AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RATES, DEPOSITS, INSTALLATION AND DELINQUENCY CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF RICH HILL AND DISCOUNTS FOR ALL ELECTRIC USAGE

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BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Rich Hill, Missouri as follows:

Section 1 – Rates

The rate users shall pay to the City for electricity is as follows:

The first 20 kilowatt hour $.2353 per kilowatt hour

Next 1480 kilowatt hour $.1398 per kilowatt hour

Next 2000 kilowatt hour $.1282 per kilowatt hour

Next 5000 kilowatt hour $.1158 per kilowatt hour

All kilowatt hour in excess of 8500 $.1146 per kilowatt hour

The minimum monthly charge to any customer shall not be less than $10.50.

Section 2 – Billings

All charges for electricity shall be due and payable on the first day of the month following the date of billing.

Section 3 – Delinquent Charges

If charges have not been paid prior to the opening of business hours on the 16^th day of each month, the user shall pay to the City a delinquency charge of 10% of the billing.

Section 4 – Extensions

A customer may receive one extension per year on that customer’s utility bill. The customer shall have an active account with the City for 6 months. A year shall run from January 1^st to December 31^st. The customer shall pay 25% of the bill at the time the extension is given and shall pay 25% per week until the bill is paid in full.

If a customer requires more than one extension per calendar year, the customer shall appear before the Board of Aldermen to request the additional extension.

Section 5 – Disconnection of services and fees

The City shall disconnect the services of any user who has not paid all charges by the 20^th day of the month following the date of billing except when a pledge is received from an entity that has a contract to make payments on the delinquent account.
If service is disconnected due to the user’s delinquency, the user shall pay to the City, in addition to all other charges provided herein, the user shall pay, in addition to all other charges provided herein, a fee for each trip made by the City, including disconnect trips and reconnect trips, before such service is reconnected as follows:

1) 1^st disconnection – $20.00 per trip;

2) 2^nd disconnection – $40.00 per trip;

3) 3^rd and subsequent disconnection – $80.00 per trip

Trip charges will reset when the service has gone one year without disconnect.
If services are turned on after normal business hours, an additional $40.00 overtime fee for each trip made during such period of time shall be imposed.
The City shall adopt the National Electrical Code of 1999 (NEC 1999). The City Superintendent shall disconnect services or send a written violation notice for unsafe or improper service connections in compliance with the NEC1999. The violation letter shall provide the customer a reasonable amount of time to comply with the requirements specified in the letter. Each case may vary due to the cause of non-compliance. The Board shall approve any non-compliance that takes longer than 60 days to meet the requirements set forth in the letter.

Section 6 – Meter Readings

The City shall read each meter every month on the 15^th day of the month or the closest working day to the 15^th. If the meter reader cannot get to the meter for any reason, the following steps shall be followed:

The first time the meter reading shall be estimated, and the user shall receive a letter stating the problem.
The second time the meter reading shall be estimated, the user shall pay an additional $50.00 charge; and the user shall receive a letter stating the problem.
The third time, services shall be disconnected and shall remain disconnected until the problem is resolved and all fees for disconnection have been paid.

Section 7 – Installation Fees

Connection fee $10.00
New 100 amp service $360.00 above ground $350.00 below ground
New 200 amp service $425.00 above ground

$400.00 below ground

An additional pole $150.00
Upgrade in service from 100-amp service

To 200-amp service will be same.

Any service larger than a 200-amp single phase $150.00 plus the costs of all materials
Single phase service:

The City shall install electric service from its distribution lines to the meter on the property abutting the distribution lines in so far as its current financial responsibilities, obligations and conditions shall permit; the charge for services to be paid to the City shall be the amount specified in these Rules and Regulations or as otherwise provided by the City, but in no event shall it be less than the cost to the City.

Moving a pole from one location to another location $200.00
Upgrading a service or a new service larger than 1 phase:

The customer shall pay for the cost of the materials, minus the cost of the meter, plus $50.00. After the service has been in operation for 90 days, the customer shall receive a credit for the cost of the materials, minus the cost of the meter, on their monthly billing in equal installments not to exceed $150.00 per month.

