(A) Definitions. For the purpose of gas billing by the city, THERM is 100 cubic feet of natural gas; DECATHERM is 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
(B) Rates. There shall be and are hereby established monthly rates and charges for the sale of natural gas for the use and service supplied by the natural gas system of the city, and based upon the amount of gas consumed, as shown by gas meters, to-wit:
(1) General service rate. General service rates shall be established from time to time by the City Council. All charges and rates shall be kept on file and be available for inspection in the office of the City Clerk.
(2) Gas charge. The above stated charges for natural gas service do not include the city’s delivered cost for the purchase of natural gas from its suppliers. The City Clerk is hereby empowered and directed to determine the actual monthly cost of purchased natural gas on a per dekatherm basis by dividing the monthly wholesale cost of purchased natural gas and transportation by the number of thousands of cubic feet of gas consumed and metered by the Gas Department. Such gas charge is to be applied to each unit of gas delivered.
(3) Changes in operating expenses. Any changes in operating expense, not including the cost of gas, shall be passed uniformly and directly to all bills rendered after the determination has been made by the City Council. The determination shall be made using latest fiscal audit report with the base operating expenses being those recorded for the fiscal year ended the previous April 30. The base rate was established in 1985. Changes in operating expenses shall be limited to the following:
(a) Demonstrable changes identified in the fiscal reports of the city.
(b) Changes in wages, salaries, payroll or payroll expenses applicable after they have been put into effect.
(c) Direct and permanently continuing costs over which the Council has no control.
(4) Applicable taxes. The foregoing rate shall be adjusted when necessary to fully reflect any tax assessed upon the City Gas Department, under the state Gas Revenue Tax Act, ILCS Ch. 35, Act 615, §§ 1 et seq., or any other authority. Customer bills shall be changed to reflect any tax.
(5) Special rates. The Council shall have the right to establish special rates or contracts for gas service to special industrial or special use service when regular rates are inappropriate or unworkable.
('74 Code, § 27-159) (Ord. 1060, passed 7-21-87; Am. Ord. 1237, passed 7-18-00)