[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Perkasie as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-16-1985 as Ch. 85 of
the 1985 Code]
A.
"Service" means readiness and ability on the part
of Perkasie Borough Electric Department (hereinafter called the "Department")
to maintain at the point of delivery approximately the frequency,
phase and voltage sufficient to supply the quantity of service that
the Department is obligated to supply, irrespective of the extent
of customers' use thereof.
B.
All service is subject to the several rules and regulations
and rates in this article, as amended. All customer-owned generation
is subject to the Borough of Perkasie Technical Requirements for Customer
Owned Generation, as amended. An applicant for service may be required
to sign the Department’s application form or contract. The acceptance
or use of service may be deemed an application for such service and
a contract to pay for it under said rules and regulations and applicable
rate. No promises of any employee of the Department shall be binding
unless made in writing over the signature of the duly authorized representative
of the Department.
[Amended 8-28-2009 by Ord. No. 936]
C.
Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipal Lien Law, 53
P.S. § 7101 et seq., the provision of electrical service
to premises is subject to a municipal lien if payment for said service
is not received. In the event a tenant-occupied premises does not
pay the account, both the tenant and owner are ultimately responsible
for the bill. So that the owner may be aware of the status of an electrical
account, the owner shall be permitted to obtain tenant account information
from the Borough upon request. Additionally, upon submission of a
written request and the payment of an annual fee to be established
from time to time by resolution, the Borough shall forward to the
owner on a monthly basis all account information sent to the tenant,
including shut-off notices.
[Added 3-15-1999 by Ord. No. 819]
[Amended 9-17-1990 by Ord. No. 651]
A.
The Department may disconnect service and remove its
meter and other property from the customer's premises upon violation
of any of these rules and regulations or any of the terms of the contract.
After such disconnection, the service will not be reconnected until
the expense of disconnecting and reconnecting is paid, which payment
shall be as established from time to time by resolution.
[Amended 4-17-1995 by Ord. No. 762]
Any failure by the Department to resort to any
remedy shall not be deemed a waiver of such remedy as to any matter
arising in the future.
Service shall not be used for any purpose or
in any place other than that stipulated at the time of connection.
Energy shall not be resold or used by any party other than the customer,
except in the case of service to the owner or lessor of a single property
for the use of tenants occupying such property and then only where
service is supplied through one meter, where the charge for electric
service to the individual tenant is a fixed amount included in the
rent and where the energy is not submetered.
Where three-phase service is supplied, the current
shall be taken equally from the three phases as nearly as possible.
Wherever the difference between any two phases is greater than 10%
of the lesser, the customer shall make changes necessary to correct
the unsatisfactory condition, or the bill will be computed on the
basis that the current taken from each phase is equal to the greatest
quantity taken from any one phase.
Where the use of customer's equipment causes
voltage fluctuations which interfere with the Department's service
to other customers, the customer shall, upon notice from Department,
make changes necessary to overcome the fluctuations.
Department's standard service is single- or
three-phase, sixty-cycle alternating current. Wherever such service
has been established, all other types of service will be considered
as in process of elimination, and no new nonstandard service will
be supplied.
A.
"Point of delivery" is the point where the Department's
facilities are connected with customer's wires and apparatus.
B.
Department will install and maintain its facilities
on its side of the point of delivery and shall not be required to
install or maintain any facilities except meters and meter accessories
beyond that point.
The ordinary method of connection between Department's
facilities and the customer's wires and apparatus is by overhead wires.
If the customer desires to have connection made in any other manner,
the customer may make special arrangements by which the connection
will be made and maintained at the customer's cost.
A.
The Department will use reasonable diligence to preserve
as nearly as possible the continuity of its service, but in the event
of failure of service, the Department shall not be subject to any
liability, penalty or payment for or on account of any such failure,
nor shall there be any reduction in the monthly bill. In no event
shall the Department be liable for consequential damages.
B.
For the purpose of making necessary repairs, the Department
may temporarily suspend service, but the customer shall be given at
least three hours' advance notice, except in cases of emergency where
such notice is impracticable.
