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(A) A $5 charge shall be assessed any person or persons for furnishing electricity to any outdoor electric street light where the light is located outside the corporate limits or within the corporate limits when additional outdoor lighting is requested at a private residence.
(B) The charge shall be paid monthly in addition to person’s electric bill.
(C) All street lights presently outside the city limits and for which no one pays the monthly charge shall be removed.
(D) Any future installation of electric street lights outside the city limits shall be only after the individual person or persons have purchased and furnished the city with the electric light and agreed to assume payment of the monthly charge.
(Ord. 82-10, passed 6-28-1982) Penalty, see § 10.99
(A) Extension for new service. The Electric Department will make extensions of its lines for the purpose of serving applicant(s) under the following general terms and conditions:
(1) The location of the premises to be served shall be within a territory where the Electric Department is lawfully permitted to render service.
(2) The Electric Department shall be supplied with an easement satisfactory to the Electric Department from its existing lines to a point adjacent to the premises proposed to be served.
(3) The applicant and the anticipated usage shall meet the requirements of the applicable electric rate schedule for the type service requested.
(4) Each request for new service which requires the applicant to pay a contribution in aid of construction, shall require the applicant to enter into an agreement with the city covering the terms of the contribution. The Electric Department shall not be required to start construction until the contribution is paid in full.
(5) In the event the Electric Department shall require space for facilities of any kind in order to provide service to the customer under any applicable service classification, the customer shall furnish free of charge adequate space satisfactory to the city for the location of such equipment.
(B) Character of service.
(1) Standard service.
(a) The standard form of electric service provided by the Electric Department is overhead electric service. Overhead service shall be delivered to the individual customer facility by means of overhead cables from the existing overhead electric system to a designated point on the customer’s facility of sufficient height to comply with applicable code clearances. Standard service entrance sizes and voltages are as follows:
Service Entrance Size | ||||
Voltage | 100 amp | 200 amp | 400 amp | Available to |
120v/240v 1-phase | X | X | X | All rates |
120v/208v 3-phase | X | X | X | All rates, non-residential |
240v 3-phase | X | X | All rates, non-residential | |
277v/480v 3-phase | X | All rates, non-residential | ||
480v 3-phase | X | All rates, non-residential |
(b) All requests for service not conforming to these conditions shall be considered non-standard service.
(c) Charges for standard service. The following installation fees shall be paid by each customer requiring service:
Residential | ||
(A) | Overhead service connection/existing overhead area | No charge |
(B) | Overhead service connection/existing underground area | Not available |
(C) | Underground service connection/existing overhead area | $100.00 |
(D) | Underground service connection/existing underground area | $50.00 |
(E) | Existing overhead service to be changed to underground (Cost for changing an existing overhead service to an underground service does not include removal, demolition or replacement of any structure, i.e., dog pens, storage sheds, concrete flatwork, fences, landscaping, etc.) | $100.00 |
Service connections are to be installed as described in division (B)(3) of this section. |
CommercialSingle Phase | ||
(A) | Overhead service connection/existing overhead area | No charge |
(B) | Overhead service connection/existing underground area | Not available |
(C) | Underground service connection/existing overhead area | $200.00 |
(D) | Underground service connection/existing underground area | $100.00 |
(E) | Existing overhead service to be changed to underground (Cost for changing an existing overhead service to an underground service does not include removal, demolition or replacement of any structure, i.e., dog pens, storage sheds, concrete flatwork, fences, landscaping, etc.) | $100.00 |
Service connections are to be installed as described in division (B)(3) of this section. | ||
Commercial and Large CommercialThree Phase | ||
(A) | Overhead service connection/existing overhead area | No charge |
(B) | Overhead service connection/existing underground area | Not available |
(C) | Underground service connection/existing overhead area | $1,100.00 |
(D) | Underground service connection/existing underground area | $1,100.00 |
(E) | Existing overhead service to be changed to underground (Cost for changing an existing overhead service to an underground service does not include removal, demolition or replacement of any structure, i.e., dog pens, storage sheds, concrete flatwork, fences, landscaping, etc.) | $1,100.00 |
