A.
Applicability
of electric rules and rate schedules. These rules apply to the electric
service area of the utility, except as may be otherwise provided or
prescribed by the city council. The director of utilities/city engineer
or designee shall interpret the rates and rules. In the event of any
dispute or disagreement regarding interpretation of rules or rates,
the city council shall determine the applicability of the rule or
rate in question.
1.
Any
person desiring to appeal electric fees, charges and/or requirements,
other than charges for monthly service and usage, shall submit a letter
of appeal to the director of utilities/city engineer. The appeal will
be reviewed by the director and staff and will be scheduled to be
considered by city council.
B.
Special
conditions of service. The director of utilities/city engineer or
designee may establish and enforce charges for furnishing electricity
to any installation of a character not adequately provided for by
these rates and rules, provided that such charges shall be consistent
with established rates and charges.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.010; Ord. No. 736, § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
These electric rules established by the city council are effective
throughout the service area of the electric utility. They are subject
to the following provisions and definitions:
A.
All
rules are subject to change. Copies of the rules currently in effect
will be kept in the office of the utility. Customers or others contemplating
any expenditures or activities governed by these rules should assure
themselves that they have the current version by contacting the utility.
B.
"Added facilities"
"Applicant"
"Application"
"Billing demand"
"Billing period"
"Certified renewable resource provider"
Class of service.
"Commercial developments"
"Completed application"
"Connected load"
"Customer"
"Customer's mailing address"
"Date of presentation"
"Director"
"Distribution line extension"
"Distribution lines"
"Distribution system"
"Edison"
"Electric supply"
"Electronic transfer"
"Energy diversion"
"General service"
"Heating service"
Hourly metering.
"HP"
"Independent system operator (ISO)"
"Industrial developments"
"Intermittent service"
"Interval metering"
"kW"
"kWh"
"Lighting service"
"Line extension"
"Mailed"
"Maximum demand"
"Meter"
"Meter data management agent (MDMA)"
"Meter service provider (MSP)"
"Meter systems"
"Metering facilities"
"Multiple occupancy building"
"Municipal service"
"Nominal voltage"
"Otherwise applicable tariff (OAT)"
"Paid or payment"
"Permanent service"
"Person"
"Point of delivery"
"Power factor"
"Power service"
"Premises"
"Property"
"Public purpose programs charge"
"Public utilities commission"
"Pull box"
"Qualified contractor/subcontractor (QC/S)"
A.
B.
C.
"Qualified customer"
"Quasi-public institutions"
"Rate area"
"Rate charges"
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
"Rate schedule"
"Rules"
"Scheduling coordinator (SC)"
"Service extension"
"Service wires or connection"
"Single enterprise"
"Small customer/applicant"
"Small commercial customer"
"Standby service"
"Street lighting service"
"Summary bill"
"Tariff schedules"
"Temporary service"
"Tract or subdivision"
"Utility"
"Utilities administrative resource manager"
"Utility operating convenience"
"Violence"
"X-ray service"
Zone.
For the purpose of these rules and rate schedules,
the terms and expressions listed below shall have the meanings set
forth as follows:
means the facilities provided by the utility at the request of the customer which are over and above the utility's standard facilities. See section 3.46.030(H).
means a person requesting RCMU to supply or deliver electric
service and who will be responsible for all related charges.
means a written request to the utility for electric service
as distinguished from an inquiry as to the availability or charges
for such service.
means the load or demand, measured in kilowatts, used for
computing charges under rate schedules based on the size of the customer's
load or demand. It may be the connected load, the measured maximum
demand, or a modification of either as provided for by the applicable
rate schedule.
means the time interval between two consecutive meter readings
that are taken for billing purposes.
means a renewable resource provider who has obtained certification
from the state.
Different classes of electric utility service are: general
lighting, multiple-phase lighting, combination lighting and power,
emergency lighting, single-phase power, polyphase power, welding,
x-ray, fire pump, fire alarm, and stand-by power (permitted only where
stand-by and normal circuit conductors are in separate raceways and
enclosures).
consist of two or more enterprises engaged in trade or the
furnishing of services (e.g., shopping centers, sales enterprises,
business offices, professional offices, and educational or governmental
complexes).
means an application that satisfies all of the information
and other requirements of the tariff schedules, including any required
deposits.
means the sum of the rated capacities of all of the customer's
equipment that can be connected to the utility's lines at one time,
as more fully described in the applicable rate schedules.
means the person in whose name service is rendered as evidenced
by the signature on the application, contract, or agreement for that
service or, in the absence of a signed instrument, by the receipt
and payment of bills or summary bills regularly issued in his or her
name regardless of the identity of the actual user of the service.
A customer may also be a party with whom the utility is doing business
with or without a billing relationship.
means the address specified in a customer's application or
contract, or any other address subsequently given to the utility by
the customer, to which any notice, bill or other communication is
to be mailed.
means the date upon which a bill or notice is mailed, or
delivered by the utility, to the customer.
means director of utilities/city engineer of the city.
means new distribution facilities of the utility that is
a continuation of, or branch from, the nearest available existing
permanent distribution line, including any facility rearrangements
and relocations necessary to accommodate the distribution line extension,
to the point of connection of the last service. The utility's distribution
line extension includes converting an existing single-phase line to
three-phase in order to furnish three-phase service to an applicant,
but excludes service transformers, meters and services.
means overhead and underground facilities which are operated
at distribution voltages.
means those distribution facilities owned, controlled, and
operated by the utility that are used to provide distribution service
under the tariffs.
means Southern California Edison Company.
means electric energy or power.
means paperless exchange of data and/or funds, usually involving
computer and telecommunication technology.
means electricity being received by a customer without registering
through a meter due to either tampering with the meter or bypassing
the meter.
means service to any lighting or power installation, except
those eligible for service on street lighting, outdoor area lighting,
residential or stand-by schedules.
means service to any apparatus employing the resistance of
conductors to transform electric energy into heat.
See Interval metering.
means horsepower.
means the California Independent System Operator Corporation,
a non-profit corporation that controls the transmission facilities
of all participating transmission owners and dispatches certain generating
units and loads. The ISO is responsible for the operation and control
of the statewide transmission grid.
consist of two or more enterprises engaged in a process which
creates a product or changes materials into another form or product.
means service which, in the opinion of the utility, is subject
to discontinuance for a time or at intervals.
means a metering device capable of recording minimum data
required. Minimum data requirements may include 15-minute demand data
required to bill the utility's tariffs.
means Kilowatt.
means Kilowatt-hour.
means service to any apparatus transforming electric energy
into light for all visual purposes, except those specified under power
service.
means all facilities, excluding transformer, service connection
and meter, required to extend electric service from the utility's
existing permanent facilities to the point of delivery to the customer.
means any notice or other communication will be considered
mailed when sent by electronic transfer or when it is enclosed in
a sealed envelope, properly addressed, and deposited in any United
States Post Office box, postage prepaid.
means the average kilowatts during the specified time interval
when the customer's use is greatest in the billing period as indicated
or recorded by the utility's meter.
means the instrument used for measuring the electricity delivered
to the customer.
means the entity that takes raw meter outputs, validates
them using validation, editing and estimating rules, adds corollary
information needed to characterize the customer, and makes complete
customer information available to others for use in various applications.
means the entity that installs, validates, registers, and
maintains the physical meter required on a premises to measure the
required variables.
mean the meter, the meter reading system and the meter data
management server.
means the necessary meter, instrument transformers, test
facilities, data communication equipment, and other associated metering
equipment.
means a building of multiple occupancy provided with continuous
outer wall construction including, but not limited to, apartments,
condominiums, townhouses and commercial buildings.
means utility services supplied to any municipal entity.
means the approximate voltage between conductors in a circuit
or system of a given class, assigned for the purpose of convenient
designation. For any specific nominal voltage, the operating voltage
actually existing at various points and at various times on the system
is subject to normal distribution variation.
means the utility rate schedule that would otherwise apply
to the customer from time to time for electrical services to the premises.
means funds received by the utility through postal service,
the utility payment office, the utility-authorized agent, or deposited
in the utility account for electronic transfer.
means service which, in the opinion of the utility, is of
a permanent and established character. This may be continuous, intermittent
or seasonal in nature.
means any individual, partnership, corporation, public agency
or other organization operating as a single entity.
means the point where conductors of the utility are connected
to the conductors of the customer, regardless of the location of the
utility's meters or transformers. Utility conductors may be owned,
leased or under license by the utility, and the conductors of the
customer may be owned, leased, or under license by the customer.
means the ratio of the revenue producing current in a circuit
to the total current in that circuit. In terms of power quantities,
power factor is the ratio of kW (real power) to the total kVA (total
power).
means service to apparatus or equipment used for purposes
other than lighting. Lamps or lights used for purposes which, in the
opinion of the utility, are not general illumination purposes are
classified as power service, such as the following: motion picture
projection, motion picture and television production, production of
chemical reactions, sterilizing, drying, radiant heating, therapeutic,
photographic processing, production of stimulating the growth or yield
of agricultural products, pilot or indicating lights on power control
equipment, and lighting used as an aid in the operation of a motor-driven
production machine for the purpose of checking tool settings or dial
readings, measuring or inspecting the product while on the machine,
when the lamps are installed as an integral part of the machine and
energized from its power supply.
means all of the real property and apparatus employed in
a single enterprise on an integral parcel of land undivided, except
in the case of industrial, resort enterprises, and public or quasi-public
institutions, by a dedicated street, highway, or other public thoroughfare,
or a railway. Automobile parking lots constituting a part of and adjacent
to a single enterprise may be separated by an alley from the remainder
of the premises served.
means a parcel of real property of record as shown in the
county assessor's maps on file in the office of the county assessor.
means a non-bypassable surcharge imposed on all retail sales
of electricity to fund public goods research, development and demonstration
and energy efficiency activities.
means the public utilities commission of the state.
means an enclosure for joining conductors which also provides
by its size, arrangement, and location the necessary facilities for
pulling the conductors into place. The term "pull box," as used here,
includes structures also known as "manhole," "hand hold," and "switch
board pull section."
means an applicant's contractor or subcontractor who:
Is licensed in the state for the appropriate type of work such
as, but not limited to, electrical and general;
Employs workmen properly certified for specific required skills such as, but not limited to, plastic fusion and welding. Electric workmen shall be properly qualified (qualified electrical worker, qualified person, etc.) as defined in the state High Voltage Safety Orders (Title 8, Subchapter 5, Group 2);
Complies with applicable laws such as, but not limited to, equal
opportunity regulations, OSHA and EPA.
means, as determined by the utility, those customers having
met the criteria and supplied the facilities for electric service
under the utility's tariff schedules and/or having special skills
and equipment necessary to participate with the utility in business
services.
means public utilities, educational institutions and hospitals,
whether publicly or privately owned, where the property, campus or
hospital grounds extend over relatively large areas through which
public streets may run.
means a specified area within which a rate schedule or schedules
apply.
means charges in the rate schedules. These charges may include
the following:
"Added facilities charge"
means the fee collected by the utility for the installation
and use of added facilities equipment.
"Customer charge"
means that portion of the charge for service which is a fixed
amount without regard to connected load, demand, or energy consumption
in accordance with the rate schedule.
"Demand charge"
means that portion of the charge for service which varies
with the billing demand in accordance with the rate schedule.
"Energy charge"
means that portion of the charge for service which varies
with the quantity of energy consumed in accordance with the rate schedule.
"Minimum charge"
means the least amount for which service will be rendered
in accordance with the rate schedule.
"Service charge"
means that portion of the charge for service which is a fixed
amount based on connected load in accordance with the rate schedule.
"Standby charge"
means that portion of the charge for standby service which
is a fixed amount based on the maximum load the utility stands ready
to supply in accordance with the rate schedule.
means one or more tariff pages setting forth the charges
and conditions for a particular class or type of service at a given
location. A rate schedule, as referred to herein, shall include all
the wording on the applicable tariff page or pages, such as, but not
limited to, the following: schedule number, class of service, character
or applicability, territory, rates, conditions, and reference to rules.
means tariff pages which set forth the application of all
rates, charges and services when such applicability is not set forth
in and as a part of the rate schedules.
means an entity certified by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission that acts as a go-between with the ISO on behalf of generators,
supply aggregators (wholesale marketers), retailers and customers
to schedule the supply and consumption of electricity.
means and consists of the service wires or connections as
above defined.
means the group of conductors, whether overhead or underground,
necessary to connect the service entrance conductors of the customer
to the utility's supply line, regardless of the location of the utility's
meters or transformers. An overhead service connection, sometimes
referred to as a service drop, is the group of conductors between
the customer's building or other permanent support and the utility's
adjacent pole.
means a separate business or other individual activity carried
on by a customer. The term "single enterprise" does not apply to associations
or combinations of customers.
means applicants for service and customers served under domestic
rate schedules and schedules SC, AL-2, LS-3 and TC-1.
means customers served under schedules GS-1, TOU-GS-1 and
TOUEV-3.
means service supplied to customers who normally obtain their
power requirements from sources other than the utility. Under this
service, the utility provides a permanent service connection to supply
the customer's contracted load in accordance with the provisions of
the standby schedule.
means service to any lighting apparatus used primarily for
the illumination of streets, alleys, highways or other public ways.
means a customer account statement that includes charges
for multiple service accounts.
means the entire body of effective rates, rentals, charges,
and rules collectively of the utility, as set forth in this chapter,
and including title page, preliminary statement, rate schedules, lists
of contracts and deviations, rules and sample forms.
means service for enterprises or activities which are temporary
in character or where it is known in advance that service will be
of limited duration. Service, which in the opinion of the utility,
is for operations of a speculative character or the permanency of
which has not been established, also is considered temporary service.
means an area for family dwellings which may be identified
by filed subdivision plans or as an area in which a group of dwellings
may be constructed about the same time, either by a large scale builder
or by several builders working on a coordinated basis.
means the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility (RCMU). RCMU
is responsible for the management and operation of the utility on
behalf of the residents and businesses of the city.
means the utilities administrative resource manager appointed
by the director of utilities/city engineer or designee.
means and refers to the utilization, under certain circumstances,
or facilities or practices not ordinarily employed which contributes
to the overall efficiency of utility operations; it does not refer
to customer convenience nor to the use of facilities or adoption of
practices required to comply with applicable laws, ordinances, rules
or regulations, or similar requirements of public authorities.
means and includes, but is not limited to, death or injury
with a weapon, inflicting bodily harm, allowing animals to attack,
physically detaining an employee against his or her will, and/or tearing
employee's clothing.
means service to any apparatus transforming electric energy
into radiation similar to light but having wavelengths from 0.0006
to 2 angstroms.
Zones are defined by zip code for purposes of establishing
discretionary service fees.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.020; Ord. No. 736, § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
General.
1.
The
character of service available at any particular location should be
ascertained by inquiry at the utility's office.
2.
The
rate schedules included in this chapter are applicable to both electric
service and utility services provided beyond the utility's point of
delivery.
3.
The
rate schedules included in this chapter are applicable for service
where the customer purchases its entire electrical requirements from
the utility, except where such schedules specifically provide otherwise,
and are not applicable where a part of the customer's electrical requirements
are supplied from some other source.
4.
