[Ord. No. 529 §1, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
A. Prior
to installation and connection of natural gas distribution facilities
and commencement of delivery of natural gas services to the premises
of a customer, each prospective customer shall complete, sign and
file in the office of the City Collector a written request for gas
service, using the form provided by the City.
B. Upon
completion and approval by the City's designated official, the request
for gas service shall constitute a contract between the customer and
the City, effective on the date when service is first rendered and
which will remain in effect until canceled by either the customer
or the City according to the terms of this Chapter. By executing said
request for gas service, the customer agrees to be bound by all of
the provisions of this Chapter and of this Code and to pay on or before
the due date all charges, including construction expenses, late charges
or penalties and interest when applicable.
[Ord. No. 529 §2, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
A. All
gas piping and gas equipment connected to the City natural gas system
shall be installed in accordance with accepted standards as specified
by the American Standards Association and in compliance with any other
construction or safety codes established by the City.
B. The
City, by its designated employee or agent, shall inspect and approve
all gas piping and gas appliances installed on a customer's premises
to verify compliance with applicable codes prior to allowing connection
of the customer's equipment to the City natural gas system and commencement
of natural service to the customer's premises. No equipment shall
be approved or placed in service until all faulty or deficient conditions
are corrected.
C. Inspection
or approval by City officials, employees or agents does not constitute
a warranty by the City as to the adequacy, safety or other characteristics
of the equipment and facilities installed and maintained by the customer.
[Ord. No. 529 §5, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
In the event a customer intends to increase substantially the
use of natural gas on such customer's premises or becomes aware of
the probability of a substantial increase in such usage, the customer
shall give written notice to the City of such intent or probability
so that meters and other equipment of adequate capacity may be installed
at minimum inconvenience and expense to the customer and the City.
If the customer fails to so notify the City in a timely manner, the
customer will be held responsible for all damages to the meter or
other equipment caused by the increased load.
[Ord. No. 529 §6, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
The City will not furnish gas to retail customers for resale;
and no retail customer may offer to sell or sell any quantity of natural
gas to any other person except in connection with the rental of residential
facilities whereby the cost of natural gas service and other utilities
is included in the rent payable by the tenant.
[Ord. No. 529 §9, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
A. All
meters and piping placed on the customer's premises by the City for
the purpose of rendering natural gas service to such premises, unless
otherwise specifically provided to the contrary, shall be and will
remain the City's property. The customer shall be responsible for
protection of such property from loss or damage. The customer shall
not knowingly permit anyone other than an authorized employee or representative
of the City to remove or tamper with the City's property.
B. Only
authorized employees or representatives of the City shall remove,
cut, raise or in any way change piping or equipment belonging to the
City. The cost of such changes for the convenience or protection of
the customer shall be at the customer's expense, whether or not done
at the request of the customer.
[Ord. No. 529 §10, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
Customers shall report all natural gas leaks, suspected leaks
or other unsafe conditions to the City. The customer will not be charged
for a leak or unsafe condition call. Remedy of such condition when
on customer's piping or equipment shall be at the customer's expense.
Remedy of such condition on the City's facilities shall be at the
City's expense, unless such condition was a direct result of an act
or negligent omission by the customer or other person, in which case
the responsible party shall be charged with the cost of repairing
the facilities.
[Ord. No. 529 §11, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
A. Unless
otherwise provided in this Code, the City shall extend the service
line and install metering equipment at a point that is convenient
and accessible to the customer and the City. Only in special cases
will metering facilities be located inside a residence or business.
B. Under
normal conditions the gas main shall be installed on public property
and the meter and service line installed on the customer's premises.
If the City's facilities must be constructed across or through property
other than public property or the customer's own property, the customer
shall supply the right-of-way easement for such installation.
[Ord. No. 529 §12, 7-11-1966; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002]
Natural gas service to the consumer by the City shall be measured
through meters of standard industry type. The volume of gas delivered
to a customer shall be determined by using an absolute pressure base
of fourteen and seventy-three hundredths (14.73) p.s.i., and a temperature
base of sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60° F). Where flowing conditions
vary from standard conditions, the City may adjust measured volume
by the application of proper factors.
[Ord. No. 993 §3, 11-10-1986; Ord. No. 1374 §1, 2-11-2002; Ord. No. 1546 §1, 11-28-2005; Ord. No. 1575 §1, 4-10-2006]
A. For
all extensions or new construction of natural gas mains, the owner
shall excavate or shall arrange for the excavation of the trench within
which the natural gas main will lie. The City shall provide all gas
pipe, materials and bedding and the construction of the line shall
be performed solely by the City or by its duly appointed natural gas
department or by contractor authorized by the City. The owner shall
be responsible for all trench backfilling and cleanup.
B. A fee
of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for each connection to an extension
or new construction of a natural gas main within the City of Hermann
shall be assessed against and collected from the owner of each lot
or parcel of property to be serviced or benefited by the extension
of such natural gas lines.
C. The
City or its duly appointed Natural Gas Department or other contractor
authorized by the City shall install all service lines, including
the meter, from an extended or new natural gas main to a customer's
premises. The costs therefore shall be assessed against and collected
from each owner of the premises so connected to such main; and such
cost shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of excavation
and backfilling for such lines, the cost of all pipe, valves, fittings
and other components and the cost of labor and professional services
incurred by the City.
[Ord. No. 1451 §§1 —
2, 11-29-2004]
A. No
person shall tamper with, or cause to be tampered with, any natural
gas meter or service line.
B. As
used in this Section, the term "tamper" means to interfere with, to
remove, to damage, to attempt repair, to meddle, to displace or to
deprive, even its temporarily, the City of access to any such meter
or service line.
C. Tampering
with or removal of a meter or service line shall be done only by City
personnel. Any customer or their agent who desires the removal of
a meter or removal or maintenance of a service line for any reason
shall submit their request, in writing, to the City.
D. Any
violation of this Section shall be a misdemeanor.