Service connections up to 100 circuit-feet of primary service line conductor. It shall be the Electric Department’s responsibility to determine the location at which the customer must install the service entrance. Such location shall be the closest practical location to the Electric Department’s existing or proposed electrical facilities from which service is to be provided. In determining the closest practical location, aesthetics shall not be considered. Customers requiring service line lengths greater than 100 feet shall be charged for the excess footage above 100 feet at $15.00/ft. The customer must supply the conduit and secondary conductor to the power source. | ||
Area Lighting (Customer Requested) | ||
(A) | Overhead service connection/existing overhead area including the installation of a maximum 35-foot pole | $365.00 |
(B) | Overhead service connection/existing overhead area NOT including the installation of a maximum 35-foot pole | $165.00 |
(C) | Overhead service connection/existing underground area | Not available |
(D) | Underground service connection/existing overhead area | Not available |
(E) | Underground service connection/existing underground area including the installation of a maximum 35-foot pole | $465.00 |
Service connections include up to 100 circuit-feet of service line conductor. It shall be the Electric Department’s responsibility to determine the location at which the 100 watt light shall be installed. Such location shall be the closest practical location to the Electric Department’s existing or proposed electrical facilities from which service is to be provided. In determining the closest practical location, aesthetics shall not be considered. Customers requiring service line lengths greater than 100 feet shall be charged for the excess footage above 100 feet at $4.00/ft. | ||
All Rate Classifications | ||
If customer requests the service entrance to be at a location other than the closest practical location to the Electric Department’s existing or proposed electrical facilities, excess footage shall be charged at the above rates for all footage beyond the closest practical location. | ||
The owner or owner’s contractor shall provide the service head, riser conduit, and all other materials and installations required to make a complete installation, as described on standard drawings provided by the Electric Department. Meter sockets shall be located at a height of five feet above final grade with all meters located outside of any building or restricted area. |
(2) Non-standard service. A non-standard service voltage, service entrance size, or other non- standard service condition may be requested. Any such non-standard service conditions must be requested by the applicant in writing and such request must include accurate information concerning the non- standard service being requested and include the kilowatt peak demand and annual kilowatt-hour usage, and location of loads to be served. If it is practical, in the opinion of the city, the non-standard service may be provided; however, the owner shall bear the additional expense of special facilities installed by the Electric Department. The applicant shall also bear the risk of extended loss of service in the event of a transformer failure if the non-standard service provided includes a non-standard voltage or voltage transformation.
(3) Service line installation.
(a) Overhead connectionexisting overhead area.
1. Overhead service shall be delivered to the individual residence by means of overhead cable from the electric system pole structure to a designated point on the dwelling of sufficient height to comply to applicable clearances.
2. The location of the service entrance shall be such as to provide for the shortest route from the structure to the home/business as practical. The owner or contractor shall provide the service head, riser conduit, and all other materials and installation labor required to make a complete installation. The owner or contractor shall also provide and install the meter socket and the secondary conductor to the point of connection with the utility. Included in the costs stated above, the city shall provide and install the meter.
(b) Overhead service connection underground area. Overhead service in an underground service area will not be permitted unless, in the opinion of the city, that due to engineering considerations, this is the only feasible and practical manner in which service may be provided.
(c) New and existing underground service connectionexisting overhead area.
1. Underground service in an overhead service area will be available, provided engineering considerations will not prohibit service, in the opinion of the city.
2. The location of the service entrance shall be such as to provide for the shortest route from the structure to the home/business as practical. The owner or contractor shall provide the service head, riser conduit, and all other materials and installation labor required to make a complete installation. The owner or contractor shall also provide and install the meter socket and the secondary conductor to the point of connection with the utility. Included in the costs stated above, the city shall provide and install the meter.
3. For three-phase installations, the owner or contractor shall terminate the secondary connections at the transformer.
(d) Underground service connectionexisting underground area.
