|
|
|
| 712
S. Buckeye Street, Osgood, IN
47037
| Ph.
812-689-4111 800-737-4111
| Fax
812-689-6987 | |
|
|
 |
 |
Southeastern Indiana Rural Electric
Membership Corporation (REMC),
headquartered in Osgood, Indiana, is a
member-owned corporation that has supplied
electric power to member-owners since its
incorporation on April 29,1939.
|
|
|
|
| |
Service Rules &
Regulations |
| |
Rule 1. Definitions
The definitions set forth below shall be applicable to the Cooperative's service rules and regulations:
(A) The word "Commission" shall mean the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
(B) The word "Cooperative" shall mean Southeastern Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corporation.
(C) The word "member" shall mean any natural person, firm, association, corporation, business trust, partnership, limited liability company, state or state political subdivision, the United States of America or federal political subdivision, or other body politic (collectively, "Person") which has agreed, orally or otherwise, to pay for electric service received from the Cooperative.
(D) The word "disconnection" shall mean the termination or discontinuance of electric service.
(E) The words "late payment charge" shall mean the one time penalty assessed by the Cooperative upon all current bills at the time as they become delinquent.
(F) The words "Employee Member Relations Committee" shall mean a committee comprised of the following Cooperative employees: General Manager, Director of Office Services and Manager of Customer Relations. The following Cooperative employees may serve as alternate members of the committee: the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Engineering and Design, Director of Finance and Accounting, or the Director of Marketing and Economic Development.
(G) The words "Member Relations Committee" shall mean a committee comprised of not less than four (4) members of the Cooperative's board of directors. Committee members shall be appointed by the President of the Board of Directors. This committee shall have the authority to review decisions made by the "Employee Member Relations Committee" and shall render a decision in all such matters within 60 days of referral to this committee. Any decision or complaint resolution shall be final when rendered by this committee.
Rule 2. Retention of Records
All records required by these rules will be preserved at least three years except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Records shall be kept at the Cooperative's principal place of business or at other places as the Cooperative shall designate.
Rule 3. Records and Reports of Meter Purchases and Tests
(A) Meter Test Record. Whenever any meter in service is tested, a record will be preserved containing the information necessary for identifying the meter, the reason for making the test, the reading of the meter before the test and the result of the test, together with all data taken at the time of the test in sufficiently complete form to permit the convenient checking of the methods employed.
(B) Meter Record. Contemporaneous records shall also be kept giving for each meter owned or used by the Cooperative, the year of purchase, its identification and the record of the last test to which it has been subjected, with date and general results of the test. These records apply to all meters insofar as the information is available.
Rule 4. Location of Meters; Accessibility
(A) All meters shall be located outdoors where they are easily accessible for reading, testing, and making necessary adjustments and repairs. When a number of meters are placed on the same meter board, the distance between centers may be specified by the Cooperative, but in no case shall the distance be less than 7½ inches. Upon request by a residential member, the Cooperative will provide the member with the number of the meter which serves the individual member's premises, to provide the member with an opportunity to verify the meter readings. On an installation where similar types of meters record different units (kWh and RkVah, for example) the meters shall be tagged or marked to indicate the units recorded. Meters should not be less than 4 feet nor more than 6 feet above the final standing surface, measured from the center of the meter cover, unless authorized by the Cooperative.
(B) Meters shall not be placed on unstable partitions or supports. Unless unavoidable, meters should not be installed in any location where the visits of a meter reader or tester will cause unreasonable annoyance to the member or undue inconvenience to the Cooperative. Members shall permit the Cooperative to authorize employees, agents and independent contractors to have unobstructed safe access to the premises free from interference by hostile sources for meter reading, bill collecting and for inspection, maintenance, replacement, relocation, repair or disconnection of the facilities at reasonable times.
Rule 5. Service Watt hour Meters; Inspection and Repair; Installation Tests and Adjustments
(F) Inspection and Repair.
(1) Each new watt hour meter, except self contained AC meters rated 12 KVA or less, shall be inspected and tested and adjusted, if necessary, to detect any possible causes for faulty operation and to verify the accuracy of the meter.
(2) All meters removed from service shall be carefully inspected for any possible causes of faulty operation which may have developed in use, cleaned and repaired, as necessary, before being tested and adjusted to the accuracy conditions prescribed in these service rules and standards, prior to being again placed in service; except self contained AC meters rated 12 KVA or less may be removed and re-installed without testing if they show no damage or evidence of tampering and are not on a recall or obsolete list.
(F) Installation Tests and Adjustments.
(1) All watt hour meters and demand meters, except self-contained AC meters rated 12 KVA or less, shall be tested prior to their installation or within 60 days after installation, and adjusted, as closely as economically practicable, to the condition of zero error, but in all cases within the limits of tolerance prescribed in Rule 8. Tolerances are to be interpreted as maximum variations from the condition of zero error which are permitted in order to make reasonable though adequate allowance for variations encountered in accepted good meter practice.
