CHAPTER 15. UTILITIESCHAPTER 15. UTILITIES\Article 2. Electricity

Electric energy sold by the city shall be sold through meters and the rates charged therefor shall be divided into three schedules as follows: residential and rural rates; commercial rates; and power rates.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986)

For the purpose of this article the following terms shall be defined as follows:

(a)   Commercial Meter - shall mean any meter used to meter electric energy used by any user for commercial purposes.

(b)   Commercial User - shall mean electric energy used by users of electric energy who use electricity for business use, rather than personal use and who use such electric energy for lighting and for power not exceeding 20 HP or 20 KW, or 5000 KWH of monthly use.

(c)   Power Meter - shall mean any meter used to meter electric energy used by any user primarily for the production of power.

(d)   Power User - shall mean electric energy used by large three phase users who use such electricity for power and/or lighting with connected HP or KW demand of 20 or more, or two consecutive months of 5000 KWH consumption or more.

(e)   Residential User - shall mean the use of electric energy by users who use electricity only for residential purpose in any unit occupied and used as a dwelling unit without regard to whether the electric energy be used for the purpose of producing light, heat or power. In the event that an office or place of business likewise operate in the residence, the electric energy used for the business shall be metered through a. commercial meter or a power meter. It shall be permissible however; to meter residential electric energy used in a residence through a commercial meter where the business and residence are housed together, by paying the commercial rate for all electric energy so metered.

(f)    Rural User - shall mean any user of electric energy residing outside the corporate limits of the city and within an established territory to which the city has lawful jurisdiction to sell and deliver electric energy.

(g)   User - shall mean any person, corporation, individual, copartnership, association or agency obtaining electric energy from the city.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986; Ord. 986)

The electric rate for residential and rural users of electricity as the same are herein defined, shall be as follows:

First 100 KWH                               @ $0.2225

Next 400 KWH                               @ $0.1550

All usage over 500 KWH               @ $0.1475

Minimum Monthly Charge:                  $22.25

(Ord. 933, Sec. 1; Code 2008; Ord. 979)

The electric rate for commercial lighting as the same is herein defined, shall be as follows:

First 150 KWH                               @ $0.2700

Next 1,050 KWH                            @ $0.1730

All Usage over 1,200 KWH          @ $0.1670

Minimum Monthly Charge:                  $40.50

(Ord. 933, Sec. 1; Code 2008; Ord. 979)

The electric rate for power uses, as the same is herein defined, shall be as follows:

The sum of the following energy and capacity charges shall be the customer’s total monthly billing. Minimum charge shall be equal to the monthly capacity charges, but not less than $205.00.

Energy Charges

First 1,000 KWH                            @ $0.2050

Next 4,000 KWH                            @ $0.1400

All Usage over 5,000 KWH          @ $0.1200

Capacity Charges: For all metered kilowatt demand or connected horsepower over 20, capacity charges shall be $3.50 per KW of horsepower.

(Ord. 933, Sec. 1; Code 2008; Ord. 979)

In addition to the rates and charges as set out above in Sections 15-203, 15-204 and 15-205, customers may be charged an additional amount to cover any fuel cost adjustments that may be charged to the City by other power suppliers.

(Ord. 931, Sec. 1; Code 2008)

Subject to the city possessing lawful jurisdiction to sell and deliver electric energy, rural users shall be governed by the same rules and regulations as other users and may have the privilege of having commercial rates and power rates unless it is uneconomical for the city to do so and may be required to have commercial lighting meters and power meters in those instances in which other users are required to have such meters.

