[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Town Council
of the Borough of Chambersburg 9-8-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-06.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Article I Electricians
§ 135-1 Definitions.
§ 135-2 License required.
§ 135-3 Licensing procedure.
§ 135-4 (Reserved)
§ 135-5 Special licenses.
§ 135-6 Limited licenses.
§ 135-7 Registration; revocation or suspension of license.
§ 135-8 Certification.
§ 135-9 Special license for continuation of business.
§ 135-10 Standards for electrical work; inspections.
§ 135-11 Electricians' Examining Board.
§ 135-12 Bonding.
§ 135-13 Violations and penalties.
Article II Electric Rates
§ 135-14 Definitions.
§ 135-15 Rates.
§ 135-16 Power supply adjustment (PSA).
§ 135-17 Terms and conditions of electric services.
§ 135-18 Billing adjustments.
§ 135-19 General authorization.
§ 135-20 Penalty.
§ 135-21 Effective date.
§ 135-22 Short title.
§ 135-23 Aggregation of retail customer demand response.
§ 135-24 Ancillary services provided by demand response resources.
§ 135-25 Continuity of service.
§ 135-26 Prohibition of other electric generation suppliers.
§ 135-1 Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, the following words and terms
shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed to them:
- BOARD
- The Electricians' Examining Board of the Borough of Chambersburg as hereinafter established.
- BOROUGH
- The Mayor and Town Council of the Borough of Chambersburg, commonly known as the "Borough of Chambersburg" and/or its duly authorized representative acting in its behalf.
- ELECTRICAL WORK
- The act of installing, repairing, or removing any electric wiring, electric wiring device(s), or electric appliance(s), as the same are defined herein. This shall not include the direct, in-kind replacement of existing receptacles, switches, light fixtures, etc., as long as such replacement does not alter the current carrying ability of the device(s) and/or add load to a circuit.
- ELECTRIC APPLIANCE
- Any electric current-consuming equipment, fixed or portable, using, or Intended to use in its operation or control, electric energy at a potential in excess of 50 volts, excepting such portable devices supplied through flexible cords equipped as the same is defined herein.
- ELECTRICIAN
- Any person performing or assisting in the performance of electrical work as defined above.
- ELECTRIC WIRING
- Electric conductors of any kind carrying or intended to carry electricity at a potential in excess of 50 volts.
- ELECTRIC WIRING DEVICE
- Any unit of an electric system which is intended to carry or control, but not consume, electric energy or to enclose, protect, or directly support any such unit(s).
- MASTER ELECTRICIAN
- An electrician, as defined above, licensed by the Borough as hereinafter provided, who is responsible for the performance of and/or supervision and direction of others in the performance of electrical work as defined above.
- PERSON
- Any individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, limited-liability company, trust, entity or company.
- REGULATED ELECTRICAL WORK
- The act of installing any electric wiring or electric appliance(s) included in the following schedule:
- A. Electric wiring in any new structure or building or part thereof.
- B. Electric wiring or appliance(s) which will require any change in the Borough's electric service or metering equipment for any reason.
- C. Electric wiring or appliance(s) of any of the following types, or electric wiring intended to serve any such appliance(s):
- (1) New or modified electric service entrance, metering, and/or distribution panel equipment.
- (2) Temporary services.
- (3) Electric wiring or equipment of any kind installed under any of the conditions listed in the National Electric Code under the heading "Hazardous Locations."
- (4) Installation of more than 4 KW of additional electric heat load.
- (5) New installation or upgrade of all heat pump and air-conditioning systems.
- (6) New installation or upgrade of electric water heaters.
- (7) Installation of motors totaling five hp or greater, or greater than or equal to five kW of load.
- (1)
- D. The installation, alteration or repair of generation, transmission, distribution, metering or other related equipment that is, by established right, under the ownership and control of public service agencies are excluded from the terms of the above definitions.
- TOWN COUNCIL
- The Town Council of the Borough of Chambersburg.
§ 135-2 License required.
No person not licensed as a master electrician by the Borough
of Chambersburg, as hereinafter provided, shall do any electrical
work within the corporate limits of the Borough, except that the work
of a person working under the immediate supervision of such a licensed
master electrician, and actually employed by him or by the master
electrician's employer, shall be deemed to be the work of the
master electrician, and the master electrician shall be responsible
for the work of such person. Under no circumstances shall any electrician
assume responsibility for electrical work done by any other person
except as provided above.
§ 135-3 Licensing procedure.
A.
Any person who shall desire to obtain a license as a master electrician
shall apply, in writing, to the Director of Utilities of the Borough
of Chambersburg on a form to be provided for that purpose, furnishing
all information required thereon, and shall pay an application fee
in accordance with the schedule.
B.
Such application shall thereupon be referred to the Electricians'
Examining Board for consideration. If the Electricians' Examining
Board, as hereinafter constituted, shall, after consideration of the
electrical wiring training, experience (minimum of four years or two
years' experience with two years' training from an accredited
school), and integrity of the applicant, deem such applicant to be
qualified for examination, the applicant shall be examined by the
Board as to his skill and knowledge of the requirements of the trade
of master electrician. If, by such examination, the applicant evidences
to the satisfaction of the Board that he is competent to practice
the electrician's trade, he shall be granted a license as a master
electrician and shall be entitled to practice the trade of master
electrician in the Borough of Chambersburg and shall be subject to
all of the privileges, responsibilities and duties which have been
and which may hereafter be established for such licensees by the Borough
of Chambersburg.
(1)
Except as provided hereinafter, the license of a master electrician
shall be valid during the lifetime of the holder thereof unless sooner
suspended or revoked, subject to annual registration as hereinafter
required.
(2)
If an applicant shall fail to pass the qualifying examination, he
may, upon request, be reexamined at a later regular examination (but
not sooner than six months) upon payment of a fee in accordance with
fee schedule for each such reexamination.