(2) All watt hour and demand meters shall be checked for correct connections, proper mechanical conditions and suitability of location in its permanent position at the time of installation. If the meter does not read directly in kWh consumed or demand units, the multiplier for the meter readings shall be checked and, if practical, marked on the meter, or marked on a tag attached to the meter.
Rule 6. Meter Testing Equipment and Facilities; Reference and Portable Standards
(A) Equipment and Facilities. The Cooperative shall provide or make available standard meters, instruments and other equipment and facilities as may be necessary to make the tests set forth in these rules.
(B) Reference Standards. The Cooperative shall provide or make available suitable indicating electrical instruments, watt meters and watt hour meters (hereinafter called "reference standards") as may be necessary for testing the accuracy of watt hour meters. The reference standard may be a service type watt hour meter. Reference standards of all kinds shall be tested and adjusted, if necessary, at least once every two years by a recognized standardizing laboratory.
(C) Portable Standards. All portable watt hour meter standards shall be checked against the corresponding reference standards as often as may be necessary to give reasonable assurance that the errors will not change enough between successive calibrations to materially affect the results of measurements involving their use. If the check shows any portable watt hour meter standard to be in error more than one percent (1%) plus or minus, at any load at which the standard will be used, the standard shall be tested, adjusted and certified in an approved laboratory. Each portable watt hour meter standard shall at all times be accompanied by a certificate or calibration card, signed by the proper authority, giving the date when it was last certified.
(D) Portable Indicating Instruments. All portable indicating electrical testing instruments, such as voltmeters, ammeters and watt meters, when in regular use in testing purposes, shall be checked against suitable reference standards as often as may be necessary to give reasonable assurance that the errors will not change enough between successive calibrations to materially affect the results of measurements involving their use, and if found appreciably in error at zero of more than one percent (1%) of full scale value at commonly used scale deflection shall, unless calibration correction is used, be adjusted and certified in an approved laboratory.
(E) Records of Certification and Calibration. Records of certification and calibration shall be kept on file at the Cooperative.
Rule 7. Average Accuracy of Watt hour Meters; Tests
The accuracy at light load shall be determined at a load of approximately ten percent (10%) of the rated test amps of the meter. The accuracy at heavy load shall be determined at a load of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the rated test amps of the meter. The rated test amps of the meter shall be as specified by the meter manufacturer.
(A) "As Found" Test. The accuracy at light load shall be determined by taking the average of at least two tests, which tests must agree within one half of one percent (.5%). The accuracy at heavy load shall be determined in a like manner. The average accuracy of the meter shall be determined by taking an average of the accuracy at light load and of the accuracy at heavy load. However, the average "as found" accuracy of a meter may be determined from one light load test and one heavy load test, if the average accuracy is less than one hundred and three percent (103%) and if the meter is to be adjusted.
(B) "As Left" Test. After any meter has been adjusted, the average "as left" accuracy of the meter will be determined by two tests at each load as outlined in the preceding paragraph, unless the meter has been tested by an automatic device in which case one test at each load will be sufficient.
Rule 8. Meter Accuracy
No watt hour meter which registers at no load (the moving element making more than one complete revolution when at "No Load"), when the applied voltage is less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of standard service voltage, shall be placed in service or allowed to remain in service in that condition.
No meter shall be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which is mechanically defective, which has incorrect constants, or which has not been tested for accuracy of measurements and adjusted, if necessary, to meet the following requirements:
Watt hour Meters
Average error not over two percent (2%) plus or minus. Error at heavy load not over one percent (1%) plus or minus. Error at light load not over three percent (3%) plus or minus.
Curve Drawing Instruments
Electrical Element: Error shall not exceed two percent (2%) plus or minus of full scale indication.
Integrating Demand Meters
Electric Element: Errors shall not exceed the limits specified for watt hour meters.
Timing Element: Cumulative error shall not be in excess of plus or minus two percent (2%) for the entire billing period. If the time of day is a factor in the rate schedule, the timing element when operating under normal conditions of service shall not indicate a difference of more than ten (10) minutes from correct time, and any incorrect indication of time caused by the temporary loss of utility service shall be corrected by the Cooperative by the end of the following work day.
Lagged Demand Meters
Electromagnetic Type: Error shall not exceed two percent (2%) plus or minus of full scale indication.
Test for Correct Power Factor Adjustment. Alternating current service watt hour meters, except self contained AC meters rated 12 KVA or less, which are to be used on circuits supplying inductive load, shall also be tested before installation at one hundred percent (100%) of manufacturer's rated test current at fifty percent (50%) lagging power factor, and, if necessary, adjusted so that the error under such conditions will not be more than two percent (2%) plus or minus.
Where instrument transformers are used for metering, the ratio of transformation and phase angle error of the transformers must be determined before installation, such information shall be on file in the office of the Cooperative.
