SERVICE AGREEMENT/INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT GAS DISTRIBUTION
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SERVICE AGREEMENT
THIS SERVICE AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 20th day of
April, 1993, by and between the Municipal Gas Authority of Florida,
an entity existing by Interlocal Agreement, hereinafter referred to
as "MGAF" or "Authori ty," and the Ci ty of Cl earwater, Florida whose
address is 400 North Myrtle, Clearwater, Florida, 34615,
hereinafter referred to as "Member."
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Member is a municipal corporation authorized and
existing under the laws of the State of Florida and, as such, comes
wi thin the meaning of the words "Publ i c Agency" as def ined by
Section 163.01(3)(b), Florida Statutes; and
WHEREAS, MGAF is an entity formed by Interlocal
between Publ ic Agencies authorized by and existing
provisions of Chapter 163, Florida Statutes; and
WHEREAS, Member has become a party to said Interlocal
Agreement by adoption of Resolution number 92 - 72 on the 3rd day
of December, 1992; and
WHEREAS, Member owns or operates a local natural gas
distribution system by which it delivers gas to the ultimate
consumer, possesses or wi 11 possess an Allotment on Pipel ine
Supplier and has assigned or hereby agrees to assign such Allotment
to MGAF pursuant to paragraph 11 (a) of said Interlocal Agreement;
and
Agreement
under the
WHEREAS, MGAF, upon approval by FERC of the restructuring
tariff of Pipeline Supplier resulting from FERC Docket No. RS92-16,
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will contract with Pipeline Supplier on behalf of its Members for
transporta ti on servi ce under Pipe line Supp Ii er' s Rate Schedul e
FTS-1 (and, at the appropriate time, Rate Schedule FTS-2) and Rate
Schedule NNTS, and upon the effective date of those rate schedules
and thereafter will perform services pertaining to the acquisition,
aggregation, transport, nomination and scheduling, sale, and
delivery of gas, on a full requirements basis, for the local
distribution system owned or operated by Member and pertaining to
the administration, including Relinquishment, of the assigned
Allotment and related matters;
NOW, THEREFORE, ln consideration of the mutual benefi ts,
obligations, forbearances, and undertakings herein contained, the
parties agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Except where otherwise defined herein or
where the context of this Agreement requires otherwise, the
definitions in the FERC Gas Tariff, Third Revised Volume, of
Pipeline Supplier, as same may be amended from time to time, are
incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, the let ters,
words or phrases:
(a) "Allotment" shall mean the right, the service
agreements incorporating the right, and the service capacity
thereby allotted to transmit gas on a firm basis on Pipeline
Supplier for a definite term to delivery points located within or
without the State of Florida, including all associated rights and
entitlements, such as, for example, receipt point entitlements,
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pool ing point enti t 1 ements, storage capaci ty, no-noti ce servi ce
entitlement, et cetera;
(b) "Authority Gas Supply" shall mean gas owned by MGAF
or available to MGAF by contract between MGAF and a Third Party;
(c) "Commodi ty Charge" shall mean a charge to be paid by
Member associated with the actual volume of gas provided by MGAF;
(d) "Customer" shall mean a legal entity other than a
Member to which MGAF provides gas or gas services;
(e) "Delivery Point" or "Point of Delivery" shall mean
the place on Pipeline Supplier's pipeline where the Member or a
Customer takes delivery and control of gas;
(f) "Demand Charge" shall mean a charge to be paid by
Member associated with MGAF's provision of Firm Gas up to Members'
MDCQ;
(g) "Existing Contract Gas Supply" shall mean a supply
of gas which Member is contractually obligated to purchase at the
time that MGAF becomes the full requirements supplier of Member;
(h) "FERC" shall mean the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission or any successor agency or body, including the Congress,
which has authority to regulate the rates and services of Pipeline
Supplier;
(i) "FERC Gas Tariff" shall mean the effective tariff of
Pipeline Supplier on file at the FERC, as same may be changed from
time to time;
(j) "Firm Gas" shall mean gas or gas service which MGAF
1S contractually obligated to sell, deliver, or provide to Member;
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(k) "Gas" sha 11 mean natura 1 gas, inc 1 uding gas produced
from an oil well or gas well and the residue gas remaining after
any processing or treating of such gas, of a quality which complies
with the General Terms and Conditions of Pipeline Supplier's FERC
Gas Tariff;
(1) "Gas Day" shall mean a peri od of 24 consecutive
hours beginning and ending at 4:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time and
shall be referred to by the calendar day on which it begins;
(m) "Gas Year" shall mean a period of twel ve months
commenc~ng on the Gas Day of October 1 and ending at the conclusion
of the Gas Day of the next succeeding September 30;
(n) "Interlocal Agreement" shall mean the agreement
dated October 1, 1992, and any amendments thereto, whereby MGAF was
