Each request for extension of new service will require a written application for service in which the applicant agrees to pay any required contribution in aid of construction. The Utility may require that the contribution in aid of construction be paid in advance of construction or may, at the Utility's option, offer customers an installment payment plan.
The contractor or person responsible for the installation of the customer's electric wiring, appliances and other equipment related to each type of service shall deliver a notarized affidavit on a form supplied by the Utility attesting to the fact that the work complies with the Wisconsin State Electrical Code and the service rules of the Utility. Affidavits must clearly indicate the nature of the work done (such as residential wiring, residential fixtures, garage wiring, range, heaters, motors or other wiring or equipment) and, for those cases involving wiring changes or additions which require the meter(s) to be replaced or relocated or which require inspection by the Utility, the affidavit shall include an itemized copy of the connected load, including lights, motors and appliances. Where such changes require new service entrances at a new location, the existing service entrance should not be disconnected before the new service entrance is ready for connection and operation.
A. 
If, upon inspection by the Utility, installations are found to contain discrepancies, such discrepancies shall be corrected before permanent connection of service will be completed or, at its option, the Utility may mail the customer a written request demanding conformity within a ten-day period or any prior service connection made by the Utility will be disconnected and terminated.
B. 
The Utility normally connects the service entrance wires to the service wires. No one else shall make these connections without specific approval from the Utility, in which case the customer shall assume responsibility for any damage which may result from making these connections. The Utility will not be responsible for damage or injury resulting from unauthorized disconnection or reconnection of service wires.
The title to every extension at all times is with the Utility. The Utility reserves the right at all times to add additional customers to an extension and make new extensions to an existing extension, under the provisions of these rules, without procuring the consent of any customer or customers contributing to the original construction costs and without incurring any liability for refunding contributions except as additional customers may be added as provided for herein. (See Chapter PSC 113, Wis. Adm. Code, Refunds.)
A. 
Overhead facilities. The applicant(s) for service shall furnish a right-of-way with clearing rights, without cost to the Utility, adequate for the line extensions necessary to serve the applicant(s) and along a route approved by the Utility. Clearing shall either:
(1) 
Be done by the applicant(s); or
(2) 
Be done by the Utility, in which case the applicant shall, in advance of the clearing work, make a contribution to the Utility in an amount equal to the Utility's estimate of the cost thereof. Such contribution shall be nonrefundable, except that after completion of the extensions the Utility will determine the actual cost of clearing work, recompute the contribution required and will refund the excess, if any, of the contribution held over the contribution required as based on such actual cost.
B. 
Underground facilities.
(1) 
The applicant(s) shall secure for the Utility, without cost to the Utility, such easements as the Utility may require for the installation, maintenance or replacement of the underground lateral and necessary distribution line extension.
(2) 
The applicant shall inform the Utility of any known or expected underground obstructions within the cable routes on his property (septic tanks, drainage tile, etc.). Any earthfill added to bring the cable route to final grade prior to the underground construction shall not contain large rocks, boulders, debris or rubbish.
(3) 
In the event of future changes in grade levels by the customer that would materially change the depth of cover over underground conductors or affect transformer locations, the landowner shall notify the Utility in advance of grading and shall pay the Utility its cost of moving or replacing its equipment to accommodate the change in grade. Such charge will also be made for changes in buildings, structures, foundations or walls or other obstructions.
The Utility shall provide safe, reliable service with extensions that conform, to the extent possible, with each of the following standards:
A. 
Route. The Utility shall make the extension over the most direct route which is the least expensive and least environmentally degrading. The customer shall provide or shall be responsible for the cost of all right-of-way easements and permits necessary for the Utility to install, maintain or replace distribution facilities. The customer shall either clear and grade such property or pay the Utility to clear and grade such property. The customer is responsible for the cost of restoration of the property after the Utility has completed installation and backfilling where applicable.
B. 
Design. The Utility shall design and install facilities to deliver service to the customer and the area at the lowest reasonable cost. The facilities shall comply with accepted engineering and planning practices. The design shall consider reasonable needs for probable growth in the area and local land use planning. Unwarranted excess capacity which would result in unnecessary cost increases to the Utility and its customers shall be avoided. The Utility shall be responsible for the incremental cost of distribution facilities which are in excess of standard design for the customer and normal area growth.
C. 