Temporary service connections will only be installed
when, as and if the Department has available capacity and facilities
for the service, and then only upon payment by the customer, before
installation, of the Department's estimated cost of installing and
removing the facilities, but in no case less than the amount as set
from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council. A service
connection will be considered as being temporary when, in the Department's
opinion, it will be used for a period of less than 12 months or is
installed on a construction site. Temporary services shall be single-phase
services only.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The actual recipient of service. In the case of residential
service, the customer shall be the head of the household and an actual
occupant of the dwelling unit served. In all cases, the customer must
be a person, copartnership or corporation sui juris and financially
responsible.
That portion of the customer's wiring between the point of
connection with Department facilities and the terminals of the main
disconnect device or devices.
A.
The customer assumes full responsibility for the energy,
wires and apparatus at and on the customer's side of the point of
delivery. The customer shall indemnify, save harmless and defend the
Department against all claims, demands, costs or expense for loss,
damages or injury to persons or property in any manner directly or
indirectly arising from, connected with or growing out of the transmission
or use of current by the customer at or on the customer's side of
the point of delivery.
B.
The customer shall provide, without charge, a right-of-way
acceptable to the Department for such lines across property owned
or controlled by the customer as in the judgment of the Department
are necessary for the supply of service.
C.
The customer shall also provide and maintain, without
charge, in convenient locations acceptable to the Department, space
for the accommodation of its meters and other apparatus installed
on customer's premises.
Authorized Department representatives shall,
at all reasonable hours, have the right to enter the customer's premises
for any purpose connected with service.
A.
The customer's wires and apparatus shall be installed,
operated and maintained in accordance with any governmental requirements
and with the rules and requirements of the current edition of the
National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association;
and all installations shall be inspected and approved by a Department-approved
certified electrical inspector before connection with the Department's
system will be made. All subsequent installations or changes shall
likewise be inspected and approved prior to connection.
B.
The Department is willing to advise as to the installation
and maintenance of the customer's wires and apparatus and may examine
it at any time and, whenever it is not in proper operating condition,
may refuse to make connection or may discontinue service.
A.
The location of the service connection shall be designated
by the Department. It shall be on the outside of the building at least
14 feet above ground. The service entrance conductors shall be installed
in continuous rigid metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing or cable
approved by Underwriter's Laboratories or other recognized agency.[1]
B.
The customer shall furnish and install a meter base
of a type approved by the Department ahead of the service switch on
the outside of the building approximately six feet above the ground.
A.
The phase, voltage, size and type of the customer's
apparatus shall be subject to the Department's approval. The customer
shall, if required by the Department, install and maintain motor starting
devices, automatic circuit breakers, switches, fuses, overload devices,
reverse phase relays or equivalent devices of a type approved by the
Department.
B.
The Department's facilities have a definite limited
capacity, and the customer shall notify the Department of any additions
to the connected load so that adequate facilities may be provided.
The customer shall be responsible for any damage resulting from a
violation of this rule.
Assistance will be given in emergencies to correct
defects in and make temporary repairs to the customer's wires and
apparatus, but any assistance given gratuitously shall be accepted
without involving responsibility on the part of the Department.
A.
Whereas the minimum size service entrance conductors,
as required in accordance with the rules and requirements of the National
Electrical Code have proven to be inadequate to meet the ever increasing
loads, the requirements which will be considered satisfactory by the
Department for new residential service entrances will be as follows:
|
Number of Customers Supplied From Entrance
|
Minimum Capacity of Service Entrance
(amperes)
|
Required Size AWG Insulation
|
Copper Wire Insulation
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
100
|
No. 2
|
No. 3
| |
|
2
|
125
|
No. 1/0
|
No. 1
| |
|
3 or 4
|
150
|
No. 2/0
|
No. 1/0
|
B.
The Department will specify the minimum size of service
entrance conductors when five or more customers are supplied from
a common service entrance.
C.
The service protection equipment for each customer
in all cases shall have a capacity of not less than 100 amperes.
The Public Utility Committee of Borough Council is authorized to hear and decide special exceptions to the provisions of § 85-19. where, owing to special condition, a literal enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship and where such exceptions are not adverse to the general purpose and intent of said provisions.
