| Industries |
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| Investment Banking and Brokerage |
| Health Care Facilities |
| Environmental Services |
| Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation |
| Oil and Gas Refining and Marketing and Transportation |
| Transportation |
| Application Software |
| Exposures |
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| Military |
| Intelligence |
| Express intent |
| Provide |
| Political reform |
| Event Codes |
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| Solicit support |
| Military blockade |
| Accident |
| Promise |
| Human death |
| Ask for protection |
| Pessimistic comment |
| Sports contest |
| Yield to order |
| Yield |
| Request |
| Riot |
| Wiki | Wiki Summary |
|---|---|
| Measurement uncertainty | In metrology, measurement uncertainty is the expression of the statistical dispersion of the values attributed to a measured quantity. All measurements are subject to uncertainty and a measurement result is complete only when it is accompanied by a statement of the associated uncertainty, such as the standard deviation. |
| Customer to customer | Customer to customer (C2C or consumer to consumer) markets provide a way to allow customers to interact with each other. Traditional markets require business to customer relationships, in which a customer goes to the business in order to purchase a product or service. |
| Financial analysis | Financial analysis (also referred to as financial statement analysis or accounting analysis or Analysis of finance) refers to an assessment of the viability, stability, and profitability of a business, sub-business or project. \nIt is performed by professionals who prepare reports using ratios and other techniques, that make use of information taken from financial statements and other reports. |
| Special Activities Center | The Special Activities Center (SAC) is a division of the Central Intelligence Agency responsible for covert operations and paramilitary operations. The unit was named Special Activities Division (SAD) prior to 2015. |
| Natural gas | Natural law (Latin: ius naturale, lex naturalis) is a system of law based on a close observation of human nature, and based on values intrinsic to human nature that can be deduced and applied independently of positive law (the express enacted laws of a state or society). According to natural law theory, all people have inherent rights, conferred not by act of legislation but by "God, nature, or reason." Natural law theory can also refer to "theories of ethics, theories of politics, theories of civil law, and theories of religious morality."In the Western tradition it was anticipated by the Pre-Socratics, for example in their search for principles that governed the cosmos and human beings. |
| Compressed natural gas | Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fuel gas made of petrol which is mainly composed of methane (CH4), compressed to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 20–25 MPa (2,900–3,600 psi), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes. |
| Natural gas in Ukraine | Ukraine has been estimated to possess natural gas reserves of over 1 trillion cubic meters and in 2018 was ranked 26th among countries with proved reserves of natural gas. Its total gas reserves have been estimated at 5.4 trillion cubic meters. |
| Nicotine | Nicotine is a naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and Duboisia hopwoodii) and is widely used recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As a pharmaceutical drug, it is used for smoking cessation to relieve withdrawal symptoms. |
| Externality | In economics, an externality or external cost is an indirect cost or benefit to an uninvolved third party that arises as an effect of another party's (or parties') activity. Externalities can be considered as unpriced goods involved in either consumer or producer market transactions. |
| Pacific Gas and Electric Company | The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is an American investor-owned utility (IOU) with publicly traded stock. The company is headquartered in the Pacific Gas & Electric Building, in San Francisco, California. |
| State income tax | In addition to federal income tax collected by the United States, most individual U.S. states collect a state income tax. Some local governments also impose an income tax, often based on state income tax calculations. |
| Additional director general of police | Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) is an Indian Police Service rank. Though having the maximum possible 3-star police rank just like Director General of Police, ADGP's are considered same to DGP's. |
| Additional secretary to the Government of India | Additional Secretary (often abbreviated as AS, GoI or Union Additional Secretary or Additional Secretary to Government of India) is a post and a rank under the Central Staffing Scheme of the Government of India. The authority for creation of this post solely rests with Cabinet of India.Additional secretary is mostly a career civil servant, generally from the Indian Administrative Service, and is a government official of high seniority. |
| Disallowance and reservation in Canada | Disallowance and reservation are historical constitutional powers in Canada that act as a mechanism to delay or overrule legislation passed by Parliament or a provincial legislature. In contemporary Canadian history, disallowance is an authority granted to the governor general in council (federal cabinet) to invalidate an enactment passed by a provincial legislature. |
| Robots exclusion standard | The robots exclusion standard, also known as the robots exclusion protocol or simply robots.txt, is a standard used by websites to communicate with web crawlers and other web robots. The standard specifies how to inform the web robot about which areas of the website should not be processed or scanned. |
| Wikipedia | Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (WMF, or simply Wikimedia) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Francisco, California, registered as a charitable foundation under US law. |
