FDD FIRM STORAGE SERVICE NORTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY FIRM STORAGE SERVICE OPTIONS Northern s firm storage service is provided pursuant to the FDD Rate Schedule located in Northern s FERC Gas Tariff. The injection season is June 1 through October 31. The withdrawal season is November 1 through May 31. For added flexibility, firm withdrawals are available during the injection season, and firm injections are available during the withdrawal season through April with interruptible injections and withdrawals being available in May. Northern s FDD provides storage asset values, supply reliability, swing flexibility, scheduling priorities, and is a leverage vehicle for enhanced economic opportunities. FDD has added optionality with the use of intra-day nominations to allow real-time adjustments to unplanned market under or over takes up until : a.m. of the gas day ending. Listed below is a brief summary of three FDD deliverability options that are available. 1. Gas-In-Place Under this option, a shipper s daily deliverability is based on the inventory level in the shipper s account. The greater the shipper s inventory level, the greater their peak daily deliverability. The diagram to the right depicts the peak winter deliverability capabilities, subject to the shipper s actual account inventory. FDD Firm Withdrawal Capabilities Sample Contract Qty: 1,, 1 Highest Lowest GIP 2 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 11 11 21 2 1 1 21 1 31 3 9 19 11 21 31 2 3 2. The -Step withdrawal option provides fixed levels of peak daily deliverability for each month of the service. The diagram at the right depicts the peak winter deliverability capabilities. -Step 1 2 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 11 11 21 2 1 31 1 21 1 31 3 9 19 11 21 2 3 3. Fixed peak daily deliverability is provided for specific time periods. This structure is similar to the -Step option with the exception of February s peak daily deliverability, as shown in the diagram to the right. 1 2 3-Step Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 1 11 21 1 11 21 31 2 3 9 19 1 11 21 31 2 3-1 -
RATES Cycle Year 27/2 forward Max Rate per Fuel Cycled 1 $.732 see tariff Sheet No. 55 1 The maximum rate per cycled shown above is based on a % load factor. Many shippers cycle volumes through the account utilizing midseason injection and withdrawal capabilities. Cycling volumes by an amount equal to 2% - 3% effectively reduces the unit cycle cost. Please see Northern s FDD tariff for additional information regarding Northern s FDD service. CONTRACT TERM The minimum contract year is one (1) year. Multi-year contracts must also be in one (1) year increments. Each one (1) year term begins on June 1 and ends on May 31 of the following year. With a contract year of at least one (1) year at maximum tariff rates, shippers will have guaranteed right of first refusal at the end of the contract term. SERVICE OPTIONS FDD service is provided under three (3) separate service options. These are: Gas-In-Place The basic terms and conditions for each service option are identical. These identical terms and conditions include things such as term length, rates, scheduling priorities, and the maximum and minimum peak day deliverability for a given cycle volume. The difference between the service options lies with the ratcheting of peak day deliverability between the beginning of the injection or withdrawal period through the end of each period. Under the Gas-In-Place option, a shipper s daily deliverability is based on the inventory level that is in the shipper s account. The greater the inventory, the greater the peak daily deliverability that is available. The -Step withdrawal option provides fixed levels of peak daily deliverability for each month of the service. The 3-Step withdrawal option is similar to the -Step option in that fixed peak daily deliverability is provided for specific time periods. The difference is that the peak daily deliverability for February 1- is the same as that in January, and the peak daily deliverability for February 15-2 is the same as that for March. The advantage of the 3-Step is that the highest peak day deliverability is maintained for the longest period of time. Prior to the beginning of each cycle year (June 1), shippers will provide to Northern an election as to the service option election desired for the upcoming cycle year. Shippers with multiple year contracts will have the right to elect different options each cycle year, if so desired. - 2 -
