The service customers currently receive is not expected to be impacted unless they choose to participate in one of the new options. These tariffs may become effective as early as October 1, 2000. Some of the new options offered by the OII Settlement will be effective on this date, but most will not be implemented until 2001. Each of these new options is summarized below, including target implementation dates. Target implementation dates are estimates only and subject to change.
Customers are responsible for balancing their load on a monthly basis.
Currently customers with imbalances are responsible for finding partners and negotiating the prices and volumes of their trades. With this new option customers may choose to anonymously and electronically trade their imbalances. When two parties agree on price and volume, Altra will manage the transaction by adding imbalance gas to the buyer s account and subtracting imbalance gas from the seller s account. The customers are then billed or paid accordingly, using the figures from the electronic trade. Customers choosing to use this trading platform will be charged a trading fee by Altra.