[Amended 8-17-1998 by Ord. No. 812]
Each rate applies to service supplied at one
point of delivery through one meter, to one customer for one business
enterprise, and the measurements of two or more meters will not be
combined for billing purposes, except when the customer's separately
metered buildings are within 1,000 feet of one another and the estimated
combined monthly billing demand is at least 500 kilowatts (kw), or
temporarily pending completion of necessary changes in the Department's
facilities.
The energy shall be measured at the point of
delivery or the nearest suitable point by meters installed and maintained
by the Department. Where service is metered at a point other than
the point of delivery or at a voltage other than the voltage of supply,
the readings of the meters shall be corrected to conform to measurement
at the point of delivery and the voltage of supply.
When two or more meters are to be installed
in one building, they shall be grouped at one common location convenient
for reading and testing if practical, otherwise they shall be located
as directed by Department. Each meter shall be marked to show the
portion of the building supplied.
The Department shall have the right to install
demand metering equipment at its expense for the purpose of determining
the demand established by the customer's use of service.
A.
The testing and adjustment of meters, the charges
therefore and adjustments due to inaccuracies shall be made in accordance
with standards acceptable to the Department.
B.
A meter will be tested at the request of the customer
upon advance payment of a fee as set from time to time by resolution
of the Borough Council, which will be returned to the customer if
the meter is found to be more than 2% in error, plus or minus.[1]
C.
The Borough will not be liable for inaccuracies if
the meter has been checked within eight years previous to the customer's
request for testing and adjustment.
The customer shall not interfere or tamper with
the Department's meters, connections or other facilities nor permit
anyone else to do so. The Department may disconnect service without
notice for any violation of this rule. The cost of any inspections,
changes, replacements or repairs made necessary by a violation of
this rule, together with a proper charge for current used but not
registered, shall be paid by the customer.
The customer shall be responsible for payment
for service until it is discontinued by the Department.
A.
Charges for electric current shall be based upon meter
readings which shall be made at least once every two months.
B.
The Department shall have the option of issuing estimated
monthly statements or actual bills every month.
C.
If estimated statements are issued, an actual or final
bill must be issued to each customer at least once every two months.
All estimated statements are subject to revision in case the meter
record, later secured, discloses any difference from the estimate.
D.
Estimated statements or bills are both due when rendered
and shall be considered as received by the customer when left or mailed
to the place where service is rendered or any other place agreed upon.
E.
In the event the Borough discovers that a faulty meter exists and
the Borough will be invoicing customers for consumption that was not
reported correctly, either through automated readings or by monthly
estimates, the Borough will compare the reported consumption to the
actual consumption that is recorded on the mechanical portion of the
meter. Under those circumstances where the reported readings are less
than the actual consumption, the Borough will calculate the amount
owed by the customer by comparing the actual read versus the ERT (automated)
reading and will charge the customer the difference between the actual
and reported read, divided by the number of years that the last actual
meter reading was conducted. The customer will be billed for a period
not in excess of three years for consumption that was not properly
billed. If the meter malfunction resulted in overcharging the customer,
the customer shall receive credit on account for future electrical
service.
[Added 9-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1020]
The Department's rates usually provide for a
new rate period of 15 days from the date of the bill. When the normal
billing period is less than one month, the net rate period shall be
three business days. In the case of bills for service to the United
States of America, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any of their
departments or institutions, the net rate period shall be 30 days.
A.
Payments will be accepted as being tendered within
the net rate period if postmarked before midnight on the last day
of such period or if delivered on or before the following business
day to any representative of the Department authorized to receive
payments.
B.
When the last day of the net period falls on Sunday
or a legal holiday the next business day will be considered as the
last day of such period. Delay in the receipt of or failure to receive
a bill will not extend the net rate period.
C.
When payment is not received within the net rate period,
the Department may file an action for the collection of said delinquent
account or place a lien upon the property being served. In the event
that said customer has other property within the Borough of Perkasie,
the Department shall be authorized to place a lien on those properties
as well, pursuant to the Commonwealth Municipal Lien Act.[1]
[Added 4-17-1995 by Ord. No. 762]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 7101
et seq.
A.
The Department may disconnect any service of a customer
upon 10 days' written notice to the customer that a bill for service
is more than 30 days overdue.
B.
