POLICY NO. 401
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish
policy to provide for establishment of membership with the Cooperative.
II. CONTENT:
Any person,
firm, association, corporation, or public body shall sign a written
application, if requested, and shall pay a membership fee as prescribed by the
Board of Directors for the first separate service connected, whether metered or
unmetered, together with any service security deposit that may be required by
the Cooperative. Each additional service shall require a security deposit as
required by the Service Security Deposit Policy. When the application is
accepted by the Cooperative, it constitutes a contract and becomes operative on
the day the customer is connected to the Cooperative’s system. The member
agrees to purchase from the Cooperative all electric energy used on premises
and to be bound by the Cooperative’s Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws
and all rules, regulations and rate schedules established pursuant thereto, and
pay the minimum monthly bill stated in the application or applicable current
Rate Schedule, or in the event of a written contract for service, the minimum
set forth in said contract. Upon termination of membership, the membership fee
will be refunded or applied against any unpaid balance owed the Cooperative.
Since the Cooperative members are owners of the Cooperative, no interest will
be payable on membership fees except as may be required by State and Federal
Laws.
The Cooperative
shall not be required to furnish electric service to an applicant who at the
time of such application, is indebted to the Cooperative for service previously
furnished applicant as a member, or as an occupant of another household, or
furnished any other member or occupant of applicant’s household or business
until such indebtedness or any other indebtedness has been satisfied.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy
applies to all members and services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General
Manager will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date
Adopted: 7/25/06
Supersedes: 7/23/02
Attest: _________________
Secretary
Effective Date: November
1, 2006
POLICY NO. 402
SERVICE SECURITY DEPOSITS
I.
OBJECTIVE:
To establish
policy to prove a uniform program for collection of security deposits.
II.
CONTENT:
A.
A service security deposit shall be collected in advance of connecting
any service with respect to which the Cooperative determines that such deposit
is needed to assure payment of the bill and protection of the Cooperative’s
property on the member’s premises.
In determining
the need for service security deposits, and in fixing the amounts of such
deposits, the Cooperative will give careful regard to the following credit
factors:
1.
Type of service involved;
2.
Risk involved in a new business enterprise;
3.
The reputation of the involved premises;
4.
The credit rating of the member;
5.
History of connects, disconnects, and reconnects at the involved
premises or for the involved member;
6.
Where no billing history is available, the Cooperative will estimate
usage and bill amounts;
7.
The member’s payment history with the Cooperative;
8.
Information received in a letter of credit from a previous utility;
9.
Ability to provide satisfactory identification. (Satisfactory
identification of person(s) proposing to transact business with the Cooperative
is required. Employees may request identification from any applicant or
current member. Failure to provide proper identification shall be grounds for
withholding the service or completing the business transaction.);
10.
Any other factor having a realistic bearing on the member’s financial
dependability.
B.
Security Deposit Requirement
1.
Residential and Temporary Service for Residential Construction
The minimum
residential security deposit shall be in an amount prescribed by the Board of
Directors. The Cooperative shall charge a deposit not to exceed two times the
highest estimated or actual monthly bill.
a.
Waiver of Security Deposit – The minimum residential security deposit
may be waived upon credit factors determined by management.
b.
Exception – The Cooperative will not permit any member (or potential
member) to establish service in his name when to do so circumvents the
Cooperative’s rights of debt recovery under its Service Rules and Regulation,
Bylaws and Policies.
2.
Small Commercial
The
Cooperative will collect a security deposit not to exceed two times the highest
estimated or actual monthly bill.
3.
Political Subdivisions
The
Cooperative will not require security deposits from political subdivisions of
the Federal, State or local governments, unless credit factors indicate a
deposit should be required.
4.
Large Power
Deposits for
Large Power accounts will be determined by management on a case by case basis.
5.
Exceptions
The preferred
method of deposit is payment in cash to the Cooperative prior to service
connections. When deposits exceed $1,500.00, one of the following methods may
also be used at management’s discretion:
a. A surety bond;
b. The full amount of the security deposit may be deposited in a bank, mutually agreed upon between the Cooperative and the Member, with the bank as Escrow Agent.
