Retail Gas Supplier Tariff Service Agreement

Transcription

1 Retail Gas Supplier Tariff Service Agreement This Agreement ( Agreement ), executed (date), is entered into by and between Ameren Illinois Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois ( Company ), an Illinois corporation, and (company name) ("RGS"), a (state) corporation or business entity. From time to time, Company and RGS may be referred to individually as Party and collectively as Parties. WITNESSES WHEREAS, Company is a public utility, as defined the Public Utilities Act, and is engaged in the sale and distribution of natural gas for public use. WHEREAS, Illinois law envisions that natural gas utilities work with, and provide certain services to, Retail Gas Suppliers ("RGSs"), as those entities are defined in the Company's Supplier Terms and Conditions Tariffs ("RGS Tariffs"), which have recently been approved by the Illiniois Commerce Commission; and WHEREAS, those RGS Tariffs provide the general terms under which the Company will provide services to RGSs; and, WHEREAS, the Parties now desire to set forth additional terms and conditions under which services will be provided by Company to RGS; and, WHEREAS, it is the intent of Company, for the convenience of the Parties, that execution of this Agreement will enable the aforementioned RGS to obtain services under Company s RGS Tariffs; NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual promises contained herein, the Parties agree to the following: Section 1. General ARTICLE I COMMON TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1.1 The Parties named herein are bound by the terms and conditions set forth herein, as well as by the terms and conditions of the Company s RGS Tariffs as currently filed and as may be amended in the future. The terms and conditions of the Company s RGS Tariffs, including all definitions contained therein, are fully incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the RGS Tariffs, the terms of the RGS Tariffs shall govern.

2 1.2 Representations and Warranties. The RGS hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Company: RGS is certified to conduct business in the State of Illinois as required by the Illinois Secretary of State and all other applicable state and local offices, entities and/or authorities; If the RGS is an Alternative Gas Supplier ("AGS"), that it is certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that it is in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, as well as the applicable rules and regulations of the Illinois Commerce Commission, particularly those found at Section of the Illinois Public Utilities Act and Title 83, Part 51 of the Illinois Administrative Code; The RGS has received and read the RGS Handbook provided by Company to RGS; The information provided to the Company by the RGS during the Registration Process pursuant to the RGS Handbook is correct and the RGS will promptly inform the Company of any changes in such Information; All natural gas supply delivered by the RGS into the Company s system shall be of the character commonly known as therms and shall be delivered to the Company s system in a commercially acceptable condition and manner; The RGS will not, either directly or indirectly, engage in, participate in or encourage or assist others to engage or participate in the practice of transferring customers without authorization, commonly referred to as slamming ; The RGS has complied with the terms of and meets the minimum creditworthiness requirements as is outlined in the RGS Handbook and Credit Application The RGS it is not operating under bankrupty protection and there are no proceedings pending or being contemplated by it or, to its knowledge, threatened against it which would result in the RGS being or becoming bankrupt RGS should not be subject to the uncertainty of pending liquidation or regulatory proceedings in state or federal courts which could cause a substantial deterioration in its financial condition, a condition of insolvency, or an impairment of RGS s ability to exist as an ongoing business entity.

3 No significant or material collection lawsuits or judgments are outstanding, as determined in the sole discretion of Ameren Illinois, which would seriously reflect upon RGS s ability to remain solvent. 1.3 Customer Self-Manager ( CSM ). For the limited purposes set forth in Section 4.B. of the RGS Tariffs, and to ensure compliance with the requirements of that section, a CSM shall be treated as a Supplier. Section 2. Term 2.1 The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date of the execution by both Parties and shall terminate on the earliest of the following: (1) The effective date of any termination of the right of the RGS to provide energy services in the state of Illinois; (2) The date the RGS terminates this Agreement by providing the Company thirty (30) days written notice; or (3) The date Company suspends service pursuant to the provisions of the RGS Tariffs. 2.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, service under this Agreement shall not commence until the latest of the following: (1) The date this Agreement is executed by the Parties; (2) The date that the RGS complies with the credit requirements established by the Company pursuant the RGS Handbook; or (3) The date that any other registration or agreement, required to be in place pursuant to the RGS Tariffs, becomes effective. Section 3. Liability and Indemnification 3.1. The Company shall, in a commercially reasonable manner, endeavor at all times to provide regular and uninterrupted Supply Services under the RGS Tariff, but, in case such services shall be interrupted, irregular or defective or fail, for causes beyond the Company s control, the Company shall not be liable therefor The RGS shall indemnify, defend and hold Company harmless from any and all damages, losses, claims, including claims and actions relating to injury to or death of any person or damage to property, demands, suits, recoveries, costs and expenses, court costs, attorney fees, and all other obligations by or