(3)
No additional fee shall be required for the issuance of a license
to a successful candidate and for registration for the balance of
the then current year. If the Board, in its discretion, does not accept
an applicant for examination, the fee paid by the applicant shall
be returned to him. All sums received from electrician's license,
examination and registration fees shall be credited to the general
receipts of the Electric Department of the Borough.
§ 135-4 (Reserved)
§ 135-5 Special licenses.
A special license may be issued to perform and/or supervise and direct the electrical work involved in a single specified contract job to any person who shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Electricians' Examining Board of his skill, experience, training, and current active practice as an electrician, as indicated by a license issued by another municipality or other evidence of comparable achievement, upon payment of a fee according to the fee schedule. Each such special license shall designate the work for which it was issued and shall become void upon the completion of said work. Such special license may be suspended or revoked for cause. A special license may also be issued as provided in § 135-9 hereof.
§ 135-6 Limited licenses.
A.
Plant license. A firm or other establishment ("employer") which employs
on a full-time basis a person competent to perform routine electrical
work within its own plant may request, in writing, that said employee
be issued a limited license as master electrician, and the Electricians'
Examining Board may, at its discretion, issue said limited license,
under such terms as it may prescribe, upon payment of a fee according
to the fee schedule. An examination may be required by the Board to
determine the competence of the applicant. Said limited license shall
entitle the holder thereof to perform and/or supervise and direct
electrical work on the premises of his employer, and not elsewhere,
as long as he remains a full-time employee of said employer, and said
license shall become void upon termination of said employment. Such
limited license shall not authorize the holder thereof to supervise
or assume responsibility for electrical work performed by any person
not a bona fide employee of said employer.
B.
Electric water heater (EWH) license. The EWH license shall be issued
to a Borough of Chambersburg master plumber for the purpose of connecting
an electric storage-type water heater to a building's electric
wiring, which does not add additional load to the electric system.
This license shall not entitle the licensee to perform any electric
work other than specified herein. The master plumber must successfully
pass an examination on installation of electric water heaters before
receiving his EWH license.
§ 135-7 Registration; revocation or suspension of license.
A.
Each licensed master electrician, including each holder of a limited
license, shall be subject to registration on a calendar-year basis.
Each licensee wishing to continue in the practice of his trade as
an electrician shall, prior to the first day of January of each year,
apply at the office of the Director of Utilities for the registration
of his license for the ensuing calendar year and shall pay a fee in
accordance with the fee schedule. Any electrician whose license has
not been properly re-registered shall be considered as an unlicensed
person. Any licensee changing the address of his place of business
shall notify the office of the Director of Utilities promptly of such
change. A registry shall be kept by the Director of Utilities of all
persons holding licenses as master electricians which shall indicate
the address and the current status of the registration of the holder
thereof.
B.
The license of a master electrician may be revoked or suspended for
cause by the Electricians' Examining Board, subject to the right
of appeal to Town Council.
§ 135-8 Certification.
Each licensee, other than those to whom a special license has
been issued, shall be issued a permanent certificate showing that
he has been granted a license as a master electrician by the Borough
of Chambersburg and an annually renewed pocket card showing that his
license is registered for the current year. Such new card shall be
issued each year to each licensee upon payment of the fee aforesaid.
An electrician may allow his license to lapse for a period no longer
than five years and during the same period request the re-registration
thereof upon payment of the required fee without penalty or examination,
provided that he does not practice his trade within the terms of this
article during the time his license has lapsed. After the five years
have elapsed, the applicant must be reexamined as a new applicant.
§ 135-9 Special license for continuation of business.
In the event that a registered master electrician shall die
or become incapacitated, the Electricians' Examining Board may,
in its discretion, issue a special license to a qualified representative
of the business enterprise associated with said electrician authorizing
the business to continue operation thereof for a period not longer
than 12 months.
§ 135-10 Standards for electrical work; inspections.
A.
Adoption of code. The edition of the National Electrical Code as
incorporated into the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as that
Code and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry regulations
issued thereunder are revised and updated from time to time, copies
of which are on file in the office of the Borough Secretary, is hereby
adopted as the Electrical Code of the Borough of Chambersburg, Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, for the regulation of all matters concerning electrical
work as therein provided. No electrical work shall be installed or
approved which does not meet and/or conform to or exceed the requirements
thereof.
B.
A master electrician holding an active license, as herein defined,
must obtain a permit to do regulated electric work for any regulated
electrical work to be completed prior to commencing the work. Permit
applications can be obtained at the Borough Service Center at 80 South
Franklin Street or on the Borough's website at www.chambersburgpa.gov.
The fully completed application shall be submitted at the Service
Center.
C.
All regulated electrical work shall be inspected within seven days
after completion for conformity with the code by a qualified representative
of a Borough-approved, industry-recognized inspection agency. The
Borough of Chambersburg is not responsible for inspection or fees.
D.
No newly wired premises shall be connected to the electrical system
within the Borough until such installation has been approved by an
authorized inspection agency.
E.
Continued failure on the part of an electrician to rectify defects
in his work which have been reported as violations of the code by
an approved inspector shall constitute a violation of these rules
and regulations.
F.
Nothing contained within this Article I of Chapter 135 shall rescind any separate regulations, primarily located in Chapter 113 of this Code, referring to the implementation and enforcement of the stipulations set forth in the Incorporated Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Under certain circumstances, permit and inspections may be required pursuant to provisions of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code. Inquiry concerning application of that Code to the proposed electrical work should be referred to the Borough's Building Code Official.
[Amended 6-29-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-07]
§ 135-11 Electricians' Examining Board.
A.