The
rate schedules included herein are only applicable for service provided
from underground distribution facilities, except where schedules specifically
provide otherwise.
5.
Alternating
current service of approximately 60-cycle frequency will be supplied.
6.
Voltages
referred to in the tariff schedules are nominal voltages.
7.
Each
service shall have a service main disconnecting device with an ampere
rating equal to or less than the ampere rating of the underground
pull section and the service conductors. The total ampere rating of
the service main disconnecting devices, including taps to underground
pull section, shall be equal or less than the ampere rating of the
service conductors.
B.
Phase
and voltage specifications.
1.
Customer
service voltages.
a.
Under all normal load conditions, distribution circuits will be operated
so as to maintain secondary service voltage levels to customers within
the voltage range specified below:
|
Nominal Two-Wire and Multi-Wire Service Voltage
|
Minimum Voltage to All Services
|
Maximum Service Voltage on Residential and Commercial Distribution
Circuits
|
Maximum Service Voltage on Agricultural and Industrial Distribution
Circuits
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
120
|
114
|
120
|
126
|
|
208
|
197
|
208
|
218
|
|
240
|
228
|
240
|
252
|
|
277
|
263
|
277
|
291
|
|
480
|
456
|
480
|
504
|
b.
Exceptions to voltage limits. Voltage may be outside the limits specified
when the variations:
2.
Customer
utilization voltages.
a.
All customer-owned utilization equipment must be designed and rated
in accordance with the following utilization voltages specified by
the American National Standard C84.1 if customer equipment is to give
fully satisfactory performance.
|
Nominal Utilization Voltage
|
Minimum Utilization Voltage
|
Maximum Utilization Voltage
|
|---|---|---|
|
120
|
110
|
125
|
|
208
|
191
|
216
|
|
240
|
220
|
250
|
|
277
|
254
|
289
|
|
480
|
440
|
500
|
b.
The difference between service and utilization voltage is allowances
for voltage drop in customer wiring. The maximum allowance is four
volts (120-volt base) for secondary service.
c.
Minimum utilization voltages from American National Standard C84.1
shown for customer information by the utility has no control over
voltage drop in customer's wiring.
d.
The minimum utilization voltages shown subsection (B)(2)(a) of this section, apply for circuits supplying lighting loads. The minimum secondary utilization voltages specified by American National Standard C84.1 for circuits not supplying lighting loads by 90 percent of nominal voltages (180 volts on 120-volt base) for normal service.
e.
Motors used on 208-volt systems should be rated 200 volts or (for
small single-phase motors) 115 volts. Motors rated 230 volts will
not perform satisfactorily on these systems and should not be used.
Motors rated 220 volts are no longer standard, but many of them were
installed on existing 208-volt systems on the assumption that the
utilization voltage would not be less than 187 volts (90 percent of
208 volts).
3.
Single-phase
service.
a.
General.
|
Voltage
|
Minimum Load Required
|
Maximum Load Allowed
|
|---|---|---|
|
120 volts
|
None
|
1-15 amp and 1-20 amp branch circuit
|
|
120/240 or 240 volts
|
None
|
400 amp main switch
|
|
240/480 volts
|
15kVA
|
200 amp main switch
|
|
2,400 volts or over
|
Varies with location
|
40 amp main switch
|
b.
The maximum size 120-volt single-phase motor allowed is one hp, and
the maximum size 140-volt, or higher voltage, single-phase motor allowed
is ten hp.
c.
Single-phase service may be supplied to installations having a proposed
main service switch in excess of the switch capacities specified in
this section, provided the approval of the utility has been first
obtained as to the number and size of switches, circuits and related
facilities. 120/240 volt installations will be supplied by one of
the following methods as determined by the utility:
(1)
From two or three separate 120/240 volt service connections at one
location. Energy so supplied will be totalized for billing purposes.
The connected load on any service connection shall not be greater
than twice that on any other service connection;
(2)
From one 120/240 volt connection where the proposed main service
switch does not exceed 600 amperes capacity.
d.
Where RCMU maintains four-wire wye-connected 120/208 volt secondary
mains, single-phase service is supplied at 120/208 volts, three-wire,
for which the maximum allowed is a 200 ampere main switch. Loads in
excess of a 200 ampere main switch will be supplied at 120/208 volts,
four-wire.
4.
Three-phase
service.
a.
General.
|
Voltage
|
Minimum Connected Load Required
|
Maximum Demand Allowed
|
Maximum Main Switch Capacity Allowed
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
240 volts
|
3 kVA
|
1,000 kVA
|
4,000 amperes
|
|
277/480 volts
|
25 kVA
|
3,000 kVA
|
4,000 amperes
|
|
2,400 volts or 4,160 volts
|
Varies w/location
|
12,000 kVA
|
3,000 amperes
|
|
12,000 volts or 16,500 volts
|
Varies w/location
|
30,000 kVA
|
Not specified
|
b.
Where three-phase service is supplied from a four-wire wye-connected
120/208 volt service, the maximum demand allowed is 1,000 kVA.
c.
Service to all loads of 1,000 kVA maximum demand, or over, must be
approved by the utility as to adequacy of facilities for service.
d.
Loads on three-phase service must be balanced between phases in accordance
with good engineering practice.
e.
Three-phase service may be supplied to installations having a proposed
main service switch in excess of the switch capacities specified in
this section, provided approval of the utility has first been obtained
as to the number and size of switches, circuits and related facilities.
Such service will be supplied from two or three separate service connections
at one location. Energy supplied in this manner will be totalized
for billing purposes. The loads will be balanced as closely as practicable
between the services.
5.
Combined
single-phase service and three-phase service.
a.
Service may be supplied at 120/208 four-wire wye-connected where
the utility does not maintain four-wire secondary poly-phase mains,
provided:
(1)
Written application is made for such service by the customer;
(2)
The customer's load is of such a size as to require an individual
transformer installation of not less than 15 kVA of transformer capacity;
and
(3)
A customer provides space acceptable to the utility on this premises
to accommodate the installation of the utility's facilities when,
in the opinion of the utility, such space is considered necessary.
b.
In underground areas where the utility maintains 120/208 volt or
240-volt three-phase mains, service may be supplied at 277/480 volts,
four-wire, provided:
6.
At
the option of the utility, the above voltage and phase specifications
may be modified because of the service conditions at the location
involved.
C.
Motor
protection and equipment. Customer's motor equipment must conform
to the following requirements:
1.
Motors
that cannot be safely subjected to full-rated voltage on starting
or that drive machinery of such a nature that the machinery, itself,
or the product it handles will not permit the motor to resume normal
speed upon restoration of normal supply voltage shall be equipped
with devices that will disconnect them from the line upon failure
of supply voltage and that will prevent the automatic reconnection
of the motors upon restoration of normal supply voltage.
2.
All
motors of one hp or larger shall be equipped with thermal relays,
fuses or other automatic overcurrent interrupting devices to disconnect
completely such motors from the line as a protection against damage
due to overheating.
3.
Three-phase
motors driving elevators, hoists, tramways, cranes, conveyers or other
equipment, which would create hazard to life in the event of uncontrolled
reversal of motor rotation, shall be provided with reverse-phase and
open-phase protection to disconnect completely the motors from the
line in the event of phase reversal or loss of one phase.
4.
Wind
machines thermostatically controlled with automatic reclosing switches
must be equipped with suitable time-delay devices, as hereinafter
specified, at the customer's expense, to permit the required adjustment
of the time of re-closure after interruption of service.
A suitable time-delay device, within the meaning of this section,
is a relay or other type of equipment that can be preset to delay
with various time intervals the re-closing of the automatic switches
(and the consequent starting up of the electric motors on the wind
machines) and to stagger the reconnection of the load on the utility's
system, and such device must be constructed so as effectively to permit
a variable overall time interval of not less than five minutes with
adjustable time increments of not greater than ten seconds. The particular
setting to be utilized for each separate installation is to be determined
by the utility from time to time in accordance with its operating
requirements, and the customer is to obtain from the utility the setting
for each installation as thus determined.
D.
Allowable
motor starting currents.
1.
The
starting current drawn from the utility's lines shall be considered
the nameplate locked rotor current or that guaranteed by the manufacturer.
At its option the utility may determine the starting current by test,
using a stop ammeter with not more than 15 percent overswing or an
oscillograph, disregarding the value shown for the first ten cycles
subsequent to energizing the motor.
2.
If the starting current for a single motor exceeds the value stated in the following tables, reduced voltage starting or other suitable means must be employed at the customer's expense, to limit the current to the value specified, except where specified exemptions are provided in subsection (D)(2), 3, and 4 of this section.
|
TABLE 1
Alternating Current — Single-Phase Motors
Allowable Locked Rotor Currents
Standard Nominal Voltages of the Utility:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Rated Size
|
120 Volts
|
240 Volts
|
|
1 hp and less
|
50 amperes
|
36 amperes
|
|
1½ hp
|
48 amperes
| |
|
2 hp
|
60 amperes
| |
|
3 hp
|
80 amperes
| |
|
5 hp
|
120 amperes
| |
|
7½ hp
|
170 amperes
| |
|
10 hp
|
220 amperes
| |
|
TABLE 2
Alternating Current — Three-Phase Motors
Allowable Locked Rotor Currents
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rated Size
|
240 Volts
|
480 Volts
|
2,400 Volts
|
|
3 hp 64 amperes
|
32 amperes
| ||
|
5 hp 92 amperes
|
46 amperes
| ||
|
7½ hp 127 amperes
|
63 amperes
| ||
|
10 hp
|
162 amperes
|
81 amperes
| |
|
15 hp
|
232 amperes
|
116 amperes
| |
|
20 hp
|
290 amperes
|
145 amperes
| |
|
25 hp
|
365 amperes
|
183 amperes
| |
|
30 hp
|
435 amperes
|
218 amperes
| |
|
40 hp
|
580 amperes
|
290 amperes
| |
|
50 hp
|
725 amperes
|
363 amperes
|
70 amperes
|
|
60 hp
|
435 amperes
|
87 amperes
| |
|
75 hp
|
535 amperes
|
107 amperes
| |
|
100 hp
|
725 amperes
|
142 amperes
| |
a.
Over 100 hp — The utility should be consulted for allowable
locked rotor currents.
b.
Where service conditions permit, subject to the utility's approval,
reduced-voltage starters may be omitted in the original installation
until such time as the utility may order the installation of a reduced-voltage
starter to be made, and, similarly, the utility may at any time require
starting current values lower than set forth herein where conditions
at any point on its system require such reduction to avoid interference
with service.
c.
Reduced-voltage starters may be omitted on any motor of a group installation
provided that its starting current does not exceed the allowable starting
current of the largest motor of the group.
d.
A reduced-voltage starter may be omitted on any motor in a group
installation provided that its starting current does not exceed three
times the maximum demand in amperes of the entire installation.
E.
Interference
with service.
1.
Customers
who operate equipment which causes detrimental voltage fluctuations
(such as, but limited to, hoists, welders, radio transmitters, X-ray
apparatus, elevator motors, compressors and furnaces) must reasonably
limit such fluctuations upon request by the utility. The customer
will be required to pay for whatever corrective measures are necessary.
2.
Prior
to the installation of any new arc furnace or design modification
of an existing furnace, the customer shall provide basic design information
for the installation to aid the utility in determining a method of
service and the allowable level of load fluctuations.
3.
Any
customer who superimposes a current of any frequency upon any part
of his or her electrical system, other than the current supplied by
the utility shall, at his or her expense, prevent the transmission
of such current beyond his electrical system.
F.
Power
factor. The utility may require the customer to provide, at his or
her own expense, equipment to increase the operating power factor
of each complete unit of neon, fluorescent or other gaseous tube lighting
equipment to not less than 90 percent, lagging or leading.
G.
Wave
form. The utility may require that the wave form of current drawn
by equipment of any kind be in conformity with good engineering practice.
H.
Added
facilities.
1.
Where
an applicant requests and the utility agrees to install facilities
which are in addition to, or in substitution for the standard facilities
the utility would normally install, the costs thereof shall be borne
by the applicant. Such costs shall include continuing ownership costs
as may be applicable. Unless otherwise provided by the utility's filed
tariff schedules, these added facilities (special facilities) will
be installed, owned and maintained or allocated by the utility solely
as an accommodation to the applicant. Added facilities are defined
as:
a.
Facilities requested by an applicant which are in addition to or
in substitution for standard facilities which the utility would normally
provide for delivery of service at one point, through one meter at
one voltage class under its tariff schedules; or
b.
A pro rata portion of the facilities requested by an applicant, allocated
for the sole use of such applicant, which would not normally be allocated
for such sole use.
|
Added facilities may include, but are not limited to, all types of equipment normally installed by the utility in the development of its electrical distribution systems and facilities or equipment related to the utility's provision of service to a customer or a customer's receipt or utilization of the utility's electrical energy. Added facilities also include the differential costs for equipment for electrical distribution systems designed by the utility which, in the utility's sole opinion, is in excess of equipment required by the utility's standard serving system. Added facilities may include poles, lines, structures, fixtures, transformers, service connections, load control devices and meters. However, the installation of meters capable of recording and providing interval data that are in addition to or in substitution for standard meters shall be provided under the provisions of subsection J of this section.
|
2.
Added
facilities will be installed under the terms and conditions of a contract
in the form on file with the utility. Such contract will include,
but is not limited to, the following terms and conditions:
a.
Where new facilities are to be installed for applicant's use as added
facilities, the applicant shall advance to the utility the additional
installed costs of the added facilities over the cost of standard
facilities.
b.
The following monthly ownership charges include a replacement component
into perpetuity and are applicable to added facilities contracts:
(1)
Applicants being served by the utility-financed added facilities
shall pay a monthly charge of 1.46 percent of the cost associated
with the added facilities;
(2)
Applicants being served by the customer-financed added facilities
shall pay a monthly charge of 0.47 percent of the cost associated
with the added facilities;
(3)
Where existing facilities are allocated for applicant's use as added
facilities, the applicant shall pay a monthly charge for the added
facilities of 1.46 percent of the utility's reconstruction cost new
less depreciation value of that portion of the existing facilities
which are allocated to the customer as added facilities.
c.
Where the utility agrees to provide replacement options, the applicant
shall pay the following monthly ownership charges:
|
RCMU-Financed
| ||
|
Without replacement perpetuity
|
With replacement 20-year term
| |
|
Monthly Rate
|
1.33%
|
1.34%
|
|
Customer Financed
| ||
|
Without replacement perpetuity
|
With replacement 20-year term
| |
|
Monthly Rate
|
0.33%
|
0.35%
|
Under these options, where existing facilities are allocated
for applicant's use as added facilities, the applicant shall pay a
monthly ownership charge equal to the applicable RCMU-financed monthly
rate. The RCMU-financed monthly rate will be applied to RCMU's reconstruction
cost new less the depreciation value of that portion of the existing
facilities which are allocated to the customer as added facilities.
d.
Where the utility determines the collection of continuing monthly
ownership charges is not practicable, the applicant will be required
to make an equivalent one-time payment in lieu of the monthly ownership
charge. The applicable payment options, if any, will be selected solely
by the utility.
e.
All monthly ownership charges shall be reviewed and re-filed with
the city council when changes occur in the utility's costs for providing
such service. However, the utility will not refile if the utility's
cost change is less than ten basis points.