Rule 9. Tests of Electric Meters in Service
Note: The KVA rating of an alternating current, single element meter is the product of the rated voltage and the rated test current. In the case of a polyphase or a multi element meter, the rating is the sum of such products for each element. The rating of a 2?element meter when it is the split coil type or when it is associated with 3?current transformers and used to measure energy in a 3?phase, 4?wire Y circuit shall be 3 times the rating of one element. When a meter is connected to instrument transformers, the nominal rating of the transformers shall be used in the determination of the KVA rating of the meter.
WATT HOUR METERS, 12 KVA OR LESS. The Cooperative has adopted the following method for maintaining the accuracy of self contained single phase and three wire network meters rated 12 KVA or less: periodic testing of watt hour meters shall be performed as deemed appropriate by the Cooperative or upon request of a member per Rule 10.
OTHER WATT HOUR METERS. All other single phase and three wire network meters shall also be tested as deemed appropriate by the Cooperative or upon the request of a member per Rule 10.
DEMAND METERS. Each demand meter shall be tested as often as the watt hour meter with which it is associated and, as nearly as practicable, at the same time.
POLYPHASE CT RATED METERS. Each polyphase CT rated meter shall be tested every four years.
ALL OTHER METERS. All other meters shall be tested every ten years.
Rule 10. Meter Tests upon Written Request by Member
The Cooperative will test the accuracy of registration of a meter upon written request by a member. The member shall bear the full cost of subsequent tests of this meter if requested at less than thirty six (36) month intervals if no error (as defined in Rule 8) is found. A written report giving the results of the tests shall be made to the member and a complete record of the same shall be kept on file in the office of the Cooperative.
Rule 11. Member Requests for Tests; Review by the Cooperative
(A) Upon application of a member to the Cooperative, a test may be made of the member's watt hour meter by the Cooperative under the supervision of a representative of the Cooperative's Employee Member Relations Committee. No fee shall be payable by the member for the test except as provided by Rule 10.
(B) Upon application of any member to the Cooperative, an electric demand test may be made upon the member's electric load by the Cooperative under the supervision of a representative of the Cooperative's Employee Member Relations Committee. The test shall be made as soon as practicable after receipt of the application and under similar conditions of installation and operation as may be mutually agreed upon, in writing, by the member and the Cooperative. No fee shall be payable by the member for such test.
Rule 12. Bills
(A) Bills rendered periodically to members for electric service shall include the following information:
(1) the dates and meter readings of the meter at the beginning and end of the period for which the bill is rendered and the billing date;
(2) the number and kind of units of service supplied;
(3) the billing rate code;
(3) the previous balance, if any;
(3) the amount of the bill;
(3) the sum of the amount of the bill and the late payment charge;
(7) the date when the bill becomes delinquent and the date the late payment charge will be added to the bill;
(8) if an estimated bill, clear and conspicuous coding or other indication identifying the bill as an estimated bill;
(9) printed statements or actual figures, or both, on either side of the bill informing the member of the seventeen (17) day non-penalty period; and
(B) If an outstanding invoice for merchandise or non utility services or damage claim is not paid within thirty (30) days, the bill shall be delinquent and shall be assessed a monthly late payment charge equal to one and a half percent (1.5%) of the unpaid balance. An outstanding invoice may after ninety (90) days be transferred to or billed with the utility bill, so as to enable the Cooperative to render one consolidated bill for all amounts due. Such amount due shall be subject to the Cooperative's normal disconnect procedures.
(C) A bill for utility services shall be delinquent unless payment is received within seventeen (17) days after the bill is postmarked. If the bill is not paid within said seventeen (17) days, the delinquent bill may be assessed a late payment charge equal to five percent (5%) of the current bill. If a delinquent balance exists, all payments received by the Cooperative shall first be applied to the delinquency.
(D) The Cooperative may estimate a member bill due to:
(1) a member request to estimate a bill;
(2) inclement weather;
(3) labor or union disputes;
(4) inaccessibility of a member's meter, if the Cooperative has made a reasonable attempt to read it; or
(5) other unusual circumstances.
(E) The Cooperative shall, upon a member's request, and not less than once in a twelve (12) month period, compute and render a bill pursuant to an actual meter reading taken by the Cooperative or an agent of the Cooperative, which reading may be taken manually or by automated meter reading or similar electronic equipment.
(F) The Cooperative shall offer an alternative billing plan(s) to members who are and remain in good standing which allows the member to choose a levalized monthly payment plan.
Rule 13. Billing Adjustments
(A) Adjustments Due to Meter Errors. If a service meter, after being tested as provided in these rules, is found to have a percentage of error greater than three percent (3%) for watt hour meters and four percent (4%) for demand meters, the bills for service shall be adjusted as follows:
(1) Fast Meters ? When a meter is found to have a positive average error, the Cooperative shall refund or credit the member's account with the amount of any charges in excess of either (i) an average bill for the kilowatt hours and/or demand units incorrectly metered or (ii) separate bills individually adjusted for the percent of error for the period the meter was fast, if such period can be determined, or three years, whichever period is shorter. An average bill shall be calculated on the basis of kilowatt hours and/or demand units registered on the
meter over corresponding periods either prior or subsequent to the period for which the meter is determined to be fast. No part of the minimum service charge shall be refunded.
