Glossary of Terms - L

The glossary of terms is arranged alphabetically. Click on the letters below to find terms beginning with that letter.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

LDC: Local distribution company

Line Pack: The volume of gas that must be maintained within a pipeline or distribution system to ensure operation. "Line packing" increases the amount of gas in the system by increasing pressure to meet high demand for a short period of time.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Natural gas converted to a liquid sate by pressure and severe cooling, and then returned to a gaseous state to be used as a fuel. It is stored by many distributors for peak season use.

Load Balancing: Meeting fluctuations in demand. Sometimes this can be done by making delivery or withdrawal through underground storage facilities.

Load Factor: Ratio of the amount of gas a customer actually takes compared to the maximum amount the customer is entitled to take. Can be expressed daily, weekly, monthly or annually. Residential customers who only buy gas during cold spells are low load factor customers. Industries that use gas year-round are high load factor customers.