created;
(0) "Interruptibl e Gas" shall mean gas or gas servi ce
which MGAF has no contractual obligation to sell, deliver, or
provide and which Member has no contractual obligation to accept or
pay for, unless actually requested by Member and delivered by MGAF;
(p) "Maximum Annual Contract Quantity" or "MACQ" shall
mean the largest quantity of Firm Gas which MGAF may be
contractually obligated to deliver to a Member during a Gas Year;
(q) "Maximum Daily Contract Quantity" or "MDCQ" shall
mean the largest quantity of Firm Gas which MGAF may be
contractually obligated to deliver to a Member during a Gas Day;
(r) "Member" and "Members" shall mean the signatory to
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this Agreement or all or some of the Members of MGAF, as the
context requires;
(s) "MGAF Tariff" shall mean the duly adopted tariff of
MGAF, as same may be changed from time to time, setting forth the
rates and terms and conditions of service of MGAF, which shall be
kept on file at MGAF's principal office and copies of which shall
be made available to all Members;
(t) "MMBTU" shall mean one million British Thermal
Units;
(u) "Month" or "Monthly" shall mean a period beginning
on the first Gas Day and ending on the last Gas Day of the calendar
month;
(v) "Nominated Daily Quantity" or "NDQ" shall mean the
quantity of gas which Member requests MGAF to deliver during any
particular Gas Day up to Member's MDCQ;
(w) "No-Notice Service" or "NNS" shall mean the maximum
quantity of gas which Member may take over or under its NDQ, up to
its MDCQ, without being subject to imbalance penalties;
(x) "Pipeline Supplier" shall mean the Florida Gas
Transmission Company pipeline system;
(y) "Relinquishment" shall mean the release by a Member
or Thi rd Party to the use of a Member or Thi rd Party, ei ther
permanent I y or temporari I y, of fi rm transportation capaci ty on
Pipeline Supplier;
(z) "Third Party" shall mean any person or legal entity
which is not a party to this Agreement;
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(aa) "Weighted Average Cost of Gas" or "WACOG" shall
mean the average cost of a unit of gas provided by MGAF, determined
by dividing the total price paid for all quantities of gas by MGAF
(plus any related costs incurred) during the period of calculation
by the total number of such units provided by MGAF during the same
period.
2. ALLOTMENT. Member has assigned, or hereby agrees to
assign, to MGAF its Allotment, present and future. Subject only to
the limitations imposed by the Interlocal Agreement or by this
Service Agreement, MGAF will own and manage such Allotment
consistent with its obligations hereunder and with the terms and
conditions of the FERC Gas Tariff of Pipeline Supplier. If, in the
judgment of MGAF, it is required by the FERC Gas Tariff of Pipeline
Supplier, Member shall provide to MGAF for forwarding to Pipeline
Supplier the necessary financial data (as specified in Section 16.A
of the General Terms and Condi tions of the FERC Gas Tari ff of
Pipeline Supplier). In addition, Member shall guarantee the
obligations of MGAF to the extent of Member's share of the total
Allotment, which share will be calculated by dividing Member's MDCQ
(shown on Schedule A hereto) by the sum of the MDCQs of all Members
(shown on the respective Schedule As appended to their Service
Agreements with MGAF). MGAF shall maintain an Allotment account
for each Member, which shall ref I ect Member's Allotment and any
increases and/or decreases in the Member's Allotment. The balance
of the Allotment account shall be reassigned to the Member upon
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termination of membership in the manner provided herein or 1n the
Interlocal Agreement.
3. SOURCES OF GAS SUPPLY. The gas to be provided to Members
shall be supplied from either Existing Contract Gas Supply or
Authority Gas Supply, or both, as those phrases are defined herein.
In supplying gas to a Member which has Existing Contract Gas Supply
contract(s) in force, the first quantities supplied shall, to the
extent such quanti ties are avai I abl e under the then existing
contract(s), be deemed to be Existing Contract Gas Supply until the
requirement to take and purchase gas under such existing
contract(s) has been satisfied. All quantities of gas in excess of
Existing Contract Gas Supply shall be deemed to be Authority Gas
Supply. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in all
transactions involving Existing Contract Gas Supply, the
relationship between Member and MGAF shall be that of principal and
agent. MGAF shall administer the Existing Contract Gas Supply
contract(s) according to its terms as an agent for the Member and
shall charge the Member with all costs incurred in performance of
the contract(s) plus a surcharge designed to recover administrative
costs which shall be established by the MGAF Tariff. The Existing
Contract Gas Supply shall be deemed to be a transitional source of
supply and shall be replaced by Authority Gas Supply as such
existing contracts terminate. Existing Contract Gas Supply which
exceeds the supply requirements of the Member may be charged to the
Member or used for Authority Gas Supply at the discretion of MGAF
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or, with the concurrence of Member, sold, transferred, or
relinquished to other parties.