(2) Stopped or Slow Meters ? When a meter is stopped or has a negative average error, the Cooperative may charge the member for the kilowatt hours and/or demand units incorrectly registered for one half of the period since the last previous test or one year, whichever is shorter. The amount of the charge to the member shall be estimated on the basis of either (i) an average bill as described below or (ii) separate bills individually adjusted for the percent of error. An average bill shall be calculated on the basis of kilowatt hours and/or demand units registered on the meter over corresponding periods either prior or subsequent to the period for which the meter is determined to be slow or stopped. The Cooperative may charge the member for the amounts unless the Cooperative negligently allowed the stopped or slow meter to remain in service.
(B) Other Billing Adjustments. Other billing errors, including incorrect rate or rate schedule applications, shall be adjusted to the known date of error or for a period of one year if the billing error has under billed the member, or three years if the billing error included over billing the member, whichever period is shorter.
Rule 14. Creditworthiness of Members; Deposits; Refunds
(A) General Requirements. The Cooperative shall determine the creditworthiness of an applicant or member in an equitable and nondiscriminatory method without regard to the economic character of the area (or any part thereof) wherein the applicant or member resides and shall determine the creditworthiness solely upon the credit risk of the applicant or member without regard to the collective credit reputation of the area in which he/she lives.
(B) Applicants.
(1)Each new applicant for
residential utility service shall be deemed creditworthy and shall
not be required to make a cash deposit as a condition of receiving
service if the applicant’s creditworthiness score, as determined from
Trans Union Credit Bureau, is deemed acceptable
by the Cooperative and applicant has not had service disconnected by
the Cooperative for non-payment of a bill in the previous five year
period.
(2) If the applicant has an outstanding delinquency owed the Cooperative or fails to establish that he/she is creditworthy pursuant to the above criteria, the applicant shall be required to pay the outstanding delinquency and make a cash deposit. The deposit shall be at least One Hundred Dollars ($100) or
2/12 of the estimated annual cost of service to be rendered to the applicant,
as determined solely by the Cooperative in a non-discriminatory
manner.
Service shall be connected upon receipt of the deposit or, if service is already connected when an application is made and applicant fails to meet the foregoing criteria, service may promptly be disconnected, without notice, until the Cooperative receives the requisite deposit and membership fees. If an applicant has any outstanding delinquency owed the Cooperative, the delinquency must be fully paid before service will be rendered or if already connected, continued. Absent payment, service may be immediately disconnected without notice.
(3) If the Cooperative denies or disconnects service or requires a
cash deposit as a condition
of providing service, it will promptly advise the applicant of the
facts upon which it based its decision.
(C) Current Member.
(1) The Cooperative may require a current member to make a cash deposit when the service has been disconnected pursuant to the rules for non payment.
(2) The amount of such deposit shall be the greater of One Hundred Dollars ($100) or 1/6 of the estimated annual billings for the member at the address at which service is rendered.
(D) Interest Upon Deposits.
(1) Deposits, except refundable aid to construction, shall earn interest from date of deposit at a rate of four percent (4%) per annum.
(2) The deposit shall not earn interest after the date it is mailed or personally delivered to the member, or otherwise used.
(E) Refunds.
(1) Any deposit or accrued interest shall be refunded promptly along with a statement accounting for each transaction involving the deposit and interest, without request by the member, upon satisfactory payment by the member for a period of twelve consecutive months evidenced by no late payments, insufficient fund checks, disconnection of electric service for any reason (except at member request), failure to pay any outstanding balance(s) due, failure to pay any invoices for goods or other services rendered or violation of any written payment arrangement agreements.
(2) Following member requested termination of service:
(a) The Cooperative shall apply the deposit plus accrued interest to the final bill, or
(b) Upon specific request from the member, the Cooperative shall refund the deposit plus accrued interest within fifteen (15) days after payment in full of all amounts due the Cooperative through the final bill.
(3) The Cooperative will maintain a record of each applicant or member having a deposit which shows:
(a) the name of the member;
(b) the current address of the member so long as he/she maintains an active account with the Cooperative in his/her name;
(c) the amount of the deposit;
(d) the date the deposit was made; and
(e) a record of each transaction affecting the deposit.
(4) Each member shall be provided a written receipt from the Cooperative at the time his/her deposit is paid in full or he/she makes a cash partial payment. The Cooperative will provide a reasonable method by which a member who is unable to locate his/her receipt may establish that he/she is entitled to a refund of the deposit.
