Chapters:
13.04 Utility
Systems Generally
13.08 Electric
System
13.12 Water
System
13.16 Sewer
Systems
13.20 Natural
Gas System
13.24 Industrial
Wastewater Control
13.28 Cross-Connection
Control Program
13.32 Water
Conservation and Use Regulations
13.36 Blasting
and Excavations
13.40 Stormwater
System
13.44 Cable
Franchises and Regulations
Sections:
13.04.010 “System” construed.
13.04.020 Title, composition, separate financial entities.
13.04.030 Utilities committees, appointment.
13.04.040 Departmental superintendents-Jurisdiction.
13.04.050 Departmental superintendents-Rules and regulations, authority to promulgate.
13.04.060 Departmental superintendents-Salaries.
13.04.070 Meters-Required, furnished, and installed by departments.
13.04.080 Meters-Procedure when failure to register properly.
13.04.090 Equipment, property of city-Seals required-Responsibility for maintenance of seals-Discontinuance of service where seals found broken-Reconnection fees and charges where seals found to be broken-Unlawful tampering-Accessibility.
13.04.100 Credit regulations-Application for service.
13.04.110 Meter reading and billing, dates payment due and delinquent, penalty and discontinuance of service for nonpayment-Reconnections-Responsibility of utility customer to provide adequate means for receipt of bill.
13.04.120 Charge for service connection, when made.
13.04.130 Rate schedules subject to change without notice.
13.04.140 Work on streets or private property, responsibility for protection of utility pipes, cables or equipment, public liability and property damage.
13.04.150 Application of rules and regulations.
13.04.160 Violations, discontinuance of service until corrected.
13.04.170 Penalty for violation of chapter provisions.
13.04.180 Procedure for termination of utility services
13.04.190 Application of the City of Covington’s Utilities Specification Handbook.
The term “system” includes all real and personal property used for the production, treatment and distribution of electricity, water, gas and like utilities. (Prior code § 22-1)
Each of these systems is a separate financial entity and shall be operated separately under the control of the governing authority and all payments due for utility services shall be paid into the city treasury. (Prior code § 22-2)
The mayor shall appoint three members of the governing authority who together with the mayor shall advise the governing authority as to all matters pertaining to the activities of their assigned utility system. There shall be a committee appointed for each of the utility systems. (Prior code § 22-3)
The superintendent for the water, gas and light departments shall be the head and executive officer of the department, and shall have jurisdiction over all persons employed therein. (Prior code § 22-4)
In matters not covered by this code or any ordinances the superintendents of the water, gas and light departments shall have the authority, subject to the approval of the governing authority, to prescribe rules and regulations governing the use of utilities furnished by the city. It shall be the duty of the superintendents to enforce or cause to be enforced this chapter, all ordinances, rules and regulations governing the sale of water, gas and electricity, and the operation, maintenance and improvement of these systems. (Prior code § 22-5)
The superintendents of the water, gas and light departments shall be paid such salary as may be fixed by the governing authority prior to appointment of his office. (Prior code § 22-6)
The city will furnish water, gas and electricity through meters only; said meters to be furnished and installed by the water, gas and light departments. (Prior code § 22-7)
In the event that the meters installed by the city fail to register properly during any period, the bill will be estimated by the city from readings for a like billing period or periods. (Prior code § 22-8)
A. All meters, valves, pipes, fittings, transformers, regulators, wires, etc, furnished by the city and installed on or over private property shall remain the property of the city. The city shall have access to its meters at all reasonable hours. Should the customer through the enlargement of a building or the closing off, in any manner, of the area where the meter is installed, make it not readily accessible, then the said customer shall be required to bear the cost of relocating the meter.
B. All electric meters furnished to electricity customers of the city shall be sealed by the city utility department. In the event such seal is broken in the normal course of business and/or maintenance of said meter by employees of the city, said seal shall be immediately replaced upon such meter at the time said city employees leave the premises of the customer.
C. The maintenance of said seals on the electric meters of the city shall be the sole responsibility of the customer. In the event that the seal on any meter furnished by the city to any customer is found to be broken, service to such customer shall, upon ten (10) days written notice to the customer, be immediately discontinued. The city manager shall have the authority to waiver the requirement of discontinuance in situations where he is able to determine on the basis of proper evidence, that the seal on such customer’s meter was broken through no fault of the customer.
D. In the event that service to a customer is discontinued under the provisions of this section, service shall be reconnected to such customer only upon payment of reconnection fees as follows:
1. To industrial electric customers of the city, the reconnection charge shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00);
2. To electric customers other than industrial electric customers of the city, the reconnection charge shall be seventy-five dollars ($75.00).
