18-1   Rates
   A.   Schedule of Maximum Rates. The rates charged by NorthWestern Public Service, a division of NorthWestern Corporation, a Delaware corporation, doing business in the state of Nebraska as a Domesticated Corporation, for natural gas supplied to customers in the City of Grand Island, Nebraska, unless otherwise approved by the Mayor and City Council, shall not exceed the following, effective August 1, 2001:
Customer Charge Per Month
Residential Service Rate No. 91
$5.00 per Meter
General Service Rate No. 92
$6.00 per Meter
Commercial & Industrial Rate No. 94
$80.00 per Meter
Usage Charge – Rate No. 91
Non-GasGas
First 30 Therms per month
$0.26356$0.70271 per Therm
Over 30 Therms per month
$0.09513$0.70271 per Therm
Usage Charge – Rate No. 92
First 400 Therms per month
$0.12101$0.70271 per Therm
Next 1,600 Therms per month
$0.05343$0.70271 per Therm
Over 2,000 Therms per month
$0.03243$0.70271 per Therm
Usage Charge – Rate No. 94
All Therms per month
$0.04530$0.47232 per Therm
Demand Charge – Rate No. 94
Standard Service (all Therms)
$0.21910$1.20470 per Therm
Extended Service
First 500 Therms/day
$0.24590$0.33330 per Therm
Over 500 Therms/da
$0.00000$0.33330 per Therm
 
Minimum Monthly Charge.
Shall equal the customer charge for Rate Nos. 91 and 92.
Shall equal the amount of therms of demand billed and the customer charge for Rate No. 94.
Stand-by Capacity Charge.
For Rate Nos. 91 and 92 customers that use natural gas as a back-up to an alternative fueled heating system, NorthWestern shall charge, in addition to the charges stated above, the following stand-by fee during the months of December through March:
Rate No. 91 - $12.00 per Meter Rate No. 92 - $37.00 per Meter
Bills will be rendered at monthly intervals.
   B.   Gas Cost Adjustment. The foregoing rates for gas supplied in the period covered by any bill shall be increased or decreased from the foregoing schedule of rates as follows:
      1.   If at any time or from time to time, the rate authorized to be charged NorthWestern for any natural gas purchased by it on a firm supply basis for resale in Nebraska shall be increased or decreased (whether or not charged under bond) resulting in an average cost per therm to NorthWestern in excess of or less than the average cost per therm prior to application of such increase or decrease, the charge per therm, including the amount that is included in the minimum bill, for gas supplied in each subsequent billing period (beginning not earlier than the effective date of such increase or decrease) may be increased or shall be decreased accordingly. In addition, gas cost variances resulting from the purchase of non-traditional supplies will be added or deducted from charges set forth in filed rates included herein.
      2.   For the purposes hereof, the amount of any refund, including interest thereon, if any, received by NorthWestern from its supplier of charges paid and applicable to natural gas purchased on a firm basis in Nebraska shall be refunded to the customer as a reduction in billings over the succeeding twelve month period or other period determined appropriate.
      3.   Variances in actual gas cost incurred and gas cost recovered through unit sales rates will be measured monthly. Gas supply related costs collected from NorthWestern's Agency Sales Service will be credited to actual gas cost incurred. Resulting under or over cost recoveries will be spread to gas cost component of rates over the succeeding twelve month period following the filing of any gas cost adjustment. All accrued over or under variances shall be assessed a carrying charge which shall be the overall rate of return allowed by the Rate Area in NorthWestern's last general rate filing.
      4.   Any increase or decrease in rates because of gas cost adjustment hereinbefore provided for shall become effective immediately upon the filing with the City Clerk of the City of Grand Island of amended rates reflecting such increase or decrease.