Categories (click on a category to jump to that section):
- Financial Information
- Contracts
- Transactions
- Consumption Measurement
- Reports
- Invoices
- Unionline Support
- Paperless Invoicing
- Online Contracting
How much lead time is required by Union Gas to change the financial institution to which my remittance is wired?
In order to perform our processes, requests made to change financial institution information through the Financial Institution screen should be sent no later than the 20th of the current business month. For example, changes to financial information received by May 20th will be reflected on the May remittance, wired on June 20th. Changes received after May 20th will be reflected on the June remittance, wired on July 20th.
Direct Purchase
Can I create a new contract online?
To create a new contract, you will need to contact your Customer Support Representative. Once the contract has been set up, you will see it on the Active Contract screen. At this point, you can begin attaching Price Points to the contract and/or enrolling consumers.
Do balancing transactions cause an amendment change?
No, balancing transactions do not cause a contract amendment change.
When a contract is renewed will the contract identifier (SA #) change?
No, the contract identifier will remain the same; a new amendment to the contract is generated.
How and when can a contract name be assigned?
A contract name can be assigned when the contract is first being setup by phone or email to the Customer Service Representative. After the contract is in place, you can request a change to the contract name through the Contact Us screen.
Can a Price Point be deleted if there are no consumers?
Price Points cannot be removed once they are created.
Can the description of a Price Point be changed?
If you want the description of a Price Point changed, use the Contact Us screen and let us know the Contract ID, the Price Point Id, and the description you would like to see. We will make the change for you.
What is the exact wording of the Administration Fee description on the consumer bill?
The exact wording of the Administration Fee is 'Marketer Administration Fee'.
Are DCQ amendments available through Unionline?
Yes, DCQ amendments are available via the Contract Detail and Contract Accept screens. You can use the All radio button to see all amendments and use the sort and filter options to narrow your search.
On the Price Point tab located on the Contract Detail or Contract Accept screen, how current is the field displaying the number of consumers on the respective Price Point?
The consumer count is as of the amendment date of the contract you are viewing.
Can the marketer-controlled rates within a Price Point hold a negative value?
No, marketer-controlled rates within a Price Point may not hold a negative value.
What type of fee is the Administration Fee I can establish and add to Union's consumer invoices through the ABC service?
The Administration Fee is a flat monthly fee as opposed to a commodity-based fee. It is an optional component. No line will appear on the consumer's bill if no value is ever entered. If a value is entered, a line will always appear on the consumer's bill, even if the value is changed to $0.00. Union will charge consumers the rate you specify and remit it back to you as part of the monthly remittance process.
Can a customer be moved to different Price Points or do they have to be put on a new contract?
Consumers can be moved between Price Points on the same contract or between Price Points on different contracts. Moving between contracts could result in changes to the contract DCQ on both contracts.
Are the Price Point elements (commodity, transportation, etc.) one amount per month?
Commodity, transportation, and storage are charged per unit (m3). The Marketer Administration Fee is monthly and would be prorated to a 30-day month if the number of days in the billing month were not between 25 and 45.
How do I know that my transaction will be handled in a secure manner?
Union Gas Unionline transactions have been set up as a secure site. Since we are concerned about the security of the information that is being sent to us, we have also activated 128 bit security. You must upgrade your browser to 128 bit security to submit an electronic transaction. Please use the below link to access the upgrade. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/recommended/128bit/default.mspx.
How can I get technical help if I have difficulties submitting XML documents?
The best method to request technical help is to use the Contact Us screen. Please be as detailed as possible in documenting your problem.
Why should I submit my nomination using Unionline instead of faxing?
Unionline offers the following advantages over faxing:
- fax deadline is 11:00 am ECT, Unionline deadline is 12:30 pm ECT (except for exchanges, still 10:30 am ECT)
- instant confirmation that nomination was sent; don't have to wait for telephone lines at the fax machine
- Unionline users can check at the end of the day (around 5:30 - 6:00 pm ECT) to see that the gas flow has been scheduled
- Unionline users have access to all of their S&T and T-Service reports
online
Who should I call if I encounter a problem while trying to nominate on Unionline?
You can call any member of our Gas Management Services team or call our Hotline at (519) 436-4545.