The obligation of the city to sell and deliver electric energy to a rural user as defined in section 15-202(d) above shall continue for so long as the city possesses lawful jurisdiction to do so. The city may terminate its sale and delivery of electric energy to a rural user on the condition that the city has transferred its jurisdiction to another provider that will sell and deliver electric energy to said rural users.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986; Ord. 986)

Two or more residences cannot be connected to one meter but apartments, hotels and motels may all be metered on one meter but the bill from the meter shall be billed to only one person. Separate units in the same structure or unit may be metered separately when the owner or operator so desires.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986)

The user shall agree with the city to use the power meter at least six months and pay the minimum charge therefor for at least six consecutive months. It shall be the privilege of the city to refuse to connect any power meter that the superintendent shall deem to be uneconomical for the reason that it is too far from the existing power lines or for the reason that the use would be seasonable and would not justify the necessary investment.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986)

All bills for electric energy furnished to users by the city shall be due and payable at the office of the city clerk on the 15th day of the calendar month following the date of the reading of the meter. All bills due and owing on the 15th day of the month must be paid before the last day of the month at 1:00 p.m. or such service may be discontinued by the city pursuant to section 15-109.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986; Ord. 1021)

In the event a bill remains unpaid on the last day of the month, electric energy service to the user shall not be disconnected if the daytime high temperature on the last day of the month is below 38° Fahrenheit. Electric energy service shall remain connected until the first day thereafter that the daytime high temperature is 38° or higher. Should the bill remain unpaid, electric energy service will be disconnected on such day. Service disconnected hereunder shall remain disconnected until the outstanding bill and reconnection fee are paid in full.

(Ord. 1021)

Deposits are required of all users of electric energy furnished by the city. All users shall be required to make a cash deposit with the city equaling the amount of two months of the estimated bills for electric energy so used by the user; providing that the minimum deposit shall be no less than $150.00. All owners of real estate using residential, commercial, and industrial power who have paid for all energy charges in full for one year shall be refunded their deposits in full. Any owner failing to pay any bill, after the first year will be required to make another deposit as above. All non-owners of real estate using residential, commercial, and industrial (power) shall be refunded only when they have discontinued their service. All temporary construction meters will also be required to make the same deposit as the above rates. The deposit will be refunded when service is discontinued.

(Ord. 871, Sec. 1; Code 2008)

All electrical wiring for lighting, power, heating and cooking apparatus or appliances or for any purpose shall be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code, and the electrical code of the city.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986)

The light and water department shall furnish and install the electric meter and the consumer shall provide a suitable board for the support of the meter, which shall be located in an easily accessible place for reading and inspection and shall not be more than seven feet from the floor at its greatest height. Meters shall be located in a dry place free from vibration. All meters locations shall be as near the service entrance of the building as possible.

A service charge of $50.00 shall be made for each connection, disconnection and reconnection of service lines to any meter after regular working hours.

A minimum charge of $50.00 shall be made for each service call made by a city employee caused by the fault of the customer in the operation and maintenance of the customer’s electrical facilities.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986; Code 2008)

By and with the consent of the owner of any tree involved, the utility superintendent may authorize the reasonable and necessary trimming or cutting of any tree or tree limbs which interfere with or constitute a hazard to the city’s electrical power lines regardless of whether such tree be growing along a street, sidewalk or alley or upon public or private grounds. If the property owner refuses to give such consent, the utility superintendent is hereby authorized to refuse electrical service to the property affected.

(Ord. 785, Sec. 1; Code 1986)

There is hereby adopted Interconnection Standards for Installation and Parallel Operation of Customer-Owned Renewable Electric Generation Facilities 25 KWAC or Less for Residential Service and 200 KWAC or Less for Commercial and Power Service, together with Part 1 Program Overview, Part 2 Technical Requirements, Part 3 Interconnection Application, Part 4 Interconnection Agreement, Part 5 Certificate of Completion, Part 6 Approval to Energize Generation Facility, Part 7 Renewable Energy Parallel Generation Application for Service, and Part 8 Renewable Parallel Generation for Residential, Commercial, and Power Service Rate Schedule, all as attached to Ordinance 1019.

(Ord. 997; Ord. 1019)

There is hereby adopted the Net Metering Policy and Procedures for Customer-Owned Renewable Energy Resources, as attached to Ordinance 997. Net Metering Customer Generators must meet all applicable requirements of the City’s Interconnection Standards for Parallel Installation and Operation of Customer-Owned Electric Generating Facilities as adopted in Section 15-215, as well as all applicable requirements of the Net Metering Policy and Procedures for Customer-Owned Renewable Energy Resources adopted herein.

(Ord. 997)