FERC-592 Log/Format [currently posted on FERC website]

Form Approved
OMB No. 1902-0157
December 31, 2009

FERC Form No. 592
MARKETING AFFILIATES OF INTERSTATE PIPELINES

RECORD FORMATS
(Revised December 1996)

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average
60 hours per year per respondent, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing the burden, to each of the following:
Michael Miller
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426;
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, DC 20503
Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
You shall not be penalized for failure to respond to this collection if the
collection of information does not display a valid OMB control number.

Updated September 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I

1

Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

II

Who must Comply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

III

How to Comply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

IV

Where to Submit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

SCHEDULES:

MARKETING AFFILIATES OF INTERSTATE PIPELINES

. . . . . . . . . . . .

5

(1) Discounted Transportation (Storage) Transaction Record . . . . . . .

6

(2) Capacity Allocation Log Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

(3) The Footnotes Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
APPENDIX A - CD Specifications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

GENERAL INFORMATION

I.

PURPOSE:

The information required is to support the monitoring of activities of pipeline
marketing affiliates (which includes holders of Subpart J of Part 284 blanket sales
certificates) so as to deter undue discrimination by pipeline companies in favor of
marketing affiliates, and to prevent any harassment of non-affiliates.

II. WHO MUST COMPLY:
An interstate natural gas pipeline that
! transports natural gas for others, as that term is defined in 18 CFR

§ 161.2, pursuant to Subparts B or G of Part 284 of 18 CFR Chapter I
! is affiliated, as that term is defined in § 161.2 of this chapter, in

any way with a natural gas marketing or brokering entity and
! conducts transportation transactions with its affiliate

must maintain the requisite information for transportation service as
specified in the FERC Form 592 and in the manner prescribed herein. The
requirements of this part also apply to pipeline sales operating units to the
extent provided in § 284.286 of this chapter.

III.

HOW TO COMPLY:

An interstate pipeline must maintain the required information for both firm
and interruptible transportation service, and for both pipeline affiliates
and nonaffiliates, in a computer file(s) conforming to the file formats
specified in the FERC Form 592. Pipelines may submit the FERC Form 592
computer file(s) on MS-DOS (or compatible) formatted computer diskette(s), or
a compact disc (CD) that conforms to the specifications provided in Appendix
A. In addition, the Commission may request that the pipeline provide one
paper copy of the information submitted in the computer file(s) so as to
assist Commission staff in interpreting the computer file(s).

1

and

IV.

WHERE TO SUBMIT:
(1)

Upon request by the Commission, submissions should be addressed
to:
Office of the Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426

(2)

Hand deliveries can be made to:
Office of the Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Room 1A-21
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426

You shall not be penalized for failure to respond to this collection if the
collection of information does not display a valid OMB control number.

2

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.

The notation f(m,n) will be used to denote a numeric string of length "m"
including a decimal (".") with "n" digits following the decimal.

2.

In preparing the required flat file, the following conventions must be
followed:
(A)

All volumetric data should be stated in MMBtu's (rounded to the nearest
MMBtu), except where noted.

(B)

All rates should be stated in cents per MMBtu fixed decimal numbers,
format f(10,2). For example, $1.5264/MMBtu should be stated as 152.64.

(C)

Negative values should be reported with a "-" sign preceding the first
nonzero digit reported.

(D)

Commas must not be included in any numeric field.

(E)

All dates should be reported as six digit numerics (month, day, year),
unless otherwise indicated.

3.

The sequence number is the sequential number assigned to a record as it is
recorded on a schedule/record. The sequence number is incremented as
additional records are added to a schedule/record and will be between 1 and
999,999, inclusive. (Note: the sequence number should be right justified,
zero filled.)

4.

The reference number is the alphanumeric string formed by concatenation of
the Schedule ID, sequence number, and beginning character position of the
item footnoted. E.g., a respondent's Company ID reported in the Discounted
Transportation (Storage) Transaction Record would have reference number
"D000001008" formed by joining (concatenating) the schedule ID "D", the
sequence number "000001", and the beginning character position of the item
"008".

5.

Record any footnote relative to any recorded item in the "Footnotes Record",
schedule ID 'F'. Each footnote should be cross referenced to the schedule
and record (line) it pertains to by the appropriate reference number (see
above).