1. In areas designated for underground service, the services shall be delivered to the residences by means of a buried cable from pedestal, vault or pad mount transformer located on or near the property line to a point designated on the dwelling. The location of the service entrance shall be such as to provide the shortest route from the pedestal, vault or pad mounted transformer to the house as may be practical. All obstructions such as debris, dirt piles, brush, and the like, shall be removed prior to the installation of service, and the lot shall also be graded to within one foot of final grade.
2. The owner or contractor shall provide the service head, riser conduit, and all other materials and installation labor required to make a complete installation. The owner or contractor shall also provide and install the meter socket and the secondary conductor to the point of connection with the utility. Included in the costs stated above, the city shall provide and install the meter.
3. For three-phase installations, the owner or contractor shall terminate the secondary connections at the transformer.
(C) Service entrance methods.
(1) Drawings depicting approved service installations shall be furnished to any user, contractor, or prospective user upon completion of a service application.
(2) The drawings for each type of service entrance shall be as recommended by the Electric Department and as approved by the city.
(3) The Electric Department shall, from time to time, propose revisions to the service entrance drawings. Revisions shall take effect for any new construction started 15 days after approval of the city.
(4) Any new, rebuilt, or upgraded service entrances shall comply with the approved drawings. Failure to comply with the approved drawings shall be sufficient cause to refuse service.
(5) Service will be furnished to customers only after a meter has been installed by the Electric Department.
(D) Non-standard service.
(1) Any person, firm or corporation requesting special electrical service (three-phase service or a special voltage) requiring additional line and/or additional or special transformers to supply electric energy shall pay the cost of the additional line, transformers and labor necessary to make the necessary installation.
(2) If a customer elects and makes a request to have a non-standard service and the feasibility of such service is approved by the city to provide such service, the customer assumes all risks incurred from such special non-standard service. These risks would include extended outages that may be due to transformer failure until the transformer is repaired or a suitable replacement can be obtained and installed.
(E) Charges for temporary electric service.
(1) Charges for a temporary service connection shall be $50. If temporary service is eventually changed to a permanent service, the customer will be charged additionally the cost for permanent service.
(2) Overhead service shall be delivered to the construction area by means of overhead cable from the electric system pole structure to a designated point or pole near the construction area of sufficient height to comply to applicable clearances. The location of the service entrance shall be at the discretion of the Electric Department.
(3) The owner or contractor shall provide the designated point or pole for attachment, service head, riser conduit, and all other materials and installation labor required to make a complete installation. The city shall provide, without charge, the meter to be installed in the meter loop by the customer.
(F) Indexing of listed charges. The charges listed above are based upon fiscal year 2002 construction costs, which are based on the United Stated Consumer Price Index of 177.50. Each year, at the beginning of the city’s fiscal year, the unit costs will be escalated by the ratio of the United States Consumer Price Index on the first published date after the beginning of the most recent fiscal year to the index included here. This escalation shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.
(Ord. 2002-1, passed 2-11-2002)
(A) The Electric Department will design its facilities in the most safe, reliable, environmentally acceptable manner and at the lowest reasonable current cost following acceptable engineering and planning practices as determined by the Electric Department. When new or additional electric services requested by a customer, the Electric Department will prepare a written estimate of the cost of extending such new or expanded service. The Electric Department shall include in any estimate for new, additional or expanded service the installation of service line, right of way clearing, surveying of easements and all other costs incident to making the extension of services. Additional costs incurred for the construction in frozen ground, rocky terrain, water crossing, and all applicable engineering and general overheads shall be included. The cost of removing existing facilities shall include equipment, labor and transportation less accumulated depreciation and salvage value of facilities removed. If it is beneficial to the Electric Department to install facilities in excess of that required to serve the Applicant applying for service, the added costs of these facilities will be borne by the Electric Department.
(B) For residential developments, the owner shall submit to the Electric Department, three copies of the final approved subdivision plat, clearly showing all lots, lot sizes in square footage and easements. The Electric Department will utilize the plat to design facilities for establishment of electric service on the property of the owner. Overhead facilities that may be necessary on the owner’s property and all facilities required to connect the city’s electric system to the facilities on the owner’s property will be estimated and separately charged to the owner.