What is the traffic light icon?
The traffic light depicts our pipeline operational status. If the light is green, all systems are fine and there are no constraints; if the light is yellow, there could be a constraint developing; if the light is red, there is a constraint somewhere on our system. This icon links to an operational bulletin page listing the operational status of all of Union's storage and transportation points.
What are Union Gas's nomination deadlines?
The nomination deadlines are:
|
|
Fax deadlines |
Unionline deadlines |
|
Timely Window |
11:00 am ECT |
12:30 pm ECT |
|
Evening Window |
7:00 pm ECT |
7:00 pm ECT |
|
Intraday 1 Window |
11:00 am ECT |
11:00 am ECT |
|
Intraday 2 Window |
6:00 pm ECT |
6:00 pm ECT |
|
Exchanges and Off System Loans |
10:30 am ECT |
10:30 am ECT |
All
services can be nominated on any of the nomination windows. However,
scheduling of name changes, off-system loans and exchanges will only be
offered on a reasonable efforts basis.
When nominating, I notice that sometimes there is a selection of EDIT/COPY/VIEW and at other times there is only the selection of COPY/VIEW . . . why is that?
Nominations can be edited prior to the timely nomination deadline, after which they must be copied and then edited.
I have three deals with one customer. The first deal is firm and the quantity will stay the same all month. The second deal is also firm but it is only happening from the 7th to the 14th. The third deal is a swing deal and the quantity changes daily. Can I set up these transactions separately so that I don't have to calculate the total on a daily basis?
Each deal can be entered as a separate receipt (or delivery). The swing deal can be adjusted daily and the second deal can be zeroed out for the 15th gas day.
How is an exchange nominated?
An exchange is nominated in Transactional Services. For example, a Dawn (customer to Union) to Union NDA (Union to customer) exchange for 1000 GJ would be nominated in two sections as follows:
|
1) |
service: |
select exchange FROM Union (i.e. FROM Union Hub000) |
|
|
from location: |
where you will be receiving gas from Union |
|
|
to location: |
not applicable |
|
|
account on other pipeline: |
select the tag and pipeline where you will be |
|
|
commodity: |
the amount to be picked up (i.e. 1000 GJ) |
|
|
|
|
|
2) |
service: |
select exchange TO Union (i.e. TO Union Hub000) |
|
|
from location: |
indicate where Union will be picking up the gas |
|
|
to location: |
indicate the same as above (i.e. Dawn) |
|
|
account on other pipeline: |
not applicable |
|
|
commodity: |
the amount to be dropped off (i.e. 1000 GJ) |
If I
have a standing exchange nomination, do I still have to nominate by 10:30 am ECT?
No. You only need to nominate by 10:30 am if you are changing your exchange nomination. However, Unionline tags all exchange and off-system loan nominations received after 10:30 am as late. This alerts Union to the potential need for placing a nomination to another pipeline operator.
I submitted my nomination and I received a message saying that the nomination was late. What happens now?
Late nominations are held within a special queue in our gas management system. Nominations in this queue must be reviewed and individually accepted in order to become effective. The nomination status changes from "late" to "pending" after being accepted from the late queue.
Is there an easier way to print my nomination other than screen-printing?
When you view your nomination using the View option, there is a button called 'Printable Version'. This produces a cleaner print out of the nomination instead of the current screen capture.
What do the asterisks mean on the nomination details screen?
Asterisks show changes in your current session. When you are making changes to your nomination, (both changing quantities on current rows or adding new rows), as soon as you click one of the validations (Check Nom Balance, Contract Check or Submit Nomination), the system marks the rows that changed with a red asterisk just to the right of the quantity field. This should be very helpful in troubleshooting balancing problems, as you will be quickly able to see the changes that you made in the current session.
Why did I receive a 'NOT SCHEDULED' message?
There are varying reasons why you might receive a NOT SCHEDULED message. Some of the main reasons include:
- the nomination is not balanced or there is a contract parameter failing
- one or more of the name change transactions doesn't match with another party
- there is a constraint on our system that restricts gas flow
What is a "Gas Day"?