3

6.

Source of Codes
(A)

Pipeline
Company ID

- Use the code for the pipeline as contained in
the Buyer Seller Code List, U.S. Department of
Energy's publication DOE/EIA-0176. A code may
be obtained by calling EIA at (202)426-1181.

(B)

Contract ID

- The respondent's own designation for the
contract or agreement covering the transaction
being reported. This identifier will either be
assigned by the respondent or the party
providing a service to the respondent.

7.

A pipeline blanket sales operating unit is any entity operating
under a Subpart J of Part 284 blanket sales certificate, and is
considered the functional equivalent of a marketing affiliate.

8.

Delivery
Point
ID

The point at which the pipeline company delivers
the natural gas to a designated end user, local
distribution company, etc. as specified by the
transportation service requested. The respondent will
provide a unique 20-byte alphanumeric identifier for
each delivery point on his pipeline system. This
delivery point ID will be the alphanumeric label/name
which the respondent uses in conducting his daily
business, (or a unique abbreviation thereof if the
company identifier is more than 20 characters in
length.)

9.

Maximum Rate for
Transportation
Service

The maximum rate contained in the respondent's
currently effective tariff for the rate schedule
under which the transportation service is being
conducted.

10.

Discounted Rate
for Transportation
Service

A rate that is less than the maximum rate on file
with the Commission.

4

SCHEDULES

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#
MARKETING AFFILIATES OF INTERSTATE PIPELINES
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DEFINITIONS OF ITEMS AND FILE LAYOUT FOR THE
MARKETING AFFILIATES OF INTERSTATE PIPELINES
FERC FORM NO. 592

This form will consist of three record formats:
1.

Discounted Transportation (Storage) Transaction Record

2.

Capacity Allocation Log Record

3.

Footnotes Record

5

***********************************************************************
*
*
*
Discounted Transportation (Storage) Transaction Record
*
*
*
***********************************************************************
Instructions:
This record is maintained for each delivery point actually used during the billing
period recorded. Only transportation transactions actually discounted should be
recorded.
Item
Character
No.
Item
Position
Data Type
Comments
---------------------------------------------------------------------------1

Schedule ID
Enter 'D'

1

character

2

Sequence Number

2-7

numeric

right justified, zero filled, see
general instruction 3

3

Company ID

8-13

numeric

reporting pipeline code, from
buyer/seller code list, see general
instruction 6(A)

4

Contract ID

14-21

character

see general instruction 6(B)

5

Shipper

22-61

character

name of the shipper receiving
service

6

Pipeline
Affiliation
with Shipper

62

(blank)

The requirement to file information
on this item was deleted in
Order No. 581. It is listed here for
historical purposes only.

7

Shipper Type

63

(blank)

The requirement to file information
on this item was deleted in
Order No. 581. It is listed here for
historical purposes only.

6

8

Affiliate Name

64-103

character

name of the pipeline affiliate
involved in the transportation/storage
service being provided; if more than
one affiliate is involved in the
service, provide name(s) in a footnote

9

Role of
Affiliate

104

character

affiliates role in the transportation/
storage service is:
code = 1, shipper;
code = 2, marketer;
code = 3, supplier;
code = 4, seller;
code = 5, buyer;
code = 6, agent;
code = 7, end user;
code = 8, no affiliate involved
code = 9, other, (identify role in a
footnote)

10

Is Affiliate a
Pipeline
Blanket Sales
Operating Unit of
the Respondent?

105

character

code = Y, yes;
code = N, no

11

Type of Service

106-107

character

code = FT, firm transportation
code = IT, interruptible
transportation
code = SC, storage capacity
code = SI, storage injection
code = SW, storage
withdrawal

12

Delivery
Point ID

108-127

character

see general instruction 8

13

Billing Period
Start Date

128-133

numeric

(mmddyy) month, day, and year
for start of billing period

14

Billing Period
End Date

134-139

numeric

(mmddyy) month, day, and year
for end of billing period

15

Duration of
Discount

140-141

numeric

number of days in the billing
period the discount was provided

7

16

Maximum Rate for
Transportation
Service

142-151

numeric

(cents/MMBtu); maximum effective
rate/fee currently on file with the
Commission for the service provided;
format f(10,2); e.g., 35.62 cents is
reported as "35.62"; see general
instruction 9.