| Special operations | Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counter-terrorism actions, and are typically conducted by small groups of highly-trained personnel, emphasizing sufficiency, stealth, speed, and tactical coordination, commonly known as "special forces". |
| Sales operations | Sales operations is a set of business activities and processes that help a sales organization run effectively, efficiently and in support of business strategies and objectives. Sales operations may also be referred to as sales, sales support, or business operations. |
| Binary operation | In mathematics, a binary operation or dyadic operation is a rule for combining two elements (called operands) to produce another element. More formally, a binary operation is an operation of arity two. |
| Chief of Space Operations | The chief of space operations (CSO) is a statutory office (10 U.S.C. § 9082) held by a general in the United States Space Force, and is the principal military adviser to the secretary of the Air Force for Space Force operations; and is in a separate capacity a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and thereby a military adviser to the National Security Council, the secretary of defense, and the president. The chief of space operations is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty in the Space Force unless the chairman or the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are Space Force officers. |
| Conservation movement | The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental, and social movement that seeks to manage and protect natural resources, including animal, fungus, and plant species as well as their habitat for the future. Conservationists are concerned with leaving the environment in a better state than the condition they found it in. |
| Conservation biology | Conservation biology is the study of the conservation of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions. It is an interdisciplinary subject drawing on natural and social sciences, and the practice of natural resource management.: 478 The conservation ethic is based on the findings of conservation biology. |
| Civilian Conservation Corps | The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. Robert Fechner was the first director of this agency, succeeded by James McEntee following Fechner's death. |
| Conservation of energy | In physics and chemistry, the law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant; it is said to be conserved over time. This law, first proposed and tested by Émilie du Châtelet, means that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; rather, it can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another. |
| Conservation of mass | In physics and chemistry, the law of conservation of mass or principle of mass conservation states that for any system closed to all transfers of matter and energy, the mass of the system must remain constant over time, as the system's mass cannot change, so quantity can neither be added nor be removed. Therefore, the quantity of mass is conserved over time. |
| Environmentalism | Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the impact of changes to the environment on humans, animals, plants and non-living matter. While environmentalism focuses more on the environmental and nature-related aspects of green ideology and politics, ecologism combines the ideology of social ecology and environmentalism. |
| Environmental protection | Environmental protection is the practice of protecting the natural environment by individuals, organizations and governments. Its objectives are to conserve natural resources and the existing natural environment and, where possible, to repair damage and reverse trends.Due to the pressures of overconsumption, population growth and technology, the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. |
| Environmental health | Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health. Environmental health focuses on the natural and built environments for the benefit of human health. |
| Environmental disaster | An environmental disaster or ecological disaster is defined as a catastrophic event regarding the natural environment that is due to human activity. This point distinguishes environmental disasters from other disturbances such as natural disasters and intentional acts of war such as nuclear bombings. |
| Environmental remediation | Environmental remediation deals with the removal of pollution or contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water. Remedial action is generally subject to an array of regulatory requirements, and may also be based on assessments of human health and ecological risks where no legislative standards exist, or where standards are advisory. |
| Regulatory sequence | A regulatory sequence is a segment of a nucleic acid molecule which is capable of increasing or decreasing the expression of specific genes within an organism. Regulation of gene expression is an essential feature of all living organisms and viruses. |
| Regulatory T cell | The regulatory T cells (Tregs or Treg cells), formerly known as suppressor T cells, are a subpopulation of T cells that modulate the immune system, maintain tolerance to self-antigens, and prevent autoimmune disease. Treg cells are immunosuppressive and generally suppress or downregulate induction and proliferation of effector T cells. |
| Quality costs | In process improvement efforts, quality costs or cost of quality is a means to quantify the total cost of quality-related efforts and deficiencies. It was first described by Armand V. Feigenbaum in a 1956 Harvard Business Review article.Prior to its introduction, the general perception was that higher quality requires higher costs, either by buying better materials or machines or by hiring more labor. |
| Operating cost | Operating costs or operational costs, are the expenses which are related to the operation of a business, or to the operation of a device, component, piece of equipment or facility. They are the cost of resources used by an organization just to maintain its existence. |