The measurement gas day is defined as the consecutive 24 hour period between 10:00 am and 10:00 am Central Standard Time. The measurement gas day does not change as a result of Daylight Savings Time.
Where does the Heat Value come from?
A South
System Wide Average Heating Value (SWAHV) is effective at all southern area
interconnects and is updated twice a year - November 1 and April 1. For the Northern Delivery Areas, there is a Heating Value for each zone and
this is updated monthly. This value can be used to convert volumes to energy
and vice versa.
The term "heating value" is in reference to the amount of megajoules per
cubic meter (MJ/m3) produced by the complete combustion at constant pressure
of one cubic meter of gas (@ 101.325 KPA and 15 degrees Celsius) with the
gas free of water vapour and the temperature of the gas, air and products of
combustion to be at standard temperature and all water formed by the
combustion reaction to be condensed to the liquid state.
What is "SWAHV"?
SWAHV stands for System Wide Average Heat Value.
What is the unit of measure for metered data?
All metered data that is measured is presented in cubic meters (m3).
How do I determine which meter description refers to which physical meter?
We have done our best to try to describe each meter based on the information we have. However, in some cases, it may not be clear which physical meter is associated with those described in Measurement Search. If you display measurement results at the meter level, you will be able to see the currently assigned meter number. This number is engraved on the physical meter. Should you wish to change the description of the meter that appears on the Measurement Search screen, simply use the Contact Us link and let us know which meter to change and the description you prefer.
What is "Peak Hour"?
Peak hour information is shown on the measurement results screen for each telemetered meter. The peak hour volume is the volume of gas that flowed during the hour during the Gas Day that recorded the maximum hourly consumption. The peak hour represents the start of the hour in which that consumption occurred, and represents the hour of the Gas Day in which the peak occurred. For example, a peak hour of 08 on Gas Day December 15 actually occurred on calendar day December 16 for the gas burned between 8:00 am and 9:00 am.
What are "Degree Days"?
Degree days are calculated by taking the difference between 18oC and the average Gas Day temperature. An average temperature under 18oC results in heating degree days, while an average over 18oC results in cooling degree days. Average daily temperatures are based on your location's proximity to one of the following weather stations:
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Earlton, Ontario |
Ottawa, Ontario |
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Hamilton, Ontario |
Sarnia, Ontario |
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International Falls, Ontario |
Sault Ste Marie, Ontario |
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Kapuskasing, Ontario |
Simcoe, Ontario |
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Kenora, Ontario |
Sudbury, Ontario |
|
Kingston, Ontario |
Timmins, Ontario |
|
London, Ontario |
Thunder Bay, Ontario |
|
Montreal, Quebec |
Toronto, Ontario |
|
Muskoka, Ontario |
Waterloo, Ontario |
|
North Bay, Ontario |
Windsor, Ontario |
How is Energy calculated?
On
measurement screens, we attempt to provide both volumetric consumption as
well as the equivalent heat energy. For sites specially equipped with gas
sampling equipment, average monthly heat values are gathered and used as the
basis for conversion to energy. These energy conversion factors are applied
on a posted basis, that is, for gas sampled in month one, we apply the
conversion to volumes in month three. This lag time is required to collect
gas samples and have them analyzed in an independent laboratory. Posted heat
values are usually made available approximately three days prior to the
start of the month for which the values will apply.
For sites that have no gas sampling equipment, we use a System Wide Average
Heat Value (SWAHV). This average value is based on measurements taken at
Union's interconnects and can change annually.
The calculation for heat value is:
Heat
Value (Gigajoules) = Consumption (m3) * Sampled Heat Factor (MJ/m3)
/ 1000
What is "Average Energy Consumption"?
The average energy consumption values provide the simple average energy consumption over the past one, three, and ten days in which complete measurement data is available. For example, if one of three meters did not register consumption data yesterday, the previous day is considered the start of the averages.
What does the message "Heat value(s) missing - using SWAHV" mean?
For sites specially equipped with gas sampling equipment, we use the sampled value to determine energy consumption. In the event we are expecting to have gas sampler data and we don't, we will temporarily use the System Wide Average Heat Value (SWAHV). Once the gas sampler data is made available, the energy consumption data will be corrected to reflect the new conversion factor.