Businesses requiring a 3-phase transformer:

The customer shall pay for the cost of the transformer prior to ordering. The City shall install the transformer. After the business has been in operation for 90 days, the customer shall receive a credit for the cost of the transformer on their monthly utility bill in 12 equal installments. The City shall assume ownership and maintenance of the transformer. The City shall pay the cost of a replacement transformer in case of transformer failure.

Section 8 – Deposits – The deposit section will take effect on October 25, 2016.

Before services are connected, each customer shall complete a Rich Hill Customer Utility Application form that shall be submitted to the ONLINE UTILITY EXCHANGE reporting service.
A fee of $ 5 per applicant shall accompany the Customer Utility Application
Upon the basis of the report from the ONLINE Utility Exchange, the required deposit shall be as follows:

Green No deposit required

Yellow $150 plus payment in full of any outstanding monies owed to the City of Rich Hill

Red $300 plus payment in full of any outstanding monies owed to the City of Rich Hill

4. When a deposit is established at Yellow or Red a customer with active service may provide a 24 or 60 month history. Upon review by the office staff, customers with no late payments in the most recent 24 month period; or no shut off in the last 60 months and no more than two late fees in the most recent 12 months would move one up one level on the deposit tier. Additionally, customers with no late fees in the most recent five years would move to Green on the deposit tier.

5. When electric service is discontinued, at the request of the user or for delinquency in payment, the deposit for service shall be applied first to any delinquency charges owed to the City; the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the customer.

Section 9 – Services

Electric services shall be provided only to the individual that signs the original work order or to the owner of a business or industry. Services shall not be provided to anyone whose immediate household includes a member who has an unpaid bill.
Any person having an unpaid bill with the City shall not obtain utilities service by means of misrepresentation or by making application in the name of another family member or household member. If any person should obtain services in this manner, then the past bill shall become due and payable immediately, and the balance due shall be added to the customer’s next monthly utility bill. An unpaid bill is any account of indebtness owed to the City for utility services that has not been paid or satisfied within 60 days. If it is found that any person having an unpaid bill moves to a residence receiving services, a letter shall be sent with a payment plan. The plan shall state that payment arrangements on delinquent accounts $500 or less shall be paid in full within 90 days and over $500 shall be paid in full within 6 months from the date of the letter. Payments shall be made in equal amounts every month. If a payment is missed, services shall be disconnected at the current residence.

Section 10 – All-electric service discount

The City shall offer a discount on the electricity used by customers, provided that electricity is the only source of energy used.
A discount of $.0118999999 per kilowatt-hour shall be permitted
Any customer eligible for this discount shall make an application at City Hall stating the name of the business, if applicable, the name of the owner(s) and the location. The applicant(s) shall also attest that the energy used by the customer is totally electric.
When the customer has an alternate source of energy available for emergency backup such as an electrical power outage, the alternate energy source shall be stated in the application for the discount.
When a discount is given to a customer in error and the customer used another source of energy in addition to electricity, then the customer shall reimburse the City for the discount received.
If there are any other special conditions or considerations not already addressed in previous Sections of this ordinance, the applicant shall state such in the application for the discount.
The City Superintendent or his designated employee shall inspect the residence, and if no discrepancies are found, the discount shall be applied in the next billing cycle.
If the discount is approved, the new rates shall be as follows:

The first 50 kilowatt hour $.2234 per kilowatt hour

Next 1480 kilowatt hour $.1279 per kilowatt hour

Next 2000 kilowatt hour $.1163 per kilowatt hour

Next 5000 kilowatt hour $.1039 per kilowatt hour

All kilowatt hour in excess of 8500 $.1027 per kilowatt hour

A minimum monthly charge to a customer shall not be less than $ 10.50.

Section 11 – Security Lights

A customer may request a security light for their property for $8.50 per month.
The customer shall pay the City the cost of the light, plus 10% for maintenance and the installation of the light on an existing pole. If the customer requires a pole, the customer shall pay $150.00 for the pole.

Section 12 – Work Meters

If a customer has an existing account with the City, the customer may receive a two-week work meter to perform any necessary work to the house or the property. The fee for the work meter is $25.00, plus the normal electric rate. A customer shall only have 2 work meters per year.

