Aggregation
Under Ohio law, local governments may band together into an aggregation, or buying group, to negotiate favorable rates for purchasing natural gas. One advantage of aggregation is the option of selecting different plans – like locking in a rate for a longer period of time.
Base Rate
Recovers non-fuel related expenses such as capital costs, personnel, and facilities and equipment. It also includes a component that allows the utility to recover a return on its investment in assets used to deliver natural gas, or profit, for its shareholders.
Ccf
A unit equal to one hundred cubic feet, used by some utilities to measure natural gas usage.
Contract Term
The length or duration of the contract (i.e. monthly, yearly, multiple-year).
County Sales Tax
When natural gas is purchased from a competitive retail natural gas supplier, the natural gas is subject to Ohio sales or use tax. Because county sales tax rates vary throughout Ohio, the county sales tax is not included in the supplier's total rate.
Current Offer
Comprised of suppliers’ current commodity options and base rates, exclusive of sales tax, the local utility transportation charge, and customer service charges. Commodity options may be a fixed, variable, or stable rate plan.
Fixed Rate Plan
A natural gas commodity price that remains constant for the contracted period.
Gross Receipts Tax
As a public utility, Dominion East Ohio pays a tax based on its gross receipts for the privilege of doing business in the State of Ohio. This tax is passed through to customers as a charge calculated as 4.6044% of total Dominion East Ohio charges billed. Gross receipts tax is not charged on the natural gas commodity purchased from retail suppliers through the Energy Choice program or on warranty products. Federal government accounts are not subject to the gross receipts tax.
HEAP
HEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). It is designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of home heating. HEAP pays a one-time payment for most PUCO- regulated utility customers reflecting their usage for the current winter heating season.
Mcf
One thousand cubic feet, a unit used to measure natural gas usage. This is the unit of measure used by Dominion East Ohio.
Energy Choice
A program that allows Dominion East Ohio customers to choose the company that supplies their natural gas. Under Energy Choice, Dominion East Ohio continues to deliver the gas to customers.
NOPEC
Nearly 126 communities in Northeast Ohio have formed an aggregation, which has been named the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC). NOPEC is the largest such aggregation in the United States.
NYMEX
Stands for the New York Mercantile Exchange. Energy commodities, including natural gas, are sold through the NYMEX. Buyers purchase futures contracts on the NYMEX for natural gas that will be delivered at a later date.
OCC
Ohio Consumers Counsel represents the interests of Ohio's residential utility customers in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
PIPP
Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) is a low-income payment assistance plan sponsored by Dominion East Ohio.
PUCO
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) affects just about every household in Ohio. That's because the PUCO regulates providers of all kinds of utility services, including electric and natural gas companies.
SCO
Standard Choice Offer. A regulated monthly rate set according to the NYMEX in which all Choice-eligible customers who have not selected a supplier are billed at the SCO rate. The SCO rate changes monthly due to fluctuations in the price of natural gas on the NYMEX.
SSO
Standard Service Offer. Dominion’s Standard Service Offer is the rate that Energy Choice-ineligible customers are billed . The SSO rate changes monthly due to fluctuations in the price of natural gas on the NYMEX.
Stable Rate Plan
A natural gas commodity price that is variable for a fixed period of time.
Transportation Rate
The transportation rate, which can fluctuate quarterly, includes a base rate, excise tax, Percentage of Income Payment Plan rider, uncollectibles expense rider, competitive retail natural gas service surcredit rider, and a migration rider.
Total Rate
Includes the natural gas commodity prices, plus the transportation rate.
Usage History
The portion of your bill that shows a 13-month comparison of natural gas usage.
Variable Rate Plan
A natural gas commodity price that fluctuates within the contracted period.