Efficient use. The Utility's extension rules shall discourage the inefficient use of electricity by appropriately relating costs to the charges made for extensions.
D. 
Cost estimates. The Utility shall engineer and estimate the cost of each extension based on reasonable current costs. Current costs may be estimated using job-specific costs, average costs per foot or unit or other costing method, as appropriate.
A. 
The applicant for new service may select the point of service with approval of the Utility; at which point the Utility will deliver service at applicant-owned terminating facilities. The applicant will furnish, own and maintain circuits, meter socket and equipment beyond such point, except for metering equipment.
B. 
It is necessary that a customer's service entrance facilities be located at a point most readily accessible to the Utility's distribution system. It is desirable, and often necessary, to avoid crossing adjacent property with service drops or laterals. If the distribution system is established in the rear of the premises, the service entrance must be brought to the rear of the building. Where the distribution system is located on the street or where no distribution system has been established, the customer shall request the Utility to specify an acceptable location of the service entrance facilities. The Utility will furnish this information in writing, upon request.
A. 
Meters will be furnished and installed by the Utility. The customer, however, must furnish the meter socket and all necessary extra wiring to meet the meter connection and must furnish a safe and convenient place for the meters.
B. 
In the event a customer desires an additional meter installed for his own convenience, the installation shall be entirely at the cost of the customer, including the cost of the meter.
A. 
Meter sockets shall be installed by the customer on the exterior of the building.
B. 
In a rural area, a yard pole may be furnished by the Utility and located at a point central to the buildings. Metering units shall be installed by the customer on this pole and all service beyond is the responsibility of the customer.
C. 
When only a residence is built in the rural area and underground service is used, the meter may be placed on the pole if cleared by the Utility prior to installation. A customer-owned yard light may not be installed on this pole unless permission is granted by the Utility.
D. 
Any meter located other than as described above shall be approved in writing by the Utility prior to installation or it shall be changed by the customer to conform to the Utility's standards.
A. 
The Utility shall provide standard overhead service drops and standard underground service laterals at no charge to the customers.
B. 
Not more than one service drop or service lateral will be installed to the same building or utilization point except:
(1) 
Where more than one point of delivery is necessary because of voltage regulation, governmental requirements or regulatory orders.
(2) 
In large installations (large power only) where, in the opinion of the Utility, more than one service drop or lateral is necessary to meet the load requirements.
(3) 
In row houses and other multiple-occupancy buildings having areas separated by fire walls in compliance with the Wisconsin State Electrical Code.
C. 
If an existing customer with a single-phase service drop or lateral requests three-phase service, the customer shall rewire his equipment to operate from the three-phase service drop or lateral before three-phase service will be extended. The single-phase service drop or lateral will be removed from service after the three-phase service has been extended.
A standard overhead service drop shall be furnished by the Utility to a suitable support on the customer's premises. The Utility will provide supplemental information to the customer indicating the equipment that the customer shall install, own and maintain. This material will also indicate what State Electrical Code provisions and Village ordinances must be complied with for the installation of this equipment.
A. 
A standard underground service lateral shall be furnished by the Utility to suitable service equipment on the customer's premises. This equipment shall be installed on the customer's building at a location approved by the Utility.
B. 
The Utility will provide supplemental information indicating what equipment the customer shall install, own and maintain for underground service and indicating what provisions of the State Electrical Code and Village ordinances must be complied with for the installation of this equipment.
The Utility shall provide standard-design transformers necessary to serve the customer's load, at no charge.
If the proposed extension requires nonstandard service facilities or if the customer requests nonstandard facilities, the Utility may require the customer to pay a contribution in advance of construction for the cost of the facilities in excess of the cost of the standard-design facilities.
Proposed extensions may be reviewed for economic considerations. If the cost of an extension exceeds five times the average embedded cost to serve a customer in the same class as the customer for whom the extension is to be made, the Utility may require a contract with the customer. Under the terms of the contract, the customer may be required to pay the recurring estimated operation and maintenance expenses associated with that portion of the extension that is in excess of five times the average embedded cost at the time the extension was made. The reasons and supporting analysis for each contract will be furnished the customer and the Public Service Commission in writing. The Utility will inform the customer of the customer's right to ask the Commission for a review of the extension costs and contract provisions. The Utility will notify the Public Service Commission in writing when a service extension is denied, including the reasons for denial.