Section 13 – Test Meters

If a customer feels their meter is reading inaccurately, the City shall provide the customer a new meter if the customer pays the charges for testing the current meter or the customer pays $150.00 for the installation of a logger on the meter. The customer shall pay the current cost of the meter testing or the logger fees before the new meter or logger will be installed. If the test findings show the meter has been running incorrectly by at least 1%, the testing costs shall be refunded to the customer.

All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.

This ordinance shall be in force and affect from and after its passage and approval as provided by law.[i]

First reading on this 12^th day of December 2018

Second reading on this 12^th day of December 2018

PASSED THIS 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2018

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Jason Rich, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Brittany Schenker, City Clerk

Ayes: Humble, Pilcher, Robb, Kassner

Nays: None

[i] For informational purposes, this Ordinance replaces the following: Ordinance 1663, enacted December 12^th, 2017: which replaced Ordinance 1640, enacted March 14^th, 2017, which replaced Ordinance 1631, enacted December 13, 2016: which replaced Ordinance No. 1619, enacted September 27, 2016: which replaced Ordinance No. 1608, enacted on July 26, 2016; Ordinance No. 1530, enacted on February 8, 2016; which replaced Ordinance No. 1511, enacted on May 26, 2015; which replaced Ordinance No. 1426, enacted on October 28, 2014; which replaced Ordinance No. 1391, enacted on February 28, 2013; which replaced Ordinance No. 1350, enacted on June 22, 2010; which replaced Ordinance No. 1338, enacted on June 9, 2009; which replaced Ordinance No. 1333, enacted on March 24, 2009; 1309, enacted on April 22, 2008; which replaced Ordinance No. 1291, enacted on July 24, 2007; which replaced Ordinance No. 1277, enacted on November 14, 2006; which replaced Ordinance No. 1274, enacted on October 10, 2006; which replaced Ordinance No. 1260, enacted on March 28, 2006; which replaced Ordinance No. 1255, enacted on January 24, 2006; which replaced Ordinance No. 1247, enacted on October 11, 2005; which replaced Ordinance No. 1215, enacted on June 22, 2004; which replaced Ordinance No. 1154, enacted on October 8, 2002 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 1137, enacted on October 23, 2001; which replaced Ordinance No. 1134, enacted on September 25, 2001(changed all electric discount rate); which replaced Ordinance No. 1063, enacted on November 26, 1996 (Electric Utility Commission contract adopted); which replaced Ordinance No. 1061, enacted on September 10, 1996 (changed all electric discount rate); which replaced Ordinance No. 1042, enacted on March 28, 1995 (changed all electric rate discount); which replaced Ordinance No. 1005, enacted on October 22, 1991 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0998, enacted on June 26, 1990 (provided for use of electric meters); which replaced Ordinance No. 0995, enacted on December 28, 1989 (prohibited tampering with electric meters); which replaced Ordinance No. 0931, enacted on October 9, 1984 (established electric distribution line east of the City); which replaced Ordinance No. 0902, enacted on July 28, 1981 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0746, enacted on June 25, 1969 (adopted National Electric Code); which replaced Ordinance No. 0725, enacted on June 26, 1968 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0712, enacted on February 14, 1967 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0697, enacted June 11, 1963 (established discount rate for all electric); which replaced Ordinance No. 0694, enacted on March 13, 1962 (changed electric meter deposits); which replaced Ordinance No. 0691, enacted on September 22, 1959 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0654, enacted on April 16, 1947 (City authorized to cut and trim trees and brush from streets, alleys that interfered with electric lines); which replaced Ordinance No. 0631, enacted on December 26, 1939 (amended art.1, chapter XV of electric light plant) ; which replaced Ordinance No. 0606, enacted on September 22, 1931 (amended art.1, chapter XV of electric light plant); which replaced Ordinance No. 0507, enacted on March 1, 1923 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0477, enacted on November 1, 1920 (changed electric rates); which replaced Ordinance No. 0452, enacted on May 15, 1918 (repealed Section 9 of Ordinance No. 0410); which replaced Ordinance No. 0410, enacted on February 15, 1913 (established electric light plant).