(a)
General policy.
It shall be the policy of the city to furnish electric service to its customers from distribution lines of standard voltages. The type and location of lines required to supply electric service shall be determined by the city at its sole discretion; however, said lines shall be constructed in accordance with sound engineering practices and shall meet as a minimum the standards outlined in the National Electrical Safety Code.
(b)
Requirements for service.
The provisions of this policy shall apply to all line extensions required to serve customers in the retail [sic] areas of the city. The specific requirements for extensions for the types of service listed below are set forth in the listed sections.
(c)
Specific service policies.
Type of Service | Section |
|---|---|
Residential | 13.02.182 |
Commercial | 13.02.183 |
Industrial | 13.02.184 |
Lighting | 13.02.185 |
Special facilities | 13.02.186 |
Subdivision developments | 13.02.187 |
Temporary | 13.02.188 |
(d)
Line extension rights.
The city, as a condition for providing service to the premises, shall have at all times complete control of the entire line constructed, and shall have the right to serve others from said lines and/or any extension thereof, without any obligation to refund any part of the payment for excess construction costs.
(e)
Primary line capacity.
The estimated cost to the applicant where an excess construction payment is required to serve premises [shall be charged], except that the applicant will pay only the estimated cost to construct facilities adequate to provide the requested service in situations where an excess construction is required.
(f)
Joint construction.
The estimated cost to the applicant where an excess construction payment is required shall be charged whether or not “joint construction” is used. Joint construction being defined as pole line construction in conjunction with another utility.
(g)
Right-of-way.
In all cases, primary and secondary lines of the city which are to be constructed on privately owned property shall be constructed only on, along and/or across rights-of-way which permit ready access from public roads and are covered by properly executed standard easements or platted subdivision easements legally recorded which, among other things, grant the city the right to construct, operate and maintain said lines including the necessary anchors, guys and appurtenances, and along with the right to rebuild, replace or remove the same.
(h)
Customer wiring requirements.
The party applying for a new service extension shall install at his expense the weatherhead and all service entrance wiring through the meter base to the main disconnect switch, together with all other wiring on the customer’s side of the meter. All such wiring shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable city codes and the National Electrical Code and any other safety codes promulgated by other public bodies governing the location being wired. The city shall have no responsibility to ascertain whether or not any wiring installed by or for the customer is in compliance with such codes, except that power will not be made available until said wiring has been passed by the appropriate governing body, if applicable. The city reserves the right to refuse service to premises which, at its sole discretion, are considered to be unsafe.
(i)
Line relocation.
At the sole option of the city, lines and other facilities of the city may be relocated at the request of a property owner only if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)
Service to other customers, both present and prospective, will not be adversely affected.
(2)
Easements on the city’s standard form covering rights-of-way for the relocated lines or other facilities are granted to the city.
(3)
The party requesting the relocation agrees to pay the city the actual cost of removing the existing lines and facilities and installing lines and facilities in the new locations and advances the city the estimated cost of said removal and installation.
(j)
Flood zone restrictions.
In areas where the city provides electric service in the vicinity of lakes and streams, the city will not extend overhead service below the maximum pool level of the lakes, or in the floodplain streams.
(k)
Underground electric service extension.
(1)
Underground electric primary and secondary lines to serve premises may be provided subject to the stipulations that the applicant executes a special underground agreement with the city and agrees to bear all the additional expense in excess of the cost of the standard overhead extension normally provided.
(l)
Policy changes.
The foregoing policy is subject to change at any time by action of the city council without prior notice being given.
(m)
Administration of policy.
The foregoing policy shall be administered in a fair, consistent fashion, with due consideration of site-specific physical circumstances as well as corresponding policies of nearby utilities, with reasonable and justifiable variances as indicated by common sense, good judgment, and equity.
(Ordinance 1999-5, sec. 2.05, adopted 6/8/99)