How do I get access to Direct Purchase consumption data at the consumer level (by account)?
With the implementation of the GDAR, an EBT transaction - Invoice Rate Ready (IRR) is provided on a daily basis for the accounts associated to your Direct Purchase contracts. This information is sent via the EBT point using the OEB approved IRR XML schema. For customers who do not transact using the EBT schemas, this information can be obtained through the Direct Purchase XML Data function in Unionline.
Will the forecasted Direct Purchase consumption change?
Yes. If a change in the number of consumers on the contract causes a Daily Contracted Quantity (DCQ) change of greater than 4 GJ the DCQ will be changed. This in turn will cause an update to the forecasted consumption over the remaining months of the contract term.
Can I get Direct Purchase consumer consumption data daily? What actual attributes are included in this file (i.e. can I get meter read data as well as consumption)?
Yes, as mentioned above, the IRR transaction provides all of the monthly billing information for the accounts associated with your Direct Purchase contracts. This information is sent daily, as Union bills all of the 1.2 million customers over approximately 20 different days each month.
Can we carryover volume imbalances between contract terms?
For contracts with an Annual Balancing service you can carryover the volume imbalance that is between your contract balancing tolerances.
Are the DP Status reports communicated to users when available?
Yes. The DP Status Report is part of the DP Wholesale Invoice. Unionline generates an automatic message once the Invoice is available on-line. You will see this message on your Unionline Home Page and in the Message Board.
Are DCQ changes reflected in the remaining Forecasted Variance displayed on the DP Status?
If the impact of adding or reducing consumers on a contract during a term is significant enough to warrant a DCQ change, this change will be reflected in the remaining forecasted months of the contract term on the DP Status.
Will future dated transactions appear with the DP Status?
Yes, all future dated approved and signed balancing transactions are accounted for in the Projected BGA. This gives you a much more accurate position as to where your contract will be at the end of the term.
What is the Callback at Parkway?
With Unbundling comes the ability to deliver gas into Union's system at varied points (Parkway, Dawn, Alliance etc) based on a customer's entitlements. This means that a customer could deliver all of their gas in any day at points other than Parkway. Union has determined that between November and March, in order to maintain east end deliverability, they must have the ability to call back a customer's Parkway DCQ up to 22 days to ensure that Union's system remains operational. This means that a customer would have to bring in a specified DCQ at Parkway when called.
For Unbundled contracts, deliveries to Union are not obligated as they are for Bundled contracts. To maintain the ability to serve customers in the eastern end of Union’s south delivery area during periods of peak demand, Union reserves the right to require Unbundled contract holder to deliver their Parkway DCQ on an obligated basis, up to a maximum number of days per year.
What S&T and T-Service reports can I access through Unionline?
You can access the current and previous month’s activity for the following reports:
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Daily S&T Activity Detail
-
S&T Classification Summary
-
HUB Balance
-
Loan Activity Summary
-
Storage Activity Summary
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South T-Service Allocation
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North T-Service Allocation
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Balance Summary
-
3P Storage Activity Summary
-
DP Multiple Supplier Breakdown
-
SSS Unbundled Storage Activity Summary
-
SSS Unbundled Storage Activity Summary
-
Spruce Charges Summary
Can I print the reports on Unionline?
The reports are in either PDF or Excel. You can use the printing functionality that Adobe and Microsoft Excel provide to print your reports.
Where are my nomination reports located?
You can access your nominations reports by finding the Reports heading on the left-hand, navigation bar. They appear in a section of their own under Reports > Search.
How do I view the reports?
We use the simplified method of PDF report format that is viewed with Acrobat reader. You cannot view the reports without Adobe Acrobat. For your convenience, we post a link to the Acrobat homepage to make it easier to download.
Where are Fuel Ratios and Rates posted?
Fuel Ratios and Rates and posted at http://www.uniongas.com/largebusiness/rateservices/
When will my Invoice appear on Unionline?
Every attempt is made to process monthly invoices as close to the beginning of the month as possible. Once all invoices for contract rate customers have been generated and checked, they are published to Unionline. You are also notified through your Unionline Message Board on your Unionline home page once your invoice is available for viewing.
