A.
The rules of this article apply to the extension of overhead
electric service to all classes of retail customers requesting new service
in all areas served by the Utility.
B.
Subject to compliance with all the provisions hereof,
the Utility will extend electric service to a new customer(s) or existing
customer(s). Such service will be furnished by means of extending its overhead
distribution system, except that three-phase service may be furnished by means
of phase-conversion equipment from a single-phase line.
In the event an extension is partially or completely supported on structures
used for supporting transmission circuits or in the event the extension is
built to serve both single-phase customers and three-phase customers, the
Utility will compute and apportion among the customers served by the extension
contribution requirements and contribution refund rights in a fair and equitable
manner consistent with the pertinent facts and will retain in its files a
memorandum of such computation and apportionment. The contribution requirement
of the single-phase customers shall not be greater than would have been the
case if an extension (complying with present engineering standards) had been
constructed only to serve single-phase customers.
The Utility will extend utility-standard underground service to all
classes of retail customers requesting new service in all areas served by
the Utility.
A.
Underground service extensions to be furnished by the
Utility are limited to those which may be placed in locations where grade
levels and other conditions are satisfactory to the Utility, such as across
residential or farm yards or commercial premises or along driveways. The route
of the underground construction must be clear of any trees, brush, fences
or other surface obstructions that would interfere with normal operation of
trenching equipment. Trench backfill shall consist of the original soil and
shall not be power-tamped. Lawn and landscaping restoration shall be the applicant's
responsibility.
B.
Underground service extension in locations such as beneath
undeveloped land, quarries, gravel pits, swamps and water will not be furnished
except by written approval of the Utility for each installation.
C.
The Utility will not install an underground service extension
where engineering, operating, construction, safety or legal problems would,
in the Utility's judgment, make it inadvisable to perform the installation,
unless these problems can be resolved by the payment of contributions and/or
the charges as provided for in these extension rules.
D.
Notification must be given to the Utility sufficiently
in advance of construction so that a sequence of construction can be provided
for and the work coordinated with other utilities involved.
E.
If the trench cannot, for any reason, be dug prior to
the freezing of the soil, the Utility may install temporarily secondary voltage
conductors in suitable mechanical protection on top of the ground and dig
the trench when the ground is thawed.
F.
The Utility shall not be prevented from installing underground
electric equipment where necessary by reason of physical conditions or congestion
in the area, when this type of construction is the most economical type for
the conditions.
A.
For unusual construction costs, a contribution is required
which may be subject to a partial refund as additional customers attach. The
cost shall include:
(1)
An amount equal to the estimated cost of boring or pavement
cutting required where conductors must be installed in rocky soil, frozen
ground or other similar conditions.
(2)
An amount equal to the cost of any special requirements,
such as municipal requirements, rearrangement of facilities due to a change
of plans or the need for an underground service extension different from or
more elaborate than the Utility's standard underground construction.
(3)
An amount equal to the estimated extra cost of trenching
through any area where normal plowing and trenching methods cannot be used
(for example, ledge rock, boulders, landfill, etc.).
B.
If, upon completion of the construction under such unusual
conditions, it turns out that the amount of such extra cost is actually less
than the estimated amount, the Utility will refund the difference between
the estimated and actual costs.
In accepting an application for underground electric service under this
article, the Utility does not undertake to avoid the construction of overhead
lines in the neighborhood which may be necessary to serve customers who demand
and have the right to receive service from overhead lines. However, in order
to avoid duplication of facilities, applicants for electric service whose
premises can be served from an underground distribution system that has previously
been installed adjacent to the applicant's premises shall be required to be
served by an underground lateral from such system and shall pay the contributions
and charges required in these extension rules.
A.
The Utility will install a utility-standard single-phase
underground electric distribution system in accordance with this article where
required by ordinance or when requested by and agreed to by the property owner(s)
or developer or subdivider of the land area to be served. (However, all lines
exceeding 15,000 volts in such areas may be overhead.)
B.
Electric distribution facilities provided for under this
rule are only for providing service to permanent buildings.
C.
The Utility will own and maintain the underground conductors
and appurtenances, and the character and location of such facilities shall
be at the discretion of the Utility.
A.
Subdivisions.
(1)
For purposes of this section, a "subdivision" shall be
defined as a division of lands consisting of five or more contiguous lots.
Lots directly across a street from each other are considered to be contiguous.
(2)
To qualify as an underground distribution area, the property
owner(s) or land developer or subdivider shall have provided a suitable recorded
plat of the subdivision with deed restrictions, all satisfactory to the Utility,
to require all Utility service to be supplied by underground lines and prohibiting
overhead lines, except for lines exceeding 15,000 volts, and with easements
shown.
(3)
An area which qualifies as a subdivision may be established
as an underground distribution area in either of the two following ways:
(a)
All new subdivisions not already receiving electric service
are defined as underground distribution areas where, by ordinance, the electric
distribution systems are required to be underground.
(b)
A group of property owners or land developer or subdivider
may request that an area be served by an underground distribution system.
Such area shall be specifically defined and of reasonably regular shape.
B.
Mobile home courts. A new mobile home court or an expansion
of an existing mobile home court may be established as an underground distribution
area where:
(1)
The court consists of five or more established mobile
home locations, all of which are contiguous.
(2)
Occupancy of the mobile homes is to be on a year-round
basis.
(3)
The owner of the mobile home court provides for the Utility
a written commitment that all Utility service will be supplied by underground
lines and prohibiting any overhead lines, except for lines exceeding 15,000
volts.
C.
Condominium developments and apartment house complexes.
A new residential condominium development, apartment house complex or an expansion
of an existing housing facility may be established as an underground distribution
area where:
D.
Easements. The property owner(s) or land developer or
subdivider shall have secured for the Utility, at no cost to the Utility,
such easements as the Utility may require for the installation, operation
and maintenance of its facility, including, but not limited to, easements
for its transformers and switches. The property owner(s) or land developer
or subdivider shall inform the Utility of any known or expected underground
obstructions to the cable routes. Any earthfill added to easements to bring
the grade to final level shall not contain any large rocks, boulders, debris
or rubbish. In subdivisions, easements shall be provided along side lot lines
as necessary for underground cables to streetlight locations approved by appropriate
governmental authority.
E.
Expansion of underground distribution areas. An established
underground distribution area may be expanded to include such lots or building
sites as are contiguous to it which are not already served by overhead lines.
The owners of such lots shall be responsible for seeing that the lots meet
the requirements specified above for the underground distribution area to
which it is contiguous.
A.
Contribution for construction within underground distribution
area. All of the provisions of contributions for construction of underground
extensions will apply except that the extension allowance will apply to those
lots at which dwelling units are occupied or under construction (construction
has proceeded above the foundation level) only. 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 the property owner(s), land developer
or subdivider an installment payment plan.
B.
Distribution line to underground distribution area. Where an extension of the Utility's existing distribution system is required in order to reach the underground distribution area, said extension will normally be overhead construction. The extension allowance for the overhead distribution line will apply to those lots on which dwelling units are occupied or under construction (construction beyond the foundation level) only. 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. If required by statute or ordinance, or if required by the conditions in the judgment of the Utility, all or a portion of the extension will be underground. A refundable contribution as provided in Subsection A above will apply.