C.
Additional Deposit
The Cooperative
reserves the right to require a deposit, or increase the existing deposit, at
any time, if in the judgement of the Cooperative, such deposit or increase in
deposit is necessary for its full protection.
D.
Security Deposit Refunds
Refund of
security deposits will be made without interest under the following conditions:
1.
As provided for in the written contract for service.
2.
Upon termination of service – The security deposit shall be refunded by
check, less any amounts the member may owe the Cooperative.
3.
Prior to service termination – Upon such conditions as may be
established by the Cooperative with respect to service risks of similar
characteristics.
Because the
Cooperative’s members are owners of the Cooperative, no interest will be
payable on security deposit, except as may be required by State or Federal
laws.
Security
deposits must be refunded in the same name as the member’s electric service account
and are not generally transferable. However, the transference of a security
deposit may be permitted in order to facilitate transferring an account from
the name of a deceased member to a succeeding family member.
III.
APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services.
IV.
RESPONSIBILITY:
The General
Manager will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: July
25, 2006
Supersedes: July
23, 2002
Attest: ______________
Secretary
Effective Date: November
1, 2006
POLICY NO. 403
ELECTRIC SERVICE BILLING RATES
I.
OBJECTIVE:
To establish
policy to provide and maintain a schedule of billing rates and service fees.
II.
CONTENT:
A.
Rate Schedules
All members
shall be billed on the rate deemed applicable by the Cooperative. When two or
more rates are available for certain classes or service, the conditions under
which each is applicable to requirements for the individual member will be
plainly set forth in the Cooperative’s published rate schedules.
The Cooperative
will, upon request, advise any member as to the rate best adapted to existing
or anticipated service requirements, as defined by the member, but, the
Cooperative does not assume responsibility for the selection of such a rate or
for the continuance of the lower annual cost under the rate selected should the
volume or character of service change.
A member having
selected a rate adapted to his service may not change to another rate within a
twelve month period unless there is a substantial change in the character or
conditions of this service. A new member will be given reasonable opportunity
to determine his service requirement before definitely selecting the most
favorable rate therefore.
A copy of the
Cooperative’s applicable rate schedules shall be on file at the Georgia Public
Service Commission and the Florida Public Service Commission and will be
provided at the offices of the Cooperative.
The rate
schedules will be reviewed and approved on a periodic basis by the Board of
Directors.
B. Fees
Schedule
The Board of
Directors shall review and approve a Schedule of Fees on a periodic basis.
These fees shall include, but not be limited to, such fees as Collection Fee,
Reconnect for Non-Payment Fee, Returned Payment Fee, Overtime Reconnect for
Non-Payment Fee, Meter Test Fee, Connection/Transfer Fee, Overtime
Connection/Transfer Fee, Extended Hours Reconnect for Non-Payment Fee,
Disconnect at Pole/Transformer Fee, E-Check Convenience Fee, Credit Card Convenience
Fee, E-Billing with Automatic Payment (credit), Service Call Fee, Security
Light Installation Fee, Minimum Residential Security Deposit, Membership Fee,
Unauthorized Service Connection Fee, Meter Tampering/Current Diversion Fee,
Underground Service Lateral Fees, Underground Primary Installation Fee,
Underground Primary Extension Fee, Underground Multiphase Primary Installation
Fee, Overhead/Underground Differential Fee, Cumberland Island Extension Fee,
Overhead Line Extension Fee, Temporary Service Fee, Preliminary Engineering
Review Deposit, OREMC Design Deposit, Special Equipment Fee, Outdoor Lighting
Fixture Installation Fee, Outdoor Lighting Underground Service Fee, Outdoor
Lighting Pole Installation Fees, Security Light Relocation Fees, Construction
Mobilization Fee and Hourly Rates.
III.
APPLICABILITY:
This policy
applies to all members and services.
IV.
RESPONSIBILITY:
The General
Manager will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: July
25, 2006
Supersedes: July
23, 2002
Attest: ______________
Secretary
Effective Date: November
1, 2006
POLICY NO. 404
ELECTRIC
METERING
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy to provide guidance in meter
reading and metering of services.