E. It is unlawful for any person other than employees of the electric department of the city to handle in any manner any of the meters or equipment owned by the city. (Prior code § 22-9)
Each prospective customer desiring utility service must make application for the same in accordance with the provisions of this section and on such forms and pursuant to such further regulations as may be promulgated by the public utilities department of the city. A cash deposit in an amount equal to a multiple of the average monthly bill for the applicable utility or utilities, such multiple to be determined according to the applicant’s reported credit history, shall be required of the applicant to guarantee payment of utility bills and the protection of the city’s property installed on the applicant’s premises. The city reserves the right to require that the original deposit be increased whenever, in the judgment of the city, such increase becomes necessary for the city’s full protection.
The city will issue to the customer a receipt covering the amount of the deposit. When service is discontinued, the amount of the deposit less the amount of damages if any, to the property of the city on the customer’s premises, will be credited on the final bill to the customer.
The receipt of deposit cannot be assigned by the customer without the written consent of the city.
Application for service will not be accepted by the city until the applicant has paid to the city all sums at any time owing and then unpaid by him for utility services rendered by the city for any purpose, whether at these or at any other premises. (Ord. dated 5/6/02; prior code § 22-10)
A. Meters shall be read at intervals of approximately one month and bills mailed as soon thereafter as is practicable. The charges which shall be for service up to the meter reading immediately preceding the mailing of the bill, shall be payable within twenty (20) days from the mailing of the bill. Should the charges for any utility service not be paid within twenty (20) days from the mailing of the bill, the same shall bear a penalty of ten (10) per centum. United States post office postmarks will be accepted as payment date on receipts by mail. Whenever the final date of payment of the net bill falls on a Sunday or holiday, the collection of a ten (10) percent penalty shall be postponed one day.
B. Upon the thirty-fifth day from the mailing of the bill for utility service, if same shall remain unpaid, it shall be declared delinquent. As soon as practicable thereafter, service shall be discontinued. After service has been discontinued for nonpayment of a bill, such service shall not be reconnected until all arrears in addition to a fee of five dollars has been paid. Any delinquent cutoff which is not reconnected within thirty (30) days from the date of cutoff shall be considered as a seasonal cutoff and any seasonal charges applicable shall be applied in addition to delinquent fees.
C. Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, a customer’s utility service shall not be terminated for nonpayment, without the customer first having an opportunity for a fair hearing of any and all disputes or allegations that the customer may have concerning the propriety or accuracy of the charges by the city for such services. The city manager is designated as the representative of the city for the purpose of hearing and determining all disputes concerning the propriety of utility bills that a customer may question or dispute. A utility customer is entitled to a hearing of his allegations of impropriety or incorrectness of a billing by filing with the city manager (or his designee as hereinafter provided) at city hall a written notice of such dispute and the customer’s evidence and contentions concerning same. Upon receipt of a written notice in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing sentence, the city manager or his designee shall apprise the customer in question that a hearing will be held on the customer’s contentions on a date certain, at least three days subsequent to the date notice of such hearing is given to the customer involved, at which time the customer shall present all evidence and contentions concerning the billing involved. The city manager or his designee may extend the hearing as so set for cause shown. If the person hearing the customer’s dispute determines that the customer’s contentions are without merit, then the utility services of that customer may be terminated for nonpayment as hereinbefore provided and without further notice to the customer. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall require the city to reinstate utility services once same are terminated if the complaining customer does not file written notice of a disputed account with the city prior to the delinquency cut-off date specified in the immediately preceding paragraph. Further, nothing contained in this paragraph shall be deemed to prohibit the city manager’s right to delegate his authority for the conducting of the hearings on disputed accounts under this section as such right of delegation may otherwise appear in the charter of the city. All utility bills for the city shall contain a notation to the effect that the city manager should be contacted at city hall concerning any disputed billings or charges and that otherwise, service will be disconnected and a reconnection fee charged if a utility bill is not paid within fifteen (15) days after due date of any unpaid billing.
