The Gas (Calculation of Thermal Energy) Regulations 1996

Interpretation and application

2.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the Act” means the Gas Act 1986;

“appropriate standard temperature conversion system” means a system for converting, with such accuracy as is reasonably practicable, any volume of gas into the volume which that volume would have if the gas had been measured at a temperature of 15°C and at the same pressure;

“appropriate standard volume conversion system” means a system for converting, with such accuracy as is reasonably practicable, any volume of gas into the volume which that volume would have if the gas had been measured at a temperature of 15°C and a pressure of 1013.25 millibars;

“charging area” means an area, within an authorised area of a public gas transporter, where the transporter intends to charge for the gas conveyed to any take off point situated in the area on the basis of the same daily calorific value;

“converted volume of gas”, in relation to gas conveyed to any meter for registering the volume of gas conveyed to a take off point during a gas period, means the volume of that gas in cubic metres which—

(a)

in so far as the meter is connected to an appropriate standard volume conversion system and that system is in operation throughout the gas period, is given by the application of the system to the registering of the volume of gas;

(b)

in so far as—

(i)

the meter is connected to an appropriate standard temperature conversion system and that system is in operation throughout the period; and

(ii)

gas is conveyed to the meter at a rate which is reasonably expected to exceed 2,500 therms or 73,200 kilowatt hours a year (if the temperature and pressure conversion factor within the meaning of paragraph (b) of the definition of that expression were applied to the volume of gas registered by the meter),

is given by the application of the system to the registering of the volume of gas and by multiplying the result by the number given by the following formula, namely—

P × Z

where

• P =the pressure conversion factor calculated in accordance with the provisions of Part I of the Schedule to these Regulations;

• Z =the compressibility conversion factor calculated in accordance with Part II of that Schedule;

(c)

otherwise, is given by multiplying the temperature and pressure conversion factor by the volume of gas registered by the meter;

“the Director” means the Director General of Gas Supply;

“gas day” means a period of 24 hours beginning at 6am on one day and ending immediately before 6am on the following day;

“gas examiner” means a person appointed under section 13(1) of the Act;

“gas period” means one or more successive gas days;

“relevant licence holder”, in relation to a public gas transporter, means—

(a)

another public gas transporter operating a pipe-line system to which gas is conveyed through pipes by the transporter; or

(b)

a gas shipper who has arranged with the transporter for gas to be introduced into, conveyed by means of or taken out of a pipe-line system operated by the transporter;

“take off point”, in relation to a public gas transporter, means any premises to which gas is conveyed by the transporter or any point at which gas conveyed by the transporter enters any pipe-line system operated by another public gas transporter;

“temperature and pressure conversion factor”, in relation to any meter for registering the volume of gas conveyed to a take off point, means—

(a)

where gas is conveyed to the meter at a rate which is reasonably expected not to exceed 25,000 therms or 732,000 kilowatt hours a year (if the conversion factor within the meaning of paragraph (b) below were applied), 1.02264; or

(b)

where gas is conveyed to the meter at a rate which is reasonably expected to exceed 25,000 therms or 732,000 kilowatt hours a year (if the conversion factor within the meaning of this paragraph were applied) the number given by the following formula, namely—

T × P × Z

where—

• T =the standard temperature conversion factor, namely 1.0098;

• P =the pressure conversion factor calculated in accordance with the provisions of Part I of the Schedule to these Regulations;

• Z =the compressibility conversion factor calculated in accordance with Part II of that Schedule;

(2) Any reference in these Regulations to the volume of gas registered by a meter shall, where the meter registers in cubic feet, be construed as a reference to the volume of gas so registered multiplied by 0.0283.

(3) Except in the cases prescribed by paragraph (4) below, the number of therms or kilowatt hours conveyed by a public gas transporter to a take off point shall be calculated in accordance with Part II of these Regulations, or, where a public gas transporter makes or adopts a declaration of calorific value in accordance with regulation 8(1) below, Part III of these Regulations.

(4) The cases prescribed by this paragraph are the following cases, namely—

(a) where—

(i) gas continues to be conveyed through a pipe to particular premises; and

(ii) the number of therms or kilowatt hours conveyed through that pipe to those premises was, immediately before the commencement of these Regulations, calculated on the basis of calorific values determined by means of apparatus provided and maintained only for purposes connected with the conveyance of gas through that pipe to those premises;

(b) where an agreement between a public gas transporter and a relevant licence holder or the owner or occupier of particular premises provides for the number of therms or kilowatt hours conveyed through a pipe to those premises to be calculated on the basis of calorific values determined by means of apparatus provided and maintained only for purposes connected with the conveyance of gas through that pipe to those premises.

(5) Any reference in these Regulations to therms shall cease to have effect on 1st January 2000.