3.
The
utility shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury arising
from the utility's installation, operation, maintenance, or control
of the added facilities, unless such loss, damage or injury results
from the utility's sole negligence, and, in no event, shall the utility
be liable for loss of profits, revenues or other consequential damages.
No adjustment shall be made to reduce the billings if damage to, or
malfunction of, the added facilities result from any cause other than
the negligence or willful acts of the utility.
I.
Welder
service.
1.
Rating
of welders. Electric welders will be rated for billing purposes as
follows:
a.
Generator arc welders. The horsepower rating of the motor driving
a motor generator type arc welder will be taken as the horsepower
rating of the welder.
b.
Transformer arc welders. Nameplate maximum kVA input (at rated output
amperes) will be taken as the rating of transformer type arc welders.
c.
Resistance welders. Resistance welder ratings will be determined
by multiplying the welder transformer nameplate rating (at 50 percent
duty cycle) by the appropriate factor listed below:
|
Factor
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Type of Welder
|
Transformer Nameplate +Rating @ 50% Duty Cycle
|
Utility-Owned Distribution Transformer
|
Customer-Owned Distribution Transformer
|
|
Rocker Arm, Press or Projection Spot
|
20 kVA or less
|
0.60
|
0.50
|
|
Rocker Arm or Press Spot
|
Over 20 kVA, incl.
| ||
|
Projection Spot
|
21 to 75 kVA, incl.
|
0.80
|
0.60
|
|
Flash or Butt
|
100 kVA or over
| ||
|
Seam or Portable Gun
|
All sizes
| ||
|
Flash or Butt
|
67 to 100 kVA, incl.
|
*
| |
|
Project Spot
|
Over 75kVA
| ||
|
Flash or Butt
|
66 kVA or less
|
1.20
|
0.90
|
|
*
|
Each flash or butt welder in this group will be rated at 80
kVA where the distribution transformer is owned by the utility or
60 kVA where the distribution transformer is owned by the customer.
|
d.
Ratings prescribed by subsection (I)(1)(a), (b) and (c) of this section normally will be determined from nameplate data or from data supplied by the manufacturer. If such data are not available or are believed by either the utility or customer to be unreliable, the rating will be determined by test.
e.
If established by seals approved by the utility, the welder rating
may be limited by the sealing of taps which provide capacity greater
than the selected tap and/or by the interlocking lockout of one or
more welders with other welders.
f.
When conversion of units is required for tariff application, one
welder kVA will be taken as one horsepower for tariffs stated on a
horsepower basis and one welder kVA will be taken as one kilowatt
for tariffs stated on a kilowatt basis.
2.
Billing
of welders. Welders will be billed at the regular rates and conditions
of the tariffs on which they are served subject to the following provisions:
a.
Connected load type of schedule. Welder load will be included as part of the connected load with ratings as determined under subsection (I)(1) of this section based on maximum load that can be connected at any one time and no allowance will be made for diversity between welders.
b.
Demand metered type of schedule. Where resistance welders are served
on these schedules, the computation of diversified resistance welder
load shall be made as follows:
Multiply the individual resistance welder ratings, as prescribed
in subsections I.1.c through I.1.f of this section, by the following
factors and add the results thus obtained:
1.0 times the rating of the largest welder
0.8 times the rating of the next largest welder
0.6 times the rating of the next largest welder
0.4 times the rating of the next largest welder
0.2 times the rating of all additional welders
If this computed diversified resistance welder load is greater
than the metered demand, the diversified resistance welder load will
be used in lieu of the metered demand for rate computation purposes.
J.
Interval
metering and other metering facilities as added facilities.
1.
This subsection is applicable to the installation of interval metering and/or metering facilities that are not part of other transmission and distribution facilities installed as added facilities under subsection H of this section.
2.
Interval metering and/or metering facilities may include, but are not limited to, the components as defined in section 3.46.020 under "interval metering" or "metering facilities."
3.
Where
a customer elects, and the utility agrees, the utility will install,
own, and maintain interval metering and/or metering facilities which
are in addition to, or in substitution for, standard equipment for
the customer's use. The costs of such equipment shall be borne by
the customer.
4.
The
costs of interval metering shall be at the customer's cost.
5.
Interval
metering and/or metering facilities charges.
a.
Interval metering and/or metering facilities will be installed, owned,
and maintained under the terms of and conditions of a contract. Where
a customer requests, the utility may agree to finance the interval
metering and/or metering facilities.
b.
Other charges. For utility-owned interval metering and/or metering
facilities, the customer shall pay the maintenance and testing charges
in accordance with the rates and charges listed in the schedule of
electric fees and charges adopted by resolution by the city council.
This charge shall include repair and/or replacement of the interval
metering and/or metering facilities, as necessary to provide for continued
operation. The customer shall remain liable for repair or replacement
due to damage from misuse, or hazards such as fire, theft or vandalism.
The customer shall pay the maintenance and testing charges for the
interval metering and/or metering facilities during the useful life
of such equipment, under the terms and conditions set out in the IMMFA.
c.
The utility will update the installation, purchasing, maintenance
and testing costs, and the monthly capital-related charges when changes
occur in the utility's costs for providing such services and will
file these updates with the city council.
K.
Change of connected load. If a customer plans to make any significant change either in the amount or character of the electrical load connected to their service, the customer shall give the utility written notice in sufficient time for the utility to modify its service facilities, if necessary, before the customer makes the changes. The cost of modifying the utility's facilities will be charged to the customer in accordance with section 3.46.170.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.030; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Application
for service.
1.
All
applicants for electric service have given implied consent to receive
such service only upon agreeing to comply with the rules and regulations
of the utility. Each applicant for electric service may be required
to sign an application on a form provided by the utility; however,
at the option of the utility, an oral request for service may be accepted.
Each applicant may be required to furnish the following information:
a.
Legal name of applicant;
b.
Date and place of application;
c.
Location of premises to be served;
d.
Social security number or tax ID number;
e.
Purpose for which electric service is to be used;
f.
Address to which bills are to be mailed or delivered;
g.
Whether applicant is tenant of, or agent for, the premises;
h.
Square footage of space to be sewed and typical hours of operation;
i.
Desired service voltage and main switch size;
j.
A completed electric information sheet and city-approved plans for
the premises to be served;
k.
Rate schedule desired where an optional rate is available;
l.
Information to establish credit-worthiness of the applicant;
m.
Information pertinent to the design, installation, maintenance or
operation of facilities, and to the administration of the utility's
electric tariffs;
n.
Such other information as the utility may reasonably require.
2.
If
an existing electric service connection is found to be inactive at
the time of application, which may include, but not be limited to,
damages to the connection and/or replacement of the meter, an assessment
will be made of the electric service connection and a fee shall be
charged on a time and material basis to recover the cost of re-establishing
the service to an active status.
3.
A
new account setup fee shall be charged to offset the cost of creating
accounting and computer records, reading the meter and/or turning
on the electric service and shall be included on the first utility
bill of all new accounts. The charge for the new account setup fee
is set forth in the rate schedule.
4.
The
application is a request for service and does not in itself bind the
utility to serve except under its filed tariff, nor does it bind the
applicant/customer to take service for a longer period than the minimum
requirements of the rate schedule. A contract will be required as
stated in this section or in any applicable tariff.
5.
Upon
acceptance and approval of the application, the utility agrees to
furnish and the applicant agrees to take electric service in accordance
with the utility's applicable tariff schedule. These tariff schedules
constitute the terms and conditions of the agreement between the utility
and the applicant/customer for public utility electric service provided,
unless agreed otherwise in writing.
B.
Individual
liability for joint service. Two or more persons who join in one application
or contract for service shall be jointly and severally liable under
this section and shall be billed by means of a single periodic bill
mailed to the person designated on the application to receive the
bill. Whether or not the utility obtained a joint application, where
two or more persons occupy the same premises, they shall be jointly
and severally liable for bills for electric energy supplied.
C.
Change
in customer's equipment or operations. Customers shall give the utility
written notice of the extent and nature of any material change in
the size, character or extent of the utilizing equipment or operations
for which the utility is supplying service before making any such
change.
D.
Refusal
to provide service. The utility may disconnect or refuse to provide
service to the applicant if the conditions upon the applicant's premises
indicate that false, incomplete, or inaccurate information was provided
to the utility or the acts of the applicant or anyone on the premises
creates an unsafe situation for the utility's employee. The utility
shall provide the applicant the reason for such refusal.
(Code 1980, §3.46.040; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
When
service contracts are required. A contract or agreement to take and
pay for electric service will not be required as a condition precedent
to service except:
1.
Where
required by provisions contained in the tariff schedules, in which
case the term of the contract will be that specified;
2.
Where it is necessary to install a line extension, in which case a contract for a period of three years may be required; except that, when temporary service is to be supplied under the provisions of section 3.46.140, the contract will cover the period of contemplated operations, but not longer than three years.
B.
When
facilities contracts are required. A contract or agreement to pay
for the use, installation or removal of facilities including, but
not limited to, line extensions, street light installations, and special
or added facilities will be required:
1.
Where
the provisions of the tariff schedules so specify, in which case the
terms of the contract will be governed thereby;
2.
Where any applicant or customer desires new or increased distribution facilities for temporary service, in which case the utility may require such person to pay to the utility, in advance or otherwise, the estimated cost installed, plus the estimated cost of removal, less the estimated salvage of the facilities necessary for furnishing service in accordance with the provisions of section 3.46.140;
3.
Where
a person, whether or not a customer, desires to have the utility modify,
rearrange, relocate or remove any of its facilities, the utility,
if it agrees to make such changes, may require the person, at whose
request the changes are made, to agree to pay, in advance or otherwise,
the cost to the utility of making the changes.
C.
Nonstandard
contracts or service agreements. Where the customer has any outstanding
nonstandard contracts or service agreements with the utility, or any
nonstandard service account or meter service arrangements for the
customer's convenience or for the utility's operating convenience,
the utility may, at its discretion, require the customer to:
(Code 1980, § 3.46.050; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004)
A.
Contracts.
Each agreement or contract form for electric service or installation
of facilities will contain the following provision: "This contract
shall at all times be subject to such changes or modifications by
the city council as said city council may from time to time direct
in the exercise of its jurisdiction."
B.
Customer's
bill. Information will be printed on each bill or summary bill for
electric service or will indicate how to obtain such information.
The information either printed or supplied will include substantially
the following:
1.
Your
bill or summary bill is due and payable upon presentation. Payment
should be made to the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility's offices
or an authorized agent.
2.
Should
you question this bill or summary bill, please request an explanation
and/or investigation from the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility by
calling (909) 919-2612.
3.
Any
customer who has initiated a complaint or requested an investigation
within five days of receiving a contested bill or summary bill for
service shall be given an opportunity for review of such complaint
or investigation by a review manager of RCMU.
4.
If,
after a determination by RCMU, you believe you have been billed incorrectly,
the amount of the bill or summary bill should be deposited with the
Rancho Cucamonga City Council in c/o the City Clerk's Office, 10500
Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730, to avoid discontinuance
of service. Make remittance payable to the city, and attach the bill
or summary bill and a statement supporting your belief that the bill
or summary bill is not correct. The director will review the basis
of the billed amount and make disbursement in accordance with its
findings. Further appeal may be filed under the city council's formal
procedure.
5.
The
schedule or code number of the rate under which service is billed.
C.
Discontinuance
of service notice.
1.
Every discontinuance of service notice for nonpayment of a delinquent account, as provided for in section 3.46.090, shall include substantially all of the following information:
a.
The name and address of the customer whose customer account is delinquent;
b.
The amount of the delinquency;
c.
The date by which payment, or arrangement for payment, is required
in order to avoid termination;
d.
The procedure by which the customer may initiate a complaint or request
an investigation concerning service or changes;
e.
The procedure by which the customer may request amortization of the
unpaid charges;
f.
The telephone number of a representative of RCMU who can provide
additional information or institute arrangements for payment.
2.
The
following will be printed on each discontinuance of service notice:
"Our records indicate that payment on your account is overdue.
Under the rules established by the City of Rancho Cucamonga Municipal
Utility, we are notifying you that we intend to terminate electric
service on or after [Time, Date] at [Service Address]."
"This action is being taken because your bill is past due in
the amount of [Dollar Amount], which includes a penalty of 0.9%. You
may avoid termination by bringing your payment to our office at 10500
Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729."
"Payment must be received by the termination date. If the City
does not receive payment and the service is terminated, you will be
required to pay the total amount overdue plus a disconnection/reconnection
fee and a deposit to restore service."
(Code 1980, § 3.46.060; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Establishment
of service; all classes of service. In compliance with the city identity
theft prevention program policy, pertinent information will be required
from the applicant to establish an account in advance of receiving
electric service, including:
1.
Two
forms of identification, at least one of which must be photo identification.
The following are examples of the types of identifications that an
applicant may provide to verify his or her identity when seeking to
open an account: a valid state-issued driver's license, a valid state-issued
identification card, a current passport, a social security card or
a tax identification number.
B.
Re-establishment
of credit; all classes of service. If the utility has made a service
call to disconnect the service for nonpayment of a delinquent bill,
an additional charge shall be made to return service. Additionally,
a deposit equal to three times the estimated monthly bill shall be
required.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.070; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
B.
Amount
of deposit.
1.
The
amount of deposit required to establish credit for electric service
shall be equal to the rates and charges listed in the schedule of
electric fees and charges adopted by resolution by the city council.
2.
In
the event that a customer of the utility has diverted electricity
("energy theft"), a separate deposit shall be assessed. This deposit
shall be twice the amount of the estimated loss to the utility resulting
from the diversion, but in no case shall the amount be less than the
minimum diversion deposit.
C.
Payment
of deposit. Deposits are due upon application for service and delinquent
14 days later. Deposits will not be used as payment for past-due bills
to avoid discontinuance of service.
D.
Return
of deposit.
1.
Deposits
may be returned after the customer has paid bills for service for
12 consecutive months, without having received a delinquent notice.
The deposit shall be credited towards any outstanding charges.
2.
All
other deposits shall be retained by the utility until the electric
service has been terminated at the request of the customer or by the
utility pursuant to these rules and regulations. Upon service termination,
the utility shall credit the deposit towards payment of any outstanding
charges due and owing by the customer. After the utility has made
such credit, any remaining portion shall be refunded to the customer.
E.
Service
turn-on charge.
1.
A
service turn-on shall be made for turning on electric service during
normal business hours on the following workday. There will be an additional
charge for same day and after hours turn-on of service or special
appointment turn-on service (the special appointment turn-on charge
will apply if a specific time is requested and will not apply to the
normal four-hour window appointment) when specifically requested by
the customer. A service charge will be assessed for each additional
field visit required to complete the service turn-on order. After-hours
for fee assessment purposes are legal holidays and hours outside the
following time periods: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays.
2.
The
utility shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by the improper
installation, maintenance or malfunctions of any electric apparatus
or appliance, or for damage caused by the turning on and off of electric
service by the utility.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.080; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Notices
to customers. When notices from the utility to a customer are required,
they will normally be given in writing, either mailed to the address
specified in the customer's application for service or to any address
subsequently specified by the customer or delivered to him or her
or posted in the local newspaper of record, except that in emergencies
the utility may give notices in the manner most suitable under the
existing conditions (radio, television, telephone, etc.). The discontinuance
of service notice for nonpayment of a delinquent account shall be
mailed as stated above at least five calendar days prior to proposed
termination of nondomestic service. All procedures as required by
law shall be exercised.