17

Discounted Rate
for Transportation Service

152-161

numeric

(cents/MMBtu); actual rate/fee
collected for the transportation
service rendered; format f(10,2);
e.g., 32.15 cents is reported as
"32.15"; do not report a negative
value; see general instruction 10.

18

Volume
Transported

162-172

numeric

(MMBtu); volume of gas transported at the discounted rate

19

Footnote

173

character

code = Y, footnote is provided
for this record;
code = N, no footnote provided

8

***********************************************************************
*
*
*
Capacity Allocation Log Record
*
*
*
***********************************************************************
Item
Character
No.
Item
Position
Data Type
Comments
---------------------------------------------------------------------------1

Schedule ID
Enter 'C'

1

character

2

Sequence Number

2-7

numeric

right justified, zero filled, see
general instruction 3

3

Company ID

8-13

numeric

reporting pipeline code, from
buyer/seller code list, see general
instruction 6(A)

4

Contract ID

14-21

character

see general instruction 6(B)

5

Shipper

22-61

character

name of the shipper receiving
service

6

Pipeline
Affiliation
with Shipper

62

character

code = Y, respondent affiliated
with shipper;
code = N, respondent not affiliated
with shipper

7

Shipper Type

63

character

code
code
code
code
code
code
code

9

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,

LDC/distributor;
interstate pipeline;
intrastate pipeline;
end user;
producer;
marketer;
pipeline sales
operating unit;
code = 8, other, (specify in
footnote)

8

Type of Service

64-65

character

code = FT, firm transportation
code = IT, interruptible
transportation
code = SC, storage capacity
code = SI, storage injection
code = SW, storage
withdrawal

9

Text

66-197

character

Enter the applicable dates or other
information used to allocate capacity

Footnote

198

character

code = Y, footnote is provided
for this record;
code = N, no footnote provided

10

10

***********************************************************************
*
*
*
The Footnotes Record
*
*
*
***********************************************************************

Item
Character
No.
Item
Position
Data Type
Comments
---------------------------------------------------------------------------1

Schedule ID

1

character

Enter 'F'

2

Sequence Number

2-7

numeric

right justified, zero filled, see
general instruction 3

3

Company ID

8-13

numeric

reporting pipeline code, from
buyer/seller code list, see general
instruction 6(A)

4

Reference
Number

14-23

numeric

reference number for record
being footnoted see general
instruction 4

5

Footnote Text

24-155

character

11

APPENDIX A
CD SPECIFICATIONS
Filing on CD is an option for those respondents who wish to do so.
on CD must adhere to the following two constraints:

However, all data filed

1.

All data submitted must be on CD-Recordable (CD-R) media or traditional CD-ROM
media.

2.

The file directory structure of the CD must adhere to the ISO 9660 Level One
standard.

What is CD-R and how does it differ from traditional CD-ROM media?
CD-R is a technology that allows for creating CD-ROMs on the desktop more inexpensively
than traditional CD-ROM media. Traditional CD-ROMs are made by using a laser to "burn"
pits in a thin metallic layer, thus, recording the binary data. By comparison, CD-R uses
special discs impregnated with an organic dye, which serves the same function as the pits,
but at a much lower cost. Both kinds of discs are readable with a traditional CD-ROM
drive. Other kinds of discs, magneto optical, or floptical discs, are not readable by the
common CD-ROM drive, and require a different system altogether.
What is Level One ISO 9660?
The ISO 9660 standard is for file directory systems on CD-ROMs. It is a non-proprietary
standard and can be used on different platforms. It defines naming conventions and
directory depth. There are two main levels of ISO 9660: Level One and Level Two. The
major difference lies within the naming conventions. Level One ISO 9660 allows for MS-DOS
style filenames (eight-character and three-character extensions). Level Two ISO 9660
allows for 32-character filenames. Because the Commission relies upon MS-DOS compatible
personal computers, data submitted on CD-ROMs must be in compliance with Level One ISO
9660.

12