If the customer receives or has received service at
more than one location, the service at any location may be disconnected
for failure to pay an overdue bill at another location. When so disconnected,
service will be reconnected only upon payment of the gross bill, plus
the expense of disconnecting and reconnecting service, which expense
shall be established from time to time by resolution, and upon making
a deposit to secure future payments of bills. The customer shall be
responsible for all costs incurred by the Borough in filing any action
or the placing of any lien, including any filing costs and attorney's
fees.
[Amended 4-17-1995 by Ord. No. 762]
C.
Service may be disconnected to an abandoned property
upon written request by owner insofar as the Department is satisfied
in its sole opinion that said property is abandoned and insofar as
said request is accompanied by a disconnection fee as established
from time to time by resolution.
[Amended 3-15-1999 by Ord. No. 819]
[Amended 8-19-1991 by Ord. No. 677]
A.
The Department may require deposits to secure the
payments of bills. The deposits shall be as established from time
to time by resolution. The Borough Manager shall have the discretion
to waive all or a portion of the deposit, if in his or her sole judgment
said customer provides satisfactory proof of credit worthiness, including
but not limited to evidence of a good payment history with a prior
electrical utility or like satisfactory proof. Upon 10 days' notice
to the customer, the Department may apply any deposit then in its
possession to an account once the delinquent amount exceeds the amount
of the deposit. The Department may then require payment of a new deposit
as a requirement of continued service.
[Amended 4-17-1995 by Ord. No. 762]
B.
Interest at the average quarterly rate earned by the Borough on its
electric account with Univest Bank, or the bank where the Borough
maintains its electric account, will be adjusted quarterly and allowed
upon all deposits made to secure the payment of bills for service
without deduction for any taxes thereon. Deposits shall cease to bear
interest upon the discontinuance of service at the location covered
by deposit.
[Amended 8-17-1992 by Ord. No. 702; 3-19-2018 by Ord. No.
1010]
A.
The Department's rates are not available, without
application of this rule, to customers having another source of electric
or mechanical power which can be substituted for the Department's
service in any part of the customer's operations, except where such
other source is maintained solely for use in case of possible failure
of the Department's service.
B.
Where only a portion of the Department's service is
within the scope of the preceding subsection, the customer may, at
his option, provide separate circuits for that portion, and the remainder
of the Department's service will then be metered and billed separately
without applying this rule thereto.
C.
Service will be supplied hereunder only where the
Department has available capacity and facilities adequate for the
service desired.
D.
The Department's service and such other source of
electric or mechanical power shall not be used at the same time for
the same equipment, except upon written agreement setting forth the
conditions of such operation pursuant to any current cogeneration
policy in effect, if applicable.
E.
Service hereunder will be supplied under the general
service rate.
F.
Any auxiliary service installed after April 9, 1984,
shall be installed by the Electric Department at the customer's expense.
[Amended 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 755]
A.
Application of rate schedule. This rate schedule is
for single-phase, sixty-hertz, residential service when supplied to
the customer's wires and apparatus in accordance with the use provisions
as listed below.
[Amended 12-16-2002 by Ord. No. 866; 2-2-2004 by Ord. No.
878; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 899; 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord.
No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No.
1056]
B.
Monthly rate (effective February 15, 2024, meter reading):[1]
[Amended 12-16-2002 by Ord. No. 866; 2-2-2004 by Ord. No.
878; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 899; 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord.
No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No.
1056]
(2)
The fuel adjustment clause applies to all kilowatt-hours billed.
(3)
Minimum charge. The minimum charge per month shall be $17.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 1026, adopted 4-6-2020, set temporary
emergency rates effective 3-16-2020 through 4-15-2020. Said ordinance
is on file in the Borough offices.
C.
Use provisions. This rate schedule is for sixty-hertz
single-phase, nominal one-hundred-twenty-/two-hundred-forty-volt service,
as available for:
D.
This rate schedule does not apply to:
(1)
Residential service that includes more than 2,500
watts of connected load attributable to professional or commercial
use, exclusive of heating and cooling facilities, in common with the
dwelling.
(2)
Any service deemed to be professional or commercial
in nature by the Electric Department.
(3)
Common use in apartments and condominiums.
(4)
Electric water heaters served hereunder must be so
connected that no more than 5,500 watts can be operated at one time.