B.
Notices
from customers. Notices from a customer to the utility may be given
by written communication mailed to the utility's office or may be
given orally by the customer or the customer's authorized agent at
the utility's office, except when written notice is specifically required
in tariff schedules or in any writ-ten agreement.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.090; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004)
A.
Rendering
of bills.
1.
Metered
service.
a.
Bills for metered service will be based on meter registrations. Meters
will be read as required for the preparation of regular bills, opening
bills and closing bills. It may not be possible to read meters on
the same day of the month or at intervals of equal numbers of days.
b.
If, because of unusual conditions or for reasons beyond its control, the utility is unable to read the meter on the scheduled reading date, the utility may bill the customer or those deriving the benefit of service for estimated consumption during the billing period, and make any necessary corrections when a reading is obtained. Estimated consumption for this purpose will be calculated considering the customer's prior usage, the utility's experience with other customers of the same class in that area, and the general characteristics of the customer's operations. Adjustments for any underestimation or overestimation of a customer's consumption will be reflected on the first regularly scheduled bill rendered and based on an actual reading following any periods when estimation was required. When a service start date can be reliably estimated, the undercharge can be computed back to that date, exclusive of section 3.46.180. Access to the meter, sufficient to permit it being read, shall be provided by the customer as a prerequisite to the utility making any adjustment of consumption billed on an estimated basis.
2.
Service
period. Bills for electric service will normally be rendered on a
monthly basis; except that the utility may render bills more or less
frequently at the option of the utility.
3.
Daily
rate schedules. Bills for accounts on rate schedules with daily charges
will be billed on a daily basis and will be computed on the number
of days in the service period. No pro rata computation is required.
4.
Monthly
rate schedules. Bills for accounts on rate schedules with monthly
charges will normally be billed for a monthly billing period.
a.
Monthly billing period. A monthly billing period will contain 27
to 33 days. Bills for accounts that are normally billed for a monthly
billing period, including accounts based on measured monthly demand,
will be calculated on pro rata computation for other than a monthly
billing period.
b.
Pro rata computation. When a pro rata computation is made, the billing
will be computed in accordance with the rate schedule, but the size
of the energy blocks and the amount of the monthly charges and credits
specified therein, will be prorated on the basis of the ratio of the
number of days in a monthly billing period. For this purpose, an average
month of 30 days may be used, unless otherwise provided in the schedule
of electric fees and charges adopted by resolution by the city council.
B.
Readings
of separate meters not combined. For the purpose of billing, each
meter upon the customer's premises will be considered separately,
and the readings of two or more meters will not be combined, except
as follows:
C.
Payment
of bills. Electric bills, including service and penalty charges, are
due and payable on presentation, and payment should be received at
the office of the utility or by a representative or agent authorized
by the utility. Accepted methods of payment are as follows:
D.
Returned
check. The utility may require payment of a returned check charge
equal to that permitted under law for any check returned from the
bank unpaid, as set forth in the schedule of electric fees and charges
adopted by resolution by the city council. The returned check charge
shall also apply to any forms of payment that are subsequently dishonored.
If the returned item was returned for payment on a prior 48-hour notice
of disconnection, service may be terminated without further notice.
E.
Late
payment. A late payment charge of 0.9 percent may be applied to the
total unpaid balances of a customer account if the customer's payment
is not received by the date indicated on the customer account bill.
F.
Field visit. The utility may require payment of a field visit service charge, no more than once per account per billing period, when an authorized utility representative makes a call to a customer's premises because of the customer's failure to pay in accordance with sections 3.46.070 or 3.46.120. This field visit service charge may be required if the call resulted in granting an extension, a field collection, or disconnection of service. If the field visit service charge is required, it will appear on the customer's next regular bill.
G.
Privacy
of customer information. To preserve a customer's privacy when receiving
and paying electric bills through the internet, the utility shall
not release confidential information, including financial information,
to a third party without an electronic signature or voice/written
consent from the customer.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.100; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Customers
who believe their bill is in error must first contact the utility
by telephone or in writing within five days after receiving the bill
and initiate a complaint or request an investigation concerning the
bills. After that period, the bill is considered payable as rendered.
B.
If,
after contact with the utility, the customer believes the bill is
still incorrect, the customer must, within ten days after receiving
the explanation from the utility, send his or her remittance for the
entire amount of the disputed bill along with a written statement
setting forth the reasons why the customer believes the bill is incorrect
to: City of Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility, 10500 Civic Center
Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730.
C.
Failure of the customer to file a written statement with the utilities division manager within ten days after receipt of the explanation from the utility will constitute acceptance by the customer of the bill as rendered, and authorize discontinuance of service in accordance with section 3.46.120.
D.
If before completion of the utilities division manager's review, additional bills become due which the customer wishes to dispute, the customer will not be required to file the dispute with the utility, as stated above, but will be required to send his or her remittance for the entire amount of the additional bills disputed to: City of Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730, and file additional written statements within ten days after receipt of such bills setting forth the reasons why the customer believes the additional bills are incorrect. Failure to do so will authorize discontinuance of service in accordance with section 3.46.120. The utilities administrative resources manager will not, however, accept deposits if the underlying dispute appears to be over matters that do not directly relate to the accuracy of the bill.
E.
Upon
timely receipt of the written statement, the utilities administrative
resources manager or designee will review the basis of the billed
amount and communicate the results of the review and decision to the
customer.
F.
Any
customer, whose complaint or request for investigation regarding a
bill for electric service results in an adverse determination by the
utilities administrative resources manager, may appeal such determination,
after receiving the explanation from the utilities administrative
resources manager, by sending a written statement within ten days
of the mailing of the explanation setting forth the reasons why the
customer believe the investigation is incorrect. The customer must
send this statement to the Director of Utilities/City Engineer, City
of Rancho Cucamonga, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California
91730. Upon timely receipt of the written statement, the director
of utilities/city engineer, or his or her representative will determine
if the review manager's investigation was thorough and complete, addressing
the aspects of the billing dispute. The results will be communicated
to the customer in writing.
G.
If the
billing dispute is not satisfactorily resolved with the director of
utilities/city engineer or his or her representative, the customer
may request a review by the city manager by sending a written statement
within five days of mailing the director of utilities/city engineer's
determination to: City Manager, City of Rancho Cucamonga, 10500 Civic
Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California 91730. Upon timely receipt
of this written statement, the city manager will make his or her determination
and communicate the determination to the customer in writing.
H.
If the
customer is not satisfied with the findings of the city manager, the
customer may appeal to the city council. The appeal must be submitted
in writing to the city clerk, together with the reasons for the dispute
within ten days following mailing of the city manager's determination.
In the absence of a timely filed appeal, the city manager's determination
will be final. Upon receipt of a timely appeal, the matter will be
reviewed by the city council within 45 days of receipt. A written
decision of the city council shall be delivered to the customer by
personal delivery or certified mail within 15 days following the appeal
hearing.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.110; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Past
due bills. Electric bills, including service and penalty charges,
are due and payable upon deposit by utility in the U.S. mail ("date
billed"), and shall be delinquent 19 calendar days after that date.
Upon delinquency, the utility shall mail a second billing in the form
of a delinquent notice. Service may be discontinued if the bill is
not paid within the time required by such notice.
B.
Nonpayment
of bills.
1.
All
delinquent accounts unpaid at the close of business on the 24th calendar
day after the date billed shall have electric service discontinued
on the 26th day after said date without further notice. Any customer
who contests a bill and has initiated a complaint or requested an
investigation within five days of receiving said bill shall not have
service discontinued for nonpayment during the pendency of an investigation
by the utility of such customer's dispute or complaint, provided the
customer also keeps current the account for utility services as charges
accrue in each subsequent billing period. Services shall not be discontinued
for nonpayment for any customer complying with an amortization agreement
entered into with the utility, provided the customer also keeps current
the account for utility services as charges accrue in each subsequent
billing period. If a customer fails to comply with an amortization
agreement, the utility will give a seven-day discontinuance of service
notice before discontinuing service, but such notice shall not entitle
the customer to further investigation by the utility.
2.
If
a customer is receiving more than one service, any or all services
may be discontinued when any service, regardless of location, is discontinued
for nonpayment.
3.
Under
no circumstances may service be discontinued for nonpayment of a bill
to correct previously billed incorrect charges for a period in excess
of the preceding three months, unless such incorrect charges have
resulted from the customer not abiding by the tariff schedules.
4.
On
any Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday recognized by the utility, or
at any time during which the business office of the utility is not
open to the public, service will not be discontinued by reason of
delinquency in payment for utility services.
C.
Unsafe
equipment. The utility may refuse or discontinue service to a customer
if any part of the customer's wiring or other equipment, or the use
thereof, shall be determined by the utility to be unsafe or in violation
of applicable laws, ordinances, rules or regulations of public authorities,
or if any condition existing upon the customer's premises shall be
thus determined to endanger the utility's facilities, until it shall
have been put in a safe condition or the violation remedied. The utility
does not assume any responsibility for inspecting or repairing the
customer's wiring or other equipment or any part thereof and assumes
no liability therefor.
D.
Service
detrimental to other customers. The utility will not provide service
to any premises, the operation of which will be detrimental to the
service of the utility or its other customers, and will discontinue
electric service to any customer after having been given notice by
the utility to cease so doing.
E.
Fraud.
The utility may refuse or discontinue service if the acts of the customer
or the conditions upon the customer's premises are such as to indicate
any intent to defraud the utility. A fee will be collected for the
investigation of acts of fraud and/or diversion.
F.
Failure to establish or re-establish credit. If, for an applicant's convenience, the utility should provide service before credit is established or should continue service to a customer when credit has not been re-established in accordance with section 3.46.070, and the customer fails to establish or re-establish credit, the utility may discontinue service.
G.
Noncompliance.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, the utility
may discontinue service to a customer for noncompliance with tariff
schedules if, after written notice of at least five days, the customer
has not complied with the notice. The utility may dispense with the
giving of such notice in the event there exists in the utility's opinion
a dangerous condition, thus rendering the immediate discontinuance
of service to the premises imperative.
H.
Customer's
request for service discontinuance. When a customer desires to terminate
responsibility for service, the customer shall give the utility not
less than two business days' notice of this intention, state the date
on which the customer wishes the termination to become effective,
provide access to the meter and provide the utility with the address
to which the closing bill should be mailed. In the event access is
not provided, the customer discontinuing service shall be held liable
for all consumption until access is provided. A field visit service
charge will be assessed for each additional trip (after original attempt
to turn service off) required to complete the turn-off request. A
customer may be held responsible for all service furnished at the
premises until two business days after receipt of such notice by the
utility or until the date of termination specified in the notice,
whichever date is later.
I.
Restoration;
reconnection charge.
1.
The
utility will require payment of all past due bills, applicable service
reconnection charges, and deposit before restoring service that has
been disconnected for nonpayment of bills or for failure otherwise
to comply with tariff schedules. If services have been illegally restored
or damaged due to tampering, the customer must pay all damage charges
prior to recommendation. The customer and/or beneficiary of service
are responsible for all damage charges whether or not service is reconnected.
2.
If
it is necessary to verify funds prior to reconnect, an additional
fund verification fee may be assessed. If funds can not be verified,
the utility may require secured funds prior to reconnect.
3.
If
service is terminated, or if a notice of discontinuance has been given,
the utility will require the customer to pay a deposit or an additional
deposit equal to an estimated average three-month bill.
4.
All
reconnect service charges are cumulative and each trip to the premises
will incur additional charges.
5.
In
the event anyone has turned on the electric service after it has been
turned off for any of the above reasons, there shall be a charge in
addition to other amounts due from the customer before service is
restored.
6.
If
the meter is removed, a service charge will be billed in addition
to other amounts due. An inspection will be required at the customer's
expense (prior to re-installation of meter).
7.
If
service has been terminated by an electric crew at the overhead or
underground, there will be an additional service charge prior to restoring
the service.
8.
The
reconnection will be scheduled for the next working day. The amount
of the reconnection charge and any additional charges for requests
to reconnect service on the day of the request or outside regular
business hours are as stated in the schedule of electric fees and
charges adopted by resolution by the city council.
9.
Service
wrongfully terminated shall be restored without charge for the restoration
of service, and a notification thereof shall be mailed to the customer
at the billing address. The utility may refuse to reconnect service
if the acts of the customer or anyone on the premises create an unsafe
environment for the utility employees or representatives.
J.
Unsafe environment. If the customer or anyone on the premises inflicts violence, as defined in section 3.46.020, or threatens with present ability to inflict violence upon an employee of the utility or its subcontractors, the utility may discontinue service to a customer after written notice of at least five days. The discontinuance of service may be avoided if the customer agrees to meet with the utilities administrative resource manager and/or law enforcement and the customer agrees to cease from any act of violence.
K.
Discontinuance
for use of electricity without application.
1.
When
a new occupant who has not applied for electric service takes possession
of premises and finds the electric service turned on, the occupant
shall notify the utility of such findings within one working day.
2.
In
the event the occupant turns on the electric service, or fails to
notify the utility of finding the electric service turned on within
one working day of occupancy, the occupancy will be billed for consumption
back to the move-in date and owner shall be billed for any unresolved
usage. If the premises are unoccupied, or the utility has not been
notified of a new tenant by the owner, property manager, occupant
or other representative of the owner, and electric service is in use,
the owner of the property shall be held responsible for payment of
the bill. It is the responsibility of the owner to verify that the
utility service has been transferred into the name of the new occupant
and to settle disputes of responsibility between the occupant and
the owner.
3.
In
the event that the occupant is charged for usage where the amount
charged will be determined by the utility, the amount billed will
be based upon either the meter reading or on the basis of the estimated
consumption for the length of time service was received by the occupant
without proper application.
4.
When
the utility finds that electricity is being used without proper application,
the utility may terminate the service without further notice. Any
amount due in excess of the amount billed to the occupant shall be
billed to the owner.
5.
Only
authorized utility personnel are permitted to turn the service on
at the meter. If the occupant restores electric service, a self-restoral
service fee may be imposed.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.120; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Effective
rates. The rates charged by the utility for electric service are those
on file with the utility's utilities administrative resources manager
and are legally in effect. A copy of complete tariff schedules, as
filed with the utilities administrative resources manager, shall be
maintained for public inspection at the office of the utility.
B.
Optional
rates.
1.
Where there are two or more rate schedules, rates or optional provisions applicable to the class of service requested by the applicant, the utility will call the applicant's attention, at the time application is made, to the several schedules, and the applicant must designate which rate schedule, rate, or optional provision the customer desires. When the customer notifies the utility of any material change in the size, character, or extent of utilizing equipment or operations, in accordance with section 3.46.040(C), the utility will, within a reasonable time, advise the customer of the resulting rate options. In the absence of the notification provided for in section 3.46.040(C), the utility assumes no responsibility for advising the customer of lower optional rates under other existing schedules, rates or optional provisions available as a result of the customer's changes in equipment or operations.
2.