There is hereby constituted an Electricians' Examining Board
whose duty it shall be to examine applicants for licensure by the
Borough as master electricians and to certify the names of those applicants
who qualify for such licensure as hereinbefore provided and to perform
such other duties as are herein prescribed. Such Board shall be composed
of five members who shall serve without compensation, appointed by
Town Council at the organization meeting of Town Council in January
every even year, who shall serve until the next organization meeting,
or until their successors are appointed, unless sooner removed by
action of Town Council. All vacancies in the Board shall be filled
by motion passed by Town Council. The Electricians' Examining
Board shall exercise general oversight over the interpretation, administration
and enforcement of these rules and regulations and may submit recommendations
to the Town Council for action relating thereto.
B.
The Board shall establish such reasonable minimum requirements of
training and experience for applicants for licensure as it may deem
proper. The Board shall elect from among its members a Chairman and
a Secretary who shall perform the duties usually associated with such
offices. Proper records of all formal actions of the Board shall be
kept by the Secretary.
C.
The Electricians' Examining Board shall meet during the first
month of each semiannual calendar period to review examination results
of previously approved candidates for examinations conducted the prior
month. Notice of the time and place of the examination shall be given
to each applicant at least seven days prior to the date of the examination.
The Chairman of the Electricians' Examining Board may call such
special meetings of the Board as he may deem proper, giving not less
than 24 hours' notice to all members.
§ 135-12 Bonding.
Each master electrician shall obtain and maintain a performance
and surety bond in the amount of $10,000 with an acceptable bonding
company. Revocation or cancellation of the bond shall disqualify a
master electrician from performing wiring under his license until
such time as it is reinstated or another bond is obtained.
§ 135-13 Violations and penalties.
A.
Any person who shall violate any provision of these rules and regulations
shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not
more than $300, and costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment
of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
In case of continued violation, each day the violation continues may
constitute a separate violation.
B.
The conviction of a master electrician of any violation of these
rules and regulations shall be cause for suspension or revocation
of said electrician's license by the Electricians' Examining
Board. A suspended or revoked license may be reinstated by the Electricians'
Examining Board at its discretion under such terms as it may determine.
C.
Property owners will be responsible for fees from any inspections
that result in a code violation.
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"§ 24A03. Specific powers.
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(a) Specific powers enumerated. In addition to exercising its
general powers under section 24A02 (relating to general powers), a
borough, through its governing body, shall have the following powers:
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***
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(2) To regulate the use of and the charge for electricity furnished
by the borough for use throughout the borough. A borough may fix,
establish, maintain and collect or authorize by contract or otherwise
the establishment, levying and collection of the rates, fees, rental
or other charges, including connection charges, for the services afforded
by or in connection with any properties which the borough constructs,
erects, owns, acquires, operates or manages and for the sale or transmission
of electric energy and power as it deems necessary, proper, desirable
and reasonable." (8 Pa.C.S.A. § 24A03(a)(2)).]
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§ 135-14 Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, the following words and terms
shall have the meanings ascribed to them:
- BILLING DEMAND
- The highest averaged metered rate of use of electric energy for any fifteen-minute interval in the billing period expressed in whole kilowatts [except as otherwise defined in the Primary Rate (251) and High-Voltage Service, Schedule HV (252, 291)].
- BILLING PERIOD
- The interval of time between two successive bills; under normal conditions, it will be approximately 30 days.
- BOROUGH
- The Mayor and Town Council of the Borough of Chambersburg, commonly known as the "Borough of Chambersburg" and/or its duly authorized representative acting in its behalf.
- COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT
- Any business, commercial or professional undertaking functioning independently of other undertakings, whether located upon a separate parcel of land or upon the same parcel of land or within the same building or structure with other establishments.
- DWELLING UNIT
- A separate dwelling unit, apartment, room or group of rooms used for separate dwelling purposes and equipped for the preparation of food. In all cases, the determination of the Borough as to what constitutes a separate dwelling unit shall be final.
- INTERVAL METERING
- A time-based electric metering arrangement that measures energy, billing demand, and other power consumption components, usually with the metering time intervals set to 15 minutes, and can be set up to one hour depending on the rate schedule.
- NATIONAL HOLIDAY
- The following holidays on the date recognized by the federal government: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- PERSON
- Any individual, firm, corporation, association or company.
- RESIDENTIAL PREMISES
- Premises which are used solely for dwelling purposes and other normal residential activity. Residential premises with publicly advertised commercial operations shall be considered commercial establishments.
- USER
- Any person as defined above owning any property served with electricity from the electric distribution system of the Borough. The user may designate that any person occupying his property receive the bills for electric power service to that property.
§ 135-15 Rates.
A.
Domestic rate (201), domestic heating rate (218).
(1)
Availability. The domestic rate shall be available for usual domestic
purposes in residential premises only. The domestic heating rate shall
be available only to such premises that use electric heat as their
primary source of heating.
(2)
Rates. The following rates shall be charged for electric energy furnished
under domestic rate:
B.
Domestic water heating rate (211), commercial water heating rate
(212).
(1)
Availability. The water heating rate shall be available for energy
furnished for electric water-heating purposes subject to the following
restrictions:
(a)
Service under the rate shall be available only to storage-type
water heaters of not less than 52 gallons or more than six kilowatts.
(b)
Each water heater shall conform to all Borough plumbing codes.
(c)
Service shall be rendered at single-phase 208 or 240 volts,
as available, through a separate meter, and no other energy-consuming
devices shall be supplied through the meter.
(2)
Rates. The following rates shall be charged for electric energy furnished
under the water heating rate:
C.
Secondary power rate (221), with demand (225); commercial heating
rate (231), with demand (235); Borough use (282), with demand (285).
(1)
Availability. The secondary power rate shall be available to any
customer for general use that does not qualify for other rates. Secondary
rates shall be provided at voltages less than 4,000 volts. The commercial
heating rate shall be available to any customer that would otherwise
qualify for the secondary power rate which utilizes electric powered
heat as their primary source of heating. The Borough use rate shall
be used for any secondary power services maintained by the Borough.
