximum rate shippers.

Rate Schedule ANS is to be used in conjunction with thecustomer’s firm or interruptible transportation service from REGT.Under the terms of the ANS rate schedule, an AutoNom customer willarrange for installation of electronic metering at the deliverypoint, if it is not already in place as it is at many locations.REGT will arrange for installation of the necessary electroniccommunication equipment and software.

Customers wanting information about this new service can contactTerri Williams, Manager of Transportation Services, at (318)429-2993.

Reliant Energy owns one of the largest interstate natural gaspipeline networks in the mid-continent U.S., totaling 8,200 miles.The system connects through REGT’s Perryville Hub transfer centerin Louisiana. REGT and sister company, Mississippi RiverTransmission Corp., are affiliates of Reliant Energy. Together theytransport 1 Tcf/year of gas as well as provide storage and relatedservices.

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