(5) Any deposit made by the applicant, member, or any other person to the Cooperative (less any deductions) which has remained unclaimed for seven years after the Cooperative has made diligent effort to locate the person who made the deposit or the heirs of such persons shall be presumed abandoned and treated in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana.
(6) A deposit may be used by the Cooperative to cover any unpaid balance following disconnection of service pursuant to Rule 15 or applied toward any delinquency owed the Cooperative. If there is a remaining surplus, it will be returned to the member as provided above.
Rule 15. Disconnection of Service
(A) The member shall notify the Cooperative at least three (3) working days in advance of the day disconnection is desired. The member shall remain responsible for all service used and the billings
therefore until service is disconnected pursuant to the notice.
Upon request by a member of the Cooperative to disconnect service, the Cooperative shall disconnect the service within three (3) working days of the request except for circumstances beyond the control of the Cooperative. The member shall not be liable for any service rendered to such address or location after the expiration of three (3) such days.
(B) The Cooperative may disconnect service without a request by the member and without prior notice:
(1) if a condition dangerous or hazardous to life, physical safety or property exists; or
(2) upon order by any court or other duly authorized public authority; or
(3) if fraudulent or unauthorized use of electricity is detected and the Cooperative has reasonable grounds to believe the affected member has
benefited from the use; or
(4) if the Cooperative's regulating or measuring equipment or meter base has been tampered with or vandalized and the Cooperative has reasonable grounds to believe that the affected member has
benefited from the tampering or vandalism.
(5) for violation of payment arrangement agreements
(6) paying with an insufficient funds check in the field to avoid service disconnection
(6) disconnection of service pursuant to removal of a "service limiter"
In all other instances the Cooperative, upon providing the member with proper notice (as defined in subsection (E) of this rule) may disconnect service subject to the provisions of these service rules and regulations.
In the event the Cooperative determines there is credible evidence that fraudulent or unauthorized use of electricity, meter tampering, or theft has occurred, a non-refundable service fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100) to investigate the meter tampering/electrical theft must be paid the Cooperative before service will be reconnected, plus reconnect fees, and satisfactory payment arrangements must be made with the Cooperative for the estimated unmetered electricity usage. A security deposit may be required as determined by the Cooperative in its sole discretion.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (A) and (B) of this rule, the Cooperative will postpone the disconnection of service for up to seven (7) days if, prior to the disconnect date specified in the disconnect notice, the member provides the Cooperative with a medical statement from a licensed physician or public health official which states that disconnection would be a serious and immediate threat to the health or safety of a designated person in the household of the member and specifies the type or form of life support system being used for which electricity is required. Upon the Cooperative's receipt of the statement, the postponement of disconnection may be continued, subject to subsections (A) and (B) above, for up to six (6) months, at which time it shall be the member's responsibility to provide the Cooperative with another such medical statement or service may be disconnected.
(D) Service Limiters
(1) In order to assist members who have documented serious health conditions or monitoring requirements for persons residing in their household, the General Manager is authorized to install a "Service Limiter" to provide limited (approximately 20 amps at 120 volts) electrical service as an alternative to complete termination of electrical service. This shall only be done for member accounts which are seriously delinquent in that the member owes more than One Hundred Dollars ($100) for over sixty (60) days.
(2) The General Manager is authorized to install a "Service Limiter" to provide limited (approximately 10 amps at 240 volts) electrical service for a period of five (5) business days as a prelude to complete termination of electrical service in the following situations:
(a) When a membership applicant or established member, pursuant to proper notice, is scheduled to be disconnected for non-payment of a delinquent balance incurred at a prior service location within the established service area of the Cooperative.
(b) When a membership applicant or established member, pursuant to proper notice, is scheduled to be disconnected for failure to:
(i) Pay the established membership fee
(ii) Execute the membership application prescribed by the Cooperative.
(iii) Comply with any other membership condition required by the Cooperative Bylaws or these service rules and regulations.
The Cooperative may not disconnect service to the member:
(1) upon his/her failure to pay for services to a previous unrelated occupant of the premises to be served;
(2) If a member or user is unable to pay a bill, which is unusually large due to a prior incorrect reading of the meter, incorrect application of the rate schedule, incorrect connection or functioning of the meter, prior estimates where no actual reading was taken for over two months, stopped or slow meters, or any human or mechanical error of the Cooperative, and the member:
(a) pays a reasonable portion of the bill, as determined by the Cooperative;
(b) agrees to pay the remainder within a reasonable period of time as determined by the Cooperative; and
(c) agrees to pay all undisputed future bills for service as they become due;
The Cooperative may not add to the outstanding bill any late fee. The terms of the agreement shall be put in writing by the Cooperative and signed by the member and a representative of the Cooperative.
(E) The Cooperative will disconnect service during its normal business hours; disconnections pursuant to subsections (A) and (B) of this rule are not subject to this limitation.
The Cooperative will not disconnect service for nonpayment on any day, or beyond twelve noon (12:00 noon) of the day immediately preceding any day, on which the Cooperative's office is not open to the public.
