(A) Application for natural gas service for property inside the city. An applicant desiring gas service for property inside the city or an existing customer requesting additional or changed gas service for property inside the city shall complete and file with the Business Office, an “Application for Natural Gas Service.” The application shall be in a form approved by the Director of Public Works, copies of which may be obtained from the Business Office or at the City Hall.
(B) Application for natural gas service for property outside the city. Any prospective customer requesting new gas service for property outside the city or an existing customer requesting additional or changed gas service for property outside the city shall complete and file with the Business Office, an “Application for Natural Gas Service.” The application shall be in a form approved by the Director of Public Works, copies of which may be obtained from the Business Office or at the City Hall.
(1) If the property for which gas service is requested is contiguous to a boundary of the city so as to permit annexation of the property by the city: (a) then such property must be annexed to the city before such a service shall be provided; or (b) if a legally enforceable annexation agreement acceptable to the city and a petition for annexation for such property are tendered to the city by the owner of such property, then gas service may be allowed upon tentative approval of the annexation agreement by the City Council by the requisite vote required for final approval of annexation agreement pending final consideration and action upon such annexation agreement.
(2) If the property for which gas service is requested is not contiguous to a boundary of the city so as to permit annexation of the property by the city, then before gas service shall be provided, a legally enforceable annexation agreement acceptable to the city, which runs with the property, must be tendered to the city by the owner of such property, wherein such owner agrees that upon such property becoming contiguous to the boundary of the city so as to permit annexation of such property by the city, that said property shall be annexed to the city. Upon approval of such agreement by the requisite vote required for annexation agreement, the request for gas service may be allowed.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of divisions (B)(1) and (B)(2), the city may deny an application for gas service for property outside the city if the city does not have authority to furnish such service, or whenever the City Council determines in its discretion that: (a) such gas service would jeopardize or adversely affect the gas system of the city or gas service to existing or committed future customers of gas service within or without the city; or (b) existing main lines are deemed to be inadequate or inconveniently located for the requested service.
(C) Application by tenant. If the prospective customer is a tenant of the premises to be served, the property owner, or his or her legal representative or designated agent must countersign the application before the application will be granted. The services of the gas system shall be deemed to be furnished to both the occupant and the owner of any such premises.
(D) Deposit. If required by the collector, a meter deposit in the amount of $125 must be made.
(E) Deposit refunds. Any deposit required by the Collector and held by the city with respect to gas service shall be refundable after one year of non-delinquent payment for all gas charges, upon termination of service to the customer, if all bills have been paid and the city is satisfied that all its meters and other equipment, if any, on the customer’s premises, have been left accessible and undamaged. If service is terminated, the deposit less any outstanding charges will be refunded to the customer. No interest shall be paid on the deposit.
(F) Transfer of service. If a deposit has been required and there has been one year of non-delinquent payment for all gas charges as required by this chapter, such a customer shall not be required to make the deposit required by this section upon transfer of gas service for such customer from one service location to another service location, so long as there has not been an interruption of service to such customer for a period greater than six months.
(G) Additional service. If a deposit has been required and there has been one year of non-delinquent payment for all gas charges as required by this chapter, such a customer shall not be required to make the deposit required by this section upon application for gas service for an additional service location if such customer is receiving gas service from the city at the time of such application.
(1993 Code, § 38-2-3) (Ord. 697, passed 4-16-1984; Am. Ord. 726, passed 2-3-1986; Am. Ord. 845, passed 9-3-1991; Am. Ord. 1148, passed 7-17-2000)