Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) play the role of purchasing and delivering natural gas to their consumers and state regulators oversee the pricing of natural gas to consumers. The common method of regulation, based on the cost of service, provides arguably little incentive for the LDC to...

In order to serve their customers, natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs) can select from a variety of financial and non-financial contracts. The present paper is concerned with the choice of an appropriate portfolio of natural gas purchases that would allow a LDC to satisfy its demand...