(5)
The use of welding apparatus, electric furnaces or
motors larger than 7 1/2 horsepower is not permitted under this rate
schedule.
E.
Service to a multidwelling unit. Where two or more
separate dwelling units are supplied through one meter, each rate
block, including the customer charge, of the above monthly rate will
be multiplied by the number of dwelling units being served through
the meter.
F.
Energy conservation. Every heated or cooled building or structure for human occupancy which is constructed, converted, remodeled or otherwise altered shall meet the conditions of the Perkasie Borough Code § 70-6.
G.
Payment. The above monthly rate applies if bills are
paid within 15 days after billed. All payments made thereafter shall
have a late-payment charge added as established from time to time
by resolution of Borough Council. In the event that the Borough takes
legal action to collect a delinquent account, the customer shall be
responsible for all costs of collection, including court costs and
the Borough Attorney's fees.
H.
Contract period. The contract period shall be not
less than one year.
[Amended 11-10-1986 by Ord. No. 582; 4-20-1987 by Ord. No. 590; 12-15-1988 by Ord. No.
612; 5-20-1991 by Ord. No. 667; 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 755]
A.
Application of rate schedule. This rate schedule is
for single- and three-phase, sixty-hertz, electricity for general
service supplied to the customer at 240 volts and higher. Generally,
three-phase service is only available from an existing three-phase
distribution line. The Electric Department provides and maintains
all transformers and associated equipment.
[Amended 12-16-2002 by Ord. No. 866; 2-2-2004 by Ord. No.
878; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 899; 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord.
No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No.
1056]
B.
Monthly rate (effective February 15, 2024, meter reading):[1]
[Amended 8-17-1998 by Ord. No. 812; 12-16-2002 by Ord.
No. 866; 2-2-2004 by Ord. No. 878; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 899; 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
(2)
All kilowatt hours supplied under the primary service provision will
be reduced by $0.0047 per kilowatt-hour.
(3)
Minimum charge. The minimum charge per month shall be $36, except
that the minimum charge per month under the primary service rate provision
will be $1,500.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 1026, adopted 4-6-2020, set temporary
emergency rates effective 3-16-2020 through 4-15-2020. Said ordinance
is on file in the Borough offices.
C.
Billing kilowatts. Measurement of load, when necessary
for billing purposes, shall be determined monthly from the highest
registration of a fifteen-minute-block-interval-type meter. Where
a customer has the capability of moving a deferrable load to an off-peak
period, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday
and Sunday, and desires to do so and has Electric Department approval,
the Department will provide the metering capability to measure demands
occurring during on-peak and off-peak periods. Such deferred load
must be in excess of 300 kilowatts.
D.
Off-peak water heating rate. Controlled water heating service may
be provided through a separate meter for an additional monthly minimum
charge of $11.52, with all kilowatts billed at $0.1152 per kilowatt-hour.
Service to the water heater will be energized between the hours of
7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays, and all hours on Saturday and Sunday.
The customer is responsible for providing energizing relay. The Borough
reserves the right to determine the maximum allowable water heater
installed kilowatt-hours.
[Amended 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982]
E.
Use provisions.
(1)
This rate schedule is for sixty-hertz single- or three-phase
service at the Electric Department's standard delivery voltages.
(2)
This rate schedule is for all other electric service,
except residential service, supplied by the Borough.
(3)
All customer installations, original and additions,
shall be inspected and approved by an Electric-Department-approved
inspector before connection to the Borough's electric system.
(4)
No more than 20 kilowatts of electric space heating
may be switched at any one time.
F.
Primary service provision.
(1)
Three-phase service is available from the Borough's
twelve-thousand-volt lines for loads in excess of 500 kilowatts and
at the approval of the Electric Department. For such service the customer
provides and maintains all necessary switches, protective equipment,
transformers and other associated equipment.
(2)
The Electric Department reserves the right to install
the necessary metering instruments on the secondary side of the customer's
transformers, and when so installed, the billing kilowatts and kilowatt-hours
shall be adjusted so as to reflect the customer's demand and energy
losses of the transforming equipment.
G.
Energy conservation. Every heated and cooled building or structure built for human occupancy which is constructed, converted, remodeled or otherwise altered shall meet the conditions of the Perkasie Borough Code, § 70-6.