When
an applicant for new service has applied for service under a mutually
agreed upon rate schedule, the rate schedule will remain in effect
for a minimum of three billing periods to determine the accuracy of
the application of the rate.
C.
New
or revised rates. Should new or revised rates be established after
the time application is made, the utility will, within a reasonable
time, use such means as may be practicable to bring them to the at-tention
of those of its customers who may be affected thereby.
D.
Change
of rate schedule.
1.
A
change to another applicable rate schedule, rate or optional provision
will be made only where the customer elects to make such change, or
where in the opinion of the utility, another rate schedule is more
applicable.
2.
Should
a customer so elect, the change will be made, provided:
a.
A change has not been made effective during the past 12-month period;
b.
The change is made to, or from, a new or revised rate schedule;
c.
There has been a change in the customer's operating conditions for
that service which, in the opinion of the utility, justifies the change;
d.
The change is not made more often than once in 12 months where service
is being supplied under a schedule containing an annual fixed charge
or an annual minimum charge; and
e.
The customer has made the request by written notice to the utility.
E.
Power
cost adjustment factor (PCAF). The PCAF is a charge per kWh which
is used:
1.
To
adjust the utility's electric rates for the actual cost of purchasing
and generating electric power and energy to service the utility's
customers; and
2.
To
minimize fluctuations in rates;
3.
The
energy charge per kWh in each rate schedule recovers the costs of
purchasing and delivering power and energy from all suppliers of power
and energy, other suppliers, and the cost of power from the utility's
owned generating resources. The PCAF will reflect all changes in energy
costs, including the following:
4.
The
PCAF as set forth in the tariff schedule shall be applied to kWh sold
on and after the effective date, as also set forth below, and continuing
thereafter until a new PCAF becomes effective. The amount to be added
to or subtracted from each bill due to the PCAF shall be calculated
by multi-plying the number of kWh for which the bill is rendered by
the applicable PCAF. The PCAF, which may be either positive or negative,
will be reviewed and revised monthly to reflect actual changes. The
city council shall have responsibility for establishing the PCAF and
its effective date.
F.
Change
of law adjustment factor (CLAF). Change in law means any change, modification,
revision or adoption of:
1.
Any
law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, decree, resolution,
ordinance, or other legal or regulatory determination by any court,
regulatory agency or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction;
or
2.
Any
law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, decree, resolution,
ordinance, or other legal or regulatory determination, or interpretation
thereof, which has been adopted, enacted, released or promulgated,
which results in either partial or wholly new or different application
of a pre-existing law. The CLAF is a charge or credit per kWh which
is used to adjust the utility's electric rates for the impact of changes
in law that would materially change the utility's revenue or expenses.
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The CLAF as set forth in the tariff schedule shall be applied
to each kWh sold on and after the effective date, or also set forth
below, and continuing thereafter until a new CLAF becomes effective.
The amount to be added to or subtracted from each bill due to the
CLAF shall be calculated by multiplying the number of kWh for which
the bill is rendered by the applicable CLAF. The CLAF, which may be
either positive or negative, will be reviewed and revised quarterly
to reflect actual changes in excess of a plus or minus ten percent
of the amount stated in the tariff schedule. The city council shall
have the responsibility for establishing the CLAF and its effective
date.
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G.
Applicability.
Unless otherwise stated in the rate schedule, the rate schedules of
the utility are applicable only for service supplied entirely by the
utility.
H.
"Billing demand"
"Excess transformer capacity"
Maximum demand.
Power factor adjustment.
1.
2.
"Summer season"
Temporary discontinuance service.
"Time period"
"Winter season"
Definitions
for this section. The following words, terms and phrases, when used
in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this
section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
means the kilowatts of maximum demand, determined to the
nearest kW. The demand charge shall include the following billing
components: The time-related component shall be for the kilowatts
of maximum demand recorded during (or established for) the monthly
billing period; the facilities-related component shall be for the
greater of the kilowatts of maximum demand recorded during (or established
for) the monthly billing period or 50 percent of the highest maximum
demand established in the preceding 11 months (ratcheted demand).
However, when the utility determines the customer's meter will record
little or no energy use for extended periods of time or when the customer's
meter has not recorded a maximum demand in the preceding 11 months,
the facilities-related component of the demand charge may be established
at 50 percent of the customer's connected load.
means the amount of transformer capacity requested by a customer
in excess of that which the utility would normally install to serve
the customer's maximum demand.
Maximum demands shall be established for the on-peak, mid-peak, and off-peak periods. The maximum demand for each period shall be the measured maximum average kilowatt input indicated or recorded by instruments, during any 15-minute metered interval, but, where applicable, not less than the diversified resistance welder load computed in accordance with the section designated "welder service" in section 3.46.030(I). Where the demand is intermittent or subject to violent fluctuations, a five-minute interval may be used.
When the maximum demand is expected or has exceeded 200 kW
for three consecutive months, kilovar metering will be installed as
soon as practical, and, thereafter, until the maximum demand has been
less than 150 kW for 12 consecutive months, the billing will be increased
each month for power factor for service metered and delivered at the
applicable voltage level, based on the per kilovar of maximum reactive
demand imposed on the utility. The reactive demand will be determined
as follows:
For customers with metering used for billing that measures reactive
demand. The maximum reactive demand shall be the highest measured
maximum average kilovar demand indicated or recorded by metering during
any 15-minute metered interval in the month. The kilovars shall be
determined to the nearest unit. A device will be installed on each
kilovar meter to prevent reverse operation of the meter.
For customers with metering used for billing that measures kilovar-hours
instead of reactive demand. The kilovars of reactive demand shall
be calculated by multiplying the kilowatts of measured maximum demand
by the ratio of the kilovar-hours to the kilowatt hours. Demands in
kilowatts and kilovars shall be determined to the nearest unit. A
ratchet device will be installed on the kilovar-hour meter to prevent
its reverse operation on leading power factors.
shall commence at 12:00 midnight on June 1 and continue until
12:00 midnight, on October 1 of each year. A pro rata computation
will be made for seasonal billing purposes.
Where the use of energy is seasonal or intermittent, no adjustments
will be made for a temporary discontinuance of service. Any customer,
prior to resuming service within 12 months after such service was
discontinued, will be required to pay all charges which would have
been billed if service had not been discontinued.
means and includes:
shall commence at 12:00 midnight on October 1 of each year
and continue until 12:00 midnight on June 1 of the following year.
A pro rata computation will be made for seasonal billing purposes.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.130; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014; Ord. 1018 § 1, 2023)
A.
Establishment
of temporary service. The utility shall, if no undue hardship to its
existing customers will result therefrom, furnish temporary service
under the following conditions:
1.
The
applicant shall pay, in advance or otherwise as required by the utility,
the estimated cost installed, plus the estimated cost of removal,
less the estimated salvage of the facilities necessary for furnishing
service.
B.
Applicant design. Applicant may elect to use the applicant design option to design that portion of the temporary facilities normally designed by the utility in accordance with the same applicant design provisions outlined in section 3.46.160, except that all charges and refunds shall be made under the provisions of the rule.
C.
Change
to permanent status.
1.
A
customer will retain temporary status as long as the utility deems
the facilities to be speculative in character, of questionable permanency,
or where it is known in advance that service will be of limited duration.
2.
If at any time the character of a temporary customer's operations changes so that in the opinion of the utility the customer may be classified as permanent, the amount of payment made in excess of that required for permanent service immediately shall be refunded to the customer in accordance with subsection D of this section following.
D.
Refunds.
The amount of refund upon reclassification of a customer from temporary
to permanent will be made on the basis of the extension rule in effect
at the time temporary service is reclassified to permanent.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.140; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Shortages
and interruptions.
1.
The
utility will exercise reasonable diligence to furnish/deliver a continuous
and sufficient supply of electricity to its customers and to avoid
any shortage or interruption of delivery thereof. It cannot, however,
guarantee a continuous or sufficient supply or freedom from interruption,
and shall not be liable for interruptions, shortage or insufficiency
of supply, or any resultant loss or damage.
2.
Whenever,
in the operation of the utility's electric plants, properties, and/or
systems, interruption in the delivery of electricity to customers
results from or is occasioned by causes other than the exercise by
the utility of its right to suspend temporarily the delivery of electricity
for the purpose of making repairs or improvements to its system, notice
of any such interruption will not be given to the customers of the
utility, but the utility will exercise reasonable diligence to reinstate
delivery of electricity.
B.
Temporary
suspension for repairs.
1.
The
utility, whenever it shall find it necessary for the purpose of making
repairs or improvements to its system, shall have the right to suspend
temporarily the delivery of electricity. In all cases, to the extent
circumstances so allow, reasonable notice will be given to the customer.
Such repairs or improvements will be made as rapidly as practicable,
consistent with prudent utility practices. To the extent practicable
and consistent with prudent utility practices, the utility will minimize
the inconvenience to its customers.
2.
When it is necessary to suspend temporarily the delivery of electricity for repairs or improvements to the system in accordance with subsection (B)(1) of this section, and the customer requests that such suspension of service occur at other than during normal utility working hours, the utility reserves the right to receive, in advance, the total estimated labor-related costs to be incurred by the utility for performing the work during non-regular utility work hours. The customer shall also pay any additional cost actually incurred in excess of the estimated costs.
C.
Apportionment
of supply during time of shortage. Should a shortage of supply ever
occur, the utility will apportion its available supply of electricity
among its customers as authorized or directed by the utility in the
manner determined at the utilities administrative resources manager's
discretion, to be equitable and without discrimination under prevailing
conditions, except that preference shall be given to service essential
to the public interest and to the preservation of life and health.
The decision of the utilities administrative resources manager or
designee shall be final in such matters.
D.
Limited service device. A limited supply of electricity may be provided in accordance with section 3.46.120(I) where a limited service device is installed.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.150; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004)
This rule is applicable to extension of electric distribution
lines of the utility's standard voltages (less than 15 kV) necessary
to furnish permanent electric service to applicants and will be made
in accordance with the following provisions:
A.
General.
1.
Distribution
line extension basis.
a.
Design. The utility will be responsible for planning, designing,
and engineering distribution line extensions using the utility's standards
for material, design, and construction. Applicant may elect to design
that portion of the new distribution line extension normally designed
by the utility in accordance with the applicant design provisions
of this rule.
b.
Ownership. The distribution line extension facilities installed under
the provisions of this rule, shall be owned, operated, and maintained
by the utility, except for substructures and enclosures that are on,
under, within or part of a building or structure.
c.
Private lines. The utility shall not be required to serve any applicant
from distribution line ex-tension facilities that are not owned, operated,
and maintained by the utility.
2.
Distribution
line extension locations.
a.
Utility maintenance of line extension facilities. The utility will
own, operate and maintain distribution line extension facilities only:
(1)
Along public streets, alleys, roads, highways and other publicly
dedicated ways and places which the utility has the legal right to
occupy; and
(2)
On public lands and private property across which rights-of-way and
permits satisfactory to the utility may be obtained without cost to
or condemnation by the utility.
b.
Normal route of line. The length and normal route of a distribution
line extension will be determined by the utility and considered as
the distance along the shortest, most practical, available, and acceptable
route which is clear of obstructions from the utility's nearest permanent
and available distribution facility to the point from which the service
facilities will be connected.
3.
Underground
distribution line extensions.
a.
Underground required. The utility, by authority of the city council,
has declared itself an underground utility. Consistent with this declaration,
underground distribution line extensions shall be installed where
required to comply with applicable laws and ordinances of the city
and where the utility maintains or desires to maintain underground
distribution facilities. For example, underground distribution line
extensions are required for all new:
(1)
Commercial developments;
(2)
Industrial developments; and
(3)
Locations that are in proximity to and visible from designated scenic
areas.
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The requirements to underground lines set forth in this subsection
shall not apply where it is impractical to build underground lines,
as determined by the utility, and approved by the utilities administrative
resources manager.
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4.
Overhead distribution line extensions. Overhead distribution line extensions may be installed only where underground extensions are not required as provided in subsection (A)(3)(a) of this section.
5.
Special or added facilities. Any special or added facilities the utility agrees to install at the request of the applicant will be installed at the applicant's expense in accordance with section 3.46.030.
6.
Temporary service. Facilities installed for temporary service or for operations of speculative character or questionable permanency shall be made in accordance with the fundamental installation and ownership provisions of this section and the provisions of section 3.46.140.
7.
Services. Service facilities connected to the distribution lines to serve an applicant's premises will be installed, owned and maintained as provided in section 3.46.150.
8.
Street
lights. Street lights and appurtenant facilities shall be installed
in accordance with the service provisions of the applicable street
light schedule.
9.
Contracts.
Each applicant requesting a distribution line extension may be required
to execute a written contract, prior to the utility performing its
work on the distribution line extension.
B.
Installation
responsibilities.
1.
Underground
distribution line extensions.
a.
Responsibility of applicant. In accordance with the utility's design,
specifications, and requirements, applicant is responsible for:
(1)
Design. Designing and engineering of the applicant's electric distribution
facilities to serve the development in accordance with city's design
standards;
(2)
Excavation. All necessary trenching, backfilling, compacting and
furnishing of imported or suitable natural backfill material as required
and proper disposal of trench spoil as required and other digging
as required;
(3)
Substructure and conduit. Furnishing, installing, and upon acceptance
by the utility, conveying to the utility ownership of all necessary
installed substructures, conduits and pull and service boxes, transformer
pads, including feeder conduits and related substructures required
to extend to and within subdivisions and developments; and
(4)
Protective structures. Furnishing, installing and, upon acceptance
by the utility, conveying to the utility ownership of all necessary
protective structures.
b.
Utility responsibility. The utility's responsibility is to provide
inspection service to verify the applicant's performance and to furnish
and install cables, switches, transformers, and other distribution
facilities required to complete the distribution line extension.
2.
Overhead
distribution line extensions. The utility is responsible for furnishing
and installing all facilities required for the distribution pole line
extension.
3.
Installation
options.
a.
Utility-performed work. Where requested by applicant and mutually agreed upon, the utility may perform that portion of the new distribution line extension work normally installed by applicant according to subsection (B)(1)(a) of this section, provided applicant pays the utility its total estimated installed cost.
b.
Applicant-performed work. The applicant may elect to install that portion of the new distribution line extension normally installed by the utility in accordance with the utility's design and specifications, using qualified contractors (see subsection D of this section, applicant installation options).
C.
Contributions
or payments by applicant.
1.
General.
Contributions or payments by an applicant to the utility for the installation
of a distribution line extension to receive utility service consist
of such things as cash payments, the value of facilities deeded to
the utility, and the value of excavation performed by applicant.
2.
Project-specific
cost estimates. The utility's total estimated installed cost will
be based on a project-specific estimated cost.
3.
Payment.
The applicant shall contribute or pay, before the start of the utility's
construction, the following:
a.
Estimated value of excavation, etc. The utility's estimated value of excavation, conduits, and protective structures required by the utility for the distribution line extension under subsection (B)(1)(a) of this section.
b.
Underground service.
(1)
Cabling. The estimated installed cost of any necessary cabling, including
distribution transformers, installed by the utility to complete the
underground distribution line ex-tension. This includes the cost of
conversion of existing single-phase lines to three-phase lines, if
required; plus
(2)
Substructures. The utility's estimated value of substructures installed
by the applicant and deeded to the utility as required; and
c.