(2)
Rates. The following rates shall be charged for electric use under
the secondary power rate:
(a)
Customer charge: $15 net per meter, per billing period.
(b)
Demand charge (229, 239, 289)
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Net
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First 20 kilowatts
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No charge
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All over 20 kilowatts per kilowatt billing demand
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$9.50
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(c)
Energy charge:
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Rate
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Net
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First 7,000 kilowatt-hours per kilowatt-hour each billing period
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225,285
235
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$0.09350
$0.09150
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All kilowatt-hours over 7,000 kilowatt-hours per kilowatt-hour
each billing period
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225,285
235
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$0.06630
$0.06430
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If not demand metered, all kilowatt-hours per kilowatt-hour
each billing period
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221,282
231
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$0.08950
$0.08750
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D.
Primary power rate (251).
(1)
Availability. The primary power rate shall be available to large-use
lighting, power and general purposes under the following conditions:
(a)
Service under this rate shall be available at nominal voltage
of 4,160 volts or higher, four-wire, three-phase end shall be metered
at such a voltage.
(b)
All facilities specifically required to deliver power to user
equipment shall be furnished, installed, owned and maintained by the
customer and approved by the Borough.
(c)
New customers on this rate must install a primary point of contact
protection device as approved by the Borough that is property coordinated
with the Borough's electric delivery system.
(d)
Metering equipment shall be provided by the Borough to measure
the active and reactive components of the energy furnished and the
demand or maximum rate of energy use.
(e)
For this rate, the Billing Demand shall be defined as the highest
averaged metered rate of use of electric energy for any fifteen-minute
interval occurring in the billing period expressed in whole kilowatts,
multiplied by 0.90, and divided by the average billing period power
factor. The average billing period power factor is determined from
standard tables based upon the active and reactive components of the
energy furnished by the meter.
(2)
Rates. The following rates shall be charged for electric energy furnished
under the primary power rate:
(a)
Customer charge: $150 net per meter, per billing period.
(b)
Demand charge (259): $9 net per kilowatt billing demand, per
billing period. The billing demand shall not be less for any billing
period than 50% of the highest billing period demand established during
the previous 11 billing periods.
(c)
Energy charge: $0.06220 net per kilowatt-hour, per billing period.
E.
Area lighting rate – Borough-owned (260 - 270).
(1)
Availability. The area lighting rate shall be available for private
area lighting service from the existing overhead system of the Borough.
(2)
Charges under this rate.
(a)
High-pressure sodium — standard:
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Watts
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Net per Fixture per Billing Period
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100
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$7.26
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250
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$12.76
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400
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$19.80
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1,000
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$29.32
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(b)
Mercury vapor:
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Watts
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Net per Fixture per Billing Period
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175
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$6.16
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250
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$9.90
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400
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$12.49
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1,000
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$25.19
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(c)
High-pressure sodium – flood:
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Watts
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Net per Fixture per Billing Period
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100
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$9.35
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250
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$21.84
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400
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$25.96
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(3)
The Borough will provide lamp, photoelectric relay control equipment,
luminaire, and upsweep arm not over six feet in length and will mount
the same on an existing pole carrying secondary circuits or on some
other surface deemed acceptable by the Borough. When facilities in
addition to those listed above are required to provide area lighting,
the customer will pay in advance the cost of installing all such facilities.
(4)
Terms of contract. Service is sold for area lighting under contract
to take continuous service under this rate for a minimum period of
three years; provided, however, that the Borough may discontinue this
service at any time in the event the light is deemed by the Borough
to constitute a nuisance to adjoining properties.
(5)
Rules and regulations applying to this service.
(a)
All facilities necessary for rendering this service shall be
owned and maintained by the Borough. Maintenance shall be performed
at such time as regular (not overtime) work schedule permits.
(b)
Burning hours shall be from approximately dusk to dawn each
night aggregating about 4,000 hours per year. Subject to the approval
of the Borough, customers may select the location of all poles installed
on the customer's property under provisions of this rate ordinance,
and poles will be moved after installation on advance payment by the
customer of the cost of moving. All pole locations shall conform to
safety standards governing such installations. Customers shall be
responsible for all damages to, or loss of, the Borough property located
on the customer's premises.
(6)
Notwithstanding the three-year contract terms, the Borough may by
ordinance change at any time the level of rates to be charged for
area lights already in place.
F.
Area lighting rate – customer-installed (272 - 277).
(1)
Availability. The customer-installed area lighting rate shall be
available from existing underground or overhead electrical distribution
system when installed in accordance with Borough Electric Department
standards.
(2)
Charges under this rate. Charges apply to approved pole-mounted and
post-mounted luminaires and area floodlights.
(a)
High-pressure sodium, mercury vapor, or metal halide:
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Watts
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Net per Fixture per Billing Period
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100
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$4.73
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150
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$6.00
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175
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$6.16
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250
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$7.65
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400
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$10.62
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1,000
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$20.63
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(3)
Installation. The customer will provide and install at the customer's
expense the complete luminaire, lamps, photoelectric control, wire
and post and/or bracket(s) in accordance with the Borough's material
and installation specifications. Borough Electric personnel will connect
customer-installed power feed wires to unmetered source of electricity,
at no expense to customer.
(4)
Maintenance. The Borough will supply electricity to operate luminaries.
Following initial successful operation, the Borough will supply normal
re-lamping, normal photoelectric control replacement, replacement
of lens, miscellaneous hardware, and repair of exposed conduit on
electric supply pole, at the Borough's expense, during regular
business hours. All other maintenance expenses not listed as the Borough's
expense shall be the customer's responsibility, such as filling
of settled trenches and pole plumbing, etc.