H.
Payment. The above monthly rate applies if bills are
paid within 15 days after billed. All payments made thereafter shall
have a late-payment charge added as established from time to time
by resolution of Borough Council. In the event that the Borough takes
legal action to collect a delinquent account, the customer shall be
responsible for all costs of collection, including court costs and
the Borough Attorney's fees.
I.
Contract period. The contract period shall be not
less than one year.
[Amended 11-10-1986 by Ord. No. 582; 4-20-1987 by Ord. No. 590; 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 612; 5-20-1991 by Ord. No. 667; 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 755]
A.
Application of rate schedule. This rate schedule is
for security lighting service supplied by the Electric Department
to a customer-owned pole or structure.
[Amended 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
B.
Monthly rate (effective February 15, 2024, meter reading):
[Amended 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
C.
Payment. The above monthly rate applies if bills are
paid within 15 days after billed. All payments made thereafter shall
have a late-payment charge added as established from time to time
by resolution of Borough Council. In the event that the Borough takes
legal action to collect a delinquent account, the customer shall be
responsible for all costs of collection, including court costs and
the Borough Attorney's fees.
D.
Contract period. The contract period shall be not
less than five years. If the customer requests removal prior to the
five-year period, the customer is responsible for the remainder of
the five-year billing period.
[Amended 11-10-1986 by Ord. No. 582; 4-20-1987 by Ord. No. 590; 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 612; 5-20-1991 by Ord. No. 667; 2-21-1994 by Ord. No. 739; 11-21-1994 by Ord. No.
755]
A.
Application of rate schedule. This rate schedule is
for borderline service to other utilities for the purpose of resale.
The Borough will supply to the utility the monthly meter reading for
its billing purposes. Requests for this service must be made, in writing,
to the Borough.
[Amended 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
B.
Monthly rate (effective February 15, 2024, meter reading):
[Amended 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
C.
Payment. The above monthly rate applies if bills are
paid within 15 days after billed. All payments made thereafter shall
have a late-payment charge added as established from time to time
by resolution of Borough Council. In the event that the Borough takes
legal action to collect a delinquent account, the customer shall be
responsible for all costs of collection, including court costs and
the Borough Attorney's fees.
D.
Contract period. The contract period shall be not
less than five years.
A.
The commercial space heating Rate D is applicable
to all commercial and industrial customers, supplied at secondary
voltage, where electricity supplied through one meter is the sole
source of the customer's energy requirements or where space heating
requirements are provided solely by electric energy supplied through
a separate meter, all in accord with the conditions of application
contained herein.
[Amended 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
B.
Net monthly rate (effective February 15, 2024, meter
reading):[1]
[Amended 11-10-1986 by Ord. No. 582; 4-20-1987 by Ord. No. 590; 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 612; 5-20-1991 by Ord. No. 667; 11-12-2008 by Ord.
No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
(1)
Separately metered service. There shall be a customer charge of $30
per month, and in addition, there shall be a charge of $0.1265 per
kilowatt-hour.
(2)
Single-meter service.
(a)
There shall be a customer charge of $30 per month, and there
shall be a charge of $9.1958 per kilowatt of the billing kilowatts.
(b)
In addition to the preceding, the following rates shall apply:
|
Usage
|
Rate
(per kwh)
|
|---|---|
|
First 2,500 kwh
|
$0.1220
|
|
Next 100 kwh, per kw of billing kw
|
$0.1077
|
|
All additional kwh
|
$0.0934
|
(c)
The billing kilowatts shall be the average kilowatts supplied
during the fifteen-minute period of maximum use during the current
billing period. For billing purposes, the billing kilowatts shall
be taken to the nearest kilowatt.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 1026, adopted 4-6-2020, set temporary
emergency rates effective 3-16-2020 through 4-15-2020. Said ordinance
is on file in the Borough offices.
C.
The separately metered service rate shall apply to
separately metered service for the uses set forth below where the
customer also received power and lighting service under another general
service rate and where all metering is at the same point of delivery
and at the same voltage. Subject to these conditions, the rate may
be applied to the following uses where electric space heating is at
least 50% of the customer's total energy requirement under the service:
D.
