Small and medium-sized enterprises that do not have advanced meters are bearing the costs of uncertainty in tracking gas use back to customers. These smaller companies – and others that have advanced meters but whose suppliers do not make use of the capabilities – are the big losers in a change in industry methodology.

At issue is “unidentified gas” (UIG), a discrepancy between the gas shipped and that used (as measured), which has to be allocated to a supplier – and paid for by customers.