(5)
Replacement. If luminaire, pole, underground conduit or electric
supply wire require replacement, either through damage or normal life
expectancy, such replacement shall be at the customer's expense,
either by customer-hired contractor or by Borough personnel, whichever
is preferable to the customer at time of replacement. Whether a customer
elects to replace units using his contractor or Borough personnel,
the customer shall be responsible for collecting any insurance reimbursement
which he may be due.
(6)
Terms of contract.
(a)
Services sold under this contract are to take continuous service
for a period of two years; provided, however, that the Borough may
discontinue this service at any time in the event the light is deemed
by the Borough to constitute a nuisance to adjoining properties. Upon
discontinuance of service, it shall be the customer's responsibility
to do with the luminaire as he so chooses.
(b)
Notwithstanding the two-year contract terms, the Borough may,
by ordinance, change at any time the level of rates to be charged
for area lighting already in place.
(7)
Ownership. This installation remains the property of the customer,
and the customer assumes all liabilities arising from installations
covered by this contract.
G.
Special rates. The Borough may enter into agreement to furnish electric
power to users with unique needs and characteristics, such as high
voltage or primary voltage not described in existing rate schedules
and at mutually agreed to conditions and rates.
H.
Net metering rider for renewable inverter-based customer generators
of 10 kilowatts or less.
(1)
Purpose. This rider sets forth the eligibility, terms, and conditions
applicable to Borough of Chambersburg (Borough) electric customers
with installed customer-owned qualifying renewable energy generation
("QREG") as defined below, using inverter technology and a net metering
system which will be interconnected to and operated in parallel with
the Borough's electric system.
(2)
Applicability.
(a)
This rider applies to customers served under all qualifying
rate schedules available to Borough electric customers who install
a device or devices which, in the Borough's sole Judgment:
[1]
Are a bona fide technology for use in generating single-phase
electricity from qualifying solar, wind, or other alternative energy
sources;
[2]
Have a nameplate capacity of not greater than 10 kilowatts;
[3]
Make use of approved inverter technology for the generation
of electricity;
[4]
Will be operated in parallel with the Borough's electric
system;
[5]
Will generate electricity to offset part of, all of, or more
than the customer's requirements for electricity as measured
by a net metering system; and
[6]
Otherwise meet the requirements of this rider.
(b)
A customer qualifying under this rider is a nonutility owner
or operator of a net metered generation system, except for those meters,
if any, to which the Borough retains ownership.
(c)
Service under this rider is available upon request to Borough
customers on a first-come-first-served basis as long as the total
rated generating capacity installed by QREG customers or the location
of the QREG facility does not:
[1]
Adversely impact quality or cost of Borough service to other
Borough customers.
[2]
Compromise the reliability and safety of the Borough's
electric distribution system.
[3]
Represent a hazard to people, property or equipment.
[4]
Compromise the safety of the Borough Electric Department personnel,
emergency services personnel, or the general public.
(3)
Metering provisions.
(a)
The Borough will employ the following net metering configurations
for QREG facilities, in conjunction with service under the applicable
rate schedule.
[1]
A bidirectional, revenue quality interval meter will be installed
to measure the net amount of electricity provided to the customer
by the Borough (the billing meter).
[2]
At the Borough's sole discretion, a second interval meter
will be installed to measure and monitor the electricity produced
by the QREG facility.
(b)
If the customer's existing electric meter does not meet
the requirement(s), the Borough shall, after final installation of
the QREG, but before the QREG becomes operational, install the net
meter(s) for the customer's QREG at the Borough's expense.
The meter(s) shall remain the property of the Borough, and the customers
shall have no interest in or rights with respect to such meter(s).
Any other metering equipment change necessitated by the customer's
QREG shall be paid for by the customer.
(c)
To assure system reliability and safety, all interconnections
will be subject to the "Technical Requirements Covering Renewable
inverter-Based Customer Generators of 10 Kilowatts or Less and interconnected
with the Borough of Chambersburg Electric System" (technical requirements).
For QREG inverter-based technology which has been certified compliant
by the manufacturer with Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE) 929, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 1741 (or subsequent approved
revisions thereof), the technology will be deemed to be in compliance
with the required Borough technical requirements. However, such preliminary
technical compliance does not limit, eliminate or affect in any way
the customer's obligation to comply with all other requirements
of this rider.
(d)
All QREG facilities shall be capable of being isolated from
the Borough's electrical system by means of an outdoor, weatherproof,
lockable, visible-break, alternating current (AC) isolation device
[customer-owned generation disconnect switch(es)] accessible by the
Borough, emergency services personnel, the QREG customer, and located
adjacent to the Borough's electric meter(s).
(e)
All QREG facilities must prominently display the Borough-supplied
warning labels on the meter base(s), customer-owned generation disconnect
switch(es), and associated Borough transformer. Failure to do so shall
constitute grounds for the refusal or termination of service under
this rider.
(f)
The Borough reserves the right to inspect all QREG facilities
upon reasonable notice given to the customer.
(4)
Billing provisions. The following billing provisions apply to QREG
customers in conjunction with service under the applicable rate schedules.
(a)
QREG customer net purchase of electricity: if, at the end of
the billing month, the QREG customer has consumed more kilowatt-hours
of electricity than the customer's QREG facility has produced,
then all applicable charges of the appropriate rate schedule shall
be applied to the net kilowatt-hours of Borough-supplied electricity
the QREG customer has consumed.
(b)
QREG customer net sale of electricity: If at the end of the
billing month, the QREG facility has produced more kilowatt-hours
of electricity than the QREG customer has consumed, then the QREG
customer will receive a credit for each net excess kilowatt-hour received
by the Borough from the QREG customer at the QREG power rate. The
QREG power rate will be determined by the Borough using one of the
standard avoided cost methodologies and may be updated from time to
time. The QREG customer is, in all cases, responsible for the customer
charge and other charges in the applicable rate schedule.