The single meter service rate shall apply to all general
service requirements of a customer supplied through one meter at one
voltage where:
(1)
Electricity is the sole source of the customer's energy
requirements, except as hereafter provided.
(2)
Electric space heating requirements are equal to or
exceed all energy requirements from the service, exclusive of air
conditioning.
(3)
Another source of energy may be used only in instances
where, in the opinion of the Department, it is not physically feasible
to accomplish a purpose or process with electric energy.
E.
Payment. The above monthly rate applies if bills are
paid within 15 days after billed. All payments made thereafter shall
have a late-payment charge added as established from time to time
by resolution of Borough Council. In the event that the Borough takes
legal action to collect a delinquent account, the customer shall be
responsible for all costs of collection, including court costs and
the Borough Attorney's fees.
[Amended 9-18-2000 by Ord. No. 835]
F.
This rate schedule shall continue to be available
only to existing consumers at existing locations supplied continuously
hereunder, and no new customer will be accepted under this provision.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 85-38.1,
Large commercial and industrial service Rate E, added 5-20-1991 by
Ord. No. 667, was repealed 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 755.
[Added 1-21-1991 by Ord. No. 659]
For each kilowatt-hour of electric energy delivered
to a customer, there shall be added a fuel adjustment to the applicable
rate schedule. The fuel adjustment charge shall be computed by adding
the fuel adjustment charge paid by the Borough on wholesale power
purchases for the two monthly billing periods immediately prior to
the retail billing month and dividing the sum by the total kilowatt-hours
delivered to retail customers for the two-month period immediately
preceding the retail billing date. For all energy delivered on or
after January 31, 1991, the fuel adjustment charge as calculated herein
shall be increased by $0.00173 per kilowatt-hour; provided, further,
that from time to time the Borough Council may reconsider the fuel
adjustment charge and change the same by resolution adopted by a majority
vote of Borough Council. Said change in the fuel adjustment charge
shall be effective on all energy delivered after the date upon which
the resolution is passed.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 85-39, Fuel
adjustment, as amended, was repealed 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 612.
[Amended 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 755; 12-16-2002 by Ord. No. 866; 2-2-2004 by Ord. No. 878; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 899; 11-12-2008 by Ord. No. 928; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 969; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 982; 12-21-2015 by Ord.
No. 991; 12-19-2022 by Ord. No. 1052; 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 1056]
The electric rates stated in this article shall apply with the
February 15, 2024, meter readings.
A.
It is hereby ordained by Borough Council that it shall
be unlawful to attach signs, posters, placards or notices to any Department
equipment, including wooden poles or lighting standards. No materials
of any nature may be affixed to Department equipment without written
Department permission.
B.
The Perkasie Police Department may attach traffic
and parking signs to Department equipment in any emergency or temporary
situation in which alternate means of posting are unavailable.
C.
The Perkasie Public Works Department may attach traffic
or parking signs to Department equipment with permission from the
Borough Manager.
A.
CUSTOMER
DEPARTMENT
DEVELOPMENT
Definitions. As used in this section, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The owner of any real property served by underground electric
power from the distribution facilities of the Department for the purposes
of this section.
The Borough of Perkasie Electric Department.
Any subdivision or land development for residential and/or
commercial uses which provide for the opening of new streets or ways,
whether public or private.
B.
Wherever these rules or regulations provide for the
customer to furnish materials or services, such materials, equipment,
supply or construction methods shall be in accord with the standards
of the Department and shall be subject to the inspection and approval
of the Department.
C.
Before any underground service is installed, the customer
and Department shall enter into a written agreement, setting forth
the arrangements, conditions and costs of type of service to be installed.
D.
Generally, whether in public rights-of-way or on private
land, all primary and secondary underground facilities, including
distribution transformers, shall be owned by and be the responsibility
of the Department.
E.
Any charges made by the Borough to the customer under
these regulations shall be paid in advance.
F.
The Department shall not be liable for any injury
or damage occasioned by the willful or negligent excavation, breakage
or other interference with its underground facilities or equipment
by other than the Department's employees or agents.
G.
In any development or subdivision where a lot or lots
may be sold, the customer shall include in the deed transferring any
such lot the following provisions:
H.
Underground service from overhead primary distribution.
