If, at the end of the transaction period, the actual cumulative degree-days were below the established threshold, the utility would receive a payment to offset the loss in income associated with lost demand (volume) Weather protection products could take on several structures: A floor provides the customer with downside protection when the underlying variable, such as degree-days, falls below the established threshold. The upside opportunity remains unconstrained. The payout for the floor is equal to the degree-day differential times a $/dd. Most sellers of weather derivatives, however, were unwilling to accept all of the downside risk associated with a floor and therefore set a payout limit. A ceiling cap provides the customer with compensation if the underlying weather variable goes above a predetermined level. The seller of the ceiling cap pays this compensation to the buyer. A mid western state might buy a snowfall ceiling cap that would compensate it if snowfall exceeded a certain level-this payment would help to reimburse the state for excessive snow removal expenses. Temperature ceiling caps could be stated in degree-days or payout limits