D. It is the responsibility of each customer for utility services or any other city service including, but not limited to, garbage pickup and cable television service provided by the city to provide a correct mailing address and adequate means (whether by mail receptacle or delivery to an agent for the customer) to receive such bills mailed by the city to the customer via the United States Postal Service. The city shall have no responsibility to deliver such billings to a customer where the customer fails to provide an adequate mail receptacle or an appropriate mailing address to ensure the delivery of such billings from the city. Any city service billing that cannot be delivered by the United States Postal Service to the customer in whose name the bill appears (or their designated agent) which results in the city’s having to make arrangements for personal delivery of a billing or notice of the billing to such customer, shall be subject to the imposition of a service fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each such personal delivery of a bill or notice thereof. The aforesaid ten dollar ($10.00) service fee, if assessed by the city, shall be due at the same time and under the same circumstances as the bill for which the service fee applies. Nothing contained herein, however, shall be deemed to create an obligation on the city to require personal delivery of any service bill for services provided by the city that cannot otherwise be delivered by the United States Postal Service, but the city is expressly excused from such effort; however, if the city elects to provide personal delivery or notice of any service bill provided for hereunder to a customer, then the city may impose such ten dollar ($10.00) service fee to offset the cost of such personal delivery. (Prior code § 22-11)
There shall be no charge for service connections made during regular working hours. (Prior code § 22-12)
The rates schedules hereinafter specified are subject to review and change by the governing authority without notice to the user. (Prior code § 22-13)
Any person or contractor doing work of any nature within the right-of-way of city streets or roadways or on private property shall be held responsible for the protection of all water pipes, gas pipes, underground cables, meters and other equipment which are the property of the city. If it becomes necessary for the city to protect, move, or replace any equipment because of such work then the cost shall be charged to and paid by the person or contractor responsible. Such person or contractor shall also hold the city harmless with reference to any public liability or property damage resulting from such activity. (Prior code § 22-14)
All rules and regulations not specified as inside or outside the city limits shall apply to the entire utility system or systems. (Prior code § 22-15)
Upon the discovery of the violation of any provision of this code or any ordinance regulating the use of utilities or any rule adopted by the governing authority for utility operation, it shall be the duty of the superintendent to discontinue utility service to the person guilty of the violation until such violation is corrected and any charges connected therewith paid. (Prior code § 22-16)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this title, other than the nonpayment of bills for utility service, which nonpayment shall be handled in the authorized and usual commercial practice, shall upon conviction therefor by the recorder or mayor in the recorder’s court of the city, be punished as provided in Section 1.12.010 of this code. (Prior code § 22-17)
Except as expressly provided in Section 13.04.110, no utility service of any customer shall be terminated by the city for any reason given in this title except in accordance with the following provisions:
A. When the city feels that it has just cause for the suspension or termination of any utility service to a customer, written notice shall be given to said customer by hand delivery to the customer or by United States first class mail to the address indicated in the files of the city for utility billing purposes. Said notice shall specify that the city intends to discontinue certain utility services to the person so notified, the services sought to be discontinued, the reason or reasons for discontinuing of such services, a time and date certain that the person being given such notice may appear before the city manager (or any person designated by the city manager) at city hall in Covington, Georgia, for an opportunity to there be heard as to the propriety of the city’s suspension or termination of utility service or services. The date specified in the notice for such hearing shall be at least three days subsequent to the service of such notice.
If the person receiving notice of proposed suspension or termination of utility service as specified in the preceding subparagraph does not appear in person or by his designated agent at the hearing scheduled by the city for the purpose of determining whether or not a customer’s utility service or services should be suspended or terminated, or if after such hearing is conducted, the person hearing the subject matter determines that the customer has violated the provisions of this title of the city or that the city otherwise has just cause for suspending or terminating the said customer’s utility service or services, then and thereafter, the utility service or services of such customer shall be promptly suspended or terminated. (Prior code § 22-18)
Anything contained in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, the City of Covington’s Utilities Specifications Handbook (hereinafter called Utilities Handbook), shall apply to all utility systems governed by this chapter. Accordingly, the Utilities Handbook is adopted as a part of this chapter by reference for the purpose of acknowledging possible additions or variations in the other provisions of this chapter. In the event of any direct conflicts between the Utilities Handbook and any other provisions of this of this code, the Utilities Handbook shall control. (Prior code § 22-19)
Article 1
Generally
Sections:
13.08.010 Application for service—Terms of contract.
13.08.020 Rates, choice of—Responsibility of consumer, of city.
13.08.030 Exclusive right of service.
13.08.040 Enlarged facilities, change of location, cost.
13.08.050 Suspension of service.
13.08.060 Ingress, egress to premises, required.
13.08.070 Service cut-in, location—Support, etc.
13.08.080 Payments for service.
13.08.090 Damage to property responsibility.
13.08.100 Corrective apparatus, when required.
13.08.110 Voltage load regulations.
13.08.120 Easements.
13.08.130 Extensions, regulations of.
13.08.140 Exception to chapter.
Article 2
Retail Distribution Line Extension
and Service Connection Regulations
Sections:
13.08.150 Definitions.
13.08.160 Installation of equipment—Extension of lines, cost.
13.08.180 Estimated revenue, determination of.
13.08.190 Cost, items of.
13.08.200 Method of service, determination to be made by city.
13.08.210 Underground distribution system, cost of extension and for connection.
13.08.220 Prerequisites to construction of extensions.
13.08.240 Temporary service, regulation of.
13.08.250 Security lighting.
Article 3
Schedules
Sections:
13.08.260 Time of use option (Schedule TOU-4).
13.08.270 Residential service (Schedule “R500”, 120/240 volts, single phase).
13.08.280 General service (Schedule “GS-500”, 120/240 (120/208) volts, single-phase)—Three-phase service in accordance with three-phase clause.