(c)
QREG customer net sale of electricity resulting in fifty-percent
reduction in electricity purchases: If, in any calendar year, a QREG
customer receiving service under this rider self-generates electricity
equal to 50% or more of the QREG customer's total purchase of
electricity through the Borough's transmission and distribution
network for the calendar year immediately prior to the installation
of the QREG facility, then the Borough reserves the right to begin
to bill the QREG customer a surcharge equal to its pro rata share
of standard delivery costs (SDC surcharge). The SDC surcharge, if
applied, is intended to prevent inter-class or intra-class shifting
of the delivery cost to other Borough customers, in order to prevent
other Borough customers from being required, in effect, to subsidize
service to QREG customers. The Borough, upon specific determination
that a QREG customers has or will exceed its fifty-percent electricity
reduction limitation, may at its sole option, and at any time notify
the QREG customer of the Borough's intent to apply the SDC surcharge
to the QREG customer's billing period bill. When deemed necessary
or appropriate by the Borough, the Borough will assess the applicability
of any imposed SDC surcharge. In the event the Borough determines
the SDC surcharge to be no longer applicable, the Borough will discontinue
billing the same to the QREG customer.
(5)
Application. Borough customers seeking to receive service under the
provisions of this rider must submit the net metering interconnection
application/agreement qualifying renewable energy generator (certified
inverter-based units of 10 kilowatts or less) demonstrating compliance
with the technical requirements and quantifying the total generating
capacity of the proposed facility. Form(s) are available at the Borough
offices during normal business hours and are available on the Borough's
website. Once a fully completed application/agreement and all required
supporting technical information is provided to the Borough, the Borough
will review the application/agreement and endeavor to provide the
applicant notice within 90 days of approval or denial of the applicant's
request to install a QREG facility and to connect to the Borough's
electricity distribution system promptly. The Borough reserves the
right to deny applications that do not comply with all requirements
of this rider.
(6)
Customer charge. The customer charge under the applicable rate schedules
applies to all QREG facilities under this rider.
(7)
Application fee. The application fee for service under this rider
shall be $200, subject to change by resolution of Council.
I.
High-voltage service, Schedule HV (252, 291).
(1)
Availability.
(a)
Throughout the Borough's service area to customers located
along or near transmission lines of adequate capacity, in accordance
with the Borough's service rules and regulations, and at the
discretion of the Borough, may be subject to the execution of a written
agreement for electric service between the Borough and the customer.
(b)
The HV rate shall be established in keeping with existing power
purchase agreements in effect as of the adoption of this subsection.
From time to time the Borough, at its sole discretion, may further
review, analyze, and further adjust the HV rate accordingly. However,
nothing herein shall prevent or restrict the Borough from exercising
its rights to administer the PSA-HV according to the terms of the
PSA-HV formula in this chapter.
(c)
To be eligible for this Schedule HV, a customer must have the
following load characteristics:
(d)
Eligible customers shall have metering equipment installed by
the Borough that measures and records the active and reactive components
of the electrical usage on an hourly basis (interval metering). At
the Borough's discretion, the metering point may differ from
that of the electric service point of contact. Metering compensation
will be added as appropriate. Customers shall be responsible to provide
and install any cabinet(s), meter bases, and other associated apparatus,
approved by the Borough, to accept instrument transformers and metering
equipment to be provided and installed by the Borough. Customers who
wish to have the Borough install all metering equipment and cabinets
may request the metering equipment from the Borough. Upon such request,
the Borough shall provide the customer with an estimate of the cost
of the metering equipment. Upon approval by the customer, the Borough
will install such metering equipment and bill the customer for the
cost of installation. At the Borough's option, the cost of the
metering and installation may be billed to the customer in 12 equal
billing period payments. At the Borough's discretion, it may
be determined that metering is best done by pole-mounted equipment;
in this instance, the Borough will provide and install all equipment
and the customer will be billed for only the meter base.
(e)
All facilities specifically required to deliver power to user
equipment shall be furnished, installed, owned and maintained by the
customer and approved by the Department.
(f)
The customer shall not use the electric power and energy furnished
hereunder as an auxiliary or supplement to any other source of purchased
power and shall not sell electric power and energy purchased hereunder.
(g)
The customer shall be bound by the Borough's Rules for
Electric Meters and Services as may from time to time be adopted or
changed by the Borough.
(2)
Type of service.
(a)
Service shall be provided normally as three-phase, alternating
current, 60 hertz at nominal standard 69,000 volts phase-to-phase,
as delivered to the Borough. Upon advance notice and the Borough providing
permission to the customer, an alternative level of service may be
provided at 12,470 volts.
(b)
The Borough shall not be liable for damages to the customer
occasioned by reductions, curtailments or interruptions of service
or for failure to commence delivery as a result of "force majeure."
(c)
Power shall be used by the customer in such manner as will not
cause objectionable voltage fluctuations or other electrical disturbances
on the transmission system or on the Borough's system. The Borough
may require the customer, at the customer's expense, to install
such corrective measures as will reasonably limit such fluctuations
and disturbances.
(3)
Determination of demands (299).
(a)
For the billing periods of June through May, the billing demand
- generation shall be the customer's average sixty-minute kW
demand coincident with the PJM RTO five summer peak-hour demands generally
established during the previous summer. The average metered demand
shall be multiplied by 0.90 and divided by the average metered power
factor during the billing period(s) of the peak-hour demands.
(b)
For the billing periods of January through December, the billing
demand-transmission shall be the customer's sixty-minute kW demand
coincident with the PJM zonal one-hour annual peak demand established
during the previous calendar year. The metered demand shall be multiplied
by 0.90 and divided by the average metered power factor during the
billing period in which the peak hour occurred.