For purposes of implementing these installation charges, the following definitions shall apply:
AVERAGE DEPRECIATED EMBEDDED COST
The average depreciated embedded cost of the distribution system (excluding the transformer and service facilities) is determined by the Public Service Commission for each customer classification. All average depreciated embedded costs (by rate class) shall be subject to review by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin as part of each general rate case proceeding. The average depreciated embedded cost by customer classification is as follows:
A. 
Residential (urban, rural and farm): $6.25, determined by dividing the original cost less the estimated accrued depreciation of the distribution system and less customer contributions and advances for construction allocated to this customer classification by the number of customers in the group.
B. 
Commercial (including multi-unit dwellings if billed on one meter): $18.75, determined the same way as residential.
C. 
Large power: $1.60 per kilowatt of average billed demand facilities after the upgrade, minus the average billed demand of facilities before the upgrade, determined by dividing the original cost less the estimated accrued depreciation of the distribution system and less customer contributions and advances for construction allocated to this customer classification by the estimated average billed demand of these customers.
D. 
Streetlighting: the dollar amount per fixture is determined by dividing the overall depreciated cost of the distribution facilities allocated to the streetlighting class, less credits for past customer contributions and advances for construction, by the total number of lighting fixtures in that classification. The following is the average depreciated embedded cost per lighting fixture: $0.75.
E. 
Apartment and rental units separately metered: the owner of an apartment or rental unit applying for an extension of service shall receive an "average depreciated embedded cost credit" at $6.25 per unit metered.
F. 
Subdividers and residential developers: $6.25 per unit (same as residential) energized within five years from the installation of the contributed extension.
CUSTOMER CLASSIFICATIONS
Customer classifications are based on usage characteristics. Each classification has a distinct installation charge and embedded cost credit. For definitions of distribution and service facilities installed in new installations see Article V. Examples of customer classifications are as follows:
A. 
Residential — Urban, rural and farm.
B. 
Commercial — Urban and rural.
C. 
Large power.
D. 
Streetlighting.
INSTALLATION CHARGE.
The total cost of installation less the average depreciated embedded cost of the distribution system (excluding the transformer and service facilities). Seasonal customers shall receive 1/2 the average embedded cost allowance of a year-round customer for the same customer classification.
TOTAL COST OF INSTALLATION
The cost of the extension of primary and secondary lines (excluding the necessary service drop or service lateral and individual transformer or increased transformer capacity); reconstruction of existing main feeders, including changing from single-phase to three-phase, or construction of new feeders made necessary solely by addition of such customers; the cost of tree trimming or right-of-way clearing; securing easements; moving conflicting facilities; and all other costs incident to furnishing service. The customer is responsible for the cost of restoration of the property after the Utility has completed installation and backfilling where applicable. This definition applies to the overhead and underground distribution system. If it is found to be advisable for the Utility to install facilities in excess of that required to serve the new customer applying for service, the added cost of these facilities will not be used in determining the cost of the extension.
A. 
Residential (urban, rural and farm), commercial (urban and rural), streetlighting and large power classes will be charged the total installation cost less the average depreciated embedded cost as defined in § 145-29 above.
B. 
Residential developers and subdividers of single- and two-family subdivisions shall pay, as a minimum, a partially refundable contribution which is the estimated cost of distribution facilities to be installed for the area being developed. The average depreciated embedded cost is refundable as structures are built and connected to the electric Utility facilities, as defined in § 145-29.
C. 
Installation charges for multifamily residential housing units will be the total installation cost less the average depreciated embedded cost, as defined in § 145-29 per each living unit in the multifamily building.
D. 
Other installation charges. In addition to the installation charges provided above, the Utility may require the customer to pay, in advance of construction, the estimated direct costs for those distribution service facilities which are in excess of standard Utility design and construction; follow a route different than the most direct route as in § PSC 113.81, Wis. Adm. Code, as determined by the Utility; or require abnormally high installation costs due to abnormal soil conditions, including trenching in rocky soil, frozen ground or other similar conditions. Winter construction will normally apply between December 1 and April 1. All such payments for these conditions are subject to partial refund as additional customers connect.
Section 145-30 explains the method for estimating the total cost of installation. The Utility shall adjust its estimate of construction costs to reflect the costs that are actually incurred. Upon completion of an installation which differs from the Utility's original cost estimate, a recalculation of the customer contribution shall be made.