(C) For all other developments, the Water, Light and Street Committee shall determine the actual cost to be paid by the customer for providing the extension and/or modification to the primary distribution system based on actual development costs involved and anticipated electric service revenues from the proposed project.
(D) For residential developments, the cost to be charged will be based on $650 per lot for all lots 9,000 or less square feet in size. For lots larger than 9,000 square feet, the base charge shall be increased by $2 per 100 square feet.
(E) Of the total amount charged to the property owner, one-half must be paid prior to the electric department ordering material for the project. The remaining one-half must be paid prior to the commencement of construction.
(F) The listed charges in this section are based upon fiscal year 2002 construction costs, which are based on the United Stated Consumer Price Index of 177.50. Each year, at the beginning of the city’s fiscal year, the unit costs will be escalated by the ratio of the United States Consumer Price Index on the first published date after the beginning of the most recent fiscal year to the index included here. This escalation shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.
(1) Extensions for new service development.
(a) This section shall apply to those situations where a request for electric service will require an extension and/or modification to the primary distribution system, and where the Electric Department determines that it is in the best interests of the city to share in the cost of the system extension and/or modification, considering the social and economic benefit to be derived by the public from said extension and/or modification. It is anticipated that this section would have application in regard to industrial and commercial projects, as well as residential subdivisions and multifamily housing development.
(b) When making application for an extension and/or modification of the primary distribution system to serve a proposed development, the applicant shall furnish the Water, Light and Street Committee with sufficiently complete development plans and electric service requirements and usage data to enable the Water, Light and Street Committee to determine the specific extension and/or modification to the primary distribution system required to serve the proposed project.
(2) Code compliance.
(a) Every contractor or person responsible for the installation of the customer’s electric lines, appliances and other equipment related to electric service shall comply with the provisions of these electric service rules and regulations.
(b) If, upon inspection by the city or its representative, certain installations are found to contain discrepancies, the discrepancies shall be corrected before permanent connection of service will be completed. Or at its option, the city may mail the customer a written request demanding conformity within a ten-day period or any prior service connection made by the Electric Department will be disconnected and terminated.
(3) Utility facilities on customer’s premises.
(a) This rule shall apply to the distribution facilities required to serve either a group of customers in multi-tenancy premises or a single customer where, in either case, the Electric Department finds that it is necessary to install portions of the facilities on the premises being served. The customer or property owner, when requested by the Electric Department, shall make provision on customer’s property for the installation of Electric Department owned facilities required for this service or services.
(b) Electric Department facilities shall consist of those, which in the opinion of the Electric Department are necessary to furnish adequate service. The Electric Department will design such installations and will install facilities, which in its opinion, are most economical or feasible to the Electric Department, under the conditions met. Where the Electric Department’s installation is located in a property owner’s building, the applicable provisions of these electric service rules and regulations shall be observed, except that metering devices shall be externally accessible.
(c) A customer or property owner shall furnish, own and maintain the necessary indoor or outdoor enclosures, building structural supports and accessories as specified by the Electric Department.
(d) If a customer or property owner requests any changes in the plan proposed by the Electric Department, he or she shall pay the City Clerk, in advance of construction, the estimated excess cost, as determined by the Electric Department, of the substituted installation.