(4)
Rate (per billing period). The following rates shall be charged for
electric energy under the high voltage service rate:
(a)
Customer charge: $400 per meter, per billing period.
(b)
Demand charge – generation. The demand charge, per kW
of associated billing demand, shall be effective starting the billing
period of June of each year and shall be established as the $/kW-month
demand charge applicable to the Borough and as determined by the PJM
reliability pricing model auction process.
(c)
Demand charge – transmission: The demand charge, per kW
of associated billing demand, shall be effective starting the billing
period of January of each year and shall be established as the $/kW-month
demand charge applicable to the Borough for network integrated transmission
service per the PJM open access transmission tariff.
(d)
Energy charge: The energy charge shall be either the flat or
time-of-day option, with such option determined by mutual agreement
of the Borough and customer.
[1]
Flat: all kilowatt-hours per billing period per kilowatt-hour:
$0.05755.
[2]
Time-of-day: All kilowatt-hours shall be categorized into one
of the following three time-of-day energy periods. "On-peak" hours
are all on-peak hours as defined by NERC, except for hours ending
at 22:00 and 23:00. "Shoulder" hours are the hours ending at 22:00
and 23:00 of the on-peak hours as defined by NERC. "Off-peak" hours
are as defined by NERC.
|
On-peak, per kWh
|
$0.06431/kWh
| |
|
Shoulder, per kWh
|
$0.05612/kWh
| |
|
Off-peak, per kWh
|
$0.05247/kWh
|
(e)
Ancillary service charge: all kilowatt-hours per billing period
per kilowatt-hour: $0.00151.
(6)
Power supply adjustment. The above rates shall be increased or decreased by the provisions of the power supply adjustment charge in accordance with § 135-16B, PSA-HV, as may be amended from time to time.
§ 135-16 Power supply adjustment (PSA).
A.
Standard power supply adjustment (PSA).
(1)
Each rate as indicated in this chapter is subject to a power supply
adjustment (PSA).
(2)
The PSA is an amount per kilowatt-hour to be added to or subtracted
from customers' billing each billing period so that increases
or decreases in costs of purchased power, fuel, lube oil, other costs
of generated power, and other costs deemed appropriate by the Borough,
will be collected or credited.
(3)
The PSA charge or credit shall be used for each month of a twelve-month
forecasted period unless a "relevelization" is required and implemented
by the Borough, at its sole discretion. A relevelization may be required
if:
(a)
The Borough's wholesale supply of purchased power has a
rate change that goes into effect during the period;
(b)
The actual recovery of PSA costs is not in the range of 3% (plus
or minus) of the total twelve-month forecasted amount; or
(c)
A PSA forecast revision is required, in the sole discretion
of the Borough, due to unforeseen or changed circumstances such as
increases (or decreases) in cost(s) of fuel, lube oil, other expenses
of generated power, purchased power, other expenses deemed appropriate
by the Borough, material increases or decreases in the number of customers,
or if a material error in computing the PSA forecast is discovered.
(4)
The Borough will monitor the PSA collection of revenues on a billing
period basis.
(5)
At the end of the forecasted twelve-month period, or a shorter period
if a relevelization is required, the Borough may, at its discretion,
incorporate any over-collection or under-collection of power supply
costs in the projected power supply costs for the new forecasted twelve-month
period.
(6)
Calculation. The PSA, stated to the nearest $0.00001 per kilowatt-hour,
will be determined by utilizing the following formula:
 |
|
Definitions:
| |||
|
PP
|
=
|
The total forecasted costs of purchased power for the PSA forecast
year. (Purchased Power)
| |
|
G
|
=
|
The total forecasted fuel, lube oil and other costs of generated
power for the PSA forecast year. (Generation)
| |
|
DA
|
=
|
The total net directly allocated costs resulting from programs
or retail rate riders implemented by the Borough that directly assign
power supply costs to individual customers or programs. (Direct Assignment).
| |
|
DC
|
=
|
Additional discretionary costs or programs deemed appropriate
by the Borough. (Discretionary Costs)
| |
|
S
|
=
|
Forecasted retail kilowatt-hours sold. (Sold)
| |
|
SDA
|
=
|
Forecasted retail kilowatt-hours sold to participants in programs
or retail rate riders implemented by the Borough that directly assign
power supply costs to individual customers or programs. (Sales Direct
Assignment)
| |
|
Base
|
=
|
The total purchased power expense per kilowatt-hour included
in the current retail base rates. (Base = $0.0594.)
| |
B.
Power supply adjustment — high-voltage (PSA-HV).
(1)
Each rate for high-voltage electric service is subject to the power
supply adjustment — high-voltage (PSA-HV).
(2)
The power supply adjustment — high-voltage service
(PSA-HV) is an amount per kilowatt-hour to be added to or subtracted
from customers' billing each billing period so that increases
or decreases in costs of purchased power and other costs deemed appropriate
by the Borough will be collected or credited.
(3)
The PSA-HV charge or credit shall be used for each month of a twelve-month
forecasted period unless a "relevelization" is required and implemented
by the Borough at its sole discretion. A relevelization may be required
if:
(a)
There is a wholesale supplier of purchased power change or any
of the Borough's wholesale suppliers has a rate change that goes
into effect during the period; or
(b)
The actual recovery of PSA-HV costs is not in the range of 3%
(plus or minus) of the total twelve-month forecasted amount; or
(c)
A PSA-HV forecast revision is required, in the sole discretion
of the Borough, due to unforeseen or changed circumstances such as
increases in the costs of purchased power and other expenses deemed
appropriate by the Borough, or if a material error in computing the
PSA-HV forecast is discovered.
(4)
The Borough will monitor the PSA-HV collection of revenues on a billing-period
basis. At the end of the forecasted twelve-month period, or a shorter
period if a relevelization is required, the Borough may, at its discretion,
incorporate any over-collection or under-collection of power supply
costs in the projected power supply costs for the new forecasted twelve-month
period.
