For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AREA RATE. The rate charged for natural gas service to a class of customers located within a municipality as determined from the cost of service for the rate area.
BASE YEAR. Consists of either the most recent calendar year or a consecutive 12-month period ending not more than six months prior to the date of filing.
COUNTABLE DAYS. The calendar days not subject to suspension as provided for in the Municipal Natural Gas Regulation Act.
CUSTOMER. Any non-interruptible purchaser of natural gas within a municipality with requirements of less than 100,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day.
DATE OF FILING. The first day of the month following the date the rate filing is received by the office of the Clerk of each municipality in the rate area.
DATE OF FINAL ACTION. The date upon which the last municipality in a rate area adopts or fails to adopt a rate ordinance under a rate filing or the one-hundred-eightieth day, counted as provided in § 53.27(D), whichever comes first.
DISTRICT COURT. The district court of Burt County.
JUDICIAL REVIEW. Means, but shall not be limited to, injunctive relief and other equitable relief.
INTERIM RATES. The newly filed rates charged by a utility for natural gas after the ninetieth countable day following the date of filing, but prior to final action by the city on the rate filing.
MUNICIPALITY. Any city of the primary class, city of the first class, city of the second class, or village in Nebraska, or when the context requires any combination of the same acting in concert in a properly created rate area.
NATURAL GAS. Wither unmixed natural gas or any mixture of natural gas with one or more artificial gases and other hydrocarbons.
RATE. Every compensation, charge, fare, toll, tariff, rental, late payment charge, or classification which is demanded, observed, charged, or collected by a utility for natural gas and any rules affecting any such compensation, charge, fare, toll, tariff, rental, late payment charge, or classification.
RATE AREA. The municipalities within a geographic area within the state which is properly established under § 53.27(C) for the purpose of determining an area rate applicable to the customers within the municipalities within the RATE AREA. A RATE AREA shall be served by a single utility through a common pipeline system from the same natural gas supply source within the common system for which the utility has similar costs for serving customers.
RATE FILING. The formal application by a utility for a change in rates together with the information required by § 53.30(B).
TEST YEAR. Either a consecutive 12-month period commencing on the proposed effective date of the rate increased or a base year adjusted for known and measurable changes.
UTILITY. Any investor-owned utility maintaining and operating a natural gas distribution system within a municipality in this state.
(Prior Code, § 3-1201)