[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.