(Ord. 2002-2, passed 2-11-2002)
CUSTOMER SELF-GENERATION POLICIES
(A) The city shall make available, upon request, net metering service to any customer taking service from the city and who meets the requirements set forth in this policy. For purposes of this policy, NET METERING means service to an electric customer under which electric energy generated by that electric customer from an eligible on-site generating facility owned by that customer and, under some circumstances, delivered to the local distribution facilities, may be used to offset electric energy provided by the electric utility to the electric customer as provided for in this policy. The term NET METERING is not used as a limiting term, but rather is used in its general sense to include the full range of methods for valuing customer self-generation and implementing fair credits for excess energy delivered to the municipal distribution system by the customer. For multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, if all units are on the same account it qualifies as a single customer for purposes of this policy. If individual units are separately metered and individual tenants have individual accounts, then the term CUSTOMER only refers to the building owner and any usage by the owner. The city cannot be responsible to allocate renewable generation facilities to individual accounts in a multi-unit residential or commercial building. Before the project starts construction, customer must complete the application form attached to Ordinance No. 2023-03 and receive approval from the Director of Public Works. Before the project in service date, the contractor must complete and deliver the Certification of Completion attached to Ordinance No. 2023-03 to the Director of Public Works for approval.
(B) For purposes of this policy an eligible on-site generating facility shall be defined as a renewable generating facility, such as a photovoltaic facility and small wind turbines, and may include technology to store renewable energy at the customer’s premises. Other forms of renewable generation shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, facilities interconnected must be deemed by the city to be renewable to qualify for this policy.
(C) The electric generating facility must also abide by the city’s interconnection standards currently in place at the time of installation to be an eligible on-site generating facility.
(D) Subject to the limitations set forth herein, the city shall make net metering service available upon request to any city residential or small commercial electric customer with an eligible on-site generating facility owned by the customer. The determination whether a customer is a residential or small commercial customer is based on the rate classification under which the customer takes electric service. The eligible onsite generating facility shall be located on the customer’s premises and on the customer’s side of the billing meter and be sized to primarily produce only enough electricity to offset the customer’s own electrical requirements. Proper sizing of eligible on-site generating facilities shall be determined as set forth in division (K) below.
(E) Any request for net metering service by a customer that is not a residential or small commercial customer shall be considered on a case by case basis. The decision with respect to such facilities shall be made by the city’s Director of Public Works based on potential impacts to the distribution system or portions thereof and to the property of other customers of the city. Customers that do not qualify for net metering service under this policy shall be permitted to interconnect and self-generate as required by and in accordance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s rules under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) on a case by case basis.
(F) Notwithstanding the provisions in division (D), the city reserves the authority to withhold, deny or delay approval of the interconnection of proposed on-site generating facilities and of net metering service hereunder if the operation of the facility would be unsafe or pose a risk of adverse impacts to the distribution system or portions thereof or to the property of other customers of the city. The city shall withhold approval for only so long as is reasonably necessary to remedy the risk of adverse impact. The city shall only deny approval if the adverse impact cannot reasonably be remedied or if the customer refuses to meet all applicable state and local safety and electrical code requirements or refuses to provide for payment of the costs of the improvements to the facility or the system that are required to accommodate the otherwise eligible on-site generating facility. The city shall not be required to make unscheduled improvements to its distribution system or portions thereof to remedy the situation causing the delayed or withheld approval unless the customer agrees to pay for the reasonable costs thereof. Likewise, the city may require a customer with an approved on-site generating facility that has been installed and begun to operate to suspend operations of the facility if it becomes unsafe or causes adverse impacts to the distribution system or portions thereof or to the property of other customers of the city, and such suspension shall be in place only so long as is reasonably necessary to remedy the adverse impact. The city may require the customer to disconnect the on-site generating facility from the distribution system in serious situations.
(G) (1) Energy generated by the customer-owned generator during the billing period may supply all or a portion of the energy required by the customer’s load. The customer shall be credited for excess energy delivered by the customer to the city at the meter from the approved on-site generating facility.
(2) For any energy generated by the customer in excess of the energy required by the customer’s loads for a given billing period, a credit shall be carried forward to the customer’s next billing period. For all eligible on-site generating facilities, the following credit method shall be used to determine excess energy credit. For energy delivered by the utility to the customer at the meter, as reflected in the meter reading, shall be billed at the appropriate utility full retail energy rate. For any excess energy generated by the customer from an approved on-site generating facility and delivered by the customer to the utility at the meter, as reflected in the meter reading, a credit shall be created and applied to the customer’s bill based upon the lesser of the full retail energy rate for the customer class and the avoided cost of energy. Avoided cost shall be determined as set forth in division (J) below. The city shall install an appropriate meter to measure both the energy delivered by the utility to the customer at the meter and the energy delivered by the customer to the utility at the meter from the approved on-site generating facility.
