Terminology

  • BTU: British thermal unit – the amount of heat required to raise one pound (about a pint) of water one degree Fahrenheit. Burning an old-fashioned kitchen match produces about one Btu of heat.
  • Commodity: Any product purchased by a consumer, in this case, natural gas.
  • Distributor: The entity that delivers the gas to the customer via a local pipeline system branching off of the interstate pipeline at the city gate. In the Nebraska Choice Gas Program, Black Hills Energy is the distributor.
  • Fixed Monthly Bill (ACE WeatherShieldTM): A fixed monthly price that covers commodity and distribution charges, taxes and fees. (Fixed Monthly Bill is NOT the same as Budget Billing).
  • Fixed Rate Per Therm: A gas price that is fixed or locked in and does not fluctuate with the gas price on the natural gas futures market. This is a “locked-in” price per therm.
  • Market Rate Per Therm: A month-to-month market gas price per therm based upon market price fluctuations. This price includes two components: The market index and the adder (which includes shipping and supplier costs). The market index price follows market changes each month, while the adder remains constant through the gas year.
  • Budget Billing: Budget Billing is a payment plan offered by Black Hills Energy available to all Choice Gas customers that calculates an average monthly payment for customers. You can leave Budget Billing at any time, but there is a settle-up upon exiting the program. (Budget Billing is NOT the same as Fixed Monthly Bill.) 
  • Natural Gas: Methane, CH4. A fossil fuel produced by the decomposition of organic matter. The gas is naturally colorless and odorless. The odor is added as a safety precaution.
  • Supplier: The provider of the natural gas commodity. The supplier’s price includes the cost of the gas from the well, plus costs of interstate transmission to the city gate and the local distributor.
  • Therm: A metric unit of measurement that is equal to one hundred thousand Btu’s. It is the approximate amount of heating potential carried in 100 cubic feet of natural gas.
  • Usage Factor: The usage factor on the Choice Gas natural gas bill is an adjustment for pressure and temperature variance and converts the cubic feet volume to therms.
  • Transport Cost: Transport costs are the costs associated with moving natural gas along the interstate or intrastate pipelines and are included in a customer's commodity rate.
ACE has a positive impact on Nebraska communities!
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The Voice of Choice

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“ACE has returned more than $74,000 to the City of Neligh through its revenue return program. We’ve always used our ACE funds for community improvement projects such as a county-wide alert system, playground equipment and other park improvements.”
Dale Wilkinson
Neligh, Neb.
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"On top of providing revenue back to our City ACE also offers local groups the opportunity to participate in community clean-up events, which benefits our community and provides funds for local groups."
Tricia Allen
City Clerk, Blue Hill, Neb.
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"The distribution of ACE funds back to the Gordon community have assisted with a skate park, needed repairs at the community swimming pool and equipment for our police department."
Glen Spaugh
City Manager, Gordon, Neb.
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“Our community has used funds from ACE’s revenue return program for many projects, including assisting with umpire fees for the summer ball program, general park improvements, signage for Mill Race Park and Blue Bird Trail, and upgrading the camper sites at Mill Race Park.”
Shelly Wieneke
Deputy Clerk, Atkinson, Neb.
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