4. PURCHASE AND SALE OF GAS. Subject to the other provisions
of the Interlocal Agreement and this Agreement, MGAF agrees to sell
and have del i vered to Member and Member agrees to purchase and
receive from MGAF its entire supply of gas up to, but not in excess
of, the MDCQ herein stated upon the terms and for the rates from
time to time established by the MGAF Tariff. The MGAF Tariff shall
adhere to and incorporate the following principles, to which Member
hereby agrees, to-wit:
(a) Transportation Reservation Charqes. Member shall
pay, in its Demand Charge, its proporti ona te share of the total
reservation (and reI ated) charges incurred by MGAF under its
transporta tion contract (s) wi th Pipe line Supp Ii er and/ or wi th Thi rd
Parties, incl uding, but not I imi ted to, TCR Fixed Charges, GRI
Surcharges, ACA Surcharges, non-assignable filing fees, fixed
storage charges, and the like, which share shall be calculated as
follows:
(1) The reservation charges incurred for No-Notice
Service shall be charged to Member in the same proportion that the
No-Notice Service credited to Member's Allotment account (plus or
minus any No Notice Service acquired from or transferred to any
Member and/or Third Party) bears to the total amount of No-Notice
Service credited to all Members' Allotment accounts (plus or minus
any No Notice Service acquired from or transferred to any Member
and/or Third Party); and
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(2) All other transportation-related fixed charges
(exclusive of those related to Rate Schedule FTS-2) relating to the
Member's MDCQ as set forth on Schedule A hereto shall be charged
to Member in the same proportion that Member's MDCQ (exclusive of
any MDCQ attributable to Rate Schedule FTS-2) bears to the total
MDCQs of all Members (exclusive of any MDCQ attributable to Rate
Schedule FTS-2), with the costs and/or benefits associated with
participation in the temporary ReI inquishment and/ or Al ternate
Delivery Point programs to be assigned in the manner provided in
paragraphs 8 and 10, respectively, below.
(3) All transportation-related fixed charges
related to the provision of service under the FTS-2 Rate Schedule
wi 11 be paid for onl y by those Members whi ch are phase I I I
participants and shall be charged to such Members in the same
proportion that each such Member's MDCQ attributable to Rate
Schedule FTS-2 bears to the total MDCQs attributable to Rate
Schedule FTS-2 of all such Members.
(4) If, by reason of additional expansion or
otherwise, Pipeline Supplier offers firm transportation service(s)
at a reservation charge different from that now offered or that
proposed in Pipel ine Suppl ier' s Phase I I I expansion proceeding
under Rate Schedule FTS-2 and if some Member(s) contracts for such
capaci ty, which is assigned to MGAF, all reservation charges
related to the provision of such service(s) will be paid for only
by those Member(s) which contract for same and shall be charged to
a participating Member in the same proportion that such Member's
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MDCQ attributable to such new service(s) bears to the total MDCQ
attributable to such service(s) of all such participating Members.
(b) Other Transportation Charges. Additional
transportation charges incurred to transport gas to Member,
including in-kind fuel charges, shall be charged to Member on the
same basis as incurred by MGAF.
(c) Commodity Charges. Member shall take and pay for,
or if not taken, pay for in its Commodity Charge a supply of gas
equal to its NDQ and for any additional gas actually taken. Member
shall be charged MGAF's Weighted Average Cost of Gas multiplied by
its NDQ or the amount actually taken, whichever is greater, except:
(1) Gas obtained or obtainable from Member's
Existing Contract Gas Supply shall be deducted and charged as
provided ~n paragraph 3 above;
(2) Member shall not be charged for gas not taken
as a result of MGAF's failure to tender delivery;
(3) Member shall not be charged for failure to take
its NDQ to the extent MGAF does, in fact, utilize the gas elsewhere
within or without its membership or avoids taking and paying for
the gas which Member failed to take so that Member's failure to
take its NDQ does not increase MGAF's WACOG; and
(4) Gas taken by Member in quantities less than or
in excess of its NDQ may be subject to penalties which shall be
charged as provided in subparagraph (e), below.
(d) Gas Reservation and Variable Charges. Costs / if
any, incurred by MGAF to assure availability of a quantity of gas
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sufficient to supply the Members' aggregate MDCQ shall be recovered
as an element in the WACOG. In addition, all variable costs,
incl uding variabl e storage costs, incurred by MGAF to secure
Authority Gas Supply shall be recovered as an element in the WACOG.
(e) Penalties. MGAF shall use its best efforts to
minimize penal ties by bal ancing receipts and del i veries of gas
among its Members and Customers. However, Member shall be charged
wi th penal ties incurred as a resul t of imbal ances between the
quanti ty of gas nominated, pl us or minus its No-Notice Service
Allotment, and the quantities of gas actually taken by Member to
the extent MGAF or Member fails to offset, balance, or otherwise
avoid them. Penalties incurred by MGAF which are not attributable
to the action or inaction of a particular Member shall be recovered
as an element in the WACOG.
