West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 150 - Public Service Commission
Title 150 - EXEMPT LEGISLATIVE RULE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Series 150-04 - Government of Gas Utilities and Gas Pipeline Safety
Section 150-4-7 - Standards of Quality of Service

7.1.3.a. Each utility shall report to the Commission, annually the average heating value of its gas delivered into its system.

7.1.3.b. A utility whose natural gas is treated by itself or others for the extraction of hydrocarbons shall report to the Commission the extractions in accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts as prescribed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Account Nos. 770 through 791.

7.1.3.c. A utility whose natural gas is treated for the extraction of hydrocarbons shall report to the Commission the annual average heating value and specific gravity of the gas entering and leaving each extraction plant.

7.1.4.a. Each utility shall determine the average heating value of its gas by calorimeter, A. J. W. Headlee formula or other approved methods.

7.1.4.b. Determination of heating value shall be made of gas drawn from parts of the distribution system or pipelines remote from the laboratory, with such frequency and in such manner as is necessary to establish the average monthly heating value.

7.1.4.c. The heating value shall be the total heating value expressed at 14.73 psi absolute pressure and saturated with water vapor when determined by calorimeter or chemical analysis.

7.1.4.d. Calorimeter accuracy, as well as the method of determining heating value, shall be subject to the approval of a designated representative of the Commission.

7.1.5.a. Each utility shall adopt a standard form for recording the results of heating value tests. Each determination of heating value shall be recorded originally upon the form adopted for that purpose, and the records shall be retained for a period of three (3) years. Where heating value is determined by an approved type recording calorimeter or recording gravitometer, the charts removed from such calorimeter or gravitometer will be deemed sufficient to comply with this rule.

7.1.5.b. It is not the intent of this rule that recording calorimeters or recording gravitometers be installed but the method of determining the average heating value shall be approved by a representative of the Commission.

7.3.5.a. Higher pressures may be allowed by the Commission in exceptional cases after the presentation of factual data showing that adequate service cannot be supplied with existing facilities, and that it is impractical to make the necessary changes immediately. In all such cases the utility shall formulate a plan for eliminating the high pressure condition as soon as practical and economically possible.

7.3.5.b. A utility supplying gas shall not be deemed to have violated the provisions of this rule if it can be shown that variations from said pressures are due to:

7.4.3.a. In computing the volume of gas at a given pressure base from an orifice meter chart, or charts, the average static pressure and the average differential pressure shall be determined for periods not exceeding one (1) hour; and where pressure variations are extreme during the hour, such average should be determined for fifteen (15) minute intervals.

7.4.3.b. Mechanical devices may be substituted for the above manual method of computing orifice meter charts.

7.5.1.a. Calorimeter required -- Each utility selling manufactured or mixed gas shall provide and maintain a calorimeter of an approved type, and all necessary accessories therefore, unless provision is otherwise made, with the approval of the Commission, for the regular determination of the heating value of the gas sold.

7.5.1.b. Location of calorimeter -- The calorimeter shall be installed in a laboratory, or other building, so located as to ensure that thoroughly mixed, stabilized, and representative samples of the gas, delivered to the customers, are used for the tests.

7.5.1.c. Calorimeter accuracy -- The accuracy of all calorimeters, as well as the methods of making heating value tests, shall be subject to the approval of a designated representative of the Commission.

7.5.1.d. Additional test -- Determinations of heating value shall be made of gas drawn from parts of the distribution system or pipelines remote from the laboratory with such frequency and in such manner as is necessary to establish the stability of the gas or for other test purposes.

7.5.2.a. Frequency of tests -- Every utility selling manufactured gas, or a mixture of manufactured and natural gas, or a gas obtained by thermal treatment or other process for modifying the composition of natural gas, shall determine the heating value of the gas distributed to its customers daily or more frequently if necessary or required by the Commission.

7.5.2.b. Records of tests -- Each utility shall adopt a standard form for recording the results of heating value tests. Each determination of heating value shall be recorded originally upon the form adopted for that purpose, and the records shall be retained for such period as the Commission may designate. Where heating value is determined by an approved type recording calorimeter, the charts removed from such a calorimeter, will be deemed sufficient to comply with this rule. The average heating value for each day and the monthly average heating value determined by these tests shall be recorded. These records must not be destroyed without Commission approval.

7.5.3.a. Authorized standard of heating value -- The monthly average heating value of the gas furnished by each utility supplying manufactured or mixed gas in each community or territory served shall be not less than the standard heating value authorized by the Commission for the utility in that community. Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, the authorized standard for each community shall be the standard of heating value currently in effect and approved by the Commission for the community. The authorized standard shall be subject to change at the option of the utility under the following conditions:

7.5.3.b. Average heating value -- To obtain the average total heating value of a gas, the results of all tests of heating value made on any day shall be averaged, and the average of all the daily averages shall be taken as the monthly average: Provided, that in cases of unusual difficulty in maintaining uniformity of heating value, the daily and monthly weighted averages shall be determined if the variations exceed five percent (5%) above or below the authorized standard.

7.5.3.c. Maximum and minimum limits -- The heating value of the gas shall be maintained with as little deviation as practicable; and to this end the weighted average total heating value on any one day should not fall below the monthly authorized standard by more than five percent (5%). Variations above the approved standard heating value will be allowed; provided the gases are interchangeable as determined by application of the interchangeability rule of the American Gas Association.

7.5.3.d. Heating value of gas transported -- The heating value of gas which is compressed for transmission shall be determined after compression and cooling to a temperature approximately equal to the temperature of the transmission mains. Where gas is distributed to difference territories at different pressures, which result in more than negligible differences in condensation, the territories will be considered to be served with gases of difference heating values.

7.5.3.e. Stability of gas -- No utility shall distribute gas which contains combustible constituents which will condense under the conditions of its distribution to the extent of more than three percent (3%) of the total heating value of the gas. Periodic tests shall be made to determine compliance with this requirement.

7.5.5.a. Each utility supplying manufactured or mixed gas shall test the gas daily for the presence of hydrogen sulphide by an approved method.

7.5.5.b. Each utility selling more than 100,000,000 cubic feet of manufactured or mixed gas per year shall provide and maintain such apparatus and facilities as are necessary for the determination of total sulphur and ammonia in the gas; and each such utility shall periodically (preferably semimonthly) determine the amount of total sulphur and ammonia in the gas distributed by it, and shall keep a record of the results of all such tests: Provided, however, that any such utility supplying only water, gas or oil, or mixture of these, shall not be required to provide apparatus for or make determinations of the amount of ammonia in the gas.