13.08.290 Industrial service (Schedule “SI-399”).
13.08.300 Hospital service (Schedule “H-399”).
13.08.310 Large industrial service (Schedule “HP-1”).
13.08.320 Large industrial customer contracts.
13.08.330 Wholesale service to municipalities for redistribution and resale (Schedule “WR-4”).
13.08.340 Economic development service (Schedule ED-1).
13.08.350 Force majeure.
13.08.360 Security lighting service contracts.
13.08.370 Traffic signal service (Schedule TS-1).
Each person or corporation desiring to become a customer for electric service supplied by the city shall make application for service, either in person or by duly authorized agent, upon the city’s regular forms. The application will not be accepted by the city unless all the conditions and provisions of this chapter are complied with. When the application is accepted by the city, it constitutes a contract and becomes operative on the day the customer is connected to the city’s system. Unless otherwise specified, such contract is for the term of one year, and shall be considered renewed from term to term of like duration thereafter unless written notice to the contrary is given by either party to the other at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the contract or any renewal thereof. (Prior code § 22-21)
A. When two or more rates are available for certain classes of service, the conditions under which each is applicable to the requirements of the individual customer are plainly set forth in the city’s published rate schedules. The choice of such rates lies with the customer. In the special case of multiple unit dwellings, standard practice requires that each separate unit be separately metered at the regular residential service rate. However, in those cases where the provision of a separately metered circuit to each separate dwelling unit is impracticable, all service may be supplied through a single meter at the multiple residential service rate. Combined service so rendered shall not be sub-metered to the individual tenant. The multiple residential rate is the only rate applicable to two or more separate dwelling units served through a single meter, except as otherwise provided under the general service rate.
B. The city will at any time upon request advise any customer as to the rate best adapted to existing or anticipated service requirements as defined by the customer, but the city does not assume responsibility for the selection of such rate or for the continuance of the lowest annual cost under the rate selected should the volume or character of service change.
C. A customer, having selected a rate adapted to his service, may not change to another rate within a twelve (12) month period unless there is a substantial change in the character or conditions of his service. A new customer will be given reasonable opportunity to determine his service requirements before definitely selecting the most favorable rate therefor. (Prior code § 22-22)
A. All electric current required or used for any purpose at any time during the term of the contract for service, or any renewal thereof, in or upon the customer’s premises, and all extensions and enlargements thereof, shall be taken by the customer from the city, provided that the city is at the time able to supply the same, except only in those cases where special contracts are made for breakdown service or limited service under the rates prescribed for that particular type of service.
B. Electric service will not be supplied in competition with the city’s service, either wholesale or retail, or for distribution or supply or resale in any territory occupied by the distribution system of the city or proposed to be occupied by the distribution system of the city.
Such service as is supplied under the contract is for the customer’s use within or upon his premises and for the purposes designated in the application. The customer shall not extend service from one location to another by crossing rights-of-way or public streets, roads, alleys or property owned by others. The customer shall not supply electrical energy to anyone else or allow anyone to take same, nor shall he use or permit same to be used at any other premises or for any other purposes (either directly or indirectly by transformation or regeneration) than those designated in the application. Where the customer’s service requirements indicate that modification of the above rule is reasonable, then such modification may be made by the proper city official upon application. (Prior code § 22-23)
Increased service requirements shall be supplied, when practicable, through the existing service facilities. When enlarged service facilities are required, but no change in location is involved, the city will provide such facilities as required by the character of service and the applicable rate schedule, without cost to the customer up to three and one-half times the estimated new annual revenue to be received. When a change in location only is involved, the entire expense shall be borne by the party requesting such change. When both enlarged service facilities and change in location are involved, the costs shall be shared by the two parties as provided above. In all cases the customer shall make, at his own expense, all changes to his wiring, and provide those enclosures and metering connections on his premises that are required for the enlargement of, or change in the location of the metering equipment. The customer shall give reasonable advance notice to the city of additions of electrical equipment which affect the connected load under contract to the end that the city will have ample time to provide adequate service facilities. (Prior code § 22-24)
The city reserves the right to suspend service to any customer, without notice and without terminating the agreement for service, when in the opinion of the city the instruments, contrivances, and/or appliances used in conducting, supplying, measuring, or registering electricity on the customer’s premises are altered, and/or changed in any way as to cause such instruments, contrivances, and/or appliances to destroy and/or prevent the registration of the service received, or if for any other reason in the opinion of the city the customer is receiving or about to receive the benefit of service without compensation to the city for the full amount of service rendered. The city shall not be required to restore service after suspension in accordance with this rule until the customer has complied with all reasonable rules of the city designed to prevent a recurrence and the city has been reimbursed for the full amount of the service rendered. (Prior code § 22-25)
A. Permission for ingress and egress to and from the customer’s premises shall be provided at reasonable times by the customer to enable the properly identified employees of the city to read meters, install, maintain, and remove the city’s property, located thereon.
