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(A) It is the policy of the city to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills. The city’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address, room number, and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the following effect:
(1) All bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;
(2) If any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(3) Any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he or she may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his or her choosing and may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the city official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint.
(B) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
Where electricity has been cut off under the provisions in § 50.21, the charge for reestablishing service, after financial agreements have been cleared with the office of the City Clerk and Collector, shall be $100. No reinstatement shall be made after 3:00. p.m. during any working day. Reinstatement of electric service following shutoff for nonpayment shall be made only on working days and within 24 hours, if reasonably possible, from receipt of payment.
(Ord. 81-7, passed 7-27-1981; Am. Ord. 2008- 23, passed 10-15-2008; Am. Ord. 2022-32, passed 11-28-2022; Am. Ord. 2023-05, passed 4-24-2023) Penalty, see §
10.99
Electric service will not be established or reestablished until the provisions of this subchapter, including the following, are complied with:
(A) Electrical service will not be established or reestablished for any present or former customer, whether or not such customer remains a resident of the premises previously receiving electrical service, until such customer shall do either of the following:
(1) Pay in full all unpaid electrical bills owed the city by the customer, together with interest thereon; or
(2) Enter into financial agreements with and acceptable to the city, for the payment thereof.
(B) Electrical service will not be established for any new applicant for such service at a premises where the electricity supply has been shut off for nonpayment and where the former nonpaying customer is an occupant or resident, until and unless the requirements of division (A) regarding payment in full or acceptable financial agreements are satisfied.
(C) The city shall be authorized to discontinue electric service to any building, dwelling, residence, or premises in which any person is residing who owes an outstanding bill for electrical service at that premise or any other premise located in the city and for which payment has not been made or financial arrangements have not been made and which charges have not been previously discharged in bankruptcy.
(D) (1) No person, firm, business or other entity, having had electric service to its premise cutoff for nonpayment of an electric bill shall reestablish electric service by any of the following means:
(a) By use of a portable generator;
(b) By use of an electric extension cord or cords extended to another source of electric power;
(c) By use of a altered, stolen, or tampered electric meter;
(d) By tampering with the existing meter;
(e) By use of any other physical equipment, device, or contraption; including without limitation solar panels; or
(f) By use of any means not specifically authorized in writing by the City’s electric department.
(2) No person firm, business, or other entity having had electric service shut off to its premises for nonpayment of an electric bill shall receive or acquire electricity while said electric charges to the City remain unpaid and outstanding by any of the following means:
(a) By use of a portable generator;
(b) By use of an electric extension cord or cords extended to another source of electric power;
(c) By use of an altered, stolen, or tampered electric meter;
(d) By tampering with the existing meter;
(e) By use of any other physical equipment, device, or contraption; including without limitation solar panels; or
(f) By use of any means not specifically authorized in writing by the City’s electric department.
(3) Any law enforcement official who either witnesses or is advised by the city’s electric department of a violation either provision division (D)(1) or (D) (2) of this section may issue a No Court Appearance Required citation for violation of said divisions. Such citation shall require the payment of a fine only in the amount of $100, if paid within 30 days in the Office of the City Clerk. In the event any person, firm, business, or other entity issued a No Court Appearance Required citation for violation of divisions (D)(1) or (D) (2) of this section, fails to pay the above fine within 30 days, a law enforcement officer shall issue such person, firm, business or other entity a notice to appear requiring a court appearance for such violation. Any person convicted of violating either division (D)(1) or (D)(2) of this section following a court appearance shall be fined $250 plus court costs.
(4) No person, firm, business, or entity found to in violation of either division (D)(1) or division (D)(2) of this section shall have electricity restored to their premises until all outstanding charges for electricity together with reinstatement fees have been paid in full and all fines and court costs, if applicable, imposed under this Section have been paid in full. No payment arrangements or other financial arrangements as provided in this section shall be made with any person, firm, business or other entity found to be in violation of either division (D)(1) or (D)(2) of this section. No person, firm, business, or entity found to be in violation of either division (D)(1) or (D)(2) of this section shall be entitled to receive electric service at any other premises located within or without the City of Metropolis from the City of Metropolis Electric System until all outstanding invoices for electric services, all reinstatement fees and all fines and court costs, if applicable, have been paid in full as well.
(Ord. 81-7, passed 7-27-1981; Am. Ord. 89-11, passed 7-24-1989; Am. Ord. 2008-23, passed 10-15-2008; Am. Ord. 2008-32, passed 11-24-2008; Am. Ord. 2012-02, passed 3-26-2012; Am. Ord. 2016-14, passed 9-12-2016) Penalty, see §
10.99
The rates for electrical service are adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as if fully set forth herein. A copy of the rate schedule shall be on file in the City Clerk’s Office.
(1977 Code, § 3-15-14) (Am. Ord. 81-1, passed 2-9-1981; Am. Ord. 83-7, passed 9-2-1983; Am. Ord. 94-9, passed 4-25-1994; Am. Ord. 2001-58, passed 12-26-2001; Am. Ord. 2011-19, passed 7-28-2011; Am. Ord. 2015-1, passed 1-26-2015)
(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)
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