Major Accounts

Service Request for New Large Volume Customers

We've outlined some guidelines to make becoming a new customer easy for you.

Definition of new large volume customers 

• Customers requiring gas service in their manufacturing process equipment that add new gas loads to Piedmont's distribution system                          
• Customers moving into an existing facility that doesn't have gas service                          
• Customers constructing a new facility

Step 1: Initial Meeting 
Your Piedmont Major Account Services Representative meets with you or your contractor and gathers the following information. Please provide these items in writing. (To determine your Major Account Services Representative, look for your city in Contacts ) 

• Connected gas load (maximum input rating in BTU/Hr, CFH or MBH - for each piece of equipment, including any space heating equipment)                           
• Requested delivery pressure output of the meter (typically 2 or 5 psig)                           
• Physical address, mailing address, telephone number and contact names of the new facility                           
• Operating hours and special equipment conditions. For example; if the gas load includes multiple boilers and one is used as a "standby" boiler, please note that                           
• For new construction, a site plan is needed showing the desired meter location and any future expansion plans. A construction timeline helps to establish a timeframe for service line installation 

After your Piedmont representative gathers the above information for approval,

• S/he prepares the paperwork and submits the gas load for Piedmont's approval                           
• Piedmont reviews the connected load, the estimated revenue, project's payback and the associated costs to serve you 

If the project has a favorable rate of return, it's likely to be approved. For projects that don't have a favorable rate of return, options, such as customer contributions toward construction costs may need to be considered. 

If no gas main is on the customer's street then,
The project is calculated using the costs to extend the main from the closest adequate capacity point on Piedmont's system. Piedmont calls this an Improvement Requisition (IR) and the IR approval process may extend the time needed for providing service. Once the project's IR is approved, your Piedmont representative processes the orders for a new gas meter and service line.

Step 2: Gas service lines installed
For new and existing buildings without service, a gas service line has to be run from the street to your meter location if a gas main line runs by your facility. The gas service line is installed before your meter is installed. Since excavating is required, special circumstances, such as a need to run the gas service line prior to asphalt or concrete installation, should be discussed at the initial meeting with Piedmont's Major Account Services Representative. We make every effort to honor such requests.

Step 3: Gas meter customization
Gas meters for large volume customers require a large flow rate and have to be designed and constructed based on individual requirements. For meter customization, please plan for: 

• Winter: 8 to 10 weeks                          
• Spring, Summer, and Fall: 6 to 8 weeks

Larger gas meters sometimes require a concrete pad. If space around the meter is limited, please tell your Piedmont representative.

Step 4: Inspection approvals
Appropriate city or county inspection approvals of gas piping and hardware downstream of the meter set are the customer's responsibility. A gas meter cannot be installed until the piping inspection has been approved and released to Piedmont.

Step 5: Meter installation
Meter installation occurs as soon as possible after we receive the inspection release. If special scheduling is necessary, please tell your Piedmont representative.

Step 6: Pressure check
Piedmont designs meters delivering outlet pressures of 7 inches w.c. (approx. 1/4 psig), 2 psig and 5 psig. If a delivery pressure higher than 5 psig is needed, special approvals must be received from our engineering department. Complete the appropriate form -- either for Existing Meter Sets (PDF) or New Meter Sets (PDF) and give to your Piedmont representative.

PNY's Meter Set Forms are available in Portable Document Format (PDF) and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

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