The Gas Companies acquire firm transportation capacity on interstate pipelines under long-term contracts and utilize that capacity to transport both natural gas supply purchased and natural gas withdrawn from storage to the local distribution system. Collectively, the Gas Companies hold approximately 100 firm transportation contracts on 12 different pipelines. Three of those pipelines, Tennessee Gas Pipeline, Algonquin Gas Transmission and Iroquois Gas Transmission, interconnect with one or more of the Gas Companies’ distribution system and the other pipelines provide indirect services upstream of the city gates. The prices and terms and conditions of the long-term contracts for firm transportation capacity are regulated by the FERC. The actual reasonable costs of such contracts are passed through to customers through state regulated purchased gas adjustment mechanisms. The future obligations under these contracts as of December 31, 2013 are as follows:
| | (In Thousands) | |
2014 | | | 126,485 | |
2015 | | | 112,665 | |
2016 | | | 99,467 | |
2017 | | | 72,369 | |
2018 | | | 42,609 | |
2019-after | | | 72,979 | |
| | $ | 526,574 | |