(f) Taxes. Member shall be charged with any Federal,
state, or local sales, use, consumption, or similar tax, charge, or
franchise fee which may be levied on any sale, exchange, or
transfer of gas to which Member is a direct party. All such taxes
or charges levied on transactions which occur prior to delivery of
gas to Members shall be recovered as an element in the WACOG.
(g) Interruptible Gas. If requested by Member, MGAF
shall make its best ef fort to suppl y Interruptibl e Gas, to the
extent capacity is available on Pipeline Supplier, on a first
requested-first served basis.
(h) No-Notice Service. Member's No-Notice Service
Allotment shall be handled between MGAF and Member in the same
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manner it is handled between MGAF and Pipeline Supplier under the
latter's FERC Gas tariff.
(i) Projects. In the event MGAF undertakes pro jects
invol ving capi tal outl ay in which some, but not all, Members
participate, the MGAF Tariff shall be designed so that the burdens
and benefits of the project are restricted to the Members which
participate in it.
(j) Rate Stabilization Reserves. MGAF may create and
fund from MGAF Tariff rates reserves for the purpose of stabilizing
rates.
(k) Other Reserves. MGAF may create and fund with MGAF
Tariff rates other reserves which are consistent with sound
business practice.
(1) Capital Expenditures. MGAF may raise funds through
MGAF Tariff rates for acquisition of capital items necessary and
useful for its normal function of buying, selling, brokering, and
transporting gas such as, for example, office facilities, office
equipment, and vehicles, the aggregate cost of which does not
exceed five percent (5%) of the budget in any fiscal year. Major
pro jects invol ving capi tal expendi ture, such as, for exampl e,
acquisition of gas supply reserves, storage facilities, peak
shaving plants, or pipeline facilities, shall require authorization
through supplemental agreement among the participating Members.
(m) Administrative Charqes. In addition to the
foregoing charges which MGAF may from time to time implement,
Member shall pay in its Commodity Charge a fee to recover MGAF's
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operating and administrative costs, including, but not limited to,
salaries and other employee benefits, legal, accounting, and other
prof essi ona 1 services, supp lies, minor capi tal expendi t ures as
defined above, insurance and indemnity costs, and reserves;
provided, however, that to the extent that administrative or like
charges are incurred on behalf of an identifiable Member, such as,
for example, the posting fee for Relinquishment, such Member shall
reimburse MGAF directly for such charges.
(n) Not-For-Profi t Status. The foregoing rates and
charges shall be established with the objective of MGAF operating
on a not-for-profit basis and shall be adjusted, if necessary, at
reasonable intervals no less frequently than three years to produce
that result.
S. MAXIMUM DAILY CONTRACT QUANTITIES. The MDCQ shown on
Schedule A hereto equates to the firm transportation entitlement of
Member on Pipeline Supplier prior to the assignment of same to
MGAF. Subject to paragraph 6 below, Member may for any given Gas
Day nominate, at its primary Delivery Point(s), up to its MDCQ for
that Gas Day, plus or minus any temporary Relinquishments effective
for that Gas Day, and shall be entitled to receive Firm Gas in the
amount nominated at such Delivery Point(s). In the event that
through permanent Relinquishment or otherwise, MGAF's firm
transportation entitlement on Pipeline Supplier attributable to
Member increases or decreases, the MDCQ shown on Schedule A hereto
will be revised accordingly. At Member's request, MGAF will assist
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Member in attempting to secure a changed transportation entitlement
on Pipeline Supplier.
6. NOMINATED QUANTITIES. Member shall, wi thin the time
periods set forth in the MGAF Tariff, provide MGAF with a written
nomination prior to each month specifying, by Delivery Point(s),
the daily quantities, in MMBTU, of Firm Gas for each Gas Day during
the ensuing month, which will constitute Member's NDQ. Such
nomination may not exceed Member's MDCQ for that Gas Day, plus or
minus any temporary Relinquishments effective for that Gas Day.
Member's NDQ may be revised in the manner and upon the notice
specified in the MGAF tariff. For informational purposes, Member
will also provide to MGAF, ninety (90) days prior to each October
1, its best estimate of the Member's daily requirements for the
ensuing twelve (12) months, which estimate shall be updated by
Member no less frequently than quarterly thereafter.
7. NO-NOTICE SERVICE. The NNS quantity, which is shown on
Schedule A hereto (as such may be revised from time to time to
reflect changes in the NNS in accordance with Section 3 (or any
successor) of Rate Schedule NNTS in the FERC Gas Tariff of Pipeline
Supplier) equates to the No Notice Transportation Service
entitlement of Member on Pipeline Supplier prior to the assignment
of same hereunder to MGAF. The NNS quantity represents the amount
by which Member's actual receipts may deviate from its NDQ;
provided, however, that Member's actual receipts may not exceed its
MDCQ. MGAF will assist Member in its efforts to change its NNS
entitlement.