B. The wiring and electrical equipment in or upon the premises of the customer to the point of service cut-in, must have the approval of the constituted authority of the municipal government, and must conform to the requirements of the National Electric Code and the service regulations of the city, before it can be connected to the system. (Prior code § 22-26)
The location of the service cut-in shall be determined by agreement with a representative of the city, and must conform to the service regulations of the city. The customer shall provide suitable means of supporting service wires to his building which will provide the minimum ground clearances and give adequate clearance over driveways and other obstructions as provided by Part II of the National Electric Safety Code. In no case will the city build without cost to the applicant more service line than is necessary to reach a cut-in point satisfactory to the city, even though the additional line would still fall within the free allowance as hereinafter defined. (Prior code § 22-27)
Payments for any service rendered by inspectors, agents, or employees of the city shall be made only upon presentation of formal statement by the city. (Prior code § 22-28)
A. All property of the city that is placed in or upon the customer’s premises, and used in supplying service to him, is placed there under his protection. The cost for any loss or damage to such property, normal wear and tear excepted, shall be payable by the customer.
B. Neither the customer nor the city shall be responsible for damage to the machinery, apparatus, appliances, or other property of the other caused by lightning or by defects in or failure of the machinery, apparatus or appliances of the one suffering such damage from such causes; and the city shall not be in any way responsible for the transmission or control of said electrical energy beyond the point of connection to the customer’s premises, and shall not be liable for damages on account of injuries to person or property resulting in any manner from the receiving, use or application by the customer of such electrical energy. The customer must agree to keep his, her or its machinery, lines, apparatus and appliances in a safe condition and shall indemnify and save harmless the city from the payment of any sum or sums of money to any person whomsoever, including attorney’s fees and court costs, which it may be called upon to pay on account of damage to property or fatal or personal injuries to individuals resulting from or which may be in any way caused by the operation and maintenance of the machinery, lines, apparatus and appliances belonging to the customer. (Prior code § 22-29)
Neon fluorescent, or other types of lighting equipment haying similar low power factor characteristics, where the customer’s aggregate connected load of this type exceeds two hundred fifty (250) watts, shall be equipped, either individually or as a group, with corrective apparatus to increase the power factor of such equipment to at least ninety (90) percent lagging. (Prior code § 22-30)
A. The responsibility for providing unusually close voltage regulation, where required by the nature of the customer’s load, shall rest with the customer.
B. The load of any three phase service shall be reasonably balanced between phases by the customer.
C. Standard secondary voltages which will be provided by the city under the appropriate conditions are:
1. From overhead retail distribution lines:
115 volts, single phase, two wire;
115/230 volts, single phase, three wire;
115/230 or 120/208 volts, three phase, four wire.
Only for loads of 100 kW demand or more:
460 volts, three phase, three wire;
266/460 volts, three phase, four wire.
2. From underground retail distribution lines:
120 volts, single phase, two wire;
120/208 volts, three phase, four wire.
Only for loads of 600 kW demand or more:
266/460 volts, three phase, four wire.
(Prior code § 22-31)
A. The city’s regular easement form shall be executed by the applicant to cover any portion of a line extension to be built by the city over private property of the applicant, before the city shall be required to begin construction on any part of such line extension.
B. The city shall not be required to build any portion of a line extension across the private property of one person to serve another, unless both parties desire service from the extension, or, in the opinion of the city, the best interests of all parties are served thereby. In this latter event, subsection A of this section shall apply to the same extent as though the property owner and the applicant were the same party. (Prior code § 22-32)
A. The city reserves the right to refuse to build any extension, even with contribution from the applicant as provided in this chapter, when, in the opinion of the city, the revenue to be derived therefrom is insufficient to cover maintenance and operating expenses thereon. The city further reserves the right to refuse to build any extension into territory generally recognized as being within the area served by an-other electric system; nor shall the city be required to render service within its service area for transmission into, and ultimate use within, territory generally recognized as being within the area served by another electric system.