II. CONTENT:
Meter Reading
Meters will be read by the Cooperative. If the
meter is inaccessible, the Cooperative may estimate the billing until such time
as the meter becomes accessible. The Cooperative may prorate the accumulated
consumption over the period of time from the last reading of the meter to the
present reading, and render a correct statement.
Incorrect Reading of Meter
Corrections shall be made whenever meters are
incorrectly read. The correct reading shall be ascertained whenever possible
to reflect the correct usage.
Failure of Meter to Register Correctly
If a meter fails to accurately register or report
the correct consumption, the member’s bill for the current billing period (or
portion thereof) will be billed on an estimated consumption, which will be
based on the previous usage of the member. Consideration will be given to
consumption in months immediately preceding, consumption in similar period of
other years, comparative uses and sizes of connected loads, and other relevant
facts. Adjustments to prior billing periods will be done as specified in
Policy 405, Adjustment of Bills.
If a meter is tested and found to have over-registered
or under-registered by more than two percent due to calibration error, an
adjustment will be made in the bill as described under Policy 405, Adjustment
of Bills.
Meter Tests
The Cooperative, at its expense, will make periodic
tests and inspections of its meters in order to maintain them at a high
standard of accuracy.
The Cooperative will, upon request, test the accuracy
of a member’s meter upon the member paying a deposit equal to the Meter Test
Fee. If the meter, upon testing is found to be more than 2% (fast or slow) in
error the deposit shall be refunded to the member.
The Cooperative shall have the right, at its option
and at its expense, to place special meters or instruments on the premises of a
member for the purpose of special test of all, or any part of the member’s
load.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General Manager will be responsible for carrying
out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: July
25, 2006
Supersedes: July
23, 2002
Attest: _______________
Secretary
Effective Date: November
1, 2006
POLICY
NO. 405
ELECTRIC
SERVICE BILLING & COLLECTION
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish
policy to provide guidance on the billing and collection of electric service
revenue to Cooperative members.
II. CONTENT:
A. Billing and
Late Fees
All members shall be billed monthly at a time
determined by the Cooperative. Bills are due and payable upon receipt of the
bill. The bill shall be considered received by the member when the bill is
placed in the mail of the United States Postal Service. If the member has
requested e-mail billing, the bill shall be considered received by the member
when the bill is sent. The Cooperative is not responsible if a member fails to
receive an electric bill. Members are expected to promptly notify the
Cooperative of change of address or if they fail to receive a bill. Failure to
pay an electric bill for this reason will not exempt the member from having
electric service disconnected or from paying a late charge.
If a bill is not paid (received in the Cooperative
office) within fifteen days from the due date of the bill, a late charge will
be added, as prescribed by the Board of Directors, and a disconnect notice will
be mailed or e-mailed to the member. This notice will advise the member that
the account must be paid by a stated date to avoid disconnection of service.
Failure to receive said notice will not exempt the member from disconnection.
If a bill is not paid (received in the Cooperative
office) before the deadline stated on the disconnect notice, the account will
be subject to disconnection. The Cooperative has no obligation to attempt
field collection of past due bills.
Payment of bills may be made by mail, internet or in
person at the Cooperative’s offices. Payments sent through the U.S. Postal
Service or any other delivery service will not be considered paid until they
are received at the Cooperative office during regular office hours. Credit
Card payments will be assessed a Credit Card Convenience Fee in an amount
prescribed by the Board of Directors. E-Check payments will be assessed an
E-Check Convenience Fee in an amount prescribed by the Board of Directors.
If a member requests e-mail billing and one of the
Cooperative’s automatic payment options, the member will receive a monthly
credit in an amount prescribed by the Board of Directors. If the member
subsequently discontinues e-billing or automatic payment, then no credit shall
be given.
An interest
charge in an amount prescribed by the Board of Directors, will be added to all
bills left unpaid when a members service is disconnected. This interest will
be charged each year until the bill is paid.
An extension
may be granted to members for extenuating circumstances upon approval of the
General Manager or other such employee as he may designate from time to time.