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8. TEMPORARY RELINQUISHMENT OF CAPACITY. MGAF may, wi th the
consent of the Member, participate in the temporary Relinquishment
program described in Section 18 (or any successor) of the General
Terms and Conditions of the FERC Gas Tariff of Pipeline Supplier.
The costs or benefits, as the case may be, from participating in
such program, except in the case of Temporary Repackaged
Relinquishments (as described in Section 18.F (or any successor) of
the FERC Gas Tariff of Pipeline Supplier), will be assigned
directly to the participating Member(s); provided, however, in the
event that it is not possibl e to identi fy wi th accuracy the
capaci ty reI inquished wi th the costs or benefits at tributabl e
thereto, then MGAF will allocate the costs or benefits in a fair
and equitable manner between and among the participating Members.
In the case of Temporary Repackaged Relinquishments, the benefits
from participating in such program will be allocated to the
participating Member(s) on the basis of a ratio, the numerator of
which will be the quantity of Repackaged capacity of each
participating Member and the denominator of which will be the
aggregate quanti ty of Repackaged capaci ty of all participating
Members. MGAF shall use its best efforts to relinquish capacity
made available for Relinquishment, but its failure to do so, for
whatever reason, shall not affect Member's obligation to pay demand
charges.
9. PERMANENT RELINQUISHMENT OF CAPACITY. There shall be no
increase or decrease in a Member's Allotment as the resul t of
participation in the permanent Relinquishment program of Pipeline
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Suppl ier wi thout pn.or wri t ten consent from the participating
Member. The effect of a permanent Relinquishment will be to change
the participating Member's MDCQ by a like amount.
10. ALTERNATE DELIVERY POINT(S). MGAF may, with the consent
of the affected Member(s), nominate gas for delivery at Alternate
Del i very Point (s), consistent wi th the terms and condi tions of
Section 9.B (or any successor) of Rate Schedule FTS-l of the FERC
Gas Tariff of Pipeline Supplier.
The costs and benefits of such
nominations will be assigned directly to the Member whose capacity
is moved to or from an Alternate Delivery Point; provided, however,
in the event that it is not possible to identify with accuracy the
capacity moved with the costs and/or benefits attributable thereto,
then MGAF will allocate the costs and/or benefits in a fair and
equitable manner between and among the Members with such capacity.
11. CURTAILMENT OF SUPPLY. In the event Pipeline Supplier issues
an order curtailing transportation capacity which affects an area
in which a Member or Customer of MGAF ~s located, MGAF shall
implement the order in a manner consistent with Pipeline Supplier's
tariff requirements and, to the extent possible, as though the
Member or Customer were a direct customer of Pipeline Supplier.
Any penalties incurred by MGAF as a result of the violation by a
Member or Customer of a curtai lment order issued by Pipel ine
Supplier shall be charged to the Member or Customer violating the
order.
MGAF may adopt its own procedure and condi tions for
curtailment of gas supply supplemental to and not inconsistent with
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the FERC
penalties
orders.
12. FORCE MAJEURE. In the event that either party is
rendered unable, wholly or in part, by force majeure to carry out
its obligations under this Agreement, other than to make payments
due hereunder, subject to such party giving notice and full
parti cuI ars of the force ma jeure in wri ting or by el ect rani c
transmission to the other party as soon as possibl e after the
occurrence of the cause relied upon, the obligations of the party
giving such notice, to the extent affected by such force majeure,
shall be suspended during the continuance of any inabi I i ty so
caused, but for no I anger period. The force majeure condi tion
causing the inability shall be remedied as far as possible with all
reasonable dispatch, except that settlement of strikes or lockouts
shall be entirely within the discretion of the party having the
di f f i cuI ty. The words "force ma jeure" as used herein shall mean an
Gas Tariff of Pipeline
in the MGAF Tariff for
Supplier and may establish
viol ation of its curtai lment
occurrence not wi thin the control of the party and which by
exercise of due di I igence, such party is unabl e to prevent or
overcome including, but not limited to: acts of God; strikes,
lockouts, and other industrial disturbances; acts of the public
enemy; wars; blockades; the necessity for making repairs or
alterations to plants, facilities, machinery, or lines of pipe;
pI anned or unpl anned outages of Pipel ine Suppl ier or any other
transporter's pipeline system or the physical inability of Pipeline
Supplier or any other transporter's pipeline system to receive or
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deliver gas; required maintenance and regulatory compliance as
required by the Department of Transportation or any other
governmental agency; insurrections; riots; epidemics; landslides;
lightning; earthquakes; fires; storms; hurricanes; floods;
washouts; arrests and restraints of governments and people; present
and future valid orders, decisions, or rulings of any governmental
authority having jurisdiction; civil disturbances; explosions,
breakage, or accident to machinery or lines of pipe; line freezes;
inabi 1 i ty of a party to acqui re, or de 1 ays in acqui ring, at
reasonable cost and after the exercise of reasonable diligence,
where necessary, servitudes, rights of way grants, permits,
licenses, permission, or materials; and any other cause or causes
which, by the exercise of due diligence, such party is unable to
prevent or overcome. Notwithstanding any other provision herein to
the contrary, an interruption of del i veries of an interruptibl e
transportation service relied upon by MGAF to effectuate deliveries
to Member shall not constitute a force majeure event unless the
interruption is caused by an event of force majeure as defined
above.
