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Bulletin 2006-42

November 28, 2006

GAS REMOVAL DATA SYSTEM COMPLIANCE PROCESS

By way of this bulletin, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) is clarifying the compliance process for the Gas Removal Data (GRD) system for filing monthly reporting of natural gas and ethane removal data that is now formalized and governed by Directive 019: EUB Compliance—Enforcement. Furthermore, this bulletin includes important reminders that will assist users of the GRD system to avoid common noncompliance errors.

Background to the GRD System

The GRD system was launched on February 1, 1999, introducing an electronic means for monthly reporting of natural gas and ethane removal data using a form available on the EUB Web site www.ercb.ca in the Industry Zone under Data Submission and Reporting. All permit holders must file data electronically; the EUB will not accept gas removal permit data in a paper format. On November 29, 2000, the Web site form was revised to enable collection of gas transportation information. An upgrade in GRD system technology and revised reporting deadline dates were announced on November 24, 2003.

Requirements for reporting gas removal data are legislated by Sections 3, 4, 5, 11, 18, and 19 of the Gas Resources Preservation Act and Section 5 of the Gas Resources Preservation Regulation.
GRD Compliance Process

The EUB directive governing enforcement of legislated GRD requirements is Directive 019: EUB Compliance—Enforcement.  This directive superseded Informational Letter (IL) 99-04 (plus clarification dated February 24, 2000): EUB Enforcement Process, Generic Enforcement Ladder, and Field Surveillance Enforcement Ladder.

Noncompliance error reports are generated by the GRD system, and informal telephone or e-mail notification of errors has been replaced by an EUB Notice of Low Risk Noncompliance, which is provided by e-mail to GRD system users for each compliance error. Escalating enforcement consequences will result if there is persistent failure to submit GRD data in accordance with EUB requirements and in alignment with the principles outlined in Directive 019. Noncompliance errors are recorded using the EUB Enforcement Tool and can negatively impact the overall corporate performance record of the permit holder.

Important GRD Reminders

• All gas volumes, including gas used for transportation fuel, must be reported in thousands of cubic metres at 101.325 kilopascals and 15 Celsius. Heat content and pipeline information must also be reported.
• A report must be filed for each month that the permit has “active” status. A nil report must be filed for months when no gas is sold under the authority of the permit.
• It is important for companies to ensure that the correct contact information for the person submitting the data resides within the GRD system. System users must ensure that contact information, particularly the e-mail address, is checked for accuracy and changed as required on the Web-based GRD submission form or within the Administrator Options area of the DDS menu.
• A permit holder must abide by the terms of its gas removal permit, including the reporting requirement stated in clause 7 of the permit. It must not remove gas during a period outside the dates stated in clause 2 of the permit. Neither must the permit holder remove a volume of gas from Alberta that is greater than the quantity of gas specified in clause 3 of the permit.
• To report gas removed under the authority of a permit, the company holding the permit or its agent must set up a Digital Data Submission (DDS) account. DDS Help is located in the Submissions area of the EUB Web site www.ercb.ca and provides on-line assistance to anyone accessing the EUB Web site. A link to a printable version of the Digital Data Submission User Guide is found in DDS Help. The GRD form also resides in the Submissions area of the EUB Web site and is accessed by authorized users of the GRD system through the DDS system. GRD Help is located at the upper left corner of the GRD form (Monthly Gas Removal Permit Statement).
• Bulletin 2003-36: Upgrade of Gas Removal Data (GRD) System and Reporting Compliance (November 24, 2003) and Bulletin 2004-04: Revision to Gas Removal Data (GRD) Volumetric Data Deadline Announced in Bulletin 2003-36 (November 24, 2003) (January 15, 2004) are no longer applicable to the GRD reporting compliance process.
• Please direct any questions to the EUB Economics Group at (403) 297-3916.

[Original signed by]

Cal Hill
Executive Manager
Resources Branch