(F) Except as otherwise provided herein, electric service to any residential member shall not be disconnected for a violation of a service rule or regulation of the Cooperative or for the non?payment of a bill, except after seven (7) days prior written notice to such member by either:
(1) mailing the notice to such residential member at the address shown on the records of the Cooperative, in which case the notice may be included on the member's monthly billing; or
(2) personal delivery of the notice to the residential member or a responsible member of his/her household at the address shown on the records of the Cooperative; and
(3) the disconnect notice for nonpayment may be rendered prior to the date on which the account becomes delinquent either by including the notice on a billing rendered to the member or otherwise providing said notice.
The notice should be in language which is clear, concise, and easily understandable to a layman and shall state:
(1) the date of proposed disconnection;
(2) the basis and/or reason for the proposed disconnection; and
(3) the telephone number of the Cooperative's office which the member may call during regular business hours in order to question the proposed disconnection or seek information concerning his/her rights;
(G) Immediately preceding the actual disconnection of service, an employee of the Cooperative designated to perform the function shall make a reasonable attempt to identify him or herself to the member or any other responsible person then upon the premises and shall announce the purpose of his/her presence and shall make a record to be maintained for at least thirty (30) days.
The employee shall have in his/her possession information sufficient to enable the employee to inform the member or other responsible person the reason for disconnection, including the amount of any delinquent bill of the member, and shall request the member provide any available verification that the outstanding bill has been satisfied or is currently in dispute pursuant to review. Upon the presentation of credible evidence, service shall not be disconnected.
The employee may accept payment from the member, user, or other person in order to prevent the service from being disconnected. If an employee accepts payment, a receipt shall be given, and a collection fee shall also be paid.
When the employee has disconnected the service, the employee shall give to a responsible person at the user's premises or, if no one is at home, shall leave at a conspicuous place on the premises, a notice stating that service has been disconnected and stating the address and telephone number of the Cooperative where the user may arrange to have service reconnected.
(H) The Cooperative shall charge a reconnection fee and determine any other applicable fees that must be paid prior to the reconnection of the service unless alternate payment arrangements are made with the Cooperative Manager or his/her designee.
If the Cooperative disconnects service in a substantial violation of these service rules and regulations, service shall promptly be restored at no charge to the member.
The Cooperative will reconnect the service to the member or user as soon as reasonably possible but at least within one (1) working day after it is requested to do so except for circumstances beyond the control of the Cooperative, if the member has satisfied the requirements of these service rules and regulations.
Rule 16. Home Energy Assistance; Disconnection of Service to Recipients
(A) Consistent with Ind. Code § 8?1?2?121, without member request, the Cooperative will not, during the applicable moratorium period, disconnect electric residential service to a member who either is receiving or who is eligible for and has applied for assistance under Ind. Code § 12?14?11.
(B) During the moratorium period, the Cooperative may not disconnect service to such member if:
(1) The member's eligibility to receive benefits pursuant to Ind. Code § 12?14?11 is being determined by the department on aging and community services or its designee after the submission of a complete application for benefits by the member.
(2) The member has furnished to the Cooperative proof of his/her application to receive such benefits or the Cooperative has been so notified in writing by the department of aging and community services or its authorized representatives.
(C) This rule does not prohibit the Cooperative from terminating residential electric service upon the request of a member or under the following circumstances:
(1) If a condition dangerous or hazardous to life, physical safety, or property exists.
(2) Upon order by any court or other duly authorized public authority.
(3) If fraudulent or unauthorized use of electricity is detected, and the Cooperative has reasonable grounds to believe the affected member has
benefited from the use.
(4) If the Cooperative's regulating or measuring equipment has been tampered with and the Cooperative has reasonable grounds to believe that the affected member has
benefited from the tampering.
Rule 17. Member Complaints
(A) Complaint Procedure.
(1) Any member with a complaint which is not satisfactorily resolved by Cooperative staff or an employee may submit his/her complaint in writing to the Employee Member Relations Committee. The complaint should be made by completing the form available from the Cooperative at its business office. A complaint will be considered filed upon receipt by any member of the Employee Member Relations Committee, except mailed complaints shall be considered filed when received and date stamped by the Cooperative. The completed complaint form will be reviewed by the Committee and a response will be provided to the member. If the member filing the complaint is not satisfied with the Committee's response, he/she may then ask to meet with the Committee to discuss the complaint, which meeting will be conducted consistent with the Committee's practices and/or policies.
(2) Upon receiving a complaint, the Employee Member Relations Committee will promptly investigate the complaint, confer with the member when requested, and notify the member of the proposed good faith disposition of the complaint. The member may then pursue additional review of the matter by the Member Relations Committee, consistent with (A)(1) above and applicable policies or procedures adopted by the Board.
Rule 18. Informational Pamphlets and Rate Schedules
(A) The Cooperative will publish and distribute, to all applicants for service and shall make available to all current members, a pamphlet or other informational material containing the statement of non-discrimination.