13. BILLING. MGAF shall foll ow the following procedures wi th
respect to invoices and bills to Members:
(a) Invoices. MGAF shall render an invoice in writing
with supporting data to Member in accordance with the MGAF Tariff
for all charges for gas and services furnished or rendered during
the preceding month, including any penalties incurred and credits
earned, interest, and adjustments or corrections of prior invoices.
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When information necessary for invoicing purposes is in the control
of Member, Member shall furnish such information to MGAF on or
before the third working day of each month.
(b) Estimated Data. In the event that supporting data
1S not available to MGAF 1n a sufficiently timely manner to render
an invoice by the day of each month designated in the MGAF Tariff,
MGAF may bill Member based on nominated volumes and estimated data,
subject to later correction based on actual supporting data, which
correction will be made as soon as possible in the ensuing months'
invoices.
(c) Avai I abi I i ty of Records. Both MGAF and Member shall
have the right to examine all books, records, and charts of the
other at reasonable times to the extent necessary to verify the
accuracy of any invoice, charge, or computation made pursuant to
this Agreement.
(d) Ad iustment of Error. In the event error is
discovered by ei ther party in any invoi ce wi thin twenty-three
months after it has been rendered by MGAF, such error shall be
adjusted, with interest from date of payment, within thirty days.
If no claim of error has been made by either party with respect to
any invoice within twenty-three months from the date rendered, the
invoice shall be deemed conclusively to be correct.
(e) Computations. All computations wi th respect to
pricing cal cuI ations and reimbursements shall be made to the
nearest one-hundredth of one cent, with the invoice being rounded
to the nearest one cent.
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14. PAYMENT. Unless otherwise agreed, Member shall pay MGAF
by wire transfer of federal funds on or before the fifth working
day after receipt of a wri t ten invoice by mai I, courier, or
facsimile electronic transmission. An account not paid when due
with funds immediately available to MGAF shall accrue interest from
the due date. A disputed account shall be paid when due despite
the dispute. If, upon resolution of the dispute, it is determined
that Member overpaid, MGAF shall reimburse the overpayment with
interest within thirty days.
15. INTEREST. The rate of interest appl icabl e to
transactions which by this Agreement bear interest shall be
established from time to time in the MGAF Tariff at a non-usurious,
commercially feasible rate.
16. RATE COVENANT. Member shall establ ish, maintain, and
collect rates and charges for gas service on its gas system so as
to provide sufficient revenues, together with available gas system
reserves, to enable Member to pay all accounts payable to MGAF by
Member under this Agreement and all other lawful charges against or
liens on the revenues of Member's gas system.
17. DEFAULT IN PAYMENT. The failure of Member to make any of
the payments to MGAF for which provision 1S made in this Agreement
shall constitute a default on the part of Member. Upon any such
default, MGAF may, immediately and without notice, bring any suit,
action or proceeding in law or in equity against Member, including
mandamus and action for specific performance, as may be necessary
or appropriate to enforce any covenant, agreement, or obligation to
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make any payment for which provision is made in this Agreement and,
after forty-five (45) days written notice to Member, may
discontinue providing all or any portion of Member's gas supply.
If non-payment continues for a period of more than sixty (60) days,
membership in MGAF may be terminated in accordance with paragraph
13 of the Interlocal Agreement.
18.
OTHER DEFAULT BY MEMBER.
In the event of a failure of
Member to establish, maintain, or collect rates or charges adequate
to provide sufficient revenue to enable Member to pay all amounts
due to MGAF under this Agreement, or a failure of Member to take
its gas supplies from MGAF in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement, or a default by Member under any other covenant,
agreement, or obligation of this Agreement, MGAF may, immediately
and without notice, bring any suit, action, or proceeding in law or
in equi ty against Member, incl uding mandamus, injunction, and
action for specific performance, as may be necessary or appropriate
to enforce any covenant, agreement, or obligation of this
Agreement. If Member continues in any such default for a period of
more than ninety (90) days after written notice to correct the same
has been del i vered to Member, its membership in MGAF may be
terminated 1n accordance wi th paragraph 13 of the Interlocal
Agreement.
19. DEFAULT BY MGAF. In the event of a default by MGAF under
any covenant, agreement, or obligation of this Agreement, Member
may bring any sui t, action, or proceeding in I aw or in equi ty,
against MGAF, immediately and without notice, including mandamus,
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injunction, and action for specific performance, as may be
necessary or appropriate to enforce any covenant, agreement, or
obligation of this Agreement.