What is the difference between Account Review and Account History?
Account
Review displays the status of your most recent invoices, including any
payments that have been applied to your account. It is meant to provide an
"at a glance" picture of your current account balance.
Account History displays a concise historical account of both invoice
activity and payments.
Does Union Gas allow budget billing in Unionline?
Union offers this service to its residential billed customers, however this is not a service associated to Unionline and its customer base.
How much detail will be available to describe miscellaneous adjustments?
Union will attempt to describe each individual miscellaneous adjustment on a separate line item available for viewing through Unionline.
How is Pro-ration calculated?
Pro-ration is the allocation of consumption derived from a cyclical meter read, split across two months to enable the appropriate charges to be applied to the appropriate consumption. It is a degree-day based formula, which ensures the weather on each given day within the cycle is appropriately accounted for.
Can I use the Detailed Consumption Data to reconcile my invoice?
Yes. You are encouraged to use the Detailed Consumption data to verify the consumption amounts on the Monthly Invoice/Remittance.
Direct Purchase
Will adjustments be included with the remittance detail?
Yes. The remittances will include all information that was part of the end-use consumer’s bill for the billing month. This includes monthly consumption based collections as well as any prior period adjustments that appear on the end-use bill.
Will a Price Point rate change generate a prorated effect on Union's consumer invoice (e.g. two lines on the consumer invoice)?
Yes. Due to the cyclical nature of consumer billing, regardless of rate value, Union's Retail billing system will prorate the volumes and display two lines on the consumer bill for the corresponding volumes consumed on each side of the rate change date.
Where does Unionline show the traditional Financial Reconciliation?
On Unionline you will find this captured as the 'Funds Imbalance Adjustment' on the 13th bill. The clearing of the Funds Imbalance account will appear as 12 entries on the Transactional Services section of the DP Financial Statement screen. The details can be found on the Funds Imbalance Detail screen.
Would an example of a Miscellaneous Charge on Union's Wholesale DP Invoice be charges for special reporting (e.g. Schedule 2)?
Yes. An appropriate amount of detail will be used to describe all Miscellaneous Charges that could appear on a Direct Purchase Invoice.
Can a summary view of all contract invoices be generated?
Not currently. This has been captured as an enhancement. However, all of the data can be downloaded for all contract remittances and consumption data. From this data, a summary could be generated.
On the Unionline DP Financial Statements screen, how are the contracts sorted?
The contracts are sorted in ascending order based on SA#.
Can I change my Unionline access through the Profile screen?
No, your Unionline access can be changed by submitting a Unionline Access Request Form detailing the changes to be made.
To whom are Unionline messages sent?
Messages are sent based on an individual’s role (i.e. An invoice ready message will go to all the individuals’ assigned access to Invoice information). However, each individual is responsible for cleaning out their own message board.
How will Contact Us responses be received, what kind of response time can we expect and who will be responding?
Requests sent to Unionline’s Contact Us are monitored on a constant basis during regular business hours. They will be received in Union's Customer Support group with a turn-around to the submitter as soon as possible. Response time will depend on the type of question.
Are Unionline access requests submitted on behalf of a company or one for each employee within the company?
A Unionline Access Form is required for each of your company's employees who will require a User ID & password.
How quickly will Unionline user ids and passwords be setup upon request?
Once the completed Access Form is submitted, a User ID and password are typically set up in 1-2 business days.
Will emergency/urgent messages be sent via email as well as through the Unionline message board?
Some messages will be sent via email as well as well as through the Unionline message board (e.g. Outages). However, we encourage that frequent Unionline and message board visits become part of your daily process.
Can you access the Energy Tool Box without a Unionline login?
Yes,
this function is available via a visit to the Union Gas website.
http://www.uniongas.com/unionlinetoolbox/
Does each person in the company have a separate Unionline account for access?
Yes, one Access Form must be completed for each individual within your company that requires a Unionline User ID & password.
Are Unionline passwords case sensitive?
Yes. Passwords must contain 3 of 4 of the following types of characters: upper case, lower case, numerical and special symbols.
Why go paperless?
There are many reasons including faster access to view the invoices, less paper to keep track of and together, we can help build a greener business environment.
