(A) General.
(1) All electricity furnished by Luverne Municipal Electric Utility shall be metered, with a meter provided by the Luverne Municipal Utility, unless the customer has entered into a written agreement with Luverne Municipal Electric Utility to otherwise account for the customer's use of energy.
(2) Responsibilities for the purchase and installation of metering and related equipment are summarized in § 55.75.
(3) Sub-metering of electricity by customers for the purpose of resale is prohibited.
(B) Meter locations.
(1) Meter location for new, modified or rehabilitated installations will be agreed upon by representatives of the customer and Luverne Municipal Electric Utility, subject to final approval by Luverne Municipal Electric Utility.
(2) All meters shall be located outdoors unless special permission has been obtained from Luverne Municipal Electric Utility.
(3) Meters shall be located to facilitate the setting, changing, testing and reading of the meters.
(4) All metering equipment shall be located in an area openly accessible to Luverne Municipal Electric Utility and shall be grouped to minimize the number of metering points.
(5) The customer shall be solely responsible at all times to maintain a clear 48-inch work area in front of each meter location as well as a suitable approach to the meter location, as determined by Luverne Municipal Electric Utility. If meter location is within a fenced in backyard, a gate shall be provided for access.
(6) The customer or property owner shall install concrete-filled, eight-inch steel posts to protect the metering installation where meters are located outdoors in paved areas or in any other areas where Luverne Municipal Electric Utility determines the metering installation is susceptible to damage.
(C) Meter and equipment seals.
(1) Luverne Municipal Electric Utility shall seal all meters and points of access to unmetered wiring on the customer's premises.
(2) The customer shall call Luverne Municipal Electric Utility if it becomes necessary to gain access to any sealed equipment.
(3) No unauthorized person shall break any seal, close any by-pass switch, connect, disconnect or tamper with any of Luverne Municipal Electric Utility's metering equipment.
(4) Any person(s) determined to have violated this rule shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and shall also be liable for the cost of all energy supplied which has not been billed due to unauthorized use, alteration or tampering with metering equipment.
(5) The customer and the owner of the customer's premises (if not the same as customer) shall be jointly and severally liable for the costs of any such unauthorized use of energy.
(D) Meter installations.
(1) General.
(a) Single-phase meters up to 240 volts, 200 amperes shall be installed with through-type meter sockets that are provided by Luverne Municipal Electric Utility.
(b) All devices designed to interrupt service or protect against vandalism shall be installed on the load side of the meter(s).
(c) Where meter damage occurs or is anticipated, outdoor meters shall be protected by a suitable box with hasp and staple for the installation of a padlock.
(d) Where Luverne Municipal Electric Utility determines that a protective box is required to protect against possible vandalism or meter tampering, such a protective box shall be installed and maintained by Luverne Municipal Electric Utility.
(2) Meter sockets shall be furnished by Luverne Municipal Electric Utility. All meter sockets will be "ringless" and have a manual bypass.
(3) The customer shall install a Luverne Municipal Electric Utility-furnished manual bypass meter socket for each of the following single-phase installations:
(a) All commercial installations; and
(b) All residential installations rated at 200 amperes.
(4) After meter sockets are installed, the interior of the socket must be protected if exposed to the weather or if the terminals are energized. Luverne Municipal Electric Utility will furnish and install cover plates for unused meter sockets at the time meters are installed on other loops.
(5) Multiple meter installations.
(a) Luverne Municipal Electric Utility shall review and approve all multiple meter service requests prior to the installation of any equipment.
(b) Multiple meter bank assemblies shall be designed so that the center of the top meter is no more than 66 inches above the floor or the ground and the center of the bottom meter is no less than 40 inches above the floor or the ground.
(c) Where two or more meters are installed at a location, provisions shall be made so that the specific address or area served by each meter is easily determined.
(6) No part of the metering set may be used as a junction box for the customer's wiring.
(E) Instrument transformer meter installations
(1) The installation of all meters rated over 200 amperes shall include the necessary equipment for mounting current transformers.
(2) Luverne Municipal Electric Utility shall furnish, own and maintain all instrument transformers required to provide electric service.
(a) The customer shall provide the necessary equipment for mounting bus bar type current transformers and install a one-inch conduit from the meter socket to its respective exterior instrument transformer enclosure.
(b) The meter socket will be located on an outside building wall, between 44 inches and 66 inches above final grade, and in such a position that there will be no obstructions to meter reading, testing or other maintenance.
(Ord. 18, Fourth Series, effective 6-24-2021)