| Penal transportation | Penal transportation or transportation was the relocation of convicted criminals, or other persons regarded as undesirable, to a distant place, often a colony, for a specified term; later, specifically established penal colonies became their destination. While the prisoners may have been released once the sentences were served, they generally did not have the resources to return home. |
| Transportation engineering | Transportation engineering or transport engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, efficient, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods transport. \nThe planning aspects of transportation engineering relate to elements of urban planning, and involve technical forecasting decisions and political factors. |
| Risk Factors |
|---|
| NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS CO ITEM 1A RISK FACTORS Our business and financial results are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth below and in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission |
| The rates we charge customers for gas distribution services are established by the OPUC and the WUTC The failure to approve rates which provide for recovery of our costs and an adequate return on invested capital may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations |
| The rates and terms at which the utility resells gas to its customers or transports gas owned by large customers from the interstate pipeline connection to the customers’ facilities must be approved by 18 ______________________________________________________________________ [55]Table of Contents the OPUC or the WUTC The rates are designed to allow us to recover costs of providing such services and to earn an adequate return on our capital investment |
| We expect to continue to make significant capital expenditures to expand and improve our distribution system |
| The failure of the OPUC or the WUTC to approve on a timely basis requested rate increases to recover increased costs or to allow an adequate return could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations |
| Higher natural gas commodity prices and fluctuations in the price of gas may adversely affect our earnings |
| In recent years, natural gas commodity prices have increased dramatically due to growing demand, especially for power generation, and stagnant North American gas production |
| In Oregon, the utility has a Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) tariff which provides for annual revisions in rates resulting from changes in the cost of purchased gas |
| The PGA tariff provides that 33 percent of any difference between actual purchased gas costs and estimated purchased gas costs incorporated into rates will be recognized as current income or expense |
| Accordingly, higher gas costs than those assumed in setting rates can adversely affect our results of operations |
| Notwithstanding our current rate structure, higher gas costs could result in increased pressure on the OPUC or the WUTC to seek other means to reduce rates to a level that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition |
| Our risk management policies and hedging activities cannot eliminate the risk of commodity price movements and may expose us to additional liabilities for which rate recovery may be disallowed |
| Our gas purchasing requirements expose us to risks of commodity price movements |
| We attempt to manage our exposure through enforcement of established risk limits and risk management procedures, including hedging activities |
| These risk limits and risk management procedures may not always work as planned and cannot eliminate the risks associated with gas purchasing and hedging |
| These practices are subject to regulatory review in setting our PGA tariffs and, if found to be imprudent, could be disallowed |
| Our results of operations may be negatively affected by warmer than average weather |
| A large portion of the utility’s margin is derived from sales to space heating residential and commercial customers between November 15 and May 15 of each winter heating season |
| Current rates are based on an assumption of average weather |
| Although we have a weather normalization mechanism in effect in Oregon, approximately 10 percent of our residential and commercial customers are in Washington, where the mechanism is not in effect, and about 9 percent of the eligible Oregon customers elected not to be covered by the mechanism, so the mechanism does not fully insulate us from utility earnings volatility due to weather |
| Also, customer usage between May 15 and November 15 is not subject to the weather normalization mechanism |
| As a result, we are not fully protected against warmer than average weather, which may have an adverse affect on our results of operations |
| Customers’ conservation efforts may have a negative impact on our revenues |
| Higher gas costs and rates may result in increased conservation by customers, which can decrease sales and adversely affect results of operations |
| The OPUC authorized our conservation tariff, which is designed to recover lost margin due to changes in residential and commercial customers’ consumption patterns |
| The conservation tariff is intended to adjust for increases or decreases in consumption attributable to annual changes in commodity costs or periodic changes in general rates 19 ______________________________________________________________________ [56]Table of Contents and for deviations between actual and expected usage |
| The conservation tariff expires in September 2009 |
| The failure of the OPUC to extend the conservation tariff in the future could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations |
| Certain of our properties and facilities may pose environmental risks requiring remediation, the cost of which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition |
| We own, or previously owned, properties that may require environmental remediation or other action |
| We accrue all material loss contingencies relating to these properties, but our results of operations may be adversely affected to the extent that estimates of the probable costs increase significantly as additional information on the cost of the remediation process is developed |