(1)
Subsection H shall apply to single- or three-phase service from existing primary overhead facilities of the Department to a pad-mounted transformer on the customer's property.
(2)
The customer shall furnish the following materials
and services:
(a)
Transformer pad specified by the Department.
(b)
Trench and backfill for specified conduit from
pole to transformer pad and from transformer pad to meter location.
(c)
Install specified conduit from pole (at weather
head) to transformer pad and from transformer pad to meter base.
(d)
Install secondary cable.
I.
J.
Underground service to new residential development:
single-family detached and semidetached dwellings.
(1)
Subsection J shall be applied to all developments containing five or more dwellings, consisting of single-family detached, single-family semidetached and single-family multiplex dwellings and requiring the installation of primary and/or secondary facilities.
(2)
The standard method of service under this rule shall
be underground distribution, single phase, with ground level low-profile
transformers.
(3)
The customer shall furnish the following materials
and services:
(a)
Provide the Department with an accurate development
plan and the proposed kilowatt load.
(b)
Provide, at no cost to the Department, all easements
necessary for Department occupancy by distribution, service and streetlighting
lines and related facilities.
(c)
Clear the ground along all easement and grade
within six inches of final grade.
(d)
Trench and backfill for all conduit or cable
required to complete the system installation, such trenching and backfilling
to be according to Department specifications and with Department approval.
(e)
Protect all installed Department facilities
from damage and pay actual cost for repair for any facility damage.
(f)
Pay to the Department, in advance, such fees
as the Borough Council of Perkasie may adopt by resolution from time
to time.
[Amended 1-19-1987 by Ord. No. 586]
(5)
Department facilities may be installed with equipment
of other utilities by mutual agreement between the Department and
the utilities. Any charges made by other utilities shall be between
the customer and those utilities.
(6)
The Department will limit the installation of facilities
to a development or that part of a development for which service will
be required within one year or less.
K.
Underground service to residential developments: apartments,
townhouses and related commercial uses.
(1)
Subsection K shall be applied to all development of apartments, garden apartments and multiplex apartments.
(2)
The conditions and charges for underground service
shall be established by agreement between the customer and Department.
The customer shall furnish complete development plans upon which the
underground facilities are designed and easements established. The
Department charges to the customer shall be the total estimated cost
of underground facilities.
L.
In the event an existing underground service is replaced
because of the customer's load growth or service relocation, such
replacement shall be at the cost of the customer.
[Added 10-17-1994 by Ord. No. 752]
A.
Any customer shall have the right to appeal a decision
of the Borough Electrical Department to the Borough Manager upon a
form to be provided by the Borough. The decision of the Manager shall
be rendered within three days after he or she has received the written
appeal.
B.
The decision of the Borough Manager may be appealed
directly to the Borough Council upon a form to be provided by the
Borough. The President of Borough Council shall act as the presiding
officer at the hearing as hereinafter provided. A majority of the
Borough Council shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting
a hearing.
C.
The Borough Council shall conduct a hearing at its
next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, however, that in the event
that an emergency exists, in the sole discretion of the President
of Borough Council, he or she may establish an earlier hearing date,
provided that at least three days' notice is given to the appealing
party.
D.
All hearings shall be open to the public. The appellant
and a representative of the Department shall both be given an opportunity
to present whatever evidence or testimony they desire. Hearings shall
not be conducted in strict conformance with rules of evidence.
E.
The decision of the Council shall be conveyed to the
appellant and the Department in writing within seven days of the hearing.
[Adopted 12-16-1985 as § 70-5
of the 1985 Code; amended 12-20-1993 by Ord. No.
731]
The Borough of Perkasie will not perform any inspection of electric installation, facilities or equipment which is completed as a part of a building permit issued under the requirements of Chapter 70, Building Construction.
All electric conductors and equipment shall
conform to the requirements of the National Electric Code, 1993 Edition,
as published by the National Fire Protection Association; all installations,
alterations or extensions of electric wiring or apparatus for light,
heat or power shall be subject to the inspection and approval of a
certified inspection service. It shall be the responsibility of the
permittee and/or the electrician to arrange for an electric inspection
and to notify the Building Official of the inspection results.
The permittee shall provide the Building Official
with the written approval before the issuance of the certificate of
use and occupancy.