Overhead service.
(1)
Pole line. All necessary facilities required for an overhead distribution
pole line exten-sion and, if required, the conversion of existing
single-phase lines to three-phase lines; and
d.
Added facilities.
(1)
After final design of the distribution facilities, the utility will notify the applicant of the estimated cost of any extra facilities or special requirements to be done at the applicant's request. Extraordinary facilities or service provisions will be handled under section 3.46.030, description of electric service.
4.
(Reserved)
5.
Joint
applicants. The total contribution or advance from a group of applicants
will be apportioned among the members of the group in such manner
as they may mutually agree.
6.
Payment
adjustments.
a.
Total refundable amount. If the loads provided by the applicant result
in the utility having installed facilities which are in excess of
those needed to serve the actual loads, and the utility elects to
reduce such excess facilities, the applicant shall pay the utility
its estimated total costs to remove, abandon, or replace the excess
facilities, less the estimated salvage of any removed facilities.
b.
Reimbursement. If, within five years of the date on which the city
begins delivering electricity to the applicant, the distribution line
extension is used by the city to serve new customer loads, the city
will charge to the new customer and refund to the applicant a portion
of the distribution line extension costs previously paid by the applicant
pursuant to a reimbursement agreement between the applicant and the
city. This refund amount shall be determined by the city, in its sole
discretion, and shall reflect the new customer's proportional cost
responsibility for the distribution line extension, taking into consideration
each customer's existing and/or forecast load, rate class, and location.
In the event that any additional customer subsequently initiates service
that is provided using the distribution line extension within the
same five-year period, the city will similarly determine the additional
customer's proportional cost responsibility for the distribution line
extension and provide a refund to the customers that have previously
contributed to cover the cost of the distribution line exten-sion.
D.
Applicant
design option for new installations; competitive bidding. When the
applicant selects competitive bidding, the distribution line extension
may be designed by the applicant's qualified contractor or sub-contractor
in accordance with the utility's design and construction standards.
All applicant design work of electric facilities must be performed
by or under the direction of a licensed professional engineer and
all design work submitted to the utility must be certified by an appropriately
licensed professional engineer, consistent with the applicable federal,
state and local, including the city, codes and ordinances. The applicant
design option is available to the applicant for new service and is
not available for replacement, reinforcement, or relocation of existing
systems, where there is no applicant for new line or service extension
work. Under this option, the following applies:
1.
Applicant
shall notify the utility, in a manner acceptable to the utility.
2.
Applicant
designs shall conform to all applicable federal, state and local,
including the city, codes and ordinances for utility installations
design (such as, but not limited to the Business and Professions Code).
3.
The
utility may require applicant designers to meet the utility's prequalification
requirements prior to participating in applicant design.
4.
Applicant
designers shall obtain utility design and construction standards and
specifications prior to performing applicant design. The utility may
charge for any of these services.
5.
The
utility will plan check the applicant design project at applicant's
expense.
6.
The
utility shall perform all the utility's project accounting and cost
estimating.
E.
Applicant
installation options.
1.
Competitive
bidding. Under competitive bidding, the distribution line extension
may be installed by applicant's qualified contractor or sub-contractor
in accordance with the utility's design and specifications. Under
this option, the following applies:
a.
Upon acceptance by the utility, ownership of all such facilities
will transfer to the utility.
b.
Applicant shall pay to the utility any utility costs associated with
the distribution line exten-sion, including the estimated costs of
design, administration, and installation of any additional facilities
and labor necessary to complete the distribution line extension.
c.
The applicant shall pay to the utility, as a nonrefundable amount,
the cost of inspection.
d.
Only duly authorized employees of the utility are allowed to connect
to, disconnect from, or perform any work upon the utility's facilities.
2.
Minimum
contractor qualifications. Applicant's contractor or subcontractor
(QC/S) shall:
a.
Be licensed in the state for the appropriate type of work (electrical
and general, etc.).
b.
Employ workmen properly qualified for specific skills required (qualified electrical worker, qualified person, etc.) as defined in California High Voltage Safety Orders (Title 8, Chapter 4, Subchapter 5, Group 2).
c.
Comply with applicable laws (Equal Opportunity Regulations, OSHA,
EPA, etc.).
3.
Other
contractor qualifications. An applicant for service who intends to
employ a QC/S also should consider whether the QC/S:
a.
Is technically competent.
b.
Has access to proper equipment.
c.
Demonstrates financial responsibility commensurate with the scope
of the contract.
d.
Has adequate insurance coverage (worker's compensation, liability,
property damage, etc.).
e.
Is able to furnish a surety bond for performance of the contract,
if required.
F.
Special
conditions.
1.
Facility relocation or rearrangement. Any relocation or rearrangement of the utility's existing facilities, at the request of, or to meet the convenience of an applicant or customer, and agreed upon by the utility, normally shall be performed by the utility. Where new facilities can be constructed in a separate location, before abandonment or removal of any existing facilities, and applicant requests to perform the new construction work, it can be performed under the applicable provisions of subsection E of this section, applicant installation options. In all instances, the utility shall abandon or remove its existing facilities at the option of the utility. The applicant or customer shall be responsible for the costs of all related relocation, rearrangement and removal work.
2.
Exceptional
cases. When the application of this rule appears impractical or unjust
to either party or the ratepayers, the utility or applicant may refer
the matter to the utilities administrative resources manager of the
utility for a special ruling or for special conditions, which may
be mutually agreed upon.
G.
"Applicant"
"Betterment"
"Cabling"
"Commercial development"
"Conduit"
"Contribution"
"Distribution line extension"
"Distribution lines"
"Distribution trench footage"
"Excavation"
"Feeder conduit"
"In proximity to"
"Industrial development"
"Insignificant loads"
"Intermittent loads"
"Payment"
"Permanent service"
"Pole line"
"Protective structures"
"Scenic areas"
"Seasonal service"
"Substructures"
Trenching.
"Visible from"
Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
means a person or agency requesting the utility to deliver/supply
electric service.
means facilities installed by applicant at the request of the utility in addition to those required under subsection (B)(1)(a) of this section.
means conductors, including cable-in-conduit, if used, connectors,
switches, as required by the utility for primary, secondary, and service
installations.
means two or more enterprises engaged in trade or the furnishing
of services, (e.g., shopping centers, sales enterprises, business
offices, professional offices, and educational or governmental complexes)
located on a single parcel or on two or more contiguous parcels of
land.
means ducts, pipes or tubes of certain metals, plastics and
other materials acceptable to the utility, including pull wires and
concrete encasement where required, for the installation and protection
of electric wires or cables.
means in-kind services and the value of all property conveyed
to the utility at any time during the utility's work on an extension
which is part of the utility's total estimated installed cost of its
facilities, or cash payments not covered by applicant's allowances.
means a new distribution facility of the utility that is
a continuation of, or branches from, the nearest available existing
permanent distribution line, including any facility rearrangements
and relocations necessary to accommodate the distribution line extension,
to the point of connection of the last service. The utility's distribution
line extension includes converting an existing single-phase line to
three-phase in order to furnish three-phase service to an applicant,
but excludes service transformers, meters and services.
mean overhead and underground facilities which are operated
at distribution voltages, and which are designed to supply two or
more services.
means the total trench footage used for calculating cabling costs. It is determined by adding the total length of all new and existing trenching for the installation of underground primary and secondary distribution lines designed to supply two or more services, excluding service trench footage under section 3.46.170.
means all necessary trenching, backfilling, and other digging
to install distribution line extension facilities, including furnishing
of any imported backfill material and disposal of spoil as required,
surface repair and replacement, landscape repair and replacement.
means a conduit for such uses as part of a backbone system
to provide for future-anticipated load growth outside the subdivision
involved, to provide for future-anticipated load growth in the existing
subdivision and the existing subdivisions in close proximity, to balance
loads between substations, to interconnect the service to the subdivision
with service to subsequent developments outside the subdivision, and
to provide the flexibility and versatility of modifying or supplying
emergency backup power to the area involved.
means within 1,000 feet from each edge of the right-of-way
of designated scenic high-ways and from the boundaries of designated
parks and scenic areas.
means two or more enterprises engaged in a process which
creates a product or changes material into another form or product
and located on a single parcel or on two or more contiguous parcels
of land.
means small operating loads such as gate openers, valve controls,
clocks, timing devices, fire protection equipment, alarm devices,
etc.
means loads which, in the opinion of the utility, are subject
to discontinuance for a time or at intervals.
means cash payment made to the utility prior to the initiation
of any work done by the utility which is not covered by allowances.
means service which, in the opinion of the utility, is of
a permanent and established character. This may be continuous, intermittent,
or seasonal in nature.
means poles, cross-arms, insulators, conductors, switches,
guy-wires, and other related equipment used in the construction of
an electric overhead line.
means fences, retaining walls (in lieu of grading), sound
barriers, posts, or barricades and other structures as required by
the utility to protect distribution equipment.
means an area such as a scenic highway, a state or national
park or other area determined by a governmental agency to be of unusual
scenic interest to the general public. Scenic high-ways are officially
designated under the California Scenic Highway Program established
pursuant to Public Utilities Code § 320. State or national
parks or other areas of unusual scenic interest to the general public
are determined by the appropriate governmental agency.
means electric service to establishments which are occupied
seasonally or intermit-tently, such as seasonal resorts, cottages,
or other part-time establishments.
means the surface and subsurface structures which are necessary
to contain or support the utility's electric facilities. This includes,
but is not limited to, such things as splice boxes, pull boxes, equipment
vaults and enclosures, foundations or pads for surface-mounted equipment.
See Excavation.
means that overhead distribution facilities could be seen
by motorists or pedestrians traveling along scenic highways or visiting
parks or scenic areas.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.160; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
B.
General.
1.
Design. The utility will be responsible for planning, designing and engineering service extensions using the utility's standards for design, materials and construction. Applicant may elect to design that portion of the new service extension normally designed by the utility in accordance with the applicant design provisions of section 3.46.160.
2.
Service
facilities. The utility's service facilities shall consist of:
3.
Ownership
of facilities. Service facilities installed under the provisions of
this rule shall be owned, operated, and maintained by the utility
if they are:
a.
Located in the street, road or a public right-of-way area;
b.
Installed by the utility under subsection (D)(2) of this section on the applicant's premises for the purpose of the delivery of electric energy to applicant; or
c.
Installed by applicant under the provisions of this rule, and conveyed
to the utility.
4.
Private
lines. The utility shall not be required to connect service facilities
to or serve any applicant from electric facilities that are not owned,
operated, and maintained by the utility.
5.
Special or added facilities. Any special or added facilities the utility installs at the request of applicant will be installed at the applicant's expense in accordance with section 3.46.030.
6.
Temporary service facilities. Service facilities installed for temporary service or for operations of speculative character or questionable permanency shall be made in accordance with the fundamental installation and ownership provisions of this rule, except that all charges and refunds shall be made under the provisions of section 3.46.140.
7.
Street
lights. Street light services and appurtenant facilities shall be
installed in accordance with the service provisions of the applicable
street light schedule.
8.
Contracts.
Each applicant requesting service may be required to execute a written
contract prior to the utility performing its work to establish service.
Such contract shall be in the form provided by the utility or otherwise
acceptable and approved by the utility. This contract shall specify
the size of the service connection desired, the property to be served
and the purpose for which the electricity is to be used. The information
supplied by the applicant shall be considered as authoritative and
final. If any error in the application causes the installation of
a service connection that is improper either in type, size or location,
the cost of all changes required shall be paid by the applicant.
9.
Distribution line extension. Whenever the utility's distribution system is not complete to the point designated by the utility where the service extension is to be connected to the utility's distribution system, the extension of distribution line facilities will be installed in accordance with section 3.46.160.
10.
Rights-of-way. Rights-of-way or easements may be required by the
service facilities on applicant's property to serve only the applicant.
a.
Service facilities. If the service facilities must cross property
owned by a third party to serve the applicant, the utility may, at
its option, install such service facilities after appropriate rights-of-way
or easements, satisfactory to the utility, are obtained without cost
to the utility.
b.
Distribution line extensions. If the utility's facilities installed on the applicant's property, or third-party property, will be or are designed to serve adjacent property, then the utility may, at its option, install its facilities under section 3.46.160, after appropriate rights-of-way or easements, satisfactory to the utility, are obtained without cost to the utility.
c.
Clearances. Any necessary rights-of-way or easements for the utility's
facilities shall have provisions to maintain legal clearances from
adjacent structures.
d.
Reasonable care to prevent damage. The customer shall exercise reasonable
care to prevent the facilities of the utility upon the premises from
being damaged or destroyed, and shall not relocate or otherwise interfere
with them, and, if any defect is discovered, shall promptly notify
the utility.
11.
Access to applicant's premises. The utility shall, at all times,
have the right to enter and leave the applicant's premises for any
purpose connected with the furnishing of electric service (meter reading,
inspection, testing, routine repairs, replacement, maintenance, emergency
work, etc.) and the exercise of any and all rights secured to it by
law, under the utility's tariff schedules. These rights include, but
are not limited to:
a.
The use of a utility-approved locking device, if the applicant desires
to prevent unauthorized access to the utility's facilities;
b.
Safe and ready access for utility personnel free from unrestrained
animals;
c.
Unobstructed ready access for the utility's vehicles and equipment
to install, remove, repair, or maintain its facilities;
d.
Removal of any and all of its property installed on the applicant's
premises after the termination of service.
12.
Service connections. Only personnel duly authorized by the utility
are allowed to connect or disconnect service conductors to or from
the utility's distribution lines, remove meters, unless otherwise
allowed pursuant to utility tariff schedules, remove utility-owned
service facilities, or perform any work upon utility-owned existing
facilities.
13.
Application made in advance; utility not liable for delays. Due to
the long lead time for engineering, material acquisition, crew scheduling
and construction, application for service must be made as far in advance
as possible. After receipt of fees, service charges and deposits and
clearance from the inspection agency having jurisdiction, the utility
shall endeavor to complete within a reasonable time the installation
of the necessary facilities. However, the utility shall not be liable
for any delays encountered in completing the installation.
14.
Customer shall pay utility overtime when necessary. If, for any reason
of the applicant, installation of a service cannot be accomplished
during standard working hours, the applicant shall pay in advance
the estimated cost of the utility overtime, to the extent that it
exceeds any costs included in other charges.
15.
Obligation of utility. The utility shall be obligated to provide
facilities adequate to serve only the load initially specified and
connected, regardless of the rating of the service equipment, service
switch or breaker. Increased loads will be considered as new installations,
and the customer shall pay the net cost of any changes required in
the utility facilities and may be required to make specified changes
in the service facilities or equipment to accommodate the increase
load or the type of service to be supplied by the utility.
C.
Metering
facilities.
1.
General.
a.
Meter all usage. Delivery of all electric power and energy will be
metered, unless otherwise provided for by the utility's tariff schedules
or by other applicable laws.
b.
Meter location. All meters and associated metering equipment shall
be located at some protected location on applicant's premises as approved
by the utility.
2.
Number
of meters. Normally only one meter will be installed for a single
residential or nonresidential enterprise on a single premises, except:
a.
When otherwise required or allowed under the utility's tariff schedules;
b.