20. WAIVER, ELECTION, AND ABANDONMENT OF REMEDY. Failure of
either party to take action in the event of a default shall not be
deemed a waiver of any succeeding or future default whether of like
kind or different. Use of one remedy available to a party in the
event of a default by the other shall not preclude concurrent or
subsequent use of another remedy available to the party. If any
proceeding taken on account of a default is discontinued or
abandoned, the parties shall be restored to their former positions
and rights under this Agreement.
21. TITLE AND POSSESSION. Title to and possession of gas
delivered to Member from Existing Contract Gas Supply shall be, at
all times, in either Member or the gas supplier under the contract
as determined by the contract and shall not be deemed to be in MGAF
at any time. Title to and possession of gas delivered to Member
from Authority Gas Supply shall pass from MGAF to Member at the
outlet valve of the meter at the Delivery Point(s) specified in
Schedule A. Until such delivery, MGAF shall be deemed to be in
control of, to have title and possession of, and to be responsible
for Authority Supply Gas.
22. WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY OF TITLE. MGAF hereby warrants
that it has, or will have, title to all Authority Supply Gas
delivered to Member free and clear of all claims and encumbrances
at the time of delivery. MGAF will, and hereby does, indemnify
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Member and save it harmless from all suits, actions, debts,
accounts, damages, costs, losses, and expenses (incl uding
reasonable attorney fees) arising from or out of adverse claims of
any or all persons to the gas or to royalties, taxes, license fees,
or charges thereon, which are applicable prior to the title to the
gas passing to Member. Member shall, and hereby does, indemnify
MGAF and save it harmless from any and all taxes, license fees, or
charges upon, or relating to, the gas from and after the time title
to the gas passes to Member.
23. GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS. This Agreement shall be
subject to all valid, applicable, and effective laws, orders,
rules, regulations, and directives of all duly constituted Federal,
State, and local governmental authorities having jurisdiction.
24. BUDGET. MGAF shall adopt and furnish to Member at least
sixty (60) days prior to the commencement of a Gas Year an
operating budget for such Gas Year, which budget shall include
projected costs of gas to Members. Neither the estimated cost of
gas nor the budget generally shall have any binding effect upon
MGAF insofar as a Member is concerned, but all Members shall be
informed promptly whenever it is apparent that the overall
operating expense will exceed the overall budget projection by more
than fifteen percent (15%). The budget shall be in a form which
complies with all budgeting and accounting standards prescribed for
fiscal management of municipal or special district proprietary
activities by the Auditor General of the State of Florida and all
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other governmental agencies having jurisdiction over a Member of
MGAF.
25. PROJECTS. If the Board of Directors of MGAF resolves to
undertake a project involving investment of capital, other than the
minor capital expenditures authorized in paragraph 4(1) and
establishment of reserves authorized in paragraphs 4(j) and (k), it
shall establish a separate budget or budgets, subsidiary to the
budget provided for in paragraph 24 above, for the cost of
developing the project, including planning costs, and shall provide
funding through separate supplemental contracts between MGAF and
those Members (and other parties) interested in pursuing the
project. Except as herein provided, no Member shall be required to
pay an expense, incur a financial burden, or otherwise participate,
directly or indirectly, with respect to such a project unless the
Member has first become a party to such a supplemental contract.
All Members shall be afforded an opportunity to participate on an
equitable basis in any project. One of the purposes for which such
a project may be utilized is to provide Authority Supply Gas. Such
projects may be financed with indebtedness for payment of which
revenues or products of the project or participating Member's
credi t or both may be pI edged and to which the rate covenant
contained in paragraph 16, above, may be subordinated. When a
project is operational, if less than all Members are participants,
MGAF shall maintain a separate, subsidiary operating budget on each
such project which will demonstrate the financial relationship
between the project and MGAF's general operating budget.
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26. TERM. This Agreement shall constitute a binding
obligation between the parties from and after its execution by the
last party to execute it for a term of twenty-five (25) years
thereafter; provided, however, that Member may elect to terminate
this Agreement and its membership in MGAF at the end of the initial
three (3) years and on each successive three-year anniversary
thereafter, by delivering a written notice of such election to MGAF
no later than twelve (12) months prior to the proposed termination
date. Upon expiration of this Service Agreement by whatever means,
the parties' obligations under this Agreement and any supplemental
agreements, their respective accounts, and all other matters
between them shall be wound up in accordance with paragraph 12 of
the Interlocal Agreement, and Member's membership in MGAF shall
cease.
27.
NOTICES.