| Although a regulatory asset has been recorded for some of these estimated costs, we would be required to reduce such regulatory asset if we were unable to conclude that recovery of these costs through rates is probable |
| If this occurs and if such costs are not recoverable through insurance, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected |
| Also, we cannot predict with certainty the amount or timing of future expenditures related to the environmental investigation and remediation because of the difficulty of estimating such costs |
| There is also uncertainty in quantifying liabilities under environmental laws that impose joint and several liability on all potentially responsible parties |
| There are no assurances that existing environmental regulations will not be revised or that new regulations seeking to protect the environment will not be adopted or become applicable to us |
| Revised or additional regulations which result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, particularly if those costs are not fully recoverable from customers, could have a material effect on our results of operations |
| Our gas distribution business is subject to increased competition and eroding price advantage |
| To the extent that competition increases, our profit margins may be negatively affected |
| In the residential market, we compete with suppliers of electricity, fuel oil, propane and, to a lesser extent, wood |
| We also compete with electricity and fuel oil for commercial applications |
| Competition among these forms of energy is based on price, reliability, efficiency and performance |
| Higher natural gas prices have eroded or, in some cases, eliminated the competitive price advantage of natural gas over alternative energy sources |
| If the higher gas price environment is sustained, our ability to attract new customers could be significantly affected, which could have a negative impact on our customer growth rate and results of operations |
| We rely on a single pipeline for the transportation of gas to our service territory |
| We are largely dependent on a single, bi-directional pipeline for transportation of gas into our service territory |
| Our results of operations may be negatively impacted if there is a rupture in the pipeline and we incur costs associated with actions taken to mitigate disruption of service |
| Our results of operations may be impacted by utility regulation legislation enacted by state legislatures |
| 1, 2005, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 408, effective for taxes collected on or after Jan |
| 1, 2006, which requires the OPUC to establish an annual tax adjustment to ensure that 20 ______________________________________________________________________ [57]Table of Contents Oregon utilities do not collect in rates more income taxes than they actually pay to government entities |
| The bill, which was signed into law on Sept |
| 2, 2005, requires that the OPUC interpret the bill’s provisions to determine how the tax adjustment will be applied |
| Key provisions of the bill require utilities to determine the amount of taxes collected in rates, the amount of taxes paid to government entities and the amount of tax savings realized as a result of filing consolidated tax returns |
| Due to the uncertainties related to the OPUC’s interpretations and permanent rule making with respect to the application of these provisions, we are not able to determine at this time what impact, if any, the new legislation will have on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, but the impact may be material |
| Our larger industrial customers may switch between transportation and sales service on short notice, which could significantly impact our ability to forecast customer load requirements when contracting for gas supplies |
| Our larger commercial and industrial customers may elect to switch between sales and transportation service upon a minimum of 30 days formal notice |
| Upon switching forms of service, the customer is then obligated to remain on that type of service for at least 12 months, at which time they once again may elect to switch upon 30 days notice |
| In the case of customers switching from transportation to sales service, our regulatory tariff provides that the customer will be charged incremental gas supply costs |
| We face risks to the extent we must purchase or sell gas supplies to match up with customer load requirements that may change upon short notice from these customer elections, particularly if we are or would be providing sales service at a fixed price to the customer |
| The cost of providing pension and post-retirement benefit plans is subject to changes in pension assumptions, fluctuations in the market value of plan assets and changing demographics, and may have a material effect on our financial results |
| We maintain two qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plans, several non-qualified supplemental pension plans and other post-retirement benefit plans |
| We may be required to recognize a material increase or decrease in annual pension or post-retirement benefit expense based on changes in assumed interest rates, market returns, rate of wage increases and other factors, and we may be required to record a charge to our balance sheet to the extent that benefit obligations exceed the fair value of the plan assets |
| Transporting and storing natural gas involves numerous risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs |
| Our gas distribution activities involve a variety of inherent hazards and operating risks, such as leaks, accidents and mechanical problems, which could cause substantial financial losses |
| In addition, these risks could result in loss of human life, significant damage to property, environmental pollution and disruption of our operations, which in turn could lead to substantial losses |
| The occurrence of any of these events may not be covered by our insurance policies or recoverable through rates, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations |