---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 3202"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "3202"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/3202"
units:
  - "Chapter 59 — Retail Policies for Natural Gas Utilities"
---

# §3202. Definitions


For purposes of this chapter—

- (1) The term “gas consumer” means any [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6), [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) agency, or Federal agency, to which natural gas is sold other than for purposes of resale.
- (2) The term “gas utility” means any [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6), [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) agency, or Federal agency, engaged in the local distribution of natural gas, and the sale of natural gas to any ultimate consumer of natural gas.
- (3) The term “State regulated gas utility” means any [gas utility](#2) with respect to which a [State regulatory authority](#8) has [ratemaking authority](#6).
- (4) The term “nonregulated gas utility” means any [gas utility](#2) other than a [State regulated gas utility](#3).
- (5) The term “rate” means any (A) price, rate, charge, or classification made, demanded, observed, or received with respect to sale of natural gas to a [gas consumer](#1), (B) any rule, regulation, or practice respecting any such rate, charge, or classification, and (C) any contract pertaining to the sale of natural gas to a [gas consumer](#1).
- (6) The term “ratemaking authority” means authority to fix, modify, approve, or disapprove [rates](#5).
- (7) The term “sale” when used with respect to natural gas, includes an exchange of natural gas.
- (8) The term “State regulatory authority” means any [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) agency which has [ratemaking authority](#6) with respect to the sale of natural gas by any [gas utility](#2) (other than by such [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) agency).
- (9) The term “integrated resource planning” means, in the case of a [gas utility](#2), planning by the use of any standard, regulation, practice, or policy to undertake a systematic comparison between [demand-side management](#10) measures and the supply of gas by a [gas utility](#2) to minimize life-cycle costs of adequate and reliable utility services to [gas consumers](#1). Integrated resource planning shall take into account necessary features for system operation such as diversity, reliability, dispatchability, and other factors of risk and shall treat demand and supply to [gas consumers](#1) on a consistent and integrated basis.
- (10) The term “demand-side management” includes energy conservation, energy efficiency, and load management techniques.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–617, title III, § 302, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3150; Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 115(a), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2803.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992—Pars. (9), (10). Pub. L. 102–486 added pars. (9) and (10).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Additional Definitions

Except as otherwise specifically provided, the definitions in section 2602 of Title 16, Conservation, apply to this chapter.