Except as herein otherwise specifically
provided, any notice, request, demand, statement, or invoice
provided for in this Agreement, or any notice which a party may
desire to give the other, shall be in wri ting and shall be
considered to be delivered as of the day transmitted if telecopied
and as of the third day following the day of transmittal if mailed
by Uni ted States mai 1, wi red, or couri er expressed to the other
party at the following addresses, or such other addresses as a
party may hereafter furnish the other party in writing, to-wit:
(a) Notices to MGAF -
Addressee: Municipal Gas Authority of Florida
Address:
1500 E. Highway 50, P.O.Box 771275
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Winter Garden, Florida, 34777 - 1275
Attention: Larry E. Asmus
Telecopy No: (407) 877 - 3893
Telephone No (407) 656 - 2834
(b) Notices to Member -
Addressee: Clearwater Gas System
City of Clearwater, Florida
Address: 400 North Myrtle Avenue
Clearwater, Florida, 34615
Attention: Charles S. Warrington, Jr.
Tel ecopy No: (813) 462 - 6636
Telephone No: (813) 462 - 6630
When a signature is necessary to the effectiveness of a document or
notice which has been delivered by wire or telecopy, the original
with signature shall be transmitted by United States mail or
courier delivery within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter.
28. DAILY OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS. Each party shall
appoint from time to time, and furnish to the other party written
notice of the name, mailing address, telephone number, and telecopy
transmission number of, an employee or agent with authority to give
and receive notices and directives regarding daily operational
decisions which shall be contractually binding upon the parties.
Notices and directions between such employees or agents may be
transmitted orally when the exigencies require, provided they are
promptly confirmed by a written communication.
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29. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.
It ~s understood that other Public
Agencies which meet the criteria for membership set forth in the
Interlocal Agreement may become additional Members of MGAF from
time to time. Such additional Members shall be offered a service
agreement substantially the same as this Agreement and any
amendments thereto. Equalization of Members' capital investment,
including working capital, on an equitable basis whenever
practicable and appropriate, may be required by MGAF. The Board of
Directors of MGAF shall have full discretion to determine to what
extent, under what conditions, and on what terms an additional
Member may be required to pay an entry charge designed to protect
the economic interests of existing Members.
30. RULES AND REGULATIONS. Service hereunder shall be in
accordance with such other service rules and regulations from time
to time promulgated by MGAF which are not inconsistent with this
Agreement.
31. AMENDMENTS. This instrument in conjunction with the
Interlocal Agreement expresses the entire agreement between the
parties and shall not be amended or modi fied except by wri t ten
agreement executed by both parties.
32. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement is personal to the parties
and may not be assigned in whol e or in part wi thout the prior
written consent of the other party.
33. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.
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34. DEFINED WORDS.
Use of capitalization of words in
addition to that required by normal rules of punctuation ~s
intended to indicate a specifically defined word, and it ~s
intended that the defined word have the meaning accorded to it ~n
paragraph 1 above.
35. TITLES AND SUBTITLES.
Ti t 1 es of the paragraphs and
subparagraphs are placed herein for convenient reference only and
shall not to any extent have the effect of modifying, amending, or
changing the express terms and provisions of this Agreement.
36. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision or portion of this
Agreement is held to be void, invalid, or illegal for any reason,
it is the intent of the parties that the remaining provisions of
this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding and effective.
37. PROVISION OF SERVICES.
MGAF has undertaken to provide
Members with various services, as specified in this Agreement. In
order to render these services, MGAF will either retain the
necessary employees and/or contract with a non-affiliated entity
for that purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to
be executed in their respective names on the signatory page by
their duly authorized officers on the day and year written
immediately below the signatures.
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Signatory Page
Service Agreement Dated April 20, 1993 Between Municipal Gas
Authority of Florida and City of Clearwater, Florida
City of Clearwater, Florida
Title:
Wright
By:
By:
Name:
Office: Chairman
Date:
Date: April 20, 1993
:::~e~
Rita Garvey~
Title:MaYOr-COmmiSSion~
Attested:
By: ~~d.d. (l1&~
rY h 'a E. Goudeau - f'
Title: City Clerk
Approved as to
BY:~
orrectness:
Title:City Attorney
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SCHEDULE A
Page 1 of 2 Pages
To: Service Agreement Dated April 20,1993, Between Municipal Gas
Authorityof Florida and City of Clearwater, Florida.
MONTH PO 1# 16204 ,16205,16206
FTS-1 MMBTU NNTS MMBTU TOT AL MDCQ MMBTU
October 6996 500 7496
November 9219 1000 10219
December 9219 1000 10219
January 8719 1500 10219
February 8719 1500 10219
March 9219 1000 10219
April 9219 1000 10219
May 4152 500 4652
June 4152 500 4652
July 4152 500 4652
August 4152 500 4652
September 4152 500 4652
;.
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SCHEDULE A
Page 2 of 2 Pages
To: Service Agreement Dated April 20, 1993, Between Municipal Gas
Authorityof Florida and City of Clearwater, Florida.
RECEIPT POINT NOMINATIONS
MMBTU - WITH 3% FUEL
POI
ZONE
OCT
NOV-MAR
APRIL
MAY-SEPT
611
1
2778
3790
3790
1726
23062
2
3320
4526
4526
2060
10258
3
1622
2210
2210
1006
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