B. All line extensions, service wires and connections, no matter who pays or contributes toward paying the cost thereof, are to be made by the city and remain the property of the city. The city shall not be required to serve any customer over a line built, owned, operated and maintained by the customer or a third party. The sole exception to this general rule applies to an underground service connection from an overhead line, which shall be provided, owned, operated and maintained by the customer. (Prior code § 22-33)
Whenever it is necessary for the city to secure a priority rating from an agency of the federal government in order to obtain supplies and materials required in constructing a line extension or providing a new or enlarged service connection, or to replace stock charged out for such purpose, these rules and regulations, where they bind the city to make line extensions or to provide service under certain specified conditions, shall be suspended. In such case, all applications for service involving construction or new equipment will be taken only on a tentative basis subject to the delivery of the necessary materials. (Prior code § 22-34)
For purposes of these regulations, an existing overhead retail distribution line is defined as any pole line carrying primary and/or secondary circuits of twenty-five thousand (25,000) volts or less, nominal rating, or a similar line operating at twenty-five thousand (25,000) volts or less, provided such line is not serving as a transmission or wholesale distribution line. A single phase line shall not be considered as an existing retail distribution line in the case of application for three phase service, but in such case “existing overhead retail distribution line” shall be interpreted to mean the nearest available three phase line which meets the above definition. Urban lines are defined as those lines lying within the corporate limits of communities having a population of one thousand (1,000) or more. Rural lines are defined as all lines not embraced within the above definition of urban lines. (Ord. dated 10/2/06 § 1; prior code § 22-37)
A. Upon receipt and acceptance of the application for service as provided in Article 1 of this chapter, the city will proceed to do such work and to provide and install such equipment as it may be required to do in order to render the service, including the extension of an existing line when necessary, as determined by the location and character of the service and the terms of the rate schedule to be applied; but the city shall not be required to so expend three and one-half more times than the estimated annual revenue to be derived from the service. Should the net cost of the job exceed three and one-half times the estimated annual revenue, the service may nevertheless be provided (in most instances) upon contribution by the applicant of such excess.
B. Extensions from existing overhead retail distribution lines to supply new customers single phase service may be made upon a footage basis, if such basis is more advantageous to the applicant or applicants than the revenue ratio basis. Should such basis be elected, then the city will extend such line an average of four hundred (400) feet per equivalent customer, but not to exceed an average of one-thousand-fifty-six (1,056) feet per actual customer, exclusive of service cut-ins, and provide service without charge. Should the required extension exceed in length such free allowance, the extension may nevertheless be made (in most instances) upon contribution by the applicant or applicants of the pro rata part of the line cost of the job represented by such excess. (Prior code § 22-38)
Estimated revenues shall be determined on the basis of anticipated use by the particular customer involved and the existing applicable rate schedule. In no case will revenue be credited to a job or line extension from any customer who could be served without undertaking the job or making the extension. (Prior code § 22-40)
Net cost of the job shall include all charges thereto for materials, labor and overheads, in furnishing and erecting poles, towers, cross arms and fixtures, stringing wire, making service connections, providing transformation and metering equipment, etc., in accordance with Section 13.08.160 less credits for salvage, if any. Line cost includes only those items pertaining to the line extension itself, omitting service connections, transformers and meters. (Prior code § 22-41)
A. Applications for service to a load drawing an inrush current in excess of the limits specified: (a) in the case of residential service, the residential rate schedule or (b) in the case of other classes of service, the booklet entitled “Electric Service and Metering Installations”; or applications for three phase service shall be given special consideration by the city to determine the most economical method of serving the load, taking into account the availability of supply lines, the nature and location of the load to be served and its effect upon service rendered to neighboring customers, the relative merits of providing single or three phase service, and other factors of weight in reaching a decision. Such decision shall rest solely with the city, but should the applicant desire service of a different type or rendered in a different manner, service may be so supplied, at the option of the city, provided the applicant contributes, in addition to his contribution toward receiving service (if any), the increased cost occasioned thereby. In any event, should three phases need to be supplied to a single motor of less than five HP, or to an aggregate motor load of less than fifteen (15) HP, it shall be contingent upon the applicant signing the three phase clause releasing the city from the obligation of providing three phase service for the same motor load at any other location.