(3) Credits from electric energy delivered to the municipal distribution system by the customer shall be used to offset usage based electric energy (kWh) charges only. No such credits shall be applied to, and the customer shall remain responsible for:
(a) Taxes, fees, and other charges that would otherwise be applicable to the net amount of electric energy (kWh) purchased by the customer from the city or consumed by the customer; and
(b) Other charges to the customer under any other rules, regulations or rates that are not based on per kilowatt-hour (kWh) charges, including but not limited to, basic service charges, customer service charges, facilities charges, demand charges, kVAR charges, transformation charges, taxes and assessments billed on other than kWh basis, rental fees, and late fees.
(4) The city shall carry over any unused credits earned and apply those credits to subsequent billing periods to offset usage based electric energy (kWh) charges only for electric energy supplied to the customer by the city until all credits are used or until the end of the annual period. The annual period shall end each year on December 31. At the end of the annual period or in the event that the customer terminates service at the service location with the city prior to the end of annual period, any remaining credits in the customer’s account shall expire and no credit or payment shall be due to the customer for such expired credits. In the event of termination of an account qualifying for net metering under this policy, any outstanding credits are surrendered. No credit or payment shall be due to the customer for such surrendered credits. Under no circumstance will credits for excess energy transfer to a new customer at the service location after the customer’s service with the city terminates.
(H) Any costs the city incurs associated with the interconnection of generating facilities by a customer, including but not limited to changes in metering (to include installation of a bi-directional meter), or other physical facilities, whether on the customer’s premises or a reasonably necessary upgrade to the municipal distribution system or a portion thereof that is not on the customer’s premises, shall be borne by the customer seeking to install or for whom the generating facility was installed; provided however that such costs shall be capped at $1,500 to each qualifying customer interconnecting facilities of ten kW or less. For those facilities greater than ten kW that are deemed to qualify under this policy, all costs associated with the interconnection of the generating facility shall be borne by the customer seeking to install or for whom the generating facility was installed. Costs assessed under this section shall be demonstrable and cost based. Such costs shall not include or be based on reduced sales by or lost revenues to the city associated with-net metering service.
(I) The city shall develop such documents as needed to implement this policy and any customer applying for or taking service hereunder shall execute all appropriate documents.
(J) From and after the adoption of this policy, for all approved onsite generating facilities, including currently existing facilities, “avoided cost” shall be determined based on the sum of divisions (J)(1) and (2) below.
(1) The rate in cents per kWh as published and approved annually by the governing body of the city based on the calculations and recommendation from the city’s electric wholesale supplier. Such rate shall be approved annually in a public meeting. The rate shall take into consideration the following:
(a) Historic real time pricing of prior calendar year of energy in the wholesale market as valued at the locational marginal pricing (LMP) for that location as defined by the appropriately located Regional Transmission Organization (RTO).
(b) Solar-weighted LMP. The simple average of the LMP weighted using solar weighting. SOLAR WEIGHTING is the expected production of each hour of a typical solar installation as determined using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) System Advisory Model (SAM) as may be amended from time to time.
(c) Capacity value. Appropriate RTO capacity price with solar factors applied for average system peak times.
(d) Transmission value. Appropriate RTO transmission cost recovery with solar factor applied for average peak times.
(2) The rate in cents per kWh as calculated by the city for the avoidance of distribution system losses.
