(A) Intent. The intent of this policy is to:
(1) Set forth a developer’s installation requirements, and an owner’s service charges for underground electric distribution systems and services in residential, commercial, and industrial areas;
(2) Outline the requirements for individual underground services supplied from existing overhead distribution systems; and
(3) Provide proper compensation to the town for the differential cost between underground and overhead service.
(B) Residential subdivisions.
(1) Where a development within the service area of the town is to be subdivided into residential lots and has been approved, the electrical distribution system will be installed underground at the direction of the town, or at the request of the subdivision developer; provided, that:
(a) The subdivision developer shall provide the town with a copy of the approved plans of the subdivision, and the easements necessary for the most efficient installation of the required distribution system. The installation will be installed from the final recorded plat, or from a preliminary plat upon the written authorization of the developer. Any charges resulting from re-division of lots will be borne by the developer;
(b) If the subdivision or section to be developed requires the installation of underground facilities for not more than 50 building lots, the installation will be made using pad-mounted transformers with an excess facilities charge payable in advance of construction. The town will determine the excess facilities charge for each lot in accordance with § 21-414;
(c) After at least two-thirds of the initial or previous section of 50 lots have been utilized (construction started), installation of underground facilities using pad-mounted transformers will be made to an additional 50 lots with the excess facilities charge payable in advance of construction;
(d) If the subdivision developer elects to use submersible transformers in lieu of pad-mounted transformers, he or she must pay the town, in advance of construction, a further excess facilities charge per lot, in addition to all other charges stated above, for an underground electric distribution system;
(e) Where three-phase power is requested by the developer for a special application, the developer shall pay, prior to the installation, the excess facilities charge for an underground three-phase system over a single-phase system, as determined by the town; and
(f) Any variance from the above requirements will be referred to the Town Council for consideration.
(2) Homeowners, or home builders, requesting permanent underground electric service for single-family dwellings in subdivisions, or areas provided with underground electric distribution systems, or requesting underground service from an overhead distribution system within a subdivision approved by the Planning Commission, shall pay to the town an excess facilities charge in accordance with § 21-414 for each individual service at the time the application for service is made. The underground service connection fee will be the same for all sizes of underground electric service. The town will determine the size of the underground electric service conductors to be installed in accordance with the customer’s connected electrical load.
(C) Multi-family dwellings.
(1) Owners, or builders, requesting underground electric service for duplex family dwellings shall, prior to the installation of underground electric facilities, pay to the town the differential cost between installation of an underground and overhead single-phase electric system, the excess facilities charge per service (meter) to be provided.
(2) (a) Owners, or builders, requesting underground electric service for multi-family dwellings shall, prior to the installation of underground electric facilities, pay to the town as the differential cost between installation of an underground and overhead single-phase electric system, and services the excess facilities charge per meter for gang metering with the complex development.
(b) Where three-phase power is not required for the distribution system, but is requested by the owner, or builder, for a special application, the complex owner shall pay, prior to the installation, the excess facilities charge, which is the differential cost of an underground three-phase system over a single-phase system, as determined by the town.
(c) The owner, or builder, shall provide the town with the easements necessary for the most efficient installation of the required distribution system.
(D) Mobile homes.
(1) Where a mobile home park has been approved, the park owner requesting underground electric service shall, prior to the installation of underground electric facilities, pay to the town the excess facilities charge which is the differential cost between the installation of an underground and overhead single-phase electric system and services, for each mobile home space service to be provided in the mobile home park development. If the park owner provides and installs town-approved loop-feed-type meter pedestals, a deduction based on the estimated savings to the town will be allowed. The town will not be responsible for any maintenance, or replacement, of these meter pedestals.
(2) Where three-phase power is not required for the distribution system, but is requested by the owner for a special application, the owner shall pay, prior to the installation, an excess facilities charge equal to the differential cost of an underground three-phase system over a single-phase system, as determined by the town.
(3) The mobile home park owner shall provide the town with the easements necessary for the most efficient installation of the required distribution system.
(4) Where a mobile home owner requests underground electric service, and is not in an approved mobile home park, the owner shall, prior to the installation of underground electric facilities, pay to the town an excess facilities charge equal to the differential cost between an underground and overhead service for the permanent service.
(E) Individual services.
(1) Where a homeowner, or builder, requests underground service for a single-family dwelling, and is not in a subdivision already approved for underground service, the owner shall, prior to the installation of underground electric facilities, pay to the town an excess facilities charge equal to the differential cost between an underground and overhead service for the permanent service.
(2) Where, in the opinion of the Town Manager, a residential service does not meet the above requirements, the town will determine the exact difference in cost of underground to overhead, and charge this amount for service.
(F) Commercial and industrial areas.
(1) Where the town has, on the property, an existing overhead or underground electric distribution system in a commercial area, the town will extend underground secondary services for the excess facilities charge equal to the differential cost between the town’s standard three-phase overhead delivery and underground installation.
(2) Where a development within the service area of the town is to be subdivided into commercial lots and has been approved, and has no existing underground electric distribution system, the electrical distribution system will be installed underground at the direction of the town, or the written request of the subdivision developer; provided:
(a) The subdivision developer shall provide the town with all easements necessary for the most efficient installation of the required distribution system;
(b) The subdivider’s written request shall specify whether three-phase, or single-phase, service is to be provided to each lot in the subdivision;
(c) The developer shall pay, in advance of construction, the differential cost between overhead and underground facilities in the street or access area required to make service available to each lot or section; and
(d) Individual services within the subdivision shall be handled as services in an existing commercial area.
(3) Where all services are installed initially, such as shopping centers, industrial sites, office, and institutional complexes, and where a development within the service of the town has been approved, the electric distribution system will be installed underground at the written request of the developer; provided:
(a) The developer shall provide the town with the easements necessary for the most efficient installation of the required distribution system;
(b) The developer’s written request shall specify single-phase or three-phase voltage requirements, and load data from each service point; and
(c) The developer shall pay, in advance of construction, the differential cost between overhead and underground service for the entire installation, as determined by the town.
(4) (a) The additional cost for underground electric service to an industrial site or building will be the differential cost between an underground and overhead distribution, as determined by the town. These charges are payable in advance of construction.
(b) The owner shall provide the town with the easements necessary for most efficient installation of the required distribution system.
(5) (a) Where available from existing overhead or underground electric facilities, temporary service for construction purposes will be provided in underground areas. There will be no additional underground electric service charge for temporary services.
(b) Where temporary service is requested prior to the installation of permanent, underground electrical facilities, or in a location not serviceable by these facilities, the applicant shall pay, prior to installation, the cost of labor to construct, and remove, a temporary line, and any non-salvageable material from the line as determined by the town.
(6) (a) Where an owner of residential, or commercial, property requests that an existing overhead service be changed to underground, and the owner makes electrical system additions that will require an increase in the town’s service conductor size, underground charges will be those charges on new service of the same type.
(b) Where an owner of residential, or commercial, property requests that an existing overhead service be changed to underground, and no increase in the town’s service conductors is required, the owner shall, prior to the change, pay to the town the cost of removing the existing overhead service (less salvage).
(c) The cost of installation of the new underground service in accordance with the estimate prepared by the town.
(Code 1976, § 6-2A.80) (Ord. 6-83, passed 9-19-1983)