(B) The Cooperative shall make available and provide upon request to all members a copy of the Cooperative's Bylaws and Service Rules and Regulations.
(C) The Cooperative will supply free of charge a copy of the rate schedules applicable to the types of service available to new applicants or current members, upon request.
(D) Whenever the Cooperative changes its residential or other base rate schedules, the Cooperative will provide its members with notice of this change at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date via the monthly newsletter, a bill stuffer, or another publication generally disseminated to members.
Rule 19. Standard Nominal Frequency
In supplying alternating current, the Cooperative will adopt a standard nominal frequency of 60 HZ. Momentary variations of frequency of more than five percent (5%), which are not due to lack of proper equipment or reasonable care by the Cooperative, shall not be considered a violation of this rule.
Rule 20. Standard Voltage and Permissible Voltage Variation
(A) The Cooperative shall adopt a standard nominal service voltage, or standard nominal service voltages, as may be required by the Cooperative's distribution system for its entire constant voltage service. The voltage maintained at the member's main service terminals shall be reasonably constant as follows:
(1) For residential service, the voltage shall be within eight percent (8%), plus or minus, of the standard adopted. The voltage standard adopted for single phase residential or small commercial service is 120/240 volts R.M.S.
(2) A greater variation of voltage than specified above may be allowed when service is supplied to a limited or extended area where members are widely scattered or when the loads served do not justify close voltage regulation. In such cases, the best voltage regulation practicable under the circumstances will be provided.
(B) Variations in voltage in excess of those specified, caused by the following, shall not be considered a violation of this rule:
(1) the operation of power apparatus on the member's premises which necessarily requires large starting current;
(2) the action of the elements; or
(3) infrequent and unavoidable fluctuations of short duration due to system operation.
Rule 21. Voltage Surveys and Records
The Cooperative shall have available suitable voltage measuring equipment to conduct voltage surveys in sufficient number and diversity to satisfy the Cooperative's compliance with the voltage requirements of these rules.
Rule 22. Monitoring Instruments
The Cooperative will install such instruments as may be necessary for the Cooperative to obtain complete information as to its monthly electrical energy purchases, unless the instruments are furnished by the supplying utility from whom the energy is purchased.
Rule 23. Interruptions of Service
The Cooperative will maintain a record of any interruption of service affecting its entire system or a major division thereof, including a statement of time, duration, extent and cause of the interruption.
Rule 24. Pole Identification
(A) The Cooperative will generally mark poles, posts, or other structures used for supporting electrical conductors with (1) the initials of its name, abbreviation of its name, corporate symbol, or other distinguishing mark by which the owner of each structure may be readily and definitely determined, and (2) a number by which the location of each structure may be described.
(B) The identification marks shall be made with pole tags, stamps, brands or other means as the Cooperative may elect to use, and the characters of the marks shall be of such size and so spaced and maintained as to be easily read by one standing on the ground.
(C) In the event another public utility jointly owns a structure with the Cooperative, the distinguishing mark of each public utility may be placed thereon.
Rule 25. Line Construction
In all cases not covered by specific statutes in effect, Part 2, "Safety Rules for the Installation and Maintenance of Overhead Electric Supply and Communication Lines", and Part 3, "Safety Rules for the Installation and Maintenance of Underground Electric Supply and Communication Lines", of the 1993 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code as approved by the American National Standards Institute July 10, 1992, as ANSI Standard C2, are prescribed for overhead and underground construction practice commenced after the date of promulgation of this rule; provided, however, that if the NESC is revised and the Commission adopts the revised edition for purposes of 170 IAC 4?1?26, the revised edition shall thereafter also be applicable for purposes of this rule, if the Commission has not adopted the revised edition but the Cooperative determines it should comply therewith, the Cooperative may do so.
Rule 26. Extension of Distribution Service Lines
(A) Cooperative's Responsibility. In addition to its existing statutory responsibilities, the Cooperative will, upon proper application for service, have the authority and obligation subject to the provisions of (E)(2) below to construct, own, operate and maintain the necessary electrical facilities for rendering service to the member's meter in the case of underground services, or
weather head in the case of overhead services.
(B) Extensions. The Cooperative shall, upon proper applications for service from overhead and/or underground distribution facilities, provide necessary facilities including special equipment (transformers and meters) for rendering adequate and sufficient service, without charge for the facilities, if the estimated total revenue for a period of two and one half (2 1/2) years to be realized by the Cooperative from permanent and continuing members on the extension is at least equal to the estimated total cost of the extension. If the proposed service extension exceeds two primary (greater than 600 volts) distribution line spans or involves the furnishing of underground primary (greater than 600 volts) electrical facilities a supplemental "Agreement for Electric Service", the form of which shall be specified by the Cooperative, shall be required to be executed between the Cooperative and service extension applicant(s) to ensure adequate monthly revenue (for a two and one-half year period) is received by the Cooperative to cover the full estimated cost of the service extension including the cost of any special equipment (meters, transformers, etc.).
