[Ord. No. 14.533 §§1 — 3, 3-2-2015]
A. 
The City finds, determines, declares and ordains that no person or entity shall be entitled to receive electric, water, trash and wastewater service from the City's municipal electrical distribution system, water and wastewater systems, and trash operations, and operated in conjunction with other municipally owned utility properties as City utilities, except upon strict compliance with all of the rules and regulations pertaining to and governing such electric service (and other utilities) which may have been fixed, determined, adopted and promulgated by the City.
B. 
All officers, agents or employees of the City, including City representatives, having any jurisdiction, duties or powers with respect thereto are hereby empowered, authorized and directed to cooperate with the City and its officers, agents and employees in strict enforcement of all such rules and regulations pertaining to and governing electric and other utility service and to take all actions and to do all things which may be necessary, desirable or convenient in strict enforcement of all such rules and regulations.
C. 
Meters shall normally be installed outdoors in a location approved by the City utility department.
D. 
Meters may be installed indoors by special prior approval of the Superintendent of Utilities, provided the customers agree to the following:
1. 
To leave the premises unlocked during all regular working hours of the department, or to otherwise provide ready access to the meters at all times.
2. 
To provide a clear space of at least three (3) feet horizontally from all meters and to provide a clear, unobstructed passageway to all meters at all times.
3. 
If special meter-mounting equipment is required, such as group meter sockets or combination meter sockets and service switches, the customer shall furnish and install such equipment.
E. 
Electric meters outdoors shall be installed a minimum of five and one-half (5 1/2) feet and/or a maximum of seven (7) feet above the ground or other accessible pedestrian surface. Electric meters indoors shall be installed at a minimum of three (3) feet and/or maximum of seven (7) feet from the floor.
F. 
All electric and water meters, fixtures and appurtenances on private premises and connected with the City system shall be open to inspection by the employees of the City at all reasonable and ordinary hours. Electric and water meters shall, at all reasonable times, also be available for meter reading of consumption. Electric and/or water meters which are blocked by locked gates, debris, structures, trash, or which cannot be reached safely (in the sole opinion of the Superintendent of the Utility Department) due to vicious animals or for any other reason, shall not be considered available or accessible for meter reading of consumption.
G. 
The City shall have the right to disconnect or refuse to connect or reconnect any utility service (and including refuse to pick up refuse or trash) in the event of the customer's failure to meet the applicable provisions of law, in the event of any violation of the rules and regulations of the City pertaining to utility service, in the event of non-payment of bills (including late payment, partial payment, payment by insufficient funds or no account checks, etc., all as set forth in the City ordinances), in the event of willful or negligent waste of service due to improper or imperfect fixtures, appliances or otherwise, in the event of unsafe connection or use, in the event of the molestation of any meter, seal or other equipment controlling or regulating the supply of utility service, in the event of the theft or diversion and/or use of service without payment therefor, in the event of a vacancy of premises, or under any other circumstances which cause the Superintendent of Utilities to determine that the safety of the City employees is at risk, or which the Superintendent believes causes or creates or constitutes a safety risk for the electrical service operations.
H. 
The City employees, as well as duly elected officials and including appointees, agents or representatives, bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, metering and testing all in accordance with this Section. Said employees, officials, and appointees shall be permitted to enter all private properties through which the City holds an easement and through which any City utilities cross, for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair and maintenance of any portion of the public utility.