B. Application for commercial power service requiring excessive capacity because of large momentary current requirements, or to provide unusually close voltage regulation (transformer type welders, X-ray machines, etc.) shall be given special consideration by the city to determine the most economical method of serving the load without causing objectionable voltage fluctuations. It may or may not be necessary to isolate such load from other services by providing a separate transformer and separate connection to the primary circuit, but the surcharge provided in the rate schedule shall apply whether or not such separate connection is actually made. Such surcharge covers the excess capacity required by the customer and in no case is to be determined by the equipment or capacity actually installed by the city at the time service of this type is initiated. (Prior code § 22-42)
Where the city can readily provide overhead electric service, but the applicant requests that underground service be provided instead the city can, subject to its evaluation and discretion, provide underground service in accordance with the following:
A. For subdivisions, condominiums, apartments or other multiple occupant developments, the applicant shall pay to the city the full estimated cost of underground facilities prior to the start of construction of such facilities. Where site conditions result in unforeseen additional cost to the city, the applicant shall reimburse the city for such additional cost.
B. For individual properties, not part of a subdivision, the applicant shall pay the city a charge equal to the cost of providing facilities at each end of the underground service line plus a per foot charge equal to the city’s cost of the service line and its installation.
C. Privately owned secondary voltage service lines may be provided and maintained by the applicant at its expense and be terminated upon the city’s pole or other facility, as designated by the city.
D. Where the city does not have overhead lines within four hundred (400) feet of the requested underground connection that could serve as the source of power for the underground system and additional overhead or underground lines of adequate capacity must be extended, the applicant shall be required to pay the city’s cost of such extension. (Ord. dated 10/2/06 § 3)
The city shall not be required to begin construction on any extension of its retail distribution lines until signed service contracts have been obtained covering the business upon which the estimated revenue is based, nor until at least seventy-five (75) percent of the signed customers have either wired their premises to permit the utilization of the service contracted for or have executed bona fide contracts covering such wiring. (Prior code § 22-44)
The foregoing extension and connection regulations do not apply to temporary service. Temporary service includes all classes of service required by the applicant for a single continuous period of less than one year. All extensions and connections for a temporary service shall be made in accordance with the following:
A. When temporary service is desired at premises which are already wired and connected to the retail distribution system, and the city has no expense in establishing service other than the installation of the necessary metering equipment, no connection charge will be made.
B. In case the provision of temporary service involves cost for labor and material other than the meter installation, the applicant shall pay in advance the total estimated cost of establishing and dismantling the service facilities, less salvage value of the material used. (Prior code § 22-46)
The city will furnish, install and maintain electric security lighting for its customers in accordance with the rate schedule set forth in Section 13.08.360. The city may install and maintain security lighting fixtures furnished by its customers if such fixtures are, in the opinion of the city’s engineering department, commonly used utility grade fixtures manufactured by established manufacturers who will provide necessary repair and replacement parts. The customer shall pay in advance all capital costs of installation of fixtures furnished by any source other than the city. For any installation of fixtures on existing poles the customer shall execute an agreement with the city for a minimum of two years service at the aforesaid rates, and for such installation on poles set by the city the agreement shall be for a minimum term of five years. (Prior code § 22-47)
A. Availability. This option is available to customers served under rate schedules for general service, hospital service and industrial service, as set forth in Sections 13.08.280, 13.08.290 and 13.08.300 of this code, respectively, who have a connected load of not less than nine hundred (900) kW and who have the ability to reduce their total demand load during selected time periods.
B. Applicability. If selected by the customer, this option will be used to reduce the customer’s total bill as determined according to the appropriate rate schedule by an amount determined by the reduction in demand during the time period described herein.
C. Definitions.
1. “Managed demand” is defined as the demand measured between the hours of two p.m. and seven p.m. Monday through Friday, during the period June 1st through September 30th of each year.
2. “Billing demand” is defined in the rate schedules set forth in Sections 13.08.280, 13.08.290 and 13.08.300, as applicable.
3. “Net demand reduction” is defined as the amount that the managed demand is less than the billing demand. In the event that the managed demand exceeds the billing demand, the net demand reduction will be zero.
D. Determination of Demand Savings. The demand savings each month will be determined by multiplying the net demand reduction by three dollars and fifty cents per kW, and will be shown as a credit on the customer’s utility bill.
E. Terms of Contract. The city will discontinue providing this option to the customer without notice upon the occurrence of any of the following:
1. The customer’s demand savings is zero for twelve (12) consecutive months;
2. The customer fails to meet the availability requirements set forth in this section;
3. The customer fails to make timely payment of its utility bills; or
4. This option is removed from the city’s rate schedules by action of the city council. (Prior code § 22-50)
A. Availability. Available within the city’s electrical service territory in areas not within the service corridors of any other electrical utility.
