As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CAPACITY REQUIRED
The maximum rate of use of energy by the customer during
a stated time interval, expressed in kw, kilowatts; 1,000 watts.
COMPANY
The Electric Department of the Borough of Zelienople.
COUNCIL
The Borough Council of the Borough of Zelienople.
CUSTOMER
Any corporation, municipality, governmental agencies, person
or partnership to whom the company may furnish service. Each individual
domestic establishment, single-family residence or apartment shall
be a customer.
ENERGY REQUIRED
The use of energy by the customer, expressed in kwh, kilowatt
hours; the use of 1,000 watts for one hour.
MONTH
The period between two monthly meter readings, taken as nearly
as practicable on the same date each calendar month as selected by
the company.
RATE ORDINANCE(S)
A rate which may be obtained by a customer if his use of
service conforms to the character of supply contemplated in the rate,
and his location is such that this service can be supplied from existing
facilities of the company.
SERVICE
Any electricity which the company may supply or make provision
to supply, or any work or material furnished or any obligation performed
by the company hereunder or under any rate ordinance adopted by the
company.
SERVICE POINT
The point of connection between the electric lines of the
company and the electric system of the customer.
The company shall have free access to the customer's premises
for such purposes as may be proper and necessary in connection with
supplying service.
The company reserves the right to discontinue the supply of
service for the following reasons, without notice:
A. Unavoidable shortages of interruption in the company's source of
supply, or other cases of emergency.
B. Repairs, alterations or extensions of the service network.
C. Failure of company equipment.
D. Operation of company protective equipment.
The extension of the company's distribution facilities for supplying
electric energy either overhead or underground to a customer or group
of customers will be made under one of the following plans subject
to approval of the company, provided that the company reserves the
right to refuse to make an extension of its facilities, or to reinforce
its facilities, or to take title to and assume responsibility for
the future maintenance and replacement of facilities built to another
and offered to the company, when so doing the company is required
to assume an unusual financial risk or burden or is required to introduce
a hazard to the service of other customers, or to incur extraordinary
losses of electric energy or to suffer excessive operating, maintenance
and replacement cost.
A. Extension Plan A: single-phase overhead line extension plan for customer with loads not exceeding 25 kilowatts; planned residential developments are exempt from the provisions of Subsection
A and described in Subsection
B (Extension Plan B and C). The company will build single-phase extensions to its distribution lines to serve small permanent customers in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
(1) When an overhead extension is required, the customer shall pay the
estimated cost for the acquisition and/or preparation of rights of
way in advance in addition to any other costs and monthly minimums
required hereunder. This cost will be divided equally among the customers
connected to the extension or as may be mutually agreed upon by the
customers.
(2) When an underground extension is required, the customer shall pay
the cost of such extension which will be the estimated cost difference
between the below-grade and overhead construction plus the estimated
cost for the acquisition and/or preparation of rights-of-way, in addition
to any other costs. Such costs will be divided equally among the customers
connected to the extension or as may be mutually agreed upon by the
customers and will be paid in advance.
(3) The company will construct, own, and maintain all line extensions.
The company will provide the first 100 feet of service wire extending
from the general facilities of the company as well as an electric
meter determined by the company. Any additional line extension costs
in excess of the material allowance and related company labor costs
noted herein will be at the expense of the customer.
(4) The company shall be under no obligation to construct a line extension(s)
in the event it is unable to acquire all necessary rights-of-way and
other consents from any parties other than the customer, in such a
form and substance acceptable to the company.
(5) If the company is requested to extend or add to its facilities under
this plan in order to supply electric service to other than small
permanent customers or to meet special or unusual conditions, the
company will, after due consideration of the stability of the customer's
business and credit and proposed usage, make such arrangement with
the customer for financing the company's facilities or guaranteeing
revenue or a combination of the two; provided, however, that this
is done without preference to or discrimination against this customer
or customers.
B. Extension Plan B: single-phase underground line extension plan for
customer with loads not exceeding 25 kilowatts.
(1) For the purposes of Subsection
B and
C, the following definitions are applicable:
DEVELOPER
The party responsible for constructing and providing improvements
in a development, that is, streets, sidewalks and utility-ready lots.
DISTRIBUTION LINE
An electric supply line of untransformed voltage from which
energy is delivered to one or more service lines.
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
An area of land, controlled by a landowner, to be developed
as a single entity for a number of dwelling units, or combination
of residential and nonresidential uses, all of which are intended
for year-around occupancy, if electric service to the lots necessitates
extending the utility's existing distribution lines.
SERVICE LINE
An electric supply line of untransformed voltage from which
service is delivered to the residence.
SUBDIVIDER
The party responsible for dividing a tract of land into building
lots which are not to be sold as utility-ready lots.
SUBDIVISION
The consolidation of two or more lots or the division or
resubdivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means into
two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, including
changes in existing lot lines for the purpose, whether immediate or
future, of lease, partition by the court for distribution to heirs
or devisees, transfer of ownership or building or lot development.
(2) Underground facilities in new planned residential developments are
only required when a bona fide developer exists (i.e., only when utility-ready
lots are provided by the developer). A mere subdivision is not required
to have underground service; nothing in this rule shall prohibit the
customer from choosing underground service, at which time all applicable
rules and regulations herein will apply.
(3) All distribution and service lines installed pursuant to an application
for electric service within a development shall be installed underground;
shall conform to the company's requirements and the specifications
set forth in the National Electric Safety Code (NESC), and shall be
owned and maintained by the company. All determinations of the applicability
of such standards shall be made by the company in its sole discretion.
