Definitions — Us Code Code § 3202

Us Code Code § 3202 — Definitions. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 3202. Definitions

For purposes of this chapter—

(1) The term "gas consumer" means any person, State agency, or Federal agency, to which natural gas is sold other than for purposes of resale.

(2) The term "gas utility" means any person, State agency, or Federal agency, engaged in the local distribution of natural gas, and the sale of natural gas to any ultimate consumer of natural gas.

(3) The term "State regulated gas utility" means any gas utility with respect to which a State regulatory authority has ratemaking authority.

(4) The term "nonregulated gas utility" means any gas utility other than a State regulated gas utility.

(5) The term "rate" means any (A) price, rate, charge, or classification made, demanded, observed, or received with respect to sale of natural gas to a gas consumer, (B) any rule, regulation, or practice respecting any such rate, charge, or classification, and (C) any contract pertaining to the sale of natural gas to a gas consumer.

(6) The term "ratemaking authority" means authority to fix, modify, approve, or disapprove rates.

(7) The term "sale" when used with respect to natural gas, includes an exchange of natural gas.

(8) The term "State regulatory authority" means any State agency which has ratemaking authority with respect to the sale of natural gas by any gas utility (other than by such State agency).

(9) The term "integrated resource planning" means, in the case of a gas utility, planning by the use of any standard, regulation, practice, or policy to undertake a systematic comparison between demand-side management measures and the supply of gas by a gas utility to minimize life-cycle costs of adequate and reliable utility services to gas consumers. Integrated resource planning shall take into account necessary features for system operation such as diversity, reliability, dispatchability, and other factors of risk and shall treat demand and supply to gas consumers on a consistent and integrated basis.

(10) The term "demand-side management" includes energy conservation, energy efficiency, and load management techniques.

(Pub. L. 95–617, title III, §302, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3150; Pub. L. 102–486, title I, §115(a), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2803.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pars. (9), (10). Pub. L. 102–486 added pars. (9) and (10).


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Additional Definitions

Except as otherwise specifically provided, the definitions in section 2602 of Title 16, Conservation, apply to this chapter.

About This Section

15 U.S.C. § 3202 is part of Title 15 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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