(5)
Calculation. The PSA-HV stated to the nearest $0.00001 per kWh will
be determined by utilizing the following formula:
 |
|
Definitions:
| |||
|
PSA – HV = The Power Supply Adjustment — High-voltage
Service (PSA-HV)
| |||
|
PP
|
=
|
PP = The total calculated forecasted expense of power supply
costs for the PSA-HV forecast year, less revenue collected under generation
and transmission charges for the high-voltage rate schedules.
| |
|
DC
|
=
|
DC = Additional discretionary costs deemed appropriate by the
Borough. (Discretionary Costs)
| |
|
P
|
=
|
P = Forecasted kWh purchased to supply customers served under
the high-voltage rate schedules.
| |
|
Base
|
=
|
Base = The total calculated expense for power supply cost, less
revenue collected under generation and transmission charges for high-voltage
rate schedules per kWh included in the current retail base rates.
Base = $0.0428/kWh purchased.
| |
|
L
|
=
|
L = Line losses applicable to sales under Rate "HV." L = 0.5%.
| |
§ 135-17 Terms and conditions of electric services.
[Amended 2-26-2018 by Ord. No.
2018-04]
Terms and conditions of service, including, but not limited
to: establishing service, billing for service, interest and penalties,
payment requirements, and termination of service shall be in accordance
with the Utility Service Manual, as may be revised from time to time
by the Mayor and Town Council, and shall be available for public inspection
at the Utility Offices at Borough Hall, the Utilities Service Center
at 80 South Franklin Street, and online at www.chambersburgpa.gov.
§ 135-18 Billing adjustments.
[Amended 2-26-2018 by Ord. No.
2018-04]
Where, as a result of equipment malfunction, estimated billing,
billing error, or other circumstances, electric service is rendered,
but not billed, the unbilled electric service may be retroactively
charged to the customer, provided that the services at issue were
rendered within the last three years. The charges for service shall
be determined in accordance with the Utility Service Manual adopted
by Town Council from time to time.
§ 135-19 General authorization.
[Amended 2-26-2018 by Ord. No.
2018-04]
Town Council shall have the right to establish, from time to
time, by resolution, rules, regulations, provisions, terms or standards
under which electric service shall be rendered, which shall be supplemental
to the standards set forth in the Utility Service Manual.
§ 135-20 Penalty.
The penalty added after the due date will be 2.5%.
§ 135-21 Effective date.
The rates established by this article shall become effective
with all electric service bills rendered on or after November 1, 2014.
§ 135-22 Short title.
This article may be cited as the "Borough of Chambersburg Electric
Rate Ordinance of 2014."
§ 135-23 Aggregation of retail customer demand response.
A.
The Borough of Chambersburg or its authorized designee is the sole
entity permitted to bid demand response on behalf of retail customers
served by the Borough of Chambersburg directly into any Commission-approved
independent system operator's or regional transmission organization's
organized electric markets. Any other demand response aggregation
of retail customers is prohibited. Retail customers served by the
Borough of Chambersburg may not bid their demand response into any
Commission-approved independent system operator's or regional
transmission organization's organized electric markets except
as part of a program provided by the Borough of Chambersburg or its
authorized designee. The Borough of Chambersburg is not required to
have a retail demand response aggregation program.
B.
Retail customers served by the Borough of Chambersburg wishing to
bid their demand response into a Commission-approved independent system
operator's or regional transmission organization's organized
electric markets may do so only by participating in a program established
by the Borough of Chambersburg or its authorized designee.
§ 135-24 Ancillary services provided by demand response resources.
A.
The Borough of Chambersburg or its authorized designee is the sole
entity permitted to bid demand response on behalf of retail customers
served by the Borough of Chambersburg directly into any Commission-approved
independent system operator's or regional transmission organization's
organized markets for energy imbalance, spinning reserves, supplemental
reserves, reactive power and voltage control, or regulation and frequency
response ancillary services (or its functional equivalent in the Commission-approved
independent system operator's or regional transmission organization's
tariff). Retail customers served by the Borough of Chambersburg may
not bid demand response into any Commission-approved independent system
operator's or regional transmission organization's organized
markets for energy imbalance, spinning reserves, supplemental reserves,
reactive power and voltage control, or regulation and frequency response
ancillary services (or its functional equivalent in the Commission-approved
independent system operator's or regional transmission organization's
tariff) except as part of a program provided by the Borough of Chambersburg
or its authorized designee.
B.
Retail customers served by the Borough of Chambersburg wishing to
bid their demand response into a Commission-approved independent system
operator's or regional transmission organization's organized
markets for energy imbalance, spinning reserves, supplemental reserves,
reactive power and voltage control, or regulation and frequency response
ancillary services (or its functional equivalent in the Commission-approved
independent system operator's or regional transmission organization's
tariff) may only do so by participating in a program, if any, established
by the Borough of Chambersburg or its authorized designee.
§ 135-25 Continuity of service.
A.
The Borough uses reasonable diligence to preserve continuity of service,
but in the event of any interruption, curtailment or reduction of
service, the Borough shall not be subject to any liability, penalty
or payment for or on account of any such interruption or curtailment
nor shall the application of the rate schedule to the regular billing
period be affected.
B.
The Borough may temporarily suspend service for the purpose of making
necessary repairs and makes every reasonable effort to notify customers
in advance, except in cases of emergency.
§ 135-26 Prohibition of other electric generation suppliers.
In accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Generation
Customer Choice and Competition Act [Act of December 3, 1996, P.L.
802, No. 138, 66 Pa.C.S.A. § 2805(b)(1)(i)], the Borough
hereby prohibits electric generation suppliers from providing electric
service to end-use customers within the Borough's limits.