Pad-mounted transformers may be installed by the company. Excavating,
back-filling and provision and installation of company-required conduits
shall be performed by the developer of the project or by such other
agent as the developer may authorize. Installation of service-related
utility facilities shall be performed by the company or by such other
agent as the company may authorize, pursuant to regular construction
inspections by the company. Any street-lighting lines installed then
or thereafter within the same development shall also be installed
underground, upon terms and conditions prescribed elsewhere in the
tariff. The company shall not be liable for injury or damage occasioned
by the willful or negligent excavation, breakage or other interference
with its underground lines occasioned by anyone other than its own
employees or agents.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the company from performing
its own excavating and back-filling for greater system design flexibility.
(5) The applicant for electric service to a development shall:
(a)
At its own cost, provide the utility with a copy of the recorded
development plot plan identifying property boundaries and with easements
satisfactory to the utility for occupancy by distribution, service
and street-lighting lines and related facilities.
(b)
At its own cost, clear the ground in which the lines and related
facilities are to be laid of trees, stumps and other obstructions,
provide the excavating and backfilling subject to the inspection and
approval of the utility, and rough grade it to within six inches of
final grade, so that the utility's part of the installation shall
consist only of laying of the lines and installing other service-related
facilities. Excavating, back-filling, and provision and installation
of company-required conduits performed or provided by the applicant
shall follow the utility's underground construction standards and
specifications. If the utility's specifications have not been met
by the applicant's excavating and back-filling, the excavating and
back-filling shall be corrected or redone by the applicant or its
authorized agent. Failure to comply with the utility's construction
standards and specifications permits the utility to refuse utility
service until the standards and specifications are met.
(c)
Request electric service at such time that the lines may be
installed before curbs, pavements and sidewalks are laid; carefully
coordinate scheduling of the utility's line and facility installation
with the general project construction schedule, including coordination
with other utilities sharing the same trench; keep the route of lines
clear of machinery and other obstructions when the line installation
crew is scheduled to appear; and otherwise cooperate with the utility
to avoid unnecessary costs and delay.
(d)
Pay to the utility necessary and additional costs incurred by
the utility as a result of the following:
[1]
Installation of underground facilities that deviate from the
utility's underground construction standards and specifications if
the deviation is requested by the applicant for electric service and
is acceptable to the utility.
[2]
A change in the plot plan by the applicant for electric service
after the utility has completed engineering for the project or has
commenced installation of its facilities.
[3]
Physical characteristics, such as oversized lots or lots with
extreme setback, where under the utility's line extension policy contained
in its tariff a charge is mandated for overhead service.
[4]
Additional company facilities or equipment specifically required
in order to provide service to the applicant/customer.
(6) Whenever the distance from the end of the company's existing distribution
line to the boundary of the development is 100 feet or more, the 100
feet of new distribution line nearest to, but outside, such boundary,
shall be installed underground, if determined practicable by the company;
and whenever such distance is less than 100 feet from said boundary,
all of the new distribution line nearest to, but outside, such boundary,
shall be installed underground, if determined practicable by the company.
The installation required by this subsection shall be provided by
the company, without cost to the applicant.
C. Extension Plan C: line extension plan to serve customers with loads
exceeding 25 kilowatts or requiring three-phase service. The company
will build extensions to its distribution lines to serve customers
with connected loads exceeding 25 kilowatts or requiring three-phase
service in accordance with the following terms and conditions.
(1) When an underground extension is required, the customer shall pay
the cost of such extension which will be estimated cost difference
between below grade and overhead construction, in addition to any
other costs and monthly minimums required hereunder. Customer shall
pay the estimated cost for the acquisition and/or preparation of rights-of-way.
Such costs will be divided equally among the customers connected to
the extension or as may be mutually agreed upon by the customers,
and will be paid in advance.
(2) The company will construct, own, and maintain all line extensions.
The company will provide the first 100 feet of service wire extending
from the general facilities of the company as well as an electric
meter determined by the company. Any additional line extension costs
in excess of the material allowance and related company labor costs
noted herein will be at the expense of the customer.
(3) The company shall be under no obligation to construct a line extension(s)
in the event it is unable to acquire all necessary rights-of-way and
other consents from any parties other than the customer, in such a
form and substance acceptable to the company.
(4) If the company is requested to extend or add to its facilities in
order to supply electric service the company will, after due consideration
of the stability of the customer's business and credit and proposed
usage, make such arrangement with the customer for financing the company's
facilities or guaranteeing revenue or a combination of the two; provided,
however, that this is done without preference to or discrimination
against this customer or customers.
(5) A line extension is speculative when, in the company's judgment,
the continued future use of the facilities by any customer is uncertain.
The company may require a minimum distribution revenue guarantee for
speculative line extensions equal to the company's estimated fully
allocated installation and removal costs, less salvage, with no length
allowance. Prior to construction, the company may require from the
customer a surety bond, or other security acceptable to company, in
the amount of the guarantee in addition to any deposit required to
secure payment of service bills.
(6) The company constructs line extensions to supply service to customers
in residential, commercial or industrial developments in specific
areas, with a customer annual guarantees based on the number of customers
which the company estimates to be served in the development within
two years from initial construction. The developer (or property owner)
shall provide, without charge to the company, right-of-way for lines
and equipment which is suitable in the opinion of the company for
the installation of company facilities throughout the development.
"Suitable right-of-way" includes, but is not limited to, providing
ground line clearing of trees, brush and other obstructions, rough
grading, and access by mechanical construction equipment.
The company will furnish electricity to the customer only for
his own use, on the premises occupied through ownership or lease by
the customer. The electricity furnished by the company shall not be
remetered, submetered or otherwise controlled by the customer for
resale or assignment to another or others, except for existing apartment
house, office building, or shopping center owners, operators, or managers
who may provide submetering in compliance with applicable rates and
company technical requirements with permission of the company.