(A) Electric meters. The city shall own and maintain all electric meters. The city shall not pay rent or any other charge for a meter or other electric facilities located on the customer’s premises. All meters, wires, and other appliances furnished by the city shall remain property of the city.
(B) Meter installation. All meters installed shall not be more than seven feet above the floor or ground and at a place accessible and convenient to authorized agents of the city. Meters will be sealed by the city, and no one except an authorized agent of the city may break or injure such seals. No person other than an authorized agent of the city may change the location of, alter, or interfere in any way with any meter. The expense of installing and maintaining meters will be borne by the city; provided, however, that where replacements, repairs, or adjustment of a meter are made necessary by the act, negligence, or carelessness of the owner or occupant of the premises, the expense to the city shall be recouped by a fee to be set by Council resolution. The owner or occupant shall be responsible for any unmetered energy used as a result of any act, negligence, or carelessness requiring replacement, repair, or adjustment of a meter.
(C) System tampering. No person or persons other than authorized agents of the city shall tap into, change, obstruct, or interfere with the city’s electrical energy system. Any person, firm, corporation, or industry that obtains electrical services or damages the system by tampering with, tapping into, obstructing, or interfering with the city’s electric energy system without city approval or notification shall be assessed the cost for damages to the electrical distribution system and/or estimated cost of electricity. Any violation hereof may be punishable in accordance with § 10.99.
(D) Wire installation. All wires upon the premises of the consumer to which the city service shall be connected shall be so installed by the consumer that the city may have convenient access to them. The wires shall be kept in proper condition by the consumer. Authorized agents of the city may, at all reasonable hours, enter the consumer’s premises on business connected with the consumer’s installation or services.
(E) Installation inspection. The wiring of a building and the installation of lamps or electric machinery shall be subject to examination by a duly authorized agent of the city at all reasonable times. No person shall connect, disconnect, or reconnect any wire with the city’s electric system unless specially authorized to do so by the City Manager or Manager’s designee.
(F) Line extension policy. The city shall have a line extension policy where line extension fees are fixed by the Council by resolution.
(G) Street and area lighting design guidelines and construction standards. The City Manager or designee shall establish street and area lighting design guidelines and construction standards which shall be kept on file in the office of the city’s Light and Power Department.
(H) Refusal of service or disconnection. The City Manager or designee may refuse to furnish electric energy to any applicant or may require discontinuance of service to any consumer: where hazardous conditions exist at the applicant’s or consumer’s premises; where the electrical facilities including, but not limited to, electric meters, power and supply lines, electrical enclosures, such as padmount transformer enclosures, junction cabinets, and service pedestals are not accessible with proper clearance to utility personnel at all times without prior notification; or where the applicant or consumer is in violation of the National Electrical Code and/or the state’s Electrical Code.
(Prior Code, § 4.205) (Ord. 1996-11, passed 10-14-1996; Ord. 2006-14, passed 8-14-2006; Ord. 2009-11, passed 9-14-2009)