(A) Residential electrical service (any single- or multi-family dwelling).
(1) Rate.
(a) Service charge. For each month of electric service: $8.25 per month; and
(b) Energy charge. For all kWh metered during the billing month: $0.10235 per kWh.
(2) Minimum monthly bill. The minimum monthly bill shall be the service charge.
(3) Power cost adjustment. The energy charge shall be subject to the power cost adjustment as defined herein.
(B) Commercial electric service (any electric service that is not defined to be residential or industrial).
(1) Rate.
(a) Service charge. For each month of electric service: $12.50 per month; and
(b) Energy charge. For all kWh metered during the billing month $0.10795 per kWh.
(2) Minimum monthly bill. The minimum monthly bill shall be the service charge.
(3) Power cost adjustment. The energy charge shall be subject to the power cost adjustment as defined herein.
(C) Industrial electric service (all three-phase customers).
(1) Rate.
(a) Service charge. For each month of electric service: $25 per month;
(b) Energy charge. For all kWh metered during the billing month $0.10385 per kWh; and
(c) Demand charge. $2.50 per kW.
(2) Minimum monthly bill. The minimum monthly bill shall be the service charge.
(3) Power cost adjustment. The energy charge shall be subject to the power cost adjustment as defined herein.
(D) Power cost adjustment.
(1) Applicability. The power cost adjustment (PCA) is applicable to all residential, commercial, and industrial customers and adjusts the rates therein for changes in the cost of wholesale power purchased. The changes in wholesale power cost are equal to the current cost of wholesale power per kWh sold, less the average cost of power included in the currently effective rates. The PCA is determined on a monthly basis and will both increase and decrease consistent with the changes in wholesale power cost.
(2) Calculation.
The PCA is calculated pursuant to the following formula PCA = PC / kWh x LL - APC PCA = The adjustment factor per kWh applicable to all kWh billed during the month PC = The total cost of power purchased on the most recent bill from the city’s wholesale power supplier KWh = The total kWh purchased on the most recent bill from the city’s wholesale power supplier LL = The factor to adjust the average power cost for line losses. The current adjustment is 8.0% APC = The average power cost per kWh included in the city’s current rates. The current average cost is $0.07986 |
(E) Yard lighting service.
(1) Service shall be dusk to dawn lighting service, using photo-electric-controlled equipment, mast arm, street light type luminary. Installation, maintenance of the complete assembly, and the cost of its electrical operation are included in this service. Customers requesting a security light must furnish their own utility pole unless the city has a utility pole available for that purpose.
(2) The monthly charges for security lights shall be as follows: additional line or service if it is necessary for the city to provide additional line or service to the customer, then an estimated bill will be presented to the customer and said amount must be deposited with the City Utility Clerk before the service is provided. If the charge is determined by the city to be excessive after work is completed, then a refund will be made by the city to the customer. If the charge is found to be insufficient, the customer shall be responsible for the difference.
(F) Service entrances/compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
(1) If the city determines that major reworking of any service entrance is required in order to be safe or to be adaptable to proper metering, then the customer shall be notified in writing by the City Utility Clerk. Such customer will be permitted 30 days to rework their service entrance. If the customer fails to rework the service entrance, then the service shall be disconnected until such time the service has been reworked and inspected by the Commonwealth Electrical Inspector. Such customer shall be charged a reconnect fee. A customer may be granted an additional 30-day extension to comply if it is determined that a hardship exists. To request an extension due to hardship, the customer must request same in writing.
(2) Customers who are unsure about the legitimacy of their service entrance may request in writing to have their service entrance checked for legitimacy to avoid prosecution or if such customers recently moved into a new business or house.
(3) All utilities must be installed in accordance with all applicable local, state, and national codes/regulations and will be subject to inspection at any time.
(G) Disconnection of services.
(1) If electric service is not paid in full on dates due (fifteenth of each month), a 10% penalty will be added after 10:00 a.m. the following work day and the account or accounts deemed delinquent. A cutoff list will be provided for the meter readers or other city workers for disconnection of utility service and delinquent utility accounts shall be disconnected beginning the twenty-sixth day of the month during which they become delinquent.
(2) If all past utilities balances and reconnects are not paid in full by the month following disconnection, the account will be deemed final and all deposits held on the account will be applied. In order to initiate new services, the occupant will be required to apply new deposits with the city utilities and pay all back bills that the previous deposits did not cover.
(3) Under no circumstance shall the City Council, City Clerk, or Office of the Mayor interfere in the payment of these bills when due. Also, there shall be no guarantee of payment from Council members, City Clerk, or Mayor unless full payment is made at the time by check, cash, or money order to the utility office. The Utility Department office shall enforce the ordinance and shall not deviate from this subchapter under any circumstances.
(H) Reconnection fees. There will be a $25 reconnect fee per electric service if disconnection of services occurs.
(I) Meter testing. In the event of a customer complaint that the city’s metering equipment is not valid, the customer shall place with the city a $50 deposit and the City Utilities will have meter tested at the expense of the city. If said meter is found to be functioning properly, there will be no refund of the deposit and all amounts and penalties will be due by the due dates. If said meter is found to be incorrect in reading, the city shall replace said meter and refund customers deposit of $50. The customer is responsible for the payment of current bill during the time of testing and all penalties will occur on scheduled dates.
(J) Returned checks and fees. Returned checks will be assessed a $25 returned check fee. After receiving two returned checks, the customer will be notified either in writing or by phone that the utility company will not accept their personal check as payment for utility payments for a period of one year. All returned checks and returned check fees that are not paid in full within two weeks of the date of issue will result in their electric service being disconnected for nonpayment of services.
(K) Theft of services. Any person or persons found attempting to bypass or tamper with any electric metering or recording instrument, shall be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and shall have their electric service disconnected until such time that the city approves reinstatement. All customers are responsible for the legitimacy of their own service entrance. If such service entrance is found to be wired in such a way as to steal electrical service or the metering device has been tampered with, turned upside down, or bypassed, such customer shall be charged with the appropriate offense, including theft of services. In the event that such customer’s electric service is to be reconnected, they shall be charged with the normal reconnect fee.
(L) Tree trimming.
(1) In order to provide safe and reliable service, trees and other vegetation must not be allowed to interfere with power lines and other equipment. Trees in power lines are the single largest cause of outages in power distribution systems. Therefore, all customers receiving electric service from the city shall be deemed to have given permission for city personnel to enter upon their premises for the purpose of maintaining and protecting the city’s power lines and other equipment.
(2) In order to maintain the integrity of the electric distribution system, the city shall, in its discretion, remove vegetation and remove, cut, or trim trees deemed by it to be interfering with its electric distribution system.
(3) This shall include the removal of trees that are weak, diseased, dying, or severely damaged. It may also include removal of trees that would have to be trimmed to such an extent that the tree would be in danger of dying or become unsightly.
(4) The city may move power lines or shut off service so that trees can be trimmed or removed safely. The city does not trim or remove trees around secondary or low-voltage service lines coming into a customer’s building. The integrity of any such line is the responsibility of the customer.
(M) Controlling law, effective date, and the like.
(1) Any provision contained herein which is determined to be contrary to Kentucky Revised Statutes or other applicable law shall be null and void without affecting the remaining provisions contained herein.
(2) The provisions of this section shall take effect upon adoption and publication by the City Council.
(3) All provisions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by City Council.
(Ord. 2013-03, passed 6-5-2013)