[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.
[1]
Editor's Note — Ord. no. 1374 §1, adopted on February 11, 2002, amended this chapter 725 in its entirety. Section 725.100 was left reserved and formerly derived from ord. no. 527 §1, 7-18-1966.
[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.