At the option of and as determined by the utility, for its operating
convenience, consistent with its engineering design;
c.
When required by law or local ordinance; or
d.
When additional services are granted by the utility.
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A single meter is required for each single enterprise operating
in one building or group of buildings or other development on a single
premises such as, but not limited to, a commercial business, school
campus, industrial manufacturer, or recreational vehicle park, unless
otherwise approved by the utility.
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3.
Multiple
occupancy. In a building with two or more tenants, or where more than
one meter is furnished on the same premises, the meters normally shall
be grouped at one central location, or as otherwise specified by the
utility, and each meter position or socket shall be clearly and permanently
marked by applicant, customer, or owner of the premises to indicate
the particular unit, occupancy, or load supplied by it.
a.
Residential or nonresidential. For revenue billing, electric service shall be individually metered to each tenant in a residential or nonresidential building or group of buildings or other development on a single premises with multiple tenants or enterprises (such as, but not limited to, an office building or shopping center complex). Alternative metering arrangements as determined by the utility may be allowed only as specified in section 3.46.190 and applicable rate schedules.
D.
Service
extensions.
1.
General
location. The location of the service extension shall extend:
a.
Public right-of-way area. From the point of connection at the distribution
line to the applicant's nearest property line abutting upon any street,
highway, road, or right-of-way, along which it already has, or will
install, distribution facilities; and
b.
Private party. On private property, along the shortest, most practical
and available route (clear of obstructions) as necessary to reach
a service delivery point designated by the utility.
2.
Number
of service extensions. The utility will not normally provide more
than one service exten-sion, including associated facilities, either
overhead or underground, for any one building or group of buildings,
for a single enterprise on a single premises, except:
a.
Tariff schedules. Where otherwise allowed or required under the utility's
tariff schedules;
b.
Utility convenience. At the option of and as determined by the utility,
for its operating convenience, consistent with its engineering design
for different voltage and phase classification, or when replacing
an existing service;
c.
Ordinance. Where required by city ordinance or other applicable law,
for such things as fire pumps, fire alarm systems, etc.; or
d.
Other. The utility may charge for additional services provided under
this subsection, as special or added facilities.
3.
Underground
installations.
a.
Underground service mandatory. Installation of electric service facilities
for all new services shall be underground and installed according
to applicable tariff schedules, laws, city ordinances, underground
structure standards, and utility plans and specifications supplied
for each specific installation.
b.
When requirement waived. The requirement of this section may be waived
if technical or physical conditions make underground installation
infeasible in the utility's judgment.
4.
Overhead
installations.
a.
Overhead service extensions will be allowed only when underground service is not feasible in the utility's judgment as specified in subsection (D)(3)(b) of this section. But, the customer may be required to provide utility-approved facilities to accommodate future conversion to underground service.
b.
The applicant shall provide a suitable location for the termination
of the overhead service wires. The location of the termination is
subject to approval of the utility and any inspection authority having
jurisdiction and must meet all applicable codes.
c.
Overhead service wires shall, in all cases, be furnished and installed
by the utility. The applicant shall install the service entrance conductors
from the point of termination of the utility's service wires to the
applicant's meter or switchgear lugs.
5.
Unusual
site conditions. In cases where the applicant's building is located
a considerable distance from the available distribution line or where
there is an obstruction or other deterrent obstacle or hazard such
as plowed land, ditches, or inaccessible security areas between the
utility's distribution line and the applicant's building or facility
to be served that would prevent the utility from prudently installing,
owning, and maintaining its service facilities, the utility may, at
its discretion, waive the normal service delivery point location.
In such cases, the service delivery point will be at such other location
on applicant's property as may be mutually agreed upon; or, alternatively,
the service delivery point may be located at or near the applicant's
property line as close as practical to the available distribution
line.
E.
Responsibilities
for new service extensions.
1.
Applicant
responsibility. In accordance with the utility's design, specifications,
and requirements for the installation of service extensions, subject
to the utility's inspection and approval, the applicant is responsible
for:
a.
Service extensions.
(1)
Clear route. Providing, or paying for, a route on any private property
that is clear of obstructions which would inhibit the construction
of either underground or overhead service extensions.
(2)
Excavation. All necessary trenching, backfilling, and other digging
as required, including permit fees.
(3)
Conduits and substructures.
(a)
Furnishing, installing, owning, and maintaining all conduits,
including pull ropes, and substructures on the applicant's premises.
(b)
Installing, or paying for, any conduits and substructures in
the utility's franchise area (or rights-of-way, if applicable) as
necessary to install the service extension.
(c)
Conveying ownership to the utility upon its acceptance of those
conduits and substructures not on the applicant's premises.
(4)
Protective structures. Furnishing, installing, owning, and maintaining
all necessary protective structures as specified by the utility for
utility's facilities on the applicant's premises.
b.
Applicant's facility design and operation. The applicant shall be solely responsible to plan, design, install, own, maintain, and operate facilities and equipment beyond the service delivery point, except for utility-owned metering facilities, in order to properly receive and utilize the type of electric service available from the utility. Refer to section 3.46.030 for a description, among other things, of:
(1)
Available service delivery voltages and the technical requirements
and conditions to qualify for them;
(2)
Customer utilization voltages;
(3)
Load balancing requirements;
(4)
Requirements for installing electrical protective devices;
(5)
Loads that may cause service interference to others; and
(6)
Motor starting limitations.
c.
Required service equipment. The applicant shall, at his or her sole
liability, risk, and expense, be responsible to furnish, install,
own, maintain, inspect, and keep in good and safe condition, all facilities
of any kind or character on the applicant's premises that are not
the responsibility of the utility but are required by the utility
for the applicant to receive service. Such facilities shall include,
but are not limited to, the overhead or underground termination equipment,
conduits, service entrance conductors from the service delivery point
to the location of the utility's metering facilities, connectors,
meter sockets, meter and instrument transformer housing, service switches,
circuit breakers, fuses, relays, wire ways, metered conductors, machinery
and apparatus of any kind or character. Detailed information on the
utility's service equipment requirements will be furnished by the
utility.
d.
Coordination of electrical protective devices. When, as determined by the utility, the applicant's load is of sufficient size as to require coordination of response time characteristics between the applicant's electrical protective devices (circuit breakers, fuses, relays, etc.) and those of the utility, it shall be the applicant's responsibility to provide such coordination in accordance with section 3.46.020.
e.
Liability. The utility shall incur no liability whatsoever, for any
damage, loss or injury occasioned by:
(1)
Applicant-owned equipment or the applicant's transmission and delivery
of energy; or
(2)
The negligence, omission of proper protective devices, want of proper
care, or wrongful act of the applicant, or any agents, employees,
or licensees of the applicant, on the part of the applicant in installing,
maintaining, using, operating, or interfering with any such conductors,
lines, machinery, or apparatus.
f.
Facility tampering. The applicant shall provide a suitable means acceptable to the utility for placing its seals on meter rings and covers of service enclosures and instrument transformer enclosures which protect unmetered energized conductors installed by the applicant. All utility-owned meters and enclosure covers will be sealed only by the utility's authorized employees and such seals shall be broken only by the utility's authorized employees. However, in an emergency, the utility may allow a public authority or other appropriate party to break the seal. Any unauthorized tampering with utility-owned seals or connection of applicant-owned facilities to unmetered conductors at any time is prohibited and is subject to the provisions of section 3.46.120 for unauthorized use.
g.
Transformer installations on applicant's premises. Transformer installations
on the applicant's premises shall be as specified by the utility and
in accordance with the following applicable provisions:
(1)
Space for transformers. The applicant shall provide space on the
applicant's premises at a location approved by the utility for a standard
transformer installation, including any necessary switches, capacitors,
and electric protective equipment where required, if:
(a)
In an overhead area, the utility determines that the load to
be served is such that a separate transformer installation; or
(b)
If the utility determines that the installation of a pad-mounted
or subsurface transformer of any size is required on the applicant's
premises to serve only the applicant.
(2)
Pad-mounted equipment. In the utility's standard installation, the
applicant shall furnish, install, own, and maintain, at his or her
expense, substructures and any required protective structures as specified
by the utility for the proper installation of the transformer, switches,
capacitors, etc., as determined by the utility.
(3)
Transformer room or vault. Where applicant requests and the utility
approves the installation of the transformer in a vault or room on
the applicant's premises, rather than the utility's standard pad-mounted
installation:
(a)
The room or vault on the applicant's premises shall be furnished,
installed, owned, and maintained by the applicant and shall meet the
utility's specifications for such things as access, ventilation, drainage,
grounding system, etc.
(b)
If space cannot be provided on the applicant's premises for the installation of a transformer on either a pad or in a room or vault, a vault will be installed at the applicant's expense in the street near the property line. It shall be the applicant's responsibility to install, or pay for, such vault if not restricted by governmental authority having jurisdiction, and the applicant shall convey ownership of the vault to the utility upon its acceptance. The additional facilities shall be treated as special or added facilities under the provisions of section 3.46.030.
(c)
If the utility's installed cost for the transformer in the room
or vault is more costly than the standard pad-mounted transformer
installation, the additional costs shall be paid by the applicant
as special or added facilities.
(4)
(Reserved)
(5)
Transformer lifting requirements. Where the utility has installed
or agrees to install, transformers at locations where the utility
cannot use its standard transformer lifting equipment and special
lifting facilities are required to install or remove the transformers
on the applicant's premises, the applicant shall, at his or her expense:
(a)
Furnish, install, own, and maintain permanent lifting facilities
and be responsible for lifting the transformer to and from its permanent
position; or
(b)
Provide, or pay for, portable lifting facilities acceptable
to the utility for installing or removing the transformers.
Rights-of-way and space provisions shall be provided by the
applicant such that access and required clearances from adjacent structures
can be maintained. The utility may require a separate contract for
transformer lifting requirements.
(6)
Overhead transformers. In remote areas or in areas not zoned for
residential or commercial use or for underground services, pad-mounted
transformers are preferred for installation on the applicant's premises;
however, where the utility determines that it is not practical to
install a transformer on a pad, in a room or vault, the utility may
furnish a pole-type structure for an installation not exceeding 500
kVA.
h.
Building code requirements. Any service equipment and other related
equipment owned by the applicant, as well as any vault, room, enclosure,
or lifting facilities for the installation of transformers shall conform
to applicable laws, codes, and ordinances of all governmental authorities
having jurisdiction.
i.
Reasonable care. The applicant shall exercise reasonable care to
prevent the utility's service extension, other utility facilities,
and meters owned by the utility or others on the applicant's premises
from being damaged or destroyed, and shall refrain from interfering
with the utility's operation of the facilities and shall notify the
utility of any obvious defect. The applicant may be required to provide
and install suitable mechanical protection (barrier posts, etc.) as
required by the utility.
2.
Utility
responsibility.
a.
Service, meter and transformers. The utility will furnish, install,
own, and maintain the following service facilities as applicable after
the applicant meets all requirements to receive service:
(1)
Underground service. A set of service conductors to supply permanent
service from the distribution line source to the service delivery
point approved by the utility.
(2)
Riser materials. Any necessary pole riser material for connecting
underground services to an overhead distribution line.
(3)
Overhead service. A set of overhead service conductors and support
poles to supply permanent service from a distribution line source
to a suitable support at the service delivery point approved by the
utility. Such support shall be of a type and located such that service
wires may be installed in accordance with good engineering practice
and in compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and
regulations, including those governing clearances and points of attachment.
(4)
Metering. When the meter is owned by the utility, the utility will
be responsible for the necessary instrument transformers, where required,
test facilities, meters, associated metering equipment, and the metering
enclosures when the utility elects to locate metering equipment at
a point that is not accessible to the applicant.
(5)
Transformer. The transformer where required, including any necessary
switches, capacitors, electrical protective equipment, etc. When either
a pad-mounted or overhead transformer is installed on the applicant's
premises, the service extension shall include the primary conductors
from the connection point at the distribution supply line to the transformer
and the secondary conductors, if any, from the transformer to the
service delivery point.
b.
Special conduit installations. The utility shall own and maintain
service conduits only if:
c.
Cable-in-conduit. In those cases where the utility elects to install
its service conductors using pre-assembled cable-in-conduit (CIC),
the conduit portion will be considered a part of the conductor installation
provided by the utility.
d.
Government inspection. The utility will establish electric service
to the applicant following notice from the governmental authority
having jurisdiction that the applicant-owned facilities have been
installed and inspected in accordance with any applicable laws, codes,
ordinances, rules, or regulations, and are safe to energize.
3.
Installations
options.
a.
Utility-performed work. Where requested by applicant and mutually agreed upon, the utility may perform that portion of the new service extension work normally the responsibility of applicant according to subsection (E)(1) of this section provided applicant pays the utility its estimated installed cost.
F.
Payments
by applicant.
1.
Applicant
is responsible to pay the utility in advance of the utility commencing
its work:
a.
Pole riser. The utility's estimated installed costs of any riser
materials on its poles.
b.
Utility's total estimated cost. The utility's total estimated installed
cost, including appurtenant facilities, such as connectors, service
conductors, service transformers, metering equipment, and the conduit
portion of CIC cable.
c.
Other. The utility's total estimated installed cost for any work
it performs that is the applicant's responsibility or performs for
the convenience of the applicant.
G.
Existing
service facilities.
1.
Service
reinforcement.
a.
Utility-owned. When the utility determines that its existing service
facilities require replacement, the existing service facilities shall
be replaced as a new service extension under the provisions of this
section.
b.
Applicant-owned. When the utility determines that existing applicant-owned
service facilities, installed under a prior rule, require replacement,
such replacement shall be accomplished under the provisions for a
new service extension, except that if the utility determines that
any portion of the applicant's existing service conductors can be
utilized by the utility, the applicant will convey any such usable
part to the utility and an appropriate credit by the utility may be
allowed to the applicant.
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The applicant will replace or reinforce that portion of the
service extension which applicant will continue to own under the provisions
of this rule for new services.
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2.
Service
relocation or rearrangement.
a.
Utility convenience. When, in the judgment of the utility, the relocation or rearrangement of a service, including utility-owned transformers, is necessary for the maintenance of adequate service or for the operating convenience of the utility, the utility normally will perform such work at its own expense, except as provided in subsection (G)(2)(b) and (F)(5) of this section.
b.
Applicant convenience. Any relocation or rearrangement of the utility's existing service facilities at the request of the applicant (aesthetics, building additions, remodeling, etc.) and agreed upon by the utility shall be performed in accordance with subsection E of this section, except that the applicant shall pay the utility its total estimated costs.
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In all instances, the utility shall abandon or remove its existing
facilities, at the option of the utility, rendered idle by the relocation
or rearrangement.
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3.
Impaired
access and clearances. Whenever the utility determines that:
a.
Access. Its existing service facilities have become inaccessible
for inspecting, operating, maintenance, meter reading, or testing;
or
b.
Clearances. A hazardous condition exists or any of the required clearances
between the existing service facilities and any object becomes impaired
under any applicable laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of the
utility or other public authorities, then the following applies;
c.
Corrective action. The applicant or owner shall, at the applicant's
or owner's expense, either correct the access or clearance infractions
or pay the utility its total estimated cost to relocate its facilities
to a new location which is acceptable to the utility. The applicant
or owner shall also be responsible for the expense to relocate any
equipment which applicant owns and maintains. Failure to comply with
corrective measures within a reasonable time may result in discontinuance
of service.
