The municipality owns and operates the municipal electrical
system through the Light Commissioner. The governing body, for the
purpose of defraying the cost of the care, management, and maintenance
of the municipal electrical system, may each year levy a tax not exceeding
the maximum limit prescribed by state law, on the actual valuation
of all real estate and personal property within the corporate limits
that is subject to taxation. The revenue from the said tax shall be
known as the Electrical Fund and shall remain in the custody of the
Municipal Treasurer. The Light Commissioner shall have the direct
management and control of the municipal electrical system and shall
faithfully carry out the duties of his office. He shall have the authority
to adopt rules and regulations for the safe and efficient management
of the electrical system, subject to the supervision and review of
the governing body. The governing body shall by ordinance set the
rates to be charged for services rendered and shall file the same
in the office of the Municipal Clerk for public inspection at any
reasonable time. (Neb. RS 16-675, 16-679, 16-682, 19-1404)
[Amended 2-15-1983 by Ord. No. 5-83; 4-19-1988 by Ord. No. 5-88; 8-3-1999 by Ord. No. 28-99]
A. Every person or persons desiring electrical service must make application
therefor at the Utility Office located in City Hall. The application
must state truly and fully all uses to which said electric current
is to be applied and no additional use will be allowed.
B. For new consumers, blanks will be furnished for that purpose by the
Utility Office. All landlords shall make an application with the City
to receive electric service for their rental properties. This application
shall be signed one time only and shall place the responsibility for
payment of all usage on the landlord when any of his rental properties
are not rented. It shall be the duty of the landlord to notify the
Utility Office of any changes of electric usage by tenants on his
properties. If the landlord wishes to assume the responsibility for
payment of electric service on any of his rented or leased properties
when they are rented, he must so notify the Utility Office in writing
upon blanks furnished for that purpose. Upon receiving such notification,
all bills will be mailed directly to the landlord and he will be held
responsible for their payment. Otherwise, all requirements for service
deposits must be met.
C. Applications for electrical service are not transferable. Any person
wishing to change from one location to another shall make a new application.
If any consumer shall sell, dispose, or remove from the premises where
service is furnished in his name, or if the premises is destroyed
by fire or other casualty, he shall at once inform the Utility Office,
which shall cause the electrical service to be shut off from the premises.
If the consumer should fail to give such notice, he shall be charged
for all electricity used on the premises until the Utility Office
is otherwise advised of such circumstances.
D. The municipality, through its Electric Department, shall furnish
electric current for light and power purposes to persons whose premises
abut on any supply wire of the distribution system. The rules, regulations,
and rates for electric service, hereinafter named in this chapter,
shall be considered a part of every contract between every consumer
now served by the Electric Department. Without further formality,
the making of an application on the part of any applicant or the use
or consumption of electric energy by present consumers and the furnishing
of electric service to said applicant or consumer shall constitute
a contract between applicant and the municipality, to which both parties
are bound. If a consumer should violate any of the provisions of said
contract or any reasonable rules and regulations that the Council
may hereafter adopt, the Utility Office shall cause the service to
be disconnected from the building or place of such violation and no
further connection of electric service for such building or place
shall again be made except by order of the Utility Office.
E. Electric service will be discontinued upon the request of the consumer
at no cost. If the same consumer at some future time requests restoration
of the same electric service, a charge as set from time to time by
the City Council, payable in advance, will apply.
[Amended 5-16-1989 by Ord. No. 13-89]
The City may, by resolution of its Mayor and Council, and shall
have the power and authority to contract with its suppliers of electricity
or with other persons, associations and corporations for the promotion
of electric heat, and provide for incentive payments to its customers,
or their installation or conversion suppliers, for such installation
or conversion upon the terms and conditions provided for in such resolution,
when in the judgment of the Mayor and Council it is beneficial to
do so.