Does a person enrolling in the option to eliminate paper invoices require Unionline access?
Yes. If you need Unionline access, please fill out the Unionline Access Request Form. If you need assistance completing the form please email Unionline Support.
Where is the link in Unionline to enrol?
After signing onto Unionline, navigate to your invoice screen (Direct Purchase, Distribution or S&T). At the bottom of the invoice screen, you will find a link to the Paperless Invoice Election Form.
Why can I only see my invoices for a specific market? Where are my other ones?
You might not have access to view all of your invoices. If you require access to view invoices for additional markets please complete the Unionline Access Request Form for the additional roles that you require. If you need assistance completing the form please email Unionline Support.
What are the Required Fields for each person enrolling?
Name, Phone Number and Email Address.
Who will receive notification?
The person authorizing the enrol and the person(s) being enrolled will receive an email confirming the submission. The person(s) enrolled will receive an email when an invoice is ‘webbed’ to Unionline. In addition to enrolling a person, you may also enrol an existing email address that you may have set up for many people to view (ie. A Distribution list)
Are there instructions online?
Yes. The training document is located in the User Guide on Unionline.
How does the enrolment get cancelled?
There is a checkbox on the Paperless Invoice Election form on Unionline to cancel enrolment. Please refer to the training document for further details.
When will the enrolment take effect?
During your enrolment an effective date will be displayed indicating when you can expect the paperless invoicing to begin. If the request is received 5 business days prior to the end of the month the request will take effect the first day of the next month.
How soon after submitting contact updates will I be able to review on-line?
Within 2 business days.
Can we limit one person to specific contracts and another person to other contracts?
All of the invoices that you have access to will be displayed allowing you to select specific invoices to associate with different company contacts for the email notification.
When selecting "Add a New Contact" a dialogue box will pop up for you to add the company contact information including the email address for notification of the availability of the invoice for viewing on Unionline. Once the information has been entered please click the “Save Contact” button to save the information.
What is the function of edit, remove, and review the detail for each of the contacts?
Edit will allow you to update the employee contact information.
Remove will cancel the email notification of employee contact.
Detail presents the invoices that are associated with the employee contact.
What does the Save Enrolment button do?
You must click Save Enrolment to save the contact/invoice relationship information before you click Submit. If you do not click the Save Enrolment button your contact/invoice relationship information will be lost.
What does the Submit button do?
Clicking the Submit button notifies Union Gas to take appropriate action to enrol you in Paperless Invoicing. A return email will be sent notifying you of the successful completion of your request.
Which contracts will I be able to see on Unionline once Online Contracting is implemented?
The signed scanned copy of the contract will be presented on Unionline for DP & Distribution contracts with effective dates prior to November 1st that are signed and received prior to December 1st
The unsigned pdf copy of the contract will be presented on Unionline for DP & Distribution contracts with effective dates prior to November 1st that have not been signed and received prior to December 1st
The unsigned pdf
copy of the contract will be presented on Unionline
for DP &
Distribution contracts with effective dates greater than or equal to
November 1st
Only S&T contracts that are flowing as of the Online Contracting
implementation date (December 15) will be presented on Unionline.
Do I require Unionline access to take advantage of Online Contracting?
Yes. If you need Unionline access, please fill out the Unionline Access Request Form. If you need assistance completing the form please email Unionline Support.
I already have Unionline access, do I need to request additional roles in order to take advantage of Online Contracting?
Yes, you must complete the Unionline Access Request Form and check the Contract View role for the appropriate market in order to view contract details and/or the Contract/Confirmation Accept for the appropriate market in order to electronically sign contract packages.
Are training materials available for the new Online Contracting features?
Yes, under the Unionline Support section of Unionline you can click on User Manual. The training materials for Online Contracting are listed under the Contracts section.
Will I receive notification when contracts are available on Unionline?
Yes. If you have a Contract View role you will be sent an email and Unionline Message Board when contracts are available to view on Unionline. If you have a Contract/Confirmation Accept role you will be sent an email and Unionline Message Board when contracts are available to accept (electronically sign) on Unionline. For those with the Accept role you will also be notified by email and Unionline Message Board if Union recalls a contract and once the contract has been fully executed.