4.
Overhead
to underground service conversions.
a.
When new services installed. Where an existing overhead distribution
line is replaced by an underground distribution system, new underground
services will be installed under this section.
b.
Applicant convenience. Where overhead services are replaced by underground
services for the applicant's convenience, the applicant shall perform
all excavation, furnish and install all substructures, and pay the
utility its total estimated installed cost to complete the new service
and remove the overhead facilities.
5.
Damaged
facilities. When the utility's facilities are damaged by others, the
repair will be made by the utility at the expense of the party responsible
for the damage. Applicants are responsible for repairing their own
facilities.
6.
Subdivision of premises. When the utility's service facilities are located on private property and such private property is subsequently subdivided into separate premises with ownership divested to other than the applicant or customer, the subdivider is required to provide the utility with adequate rights-of-way satisfactory to the utility for its existing facilities and to notify property owners of the subdivided premises of the existence of the rights-of-way. When adequate rights-of-way are not granted as a result of the property subdivision, the utility shall have the right, upon written notice to the applicant, to discontinue service without obligation or liability. The existing owner, applicant, or customer shall pay to the utility the total estimated cost of any required relocation or removal of the utility's facilities. A new electric service will be re-established in accordance with the provisions of subsection E of this section for new service and the provisions of any other applicable utility rules.
H.
Exceptional
cases. When the application of this rule appears impractical or unjust
to either party, or ratepayers, the utility or applicant may refer
the matter to the utilities administrative resources manager for a
special ruling or for approval of special conditions which may be
mutually agreed upon.
I.
Service
design and engineering. Service designs, plans and estimates to determine
service charges or deposits, will not be initiated by the utility
until it has reasonable assurance that the applicant's project will
be built. This assurance is normally taken as the issuance of a building
permit. Should the applicant desire these service plans and the amount
of charges at an earlier time, the applicant may pay a deposit for
early design as determined by the utility. The design work will then
be scheduled along with all other eligible applicants. A deposit for
early design will be credited to the cost of the design and installation
of the service or refunded as appropriate. The cost of multiple designs
to explore options or redesigns required by changes beyond the control
of the utility shall be paid by the applicant.
J.
"Applicant"
"Conduit"
"Distribution lines"
"Excavation"
"Insignificant loads"
"Intermittent loads"
"Premises"
"Protective structures"
"Seasonal service"
"Service delivery point"
"Service extension"
"Substructures"
Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
means a person or agency requesting the utility to supply
electric service.
means ducts, pipes, or tubes of certain metals, plastics
or other materials acceptable to the utility, including pull wires
and concrete encasement where required, for the installation and protection
of electric wires and cables.
means all necessary trenching, backfilling, and other digging
as required to install service extensions, including furnishing of
any imported backfill material, concrete encasement to protect conduit,
and disposal of spoil as required, surface repair and replacement,
landscape repair and replacement.
means small operating loads such as gate openers, valve controls,
clocks, timing devices, fire protection equipment, alarm devices,
etc.
means loads which, in the opinion of the utility, are subject
to discontinuance for a time or at intervals.
means all of the real property and apparatus employed in
a single enterprise on an integral parcel of land undivided, excepting
in the case of industrial, agricultural, oil field, resort enterprises
and public or quasi-public institutions, by a dedicated street, highway
or public thoroughfare or a railway. Automobile parking lots constituting
a part of and adjacent to a single enterprise may be separated by
an alley from the remainder of the premises served.
means fences, retaining walls (in lieu of grading), sound
barriers, posts, barricades and other structures as required by the
utility.
means electric service to establishments which are occupied
seasonally or intermit-tently, such as seasonal resorts, cottages,
or other part-time establishments.
means where the utility's service facilities are connected
to either the applicant's conductors or other service termination
facility designated and approved by the utility.
means the overhead and underground primary or secondary facilities,
including, but not limited to, utility-owned service facilities and
applicant-owned service facilities, extending from the point of connection
at the distribution line to the service delivery point. When an underground
service extension is supplied from a utility-designated overhead pole,
the beginning point of connection to the utility's distribution line
shall be where the service extension is connected to the utility's
overhead distribution line conductors.
mean the surface and subsurface structures which are necessary
to contain or support the utility's electric facilities. The term
"substructures" includes, but is not limited to, splice boxes, pull
boxes, equipment vaults and enclosures, foundations or pads for surface-mounted
equipment.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.170; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
General;
estimated usage. When regular, accurate meter readings are not available
or the electric usage has not been accurately measured, the utility
may estimate the customer's energy usage for billing purposes on the
basis of information, including, but not limited to, the physical
condition of the metering equipment, available meter readings, records
of historical use, and the general characteristics of the customer's
load and operation.
B.
Meter
tests.
1.
Prior
to installation. Every meter will be tested at or prior to the time
of installation, and no meter will be placed in service if found to
register more than one percent fast or one percent slow.
2.
On
customer request. A customer may, on notice of not less than one week,
require the utility to test the meter for the customer's service.
No charge will be made for such test, but should a customer demand
a test within four months after installation or more often than once
in 12 months, a deposit will be required to cover the cost of the
test. This deposit will be returned if the meter is found to register
more than two percent fast or two percent slow. The amount of the
deposit will be dependent on the type of meter to be tested. A customer
shall have the right to require the utility to conduct the test in
the customer's presence or in the presence of an expert or other representative
appointed by the customer. The results of the test will be furnished
to the customer within a reasonable time after completion of the test.
C.
Adjustment
of bills for meter error. A meter error is incorrect kilowatt-hour,
kilovar-hour, or demand registration resulting from a malfunctioning
or defective meter. It does not include billing error, unauthorized
use, or an error in registration caused by meter tampering by an unauthorized
person. It also does not include conditions such as grounds, shorts,
incorrect meter readings, meter dial-overs, improper load wiring,
including other customers' circuits connected to the wiring, accounting
errors, switched meters, improper customer wiring, blown fuse in one
energized conductor, or incorrect meter sizing. Where, as the result
of a meter test, a meter is found to be non-registering or incorrectly
registering, the utility may render an adjusted bill to the customer
for the amount of the undercharge, and shall issue a refund or credit
to the customer for the amount of the overcharge, computed back to
the date that the utility determines the meter error commenced, except
that the period of adjustment shall not exceed three years. Such adjusted
bill shall be computed in accordance with the following:
1.
Fast
meters. When any meter is tested and found to be registering more
than two percent fast, the utility will refund to the customer the
amount of the overcharge, based on corrected meter readings or utility's
estimate of the energy usage either for the known period of meter
error or, if the period of error is not known, for the period during
which the meter was in use, not to exceed three years.
2.
Slow
meters. If a meter is found to be registering more than two percent
slow, the utility may bill the customer for the amount of the undercharge
based on corrected meter readings or the utility estimate of the energy
usage either for the known period of meter error or, if the period
of meter error is not known, for the period the meter was in use,
not exceeding three years for all services.
3.
Non-registering
meters. When any meter is tested and found to be non-registering,
the utility may bill the customer for the estimate of electricity
consumed but not registered, not exceeding three years for all services.
Bills for this purpose will be estimated by the utility.
D.
Adjustment
of bills for billing error. A billing error is an error by the utility
that results in incorrect billing charges to the customer. Billing
errors may include incorrect meter reads or clerical errors by a utility
representative such as applying the wrong rate, wrong billing factor,
or an incorrect calculation. Billing error does not include a meter
error or unauthorized use, nor any error in billing resulting from
meter dial over caused by other than the utility; switched or mismarked
meters by other than the utility; improper customer wiring; blown
fuse in one energized conductor; inaccessible meter; failure of the
customer to notify utility of changes in the customer's equipment
or operation; or failure of the customer to take advantage of a rate
or condition of service for which the customer is eligible. Where
the utility overcharges or undercharges a customer as the result of
a billing error, the utility may render an adjusted bill for the amount
of the undercharge, and shall issue a refund or credit to the customer
for the amount of the overcharge for the period of the billing error,
but not exceeding three years in the case of an overcharge, and, in
the case of an undercharge, not exceeding three years for all services.
E.
Adjustment
of bills for unauthorized use. Unauthorized use is the use of energy
in noncompliance with the utility's tariffs or applicable law. It
includes, but is not limited to, meter tampering, unauthorized connection
or reconnection, theft, fraud, intentional or unintentional use of
energy whereby the utility is denied full compensation for electric
service provided. Where the utility determines that there has been
unauthorized use of electric service, utility may bill the customer
for utility's estimate of such unauthorized use. However, such estimated
bill shall indicate unauthorized use for the most recent three years
and, separately, unauthorized use beyond the three-year period for
collection as provided by law. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted
as limiting the utility's rights under any provision of any applicable
law.
1.
Actual
usage. If accurate meter readings from a remote check meter are available
for the unauthorized use period, they will be used for billing purposes.
2.
Estimated
usage. If the electric usage has not been accurately measured, the
utility may estimate the energy usage for billing purposes. The basis
for the estimate may include, without limitation, the physical condition
of the metering equipment, available meter readings, records of historical
use, or the general characteristics of the load and operation of the
customer or person being billed, with consideration of any appropriate
seasonal adjustment. Estimated bills for the unauthorized use period
may be determined by the utility based on one or more of the following,
without limitation:
a.
Accurately-metered use from a remote check meter during the unauthorized
use period;
b.
The known percent error in metering attributable to the unauthorized
use;
c.
Accurately metered use prior to the onset of the unauthorized use;
d.
The equipment and hours of operation of the customer or person being
billed;
e.
Accurately measured subsequent use of 30 days or more (if available);
f.
Annual use profile of at least five customers with similar connected
load, premises load profiles, hours or energy use, etc. (percent of
annual use); or
g.
Other reasonable and supportable billing methodology when none of
the aforementioned billing techniques are appropriate under the circumstances.
3.
Recovery
of associated costs. Utility may recover from the customer the associated
costs resulting from the unauthorized use, including both investigative
and equipment damage costs. Investigative costs include time and material
spent for investigation, bookkeeping, film and film development, and
other costs of gathering evidence. Equipment damage costs include
the cost of replacing the utility-owned equipment damaged by the customer.
4.
Discontinuance of service. In accordance with the provisions of section 3.46.120, where the utility determines unauthorized use is occurring, the utility may refuse or discontinue service without further notice. If any part of the customer's wiring or any other equipment, or the use thereof, is determined by the utility or any other authorized public agency to be unsafe or in violation of applicable laws, ordinances, rules or regulations of public authorities, or is in such condition as to endanger utility service facilities, the utility may discontinue service without further notice. The utility may also discontinue service in accordance with the provisions of its tariffs, for nonpayment of a delinquent billing for unauthorized use and for associated costs, including nonpayment under an amortization agreement.
F.
Limitation
on adjustment of bills for energy use. For any error in billing not
defined as billing error, meter error, or unauthorized use, the utility
is not required to adjust the bill. However, any billing adjustment
not specifically covered in the tariffs for an undercharge or overcharge
shall not exceed three years.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.180; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Separate
metering. A separate meter is required for service to each premises,
nor will the electric loads of such separately metered premises be
aggregated physically, electronically or otherwise, except as may
be specifically provided for in the rate schedule.
B.
Residential or nonresidential loads. In accordance with section 3.46.170, electric service shall be individually metered to each tenant in a residential or nonresidential building or group of buildings or other development on a single premises with multiple tenants or enterprises. However, where, in the opinion of the utility, it is impractical to meter each tenant individually or where the city council has authorized the utility to supply electric service through a single meter, the utility may provide service through a single meter subject to the provisions of subsections E and F of this section.
C.
Other
uses or premises. A customer shall not use electricity received from
the utility upon other premises, except for utility's operating convenience,
nor for other purposes than those specified in the customer's application
or in the rate schedule applied.
D.
Customer with multiple service accounts; meters at a single premises. When a customer (single enterprise) occupies a single premises with multiple service accounts/meters, the readings of such meters shall not be combined for billing purposes, except as provided for in section 3.46.100. However, if the customer physically aggregates the electric loads of such multiple service accounts/meters into a single service account (master-meter), the account will be provided service under an applicable rate schedule.
E.
Use
by others. A customer shall not charge for electricity received from
the utility and used by any other person, except:
F.
Resale of electricity. Resale of electricity or submetering of electricity for the purpose of resale is prohibited, except as provided for under subsection D of this section. Such service shall only be supplied at rates not in excess of those prescribed in the utility's rate schedule for like service and pursuant to a sub-metering agreement between customer and the utility.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.190; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
The
utility shall at times have the right of safe ingress to, and egress
from, the customer's premises at all reasonable hours for any purpose
reasonably connected with the furnishing of electric energy and the
exercise of any and all rights secured to it by law, or these electric
rules.
B.
The
customer is responsible for providing and maintaining unobstructed
access for the utility to all utility-owned facilities located on
the premises.
C.
Failure
to permit access and allow work on the utility's facilities is grounds
for termination of service. This work includes periodic reading of
meters, maintenance or replacement of primary, secondary, service
and metering facilities, tree trimming, and other necessary work on
the utility's electrical facilities, including removal after termination
of service.
D.
If safe
access to the meter is not provided for any reason, including, without
limitation, locked doors, fences, insufficiently restrained pets or
vegetation, the utility will notify the customer of access problems
via door hanger at the monthly scheduled read date.
E.
If the
utility is required to make an appointment or other arrangement to
read the meter more than once during any 12-month period, a charge
will be made for each appointment thereafter. Repeated failure to
provide access may result in installation of remote metering devices
at the utility's option. A service charge may be assessed for remote
metering devices as noted in the schedule of electric fees and charges
adopted by resolution by the city council.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.200; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
Temporary
turn-on or turn-off for repair. Temporary turn-on or turn-off of electric
service for the purpose of allowing the customer to make repairs or
changes to wiring will normally be done by the utility during normal
working hours.
B.
Normal
working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There
will be no charge for up to an hour of time. A charge will be made
for each additional hour or fraction thereof. If this service is required
outside normal working hours, the minimum charge will be as noted
in the schedule of electric fees and charges adopted by resolution
by the city council.
C.
The
above charge will also apply if the customer calls for emergency restoration
of service during other than normal working hours, and it is determined
that the problem is on the customer's side of the meter and is therefore
the customer's responsibility.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.210; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004; Ord. No. 870 (Recodification), 2014)
A.
General.
Energy diversion is presumed to be caused by the customer receiving
the benefit of service from the diversion.
B.
Utility's
right to discontinue service. Whenever the utility has determined
that energy diversion is occurring or a hazardous condition exists
at a given location, the utility shall investigate and may disconnect
the service immediately.
C.
Restoration of service. In order to restore service discontinued under the provision of subsection B of this section, the customer shall be required to pay, in advance, all of the following:
D.
Appeal by customer. Any portion of the charges set forth in this rule that is disputed by the customer may be appealed pursuant to the provisions of section 3.46.110.
E.
Theft
of service. The customer benefiting from diversion shall be assessed
a fee to make the utility whole for labor and materials involved in
investigating and making any required corrections.
(Code 1980, § 3.46.220; Ord. No. 736 § 2, 2004)