B. Applicability.
1. Applicable only to service used for residential lighting, cooking, refrigeration, and incidental power, when supplied through one meter to each individual residence or apartment unit.
2. The incidental power service that will be supplied under this rate is limited to single phase motors with starting currents that do not exceed the following:
|
Motor Rated
Voltage |
115 |
200 to 230 |
|
Frequently started motors |
20 amps |
55 amps |
|
Infrequently started motors |
40 amps |
110 amps |
a. Frequently started motors are considered to be those which in normal operation are started an average of more than once an hour. This applies to all automatically controlled motors except those operating room coolers or other residential air conditioning equipment. Motors started an average of once an hour or less are considered to be infrequently started motors.
b. Incidental power service for motors with starting currents in excess of the above may be supplied under this rate only after it is determined that the facilities for supplying such service can be provided in accordance with the city’s distribution line extension and service connection regulations.
C. Rate.
June through September Billing Cycle
|
Base charge |
$8.45 |
|
First 300 kWh per billing cycle |
5.831 cents/kWh |
|
Next 700 kWh per billing cycle |
8.759 cents/kWh |
|
Over 1000 kWh per billing cycle |
10.018 cents/kWh |
October through May Billing Cycle
|
Base charge |
$8.45 |
|
First 300 kWh per billing cycle |
5.831 cents/kWh |
|
Next 700 kWh per billing cycle |
7.506 cents/kWh |
|
Over 1000 kWh per billing cycle |
5.665 cents/kWh |
To the bill will be added a power cost adjustment charge per kWH, which will be determined by the following equation:
Total Monthly Costs-Average Fixed Costs-k
----------
Monthly Energy Sales (kWH)
where k is a constant, adjusted as necessary to assure proper revenue recovery. (Ord. dated 3.5.01 § 1; Ord. dated 5/1/00 § 1: prior code § 22-51)
A. Availability. All territory immediately adjacent to any existing overhead or underground primary retail distribution line of the city operating at twelve thousand four hundred seventy (12,470) volts nominal rating. This schedule may be made available in additional territory, at the option of the city, by making a line extension under the conditions outlined in the appropriate paragraph below.
B. Applicability. General service to commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential users. The customer’s requirements for lighting, power, cooking, heating, refrigeration, or any other use of the service by the customer upon his own premises, may be served separately or in any combination at this rate schedule, or this schedule may be applied to any portion of the remainder, all at the customer’s option. This schedule may not be applied to any residential uses, including combined service to two or more separate dwelling units served through a single meter, with the following two exceptions:
1. Solely to relieve the customer from burdensome expense in separating his wiring, a single residential service may be combined with a single commercial service in the same building, under this schedule, at the customer’s option; and
2. The service requirements of fifty (50) or more separate dwelling units contained in a single multistory apartment building or apartment-hotel having elevator service and devoting a substantial part of the total floor area to lobbies, corridors, building service areas, or other common use or public purposes, may be combined with the service requirements of the building itself through a single meter under this schedule, provided such combined service requirements total not less than fifty (50) kW demand and ten thousand (10,000) kWh per month.
No service rendered hereunder may be resold, or transmitted to other premises, either directly or indirectly, without the express consent of the city, and then only upon the condition that the energy resold is not sub-metered.
C. Rate.
|
Base charge |
$17.50 |
The following basic rates shall apply to all consumption up to and including two hundred (200) kWh per kW of billing demand:
|
First 1,500 kWh per billing cycle |
12.979 cents/kWh |
|
Next 8,500 kWh per billing cycle |
10.628 cents/kWh |
|
Over 190,000 kWh per billing cycle |
8.175 cents/kWh |
|
Over 200,000 kWh per billing cycle |
7.117 cents/kWh |
|
All consumption in excess of two hundred kWh of billing demand which is also in excess of one thousand (1,000) kWh per billing cycle |
5.155 cents/kWh |
C. To the bill will be added a power cost adjustment charge per kWh, which will be determined by the following equation:
Total Monthly Costs-Average Fixed Costs-k
----------
Monthly Energy Sales (kWh)
where k is a constant, adjusted as necessary to assure proper revenue recovery.
D. Minimum Bill. The minimum bill shall be seventeen dollars and fifty cents ($17.50) plus ten dollars ($10.00) per kW of billing demand in excess of five kW plus any additional charge for excess capacity.
E. Billing Demand. Billing demand is defined as the maximum power metered in