(C) Extensions Exceeding Cost Limitations. If the estimated total cost of the service extension, including special equipment, required to furnish adequate and sufficient service is greater than the total estimated revenue from the extension during the first two and one-half years (thirty months) as provided in (B) above, the extension shall be made by the Cooperative under the following conditions:
(1) Upon proper application for the service extension a supplemental "Agreement for Electric Service", the form of which shall be specified by the Cooperative, shall be required to be executed between the Cooperative and service extension applicant(s) to ensure adequate revenue (for a two and one-half year period) is received by the Cooperative to cover the full estimated cost of the service extension including the cost of any special equipment (meters, transformers, etc.). The sum of the two and one-half year minimum monthly payments and any required up-front dollar payment to the Cooperative shall equal the estimated cost of furnishing necessary and sufficient facilities.
(2) If the service applicant(s) requests (or requires) that the service extension be installed by the Cooperative in a way or manner which is not the most economically feasible way or manner (pursuant to prudent engineering standards) to provide adequate and sufficient service, the service applicant(s) shall be required to pay up-front the dollar estimated cost difference between the most economically feasible extension and the estimated cost of any alternative service installation required or requested by the applicant(s). Such up-front dollar payment shall be received and accounted for by the Cooperative as a non-refundable aid to construction. Such amount shall be indicated and shown on the executed "Agreement for Electric Service".
(3) The Cooperative may require the applicant to pay the full cost of the line extension if the Cooperative estimates the cost of the extension and the prospective revenue to be received from it is so meager or undeterminable as to make it doubtful whether the revenue from the extension would ever pay a fair return on the investment involved in the extension, or (b) in a case of real estate development, with slight or no immediate demand for service, or (c) in the case of an installation requiring extensive facilities investment (defined as estimated facilities investment by the Cooperative exceeding $25,000).
(4) For each member, exclusive of the initial applicant(s) considered in the making of an extension, connected to the extension within the period of six (6) years from the completion of the extension, the Cooperative shall refund to the initial applicants, in proportion to their respective contributions toward the cost of the extension, an amount equal to two and one half (2 1/2) times the estimated annual revenue from such new member, less the cost, including special equipment, to service the new member. The total of all refunds to any initial applicant(s) shall never exceed the contribution of the applicant(s).
(D) Information.
(1) All estimates of costs as required in (B) above shall be determined by the Cooperative from actual experience.
(2) In the event that the applicant is required by (C) above to make any payment, the Cooperative will upon request make available to the applicant:
(a) the information used to establish the basis for the applicable amount; and
(b) the information used to establish the basis for the estimated total revenue for a period of two and one half (2½) years to be realized by the Cooperative from permanent and continuing members on the extension as required by this rule.
(E) Service Lines.
(1) The initial applicants in relation to (C) above shall agree to pay their portion of the estimated costs for primary facilities.
(2) For service (defined as the conductors and equipment for delivering energy, not to exceed 600 volts, from the electrical supply system to the wiring system of the premises served) the applicant shall not have the right to install Cooperative-maintained service lines. The Cooperative shall have no responsibility for service lines owned and installed by the applicant or member.
(F) Contract for Service. The Cooperative shall not be required to make an extension as provided in this rule unless the applicant(s) to be initially served by the extension upon its installation have entered into an "Agreement for Electric Service", the form of which shall be specified by the Cooperative, with the Cooperative setting forth the obligations and commitments of the parties. This may require the applicant(s) to provide a satisfactory guarantee to the Cooperative of the performance of the applicant(s) obligations
there under.
(G) Variations from Rule. This rule shall not be construed as prohibiting the Cooperative from making extensions without charge where the cost of the same is greater than provided in (B) above; provided no discrimination is practiced between applicant(s) or members whose service requirements are similar.
Rule 27. Member Modification Requests; Liability for Costs
If a member requests for his/her convenience or by his/her actions requires that Cooperative's utility facilities be redesigned, re-engineered, relocated, removed, modified or reinstalled, the Cooperative may require the member to pay the full cost of the work in advance of performing the service and execute a memorandum of understanding (or letter of agreement) specifying the responsibilities of the respective parties.
Rule 28. Rate Schedules, Rules, and Regulations
Copies of all schedules of rates for service, forms of contracts, charges for service connections and extensions, and of all rules and regulations covering the relationship between the member and the Cooperative shall be maintained in the office of the Cooperative in Osgood, Indiana, and shall be made available at no cost to members, upon request, affected thereby.
Rule 29. Saving Clause
The adoption of these service rules and regulations shall in no way preclude the Cooperative from altering or amending the same, in whole or in part, as deemed appropriate from time to time.
SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA RURAL ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION |
| | |
| |
|
ENERGY LIBRARY |
|
 |
| | | | | | | |