INJECTION PERIOD The injection period extends from June 1 through October 31. During this period, the shipper has firm injection and withdrawal rights on a daily basis. These rights are listed below for each service option: Period Maximum Injection Requirements, Gas-In-Place injected prior to September 1. injected prior to September 1. injected prior to September 1. Daily Maximum Injection Rights, /d Amounts <, >, but <, Gas-In-Place Daily Maximum Amounts /d,1 + 9 per of,7 + 15 per of, Jun 7,95 Jul 9,33 Aug,7 Sep 11,5 Oct 11,5 Jun 7,95 Jul 9,33 Aug,7 Sep 11,5 Oct 11,5 >, 11,5 Daily Maximum Withdrawal Rights, /d Amount <, >, but <, Gas-In-Place Daily Maximum Amounts /d,15 5,519 Jun,15 Jul,15 Aug 5,519 Sep,23 Oct,23 Jun,15 Jul,15 Aug 5,519 Sep,23 Oct,23 >,,23-3 -
WITHDRAWAL PERIOD The withdrawal period extends from November 1 through May 31. Through the month of April the shipper has firm withdrawal and injection rights on a daily basis. Only interruptible injections and withdrawals are available in May. These rights are listed below for each service option: Period Minimum Withdrawal and Requirements, Gas-In-Place Up to 5.% of cycle quantity (5, ) may be withdrawn prior to February 1. Up to 53.% (53, ) of cycle quantity may be withdrawn beginning March 1 and after. Up to % of cycle quantity (, ) may be withdrawn prior to February 1. Up to 25% of cycle quantity (25, ) may be withdrawn beginning March 1 and after. Up to % of cycle quantity (, ) may be withdrawn prior to February 1. Up to 25% of cycle quantity (25, ) may be withdrawn beginning March 1 and after. Gas-In-Place Daily Maximum Withdrawal Rights, /d Amount, Daily Maximum, /d Nov 17,35 Nov 17,35 >75, 17,35 Dec 17,35 Dec 17,35 Jan 17,35 Jan 17,35 Feb 13,397 Feb 1-17,35 <75, but >25, Mar 9,91 Feb 15-2 Mar 9,91 9,91,593 + 55 per of 25, Apr 5,33 May Interruptible Apr 5,33 May Interruptible <25, 5,33 + 3,7 per of April 5,33 May Interruptible Daily Maximum Injection Rights, /d Gas-In-Place Nov,1 Nov,1 Dec,1 Dec,1 Jan,1 Jan,1 Feb,1 Feb,1 Mar,1 Mar,1 Apr 2,9 Apr 2,9 Nov,1 Dec,1 Jan,1 Feb,1 Mar,1 Apr 2,9 May Interruptible May Interruptible May Interruptible - -
NOMINATIONS & SCHEDULING The key advantage of Northern s firm storage is the ability, up until the end of the gas day, to make changes to the scheduled FDD injection or withdrawal quantity. This end of the gas day nomination capability is an excellent way to balance daily supply or market variations. Northern s standard transportation nomination requirements and processes also apply to storage nominations. Overrun of firm injection or firm withdrawal capabilities is made available regularly. Postings on Northern s Internet web site make this information available on a daily basis. RATES & BILLING The individual rate components as listed in Northern s tariff Sheet No. 55 are: Time Period Reservation Capacity Charge Injection Charge Withdraw al Charge Authorized Overrun Annual Rollover Nov- forward $1.7 $.357 $.9 $.9 $.7 $.357 Reservation Charge: The reservation charge is billed monthly for months beginning in June. The monthly bill is equal to the reservation charge multiplied by the maximum daily withdrawal period firm quantity. Capacity Charge: The capacity charge is billed each month during the injection period. The monthly bill is equal to the capacity charge multiplied by FDD contract quantity divided by 5 (the total capacity charge is billed equally over the Injection Period of June through October). Injection Charge: The injection charge is applicable to all quantities injected during the injection period of June through October. The injection charge in the withdrawal period of November through May equals the Authorized Overrun charge. Withdrawal Charge: The withdrawal charge is applicable to all quantities withdrawn during the withdrawal period of November through May. The withdrawal charge in the injection period of June through October equals the Authorized Overrun charge. Authorized Overrun Charge: The authorized overrun charge is applicable to volumes in excess of the shipper's maximum daily firm injection or withdrawal quantities. This charge is also applicable to volumes for period quantities. Rollover Charge: The rollover charge is applicable to account balances held in the shipper's FDD account as of the end of the withdrawal period. - 5 -