SECTION 165:45-11-33. Service from other than distribution system

(a)   When a consumer desires natural gas service from a production, gathering or transmission line which is not a part of the distribution system, the utility may, at its sole discretion, make a tap on the line and furnish the consumer with natural gas service under the applicable rate schedule approved by the Commission for the type of service rendered or, if there is no such rate schedule, pursuant to a Special Contract approved by the Commission. When necessary for operational efficiencies or safety reasons, the utility may discontinue or abandon service to the nondistribution system consumer or remove, abandon or relocate the pipeline from which the nondistribution system consumer is furnished natural gas service, upon thirty (30) calendar days written notice to the consumer at the consumer's last known address. If the pipeline is owned and operated by a company that also has a gas distribution system, the pipeline will be considered part of the distribution system if, for a period of three (3) years, the volume of gas sold off the pipeline is equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the gas transported by the pipeline. The utility may seek a waiver of an impending recharacterization before or after the three (3) year period if the pipeline leakage is minimal and the utility desires to continue to provide natural gas service from the pipeline.

(b)   If a consumer requests service from a transmission line that is not owned by the utility and the company owning the line assesses a fee for making the tap, the consumer requesting the tap will be responsible for paying the fee.

(c)   Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, after notice and hearing, a utility shall not provide service from a production, gathering or transmission line unless the gas in the line is of a suitable quality and free of liquid hydrocarbons. When it has come to the attention of the utility that a temporary gas quality problem exists in a line, the utility shall be allowed a reasonable time in which to correct the problem. This subsection shall not apply to existing consumers receiving service.

(d)   Under this Section, a private line served from other than a distribution system will not be considered to be a distribution system, and private line customers on these systems will be considered as a single service under the master meter agreement for purposes of abandonment.

[Source: Amended at 13 Ok Reg 3259, eff 7-25-96; Amended at 36 Ok Reg 668, eff 7-25-19]