(K) The maximum size in kilowattsAC of the eligible on-site generating facility for an individual customer service location in the rate categories identified in division (D) shall be determined as follows:
(1) The installation of a renewable generating facility under this policy is intended to supply all or a portion of the customer’s own usage of electricity. Therefore, in order to be approved, a renewable generating facility must be properly sized so as not to exceed the customer’s expected annual usage based on the customer’s current energy needs. It is also important to the customer that the generating facilities are properly sized because the credits under this policy for excess energy delivered to the distribution system expire if not used within the time period established in this policy. As part of the interconnection application, customer’s energy usage will be analyzed using 36 months of historical energy usage (if available) in order to calculate the customer’s expected annual usage. If a customer provides documentation specifying why the usage has increased over that time, such as home renovation/addition or installation of electric heating or an electric vehicle charging station on the premises, then the previous 12-month period shall be used to determine the average for the expected annual usage. If the applicable months of data are not available for an individual customer, the average usage amounts by other similar customers of the city, as determined by the city, shall be used to set the expected annual usage. If facilities are allowed for customers in other rate classes, the right-sizing shall be determined on a case by case basis.
(2) In addition to the foregoing historic usage, the city shall consider potential adverse impacts to the distribution system and to other customers of the city that will be caused by or expected to be caused by the installation of the new renewable generating facility at the particular customer service location as part of the interconnection application review. The maximum size of the eligible on-site generating facility for an individual customer service location shall be reduced below the expected annual usage of the customer to mitigate the potential adverse impacts to the distribution system or portions thereof and to the other customers of the city unless the customer pays for any necessary upgrade to the system or portion thereof to avoid the potential adverse impact.
(L) The city reserves the right to interpret, amend or rescind this policy. Nothing herein is intended to nor shall it create a right for a customer to rely on any particular netting or crediting methodology contained in the policy from time to time, and all rates for excess credits are subject to change in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois governing municipalities.
(M) Citizen and customer concerns generally with this net metering policy may be raised in the public comment portion of any open meeting of the governing body of the city at any time and will be considered by the governing body in accordance with its normal processes. Individual customer complaints, disputes or concerns shall be raised in the first instance with the Director of Public Works. If the matter cannot be resolved at the utility staff level, this issue shall be reduced to writing and forwarded to the Mayor who shall schedule a meeting in person or by telephone or other communications media (i.e., Zoom call) with the customer. The customer may invite its contractor or other consultant to participate in the meeting. If the matter cannot be resolved at this stage, the process will escalate to the City Council. If this process fails to resolve the matter, the customer may appeal it to the circuit court and exercise whatever rights and remedies the customer may have in law: or equity. This policy shall be posted on the city website along with appropriate contact information.
(Ord. 2022-03, passed 3-14-2022; Am. Ord. 2023-03, passed 3-27-2023)
(A) The city shall make available, upon request, interconnection services to any customer that meets the required guidelines. INTERCONNECTION SERVICES, in this policy, refers to on-site generating facilities (as defined in the Customer Self-Generation Net Metering Policy) connected to the city’s electric distribution system in a manner that will allow excess electricity generated by the eligible on-site generating facility to be safely delivered onto the city’s electric distribution system.
(B) Guidelines for interconnecting to the utility system are as follows:
(1) Only generating facilities that have been approved by the Director of Public Works shall be interconnected with the city’s electric distribution system.
(2) All interconnections shall comply with codes established by National Electrical Code (NEC), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) as they may be amended from time to time.
(3) Construction and development of generating facilities is required to follow all applicable building codes, permitting processes, and zoning rules.
(4) The city is under no obligation to purchase energy supplied to the utility under this standard. This does not preclude the customer meeting
applicable standards that would allow the customer to supply power onto the utility’s system and receive credit for such energy under the utility’s Customer Self-Generation Net Metering Policy or the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).
(5) The city may require periodic testing of systems. All test reports shall be submitted to the city’s Electric Department after completion of the testing.
(6) The city may charge reasonable fees associated with the implementation and application of this policy.
(C) The terms and conditions for any and all such interconnections are set forth in the interconnection agreement attached to Ordinance No. 2023-03, which may be reasonably adapted by the city's staff from time to time in implementing this policy and the Customer Self-Generation Net Metering Policy.
(D) The city staff shall develop such documents as needed to implement this policy from time to time.
(Ord. 2022-03, passed 3-14-2022; Am. Ord. 2023-03, passed 3-27-2023)
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