4 to third parties, arising out of or resulting from the RGS delivery or nondelivery of services to its customers, including but not limited to any such claims and actions relating to the Company s disconnection of service for the RGS' failure to deliver services. Section 4. Events of Default; Remedies 4.1 An occurrence of any of the following shall be deemed an Event of Default: (1) the failure to make, when due, any payment required pursuant to this Agreement if such failure is not remedied within three (3) business days after written notice; (2) any representation or warranty made by a RGS or CSM in any registration documents is false or misleading in any material respect when made or when deemed made or repeated; (3) the failure to perform any material covenant or obligation set forth in this Agreement if such failure is not remedied within three (3) Business Days after written notice; (4) the RGS or CSM (a) files a petition or otherwise commences, authorizes or acquiesces in the commencement of a proceeding or cause of action under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar law, or has any such petition filed or commenced against it; or (b) otherwise becomes bankrupt or insolvent (however evidenced); (5) the failure of a RGS or CSM to satisfy the creditworthiness/deposit requirements pursuant to this Agreement and The RGS Handbook. If an Event of Default occurs with respect to a RGS or CSM, AmerenIllinois, may, at its option and in its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement and demand in writing any unpaid amounts due to Ameren Illinois. Section 5. Assignment and Delegation 5.1. Neither Party to this Agreement shall assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No consent shall be necessary for an assignment to a successor in the operation of a substantial portion of a Party's Illinois properties by reason of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale or foreclosure. No assignment of this Agreement shall relieve the assigning Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement until such obligations have been assumed by the assignee or released by other Party. When duly assigned in accordance with the foregoing,

5 this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the assignee and the assignor shall be relieved of its rights and obligations. Any assignment in violation of this Section 4 shall be void. Section 6. Entire Agreement 6.1. This Agreement consists of, in its entirety, this RGS Tariff Service Agreement, and the Company s RGS Tariff, as such Tariffs current exist and as such Tariffs may be modified in the future. This Agreement supersedes all other agreements or understandings, written or oral, between the Parties related to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be modified from time to time only by an instrument in writing, signed by both Parties. Section 7. Enforceability 7.1. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof, is to any extent held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the application thereof, other than those provisions which have been held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect and shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law or in equity. Section 8. Notices 8.1 Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective upon delivery if delivered by (a) ; (b) U.S. Mail, first class postage pre-paid or certified mail, (c) facsimile, or (d) Federal Express or similar overnight courier delivery. Such notices shall be provided as follows: For notice to Ameren Illinois: Mailing Address: Delivery Address: Ameren Illinois Company Attn.: End User Transportation 607 East Adams MC C-427 Springfield, IL Same as above Phone: Fax: E- mail: endusertransportation@ameren.com For notice to the RGS:

6 Company Name: Attn: Mailing Address: Delivery Address: Phone: Fax: E- mail: 8.2 Each Party shall be entitled to specify as its proper address any other address in the United States upon written notice to the other Party. Section 9. Billing 9.1 A bill for services rendered to the RGS under the RGS Tariffs shall be rendered monthly. Bills are due and payable, including interest on unpaid amounts, pursuant to the RGS Tariffs. Section 10. Miscellaneous 10.1 Waiver. Any waiver at any time by either Party of its rights with respect to a default under this Agreement, or with respect to any other matter arising in connection with this Agreement, shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other or subsequent default or matter and no waiver shall be considered effective unless in writing Dispute Resolution. In the event of a dispute in regard to the terms or application of the RGS Tariff, the Parties may choose to use the Voluntary Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures outlined in the RGS Handbook Applicable Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be interpreted, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. Except for matters and disputes with respect to which the Illinois Commerce Commission is the sole proper venue for dispute resolution pursuant to applicable law or this Agreement, the federal and state courts located in Illinois shall constitute the sole proper venue for resolution of any matter or

7 dispute hereunder, and the Parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts with respect to such matters and disputes Not a Joint Venture. The duties, obligations, and liabilities of the Parties are intended to be several and not joint or collective. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall ever be construed to create an association, trust, partnership or joint venture or to impose a trust or partnership duty, obligation, or liability on or with regard to either Party. Each Party shall be liable individually and severally for its own obligations under this Agreement. The Parties have executed this Agreement on the dates indicated below. On Behalf of Ameren Illinois By: Name: Title: Date: On Behalf of RGS By: Name: Title: Date: The signature below represents the RGS has read and acknowledges acceptance of The RGS Handbook on the date indicated below. On Behalf of RGS By: Name: Title: Date: