# Heating Value, Purity, and Pressure

**Citation:** 4 CCR 723-4 Rule 4202  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Colorado Public Utilities Commission  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** Not stated

(a) A utility shall establish and maintain in its tariffs a minimum heating value for its gas, expressed in British Thermal Units per standard cubic foot. The minimum heating value shall be no less than the monthly average gross heating value of gas supplied by the utility in any given service area.

## Document text

(a) A utility shall establish and maintain in its tariffs a minimum heating value for its
gas, expressed in British Thermal Units per standard cubic foot. The minimum
heating value shall be no less than the monthly average gross heating value of
gas supplied by the utility in any given service area. No deviation below this
minimum shall be permitted. The utility shall determine the heating value of gas
by testing gas taken from such points on the utility’s system and at such test
frequencies as are reasonably necessary for a proper determination. The utility
shall maintain records of tests conducted to determine the heating value of gas.
The results of these tests shall be stated in terms of standard conditions.
(b) A change in minimum heating value shall require an appropriate adjustment, if
any, to rates.
(c) The utility shall ensure that the gas it supplies, if from multiple sources or if the
supply from a single source changes in composition, is interchangeable for safe
and efficient use. The utility shall ensure that gas from new supply sources or
from supply sources which the gas composition has changed is interchangeable
with the gas it currently supplies. The utility shall evaluate interchangeability by
means of one of the following:
(I) use of test results which establish that the gas supplied to the end-user
falls within an acceptable range and which take into account the heating
value, specific gravity, and composition of the gas;
(II) use of actual appliances to determine acceptability; or
(III) use of a standard in the natural gas industry.

(d) A utility shall promptly readjust its customers' appliances and devices as
necessary to render proper service if the readjustment is required for safe and
efficient use in accordance with paragraph (c) of this rule. Unless otherwise
ordered by the Commission, a readjustment made pursuant to this paragraph
shall be done at no charge to the customer. If a utility determines that a
readjustment pursuant to this paragraph is necessary, the utility shall notify the
Commission, in writing, of the readjustment and of the reason for the
readjustment.
(e) A utility whose gas delivery exceeds 20 million cubic feet per annum shall test
the heating value of gas at least once each week, unless the utility purchases or
receives gas on a heat value basis or unless the interconnecting pipeline
provides the utility with a record of the heating value of the gas delivered and the
interconnecting pipeline’s tests are made at least once each week.
(f) All gas supplied to customers shall be substantially free of impurities which may
cause corrosion of facilities or which may form corrosive or harmful fumes when
burned in a properly-designed and properly-adjusted burner.
(g) A LDC shall deliver gas at a pressure of six inches water column, plus or minus
two inches water column, measured at the meter outlet, unless operating
conditions require a higher delivery pressure. If a higher pressure is required, the
utility shall require the customer to install appropriate pressure regulating
equipment in the customer's lines, if necessary.
(h) A utility shall monitor distribution pressure as follows:
(I) In a distribution system serving 100 or fewer customers, the utility shall
semi-annually check distribution pressures by indicating gauges at the
district regulator station or other appropriate point in the distribution
system.
(II) In distribution system serving more than 100 and fewer than 500
customers, the utility shall provide at least one recording pressure gauge
or telemetering pressure device at the pressure regulating station or at
some other appropriate point in the distribution system.
(III) In a distribution system serving 500 or more customers, the utility shall
maintain one or more additional recording pressure gauges or
telemetering pressure devices and shall make frequent 24-hour records of
the gas pressure prevailing at appropriate points in the system.
(i) In its tariff, a utility shall include a description of test methods, equipment, and
frequency of testing used to determine the quality and pressure of gas service
furnished.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/DisplayRule.do?action=ruleinfo&ruleId=2260&deptID=18&agencyID=96&deptName=Department%20of%20Regulatory%20Agencies&agencyName=Public%20Utilities%20Commission&seriesNum=4%20CCR%20723-4>
- Source ID: `co-sos-ccr`
- SHA-256: `ed347050e39912f77970d920bc8bfb69018e28894bf53053ac6c554748bfc7c9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-12T04:36:48.096Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T19:30:21.832Z
- Document slug: `co-ccr-4-723-4-4202`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "jurisdiction": "US-CO",
  "code": "4 CCR 723-4",
  "ruleKey": "4202",
  "pipelineScope": "colorado-jurisdictional-gas-utilities",
  "legalScope": "Current 4 CCR 723-4 rules regulating Colorado jurisdictional gas utilities and gas master-meter operators, including construction, operation, system safety, gas infrastructure planning, metering, service, and enforcement provisions. This is an adjacent gas-utility corpus, not a replacement for the repealed dedicated 4900-series pipeline-safety rules.",
  "applicabilityCaveat": "Part 4 applies according to Colorado Public Utilities Commission jurisdiction and each rule's scope. The former dedicated pipeline-safety rules 4900 through 4975 are reserved after repeal; this connector does not represent them as current. Part 4 does not replace federal pipeline-safety requirements, determine whether a facility is interstate or intrastate, or resolve operator-specific orders, waivers, tariffs, or later rulemaking.",
  "references": [],
  "ruleInfoUrl": "https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/DisplayRule.do?action=ruleinfo&ruleId=2260&deptID=18&agencyID=96&deptName=Department%20of%20Regulatory%20Agencies&agencyName=Public%20Utilities%20Commission&seriesNum=4%20CCR%20723-4",
  "pucRulesUrl": "https://puc.colorado.gov/gasrulesandregulations",
  "ruleVersionId": "12549",
  "editionEffectiveOn": "2026-06-14",
  "publicationStatus": "The Colorado Secretary of State identifies the source as the official publication of state administrative rules. The edition date applies to the compiled rule version and is not represented as the effective date of every provision.",
  "rights": "Official state rule text is preserved with attribution and source links. Public accessibility does not imply rights in agency marks, third-party material, or incorporated standards; commercial redistribution requires review.",
  "region": "CO"
}
```
