(A) The rates and rules will be in force from the time all connections are made and the current turned on, and shall remain in force until the contract has been revoked through cause, or the meter surrendered.
(B) All connections made by this utility shall be upon the terms and subject to the following rules and regulations.
(1) All applications must be made at the office, and bills paid to the City Utilities Office.
(2) Light and power will be furnished only at the appropriate schedule rate, by meter measurements, or by special contract upon flat rates (such as street lighting and temporary service), but only after prior agreement with the Board of Public Works and Safety or its authorized agent.
(3) For any additional use or change by the consumer, permission must be obtained from the manager or other authorized personnel. Every applicant for service shall be checked and verified as to classification and rate at the time of the meter installation, also when changes are made which would warrant reclassification. Contracts are not transferable.
(4) For the safety of the consumer, the utility insists on inspecting all wires before the current is turned on, and reserves the right to reject any work not in accordance with the underwriter's rules; but the utility will not in any case whatsoever assume any responsibility or loss for violation of its rules, or for defects which may arise in wiring.
(5) The premises of all applicants for electrical service must have a minimum of 100 ampere, single phase 120/240 volt, 3-wire service entrance installation, which shall include the following:
(a) Meter base or bases (residential 100 ampere and 200 ampere furnished by the utility) to be installed on the property in accordance with the department’s utility meter base inspection sheet. Exceptions shall be approved by the Office of the Utility.
(b) Wiring above the meter base or bases shall be of rigid conduit with weatherhead or other approved wiring, such as service entrance cable with a weatherhead, to the point of contact on the building by the utility, with the service wires.
(c) Meter bases and switch boxes shall be solidly grounded to a minimum of an 8-foot copper weld, 1/2-inch ground rod with an approved ground rod clamp. Steel ground rods are not acceptable.
(6) Wiring from the meter base to the switch box shall be of rigid conduit or other approved wiring such as service entrance cable. Service entrance cable shall be used on residential buildings only. Rigid conduit must be used entirely on commercial and industrial services or any combination thereof. Property owners shall furnish or require to be installed, in addition to the above, a 50 ampere range outlet in all rental property. All wiring and changes required to properly place meter bases must be done by the consumer or property owner at his or her own expense. The utility will only place and connect meters when preparations are made for service and approved by an authorized agent of the utility. Meters must be made readily accessible to the officers of the utility for reading, repairs, testing and shall be at all times the property of and under absolute control of the utility. When for any reason the seal must be broken on the meter or meters of the utility, the office of the utility must be notified prior to the breaking of the seal or seals. At the time of completion of the repairs requiring the breaking of the seal or seals, the office of the utility shall again be notified for the purpose of inspection of the changes in wiring and resealing of the meter or meters.
(7) Underground second services may not be installed on main line poles unless approved by the Electric Line Superintendent. If 1 pole is required there is no charge for the pole if it is for a metered service. The customer shall assume all costs for construction and maintenance of any underground service. The office of the utility must be contacted and its approval obtained in writing before the installation of any underground service.
(8) Patrons are cautioned against interfering or tampering in any manner with the meters, or unlawful use of current. In the event the utility has reasonable grounds to believe that the customer has tampered with the utility’s regulating or measuring equipment, or if fraudulent or unauthorized use of any utility service is detected, the utility will bill the responsible customer as set forth in Appendix B: Non-Recurring Charges.
(9) The utility, or its lawfully authorized agent, shall have the right to enter upon the premises of the consumer at all reasonable times, for the purpose of inspection, also to disconnect service wires and shut off the supply of electricity for any of the following reasons:
(a) Repairs;
(b) The want of supply of current;
(c) The nonpayment of bills when due;
(d) The fraudulent misrepresentation in relation to the consumption of electricity;
(e) Tampering with utility lines or meters; or
(f) Violation of any of these rules.
(10) The utility agrees to use reasonable diligence in providing a regular and uninterrupted supply of current; but in case the supply of current should be interrupted or fail by reason of accident, legal process, state interference for the purpose of making repairs or changes in its machines or lines, or any cause whatsoever, the utility shall not be liable for damages for interruption or failure.
(11) Consumers not provided with separate service wires shall not be entitled to damages by reason of lights being shut off or service wires being disconnected on account of any consumer or consumers, supplied by means of the same service wires, whether the consumer or consumers are tenants of the same building or otherwise.
(12) Meters will be removed and tested on demand of the consumer; provided, that the consumer guarantees the expense of the test should the meter prove correct. If incorrect, the utility shall bear the expense of the test. No more than 1 meter test per customer in a 12-month period shall be permitted. A report giving the results of the test shall be made to the customer, and a complete record of the same shall be kept on file in the office of the utility.
(13) Consumers are especially requested to examine all receipts and change and correct mistakes before leaving the office or at the earliest opportunity. Any complaint or notices will receive prompt attention, which are made in writing to the utility office manager or his or her assistant, and information or explanation of rates or rules will be carefully given.
(14) Electric meters must, at all times, be accessible to utility personnel for the purpose of reading, testing, and maintenance.
(a) If the city is unable to gain access to an inside or outside meter, for any reason, in order to obtain a reading for 60 days, the city shall send the customer a letter requesting arrangements for access within regular working hours or service will be discontinued.
(b) In the event shrubbery or other obstructions inhibit access to the meter and/or the viewing of the meter dial, the customer will be formally requested in writing and given 30 days in which to remove (or trim) the shrubbery or other obstruction so that uninhibited access of the meter can take place. Should the customer choose not to comply with the request, the city itself may remove (or trim) the inhibiting shrubbery or other obstruction, or may contract with a professional for the purpose of removing (or trimming) the inhibiting shrubbery or other obstruction. The customer, in this event, shall be responsible for the reasonable costs of removing and/or trimming the inhibiting shrubbery or other obstruction and will be billed accordingly.
(15) It shall be prohibited to connect electric service from one residence or business to another by running an extension cord from one to the other. There shall not be any wires laying or stretched from one structure to another.
(Prior Code, § 50.03) (Am. Ord. 517, passed 4-25-1966; Am. Ord. 24-2008, passed 12-22-2008; Am. Ord. 11-2009, passed 5-11-2009; Am. Ord. 4-2014, passed 3-24-2014; Am. Ord. 6-2023, passed 3-27-2023) Penalty, see §
10.99