As used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section except as otherwise provided in this Chapter or unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

            (1) “Assistant secretary” means the assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

            (2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of conservation of the state of Louisiana.

            (3) “Common carrier gas pipeline” is one which transports intrastate natural gas exclusively for hire by others.

            (4) “Excess capacity” of intrastate gas pipelines is defined as that part of the capability of a pipeline system to transport intrastate natural gas from point to point along its line in excess of the immediate needs of the pipeline company or its subsidiaries or its parent or the subsidiary companies of its parent. In determining excess capacity, the commissioner may disregard existing contracts for the transportation or sale of intrastate natural gas not then being performed or fulfilled. Excess capacity of intrastate pipelines may also be created as a result of intrastate natural gas delivery curtailment orders of the commissioner in the implementation of the allocation, rationing and conservation measures governing the end-use of intrastate natural gas provided for in this Chapter.

            (5) “Gas” means any gas derived from or composed of hydrocarbons, including synthetic gas which is produced from coal, lignite, or petroleum coke and the heat content of which synthetic gas does not exceed 800 BTUs per standard cubic foot.

            (6) “Intrastate natural gas” is defined as that gas produced, transported, and utilized wholly within the state of Louisiana, through the use of intrastate pipelines or of interstate pipelines where such use of interstate pipelines is or may hereafter be exempt from the control of the Federal Power Commission under the Natural Gas Act and/or rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Power Commission thereunder; and gas, wherever produced, which is or may be transported into this state and delivered to an intrastate pipeline in this state to be used or consumed wholly within this state.

            (7) “Intrastate natural gas transporter” is defined as any person owning or operating an intrastate pipeline.

            (8) “Intrastate pipeline” is defined as a pipeline which is located and operated wholly within the state of Louisiana for the transportation of intrastate natural gas within the state of Louisiana, which does not extend beyond the boundaries of the state of Louisiana, and which is not merely a local branch of an interstate pipeline system.

            (9) “Master meter system” means a pipeline system for distributing gas within but not limited to a definable area such as a mobile home park, housing project, apartment complex, or postsecondary education institution where the operator purchases metered gas from an outside source for resale through a gas pipeline system. The gas distribution pipeline system supplies the ultimate consumer who either purchases the gas directly through a meter or by other means, such as by rents.

            (10) “Natural gas distribution system” means a company, municipality, or political subdivision that purchases or receives natural gas, and through its own intrastate pipeline system, distributes natural gas to end users in Louisiana such as residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers, and shall include master meter systems.

            (11) “Natural gas transmission pipeline” is defined as one which transports natural gas in or through the state of Louisiana.

            (12) “Person” means any natural person, corporation, political subdivision, association, partnership, limited liability company, receiver, tutor, curator, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind.

            (13) “School system” means a pipeline system for distributing natural gas to a public or nonpublic elementary or secondary school, including any nonpublic pre-kindergarten. Upon request for a revision of service by the governing authority of a school or person authorized by the governing authority to make such a request, the local distribution company providing natural gas service to the school shall, within a reasonable period of time and upon mutual agreement, install a meter at the building wall of each building of the school that utilizes natural gas. The gas piping from the outlet of the meter to the inside of the building shall be installed above ground and shall be maintained by the school in accordance with the requirements of the office of state fire marshal. The outside piping that is upstream of the meter to the outlet of the meter shall be owned and maintained by the local distribution company in accordance with minimum pipeline safety regulations. The pipeline system of a school that does not request a revision of service as described by this Paragraph shall be deemed a special class system, and subject to the requirements of such system.

            (14) “Special class system” means a pipeline system for distributing gas to a federal, state, or local government facility or to a private facility performing a government function through which the operator receives or purchases gas from an outside source and distributes the gas through a pipeline system to more than one outlet beyond the meter or regulator, which ultimate outlet may, but need not be, individually metered or charged a fee for the gas. Any exemption from pipeline safety regulations granted to master meter systems applies to special class systems.

            Added by Acts 1973, Ex.Sess., No. 16, §1, emerg. eff. Dec. 8, 1973, at 9:55 A.M. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 661, §1; Acts 1980, No. 108, §1; Acts 1985, No. 250, §2, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 1988, No. 22, §1, eff. June 10, 1988; Acts 1992, No. 275, §1; Acts 1999, No. 358, §2, eff. June 16, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 224, §1; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024.