B. Field
Collections, Disconnections for Failure to Pay and Reconnecting
The Cooperative
may attempt to collect amounts due prior to disconnection of service for
failure to pay. If field collection is attempted, a collection fee will be
charged and is due at the time of collection. The collection fee will be in an
amount as prescribed by the Board of Directors.
All members
whose service has been disconnected for failure to pay their bills shall be
required to pay a reconnection fee prior to reconnection for any reconnects
made during regular working hours. Normally, reconnection shall be made only
during regular working hours. However, reconnection requested and made during
other than regular working hours shall be made only upon the member’s agreeing
to pay an overtime reconnection fee or extended hours reconnection fee. Any
additional deposit required according to the Service Security Deposits Policy
must be paid prior to reconnection.
When it is
necessary to disconnect the service at the pole or transformer for non-payment,
meter tampering, or unauthorized use of service and the service is subsequently
reconnected, the member will be charged a Disconnect at Pole/Transformer Fee in
addition to the applicable reconnect for non-payment fee. In the event that
service is not reconnect for the same member at this location, the disconnected
account will be charged the Disconnect at Pole/Transformer Fee.
All
reconnection fees shall be in an amount prescribed by the Board of Directors.
The Cooperative
may deviate from this policy on cutoffs for delinquent bills only in accordance
with the following standards:
1.
When it is determined that enforcement of the policy will constitute an
undue hardship in relation to the amount of the delinquent bill and that
extension of credit for a fixed time, or arrangement for installment payment of
the bill, will not unduly impair the Cooperative’s ability to effectuate final
collection of the bill; or
2.
When the member involved establishes to the satisfaction of the
Cooperative that member’s failure to pay the bill has resulted from some
mistake on the Cooperative’s part or some mistake for which the member was not
responsible (other than failure to receive a bill or disconnect notice); or
3.
When the involved bill is a final bill covering service to a farm,
house, or other residential account and the main building thereof has been
destroyed by fire not caused by act of arson on the part of the member or
member’s family; or
4.
When to disconnect service might pose immediate danger to the member or
other persons due to illness.
5.
When it is determined that the consumer has a good credit rating with
the Cooperative and the risk involved in extending the credit will not unduly
jeopardize the ability of the Cooperative to collect the full amount of the
bill.
C. Returned
Payments
If the payment
for an electric bill or other indebtedness to the Cooperative, is returned for
insufficient funds, fraudulent transaction, hold on account, unavailable funds
or no account, a notice of disconnection will be sent, unless one was
previously sent for this past due bill. This notice will advise the member
that unless payment in cash, cashier’s check, or postal money order in an
amount equal to the amount of the payment plus a returned payment fee, as
prescribed by the Board of Directors, is received in the Cooperative office
within 5 days from date of the notice, service will be discontinued
immediately.
In no event,
will collection on a returned payment be delayed until the following month,
letting such member delay payment by such methods.
The collection,
disconnect and reconnect fees in Section B are applicable.
D. Connection/Transfer
Fee
A
connection/transfer fee, in an amount prescribed by the Board of Directors,
will be charged each time a service is connected or transferred during regular
working hours. An overtime connection/transfer fee, as prescribed by the Board
of Directors, will be charged each time a service is connected or transferred
outside normal working hours. Normally, these connections will be made only
during regular working hours.
E. Other
Reasons for Disconnecting Service
The Cooperative
reserves the right to discontinue the supply of electric service to any member
or members WITHOUT NOTICE for any of the following reasons:
1.
For fraudulent representation as to the use of electric service.
2.
Where a member’s equipment or wiring, or Okefenoke REMC equipment or
lines are creating or contributing to an imminent hazardous condition.
3.
For tampering with any service wires, meters, seal or any other
facilities belonging to Okefenoke REMC.
4.
For repairs or emergency operations.
5.
For unavoidable shortage or interruption of Okefenoke REMC’s source of
supply.
6. When necessary to
protect Okefenoke REMC from theft, fraud or abuse.
7. Upon cancellation of
contract and vacating of the premises by the member.
8. For
an unauthorized electrical connection.
9. For
the use of equipment which adversely affects Okefenoke REMC’s service to
its other members.
The
Cooperative reserves the right to discontinue the supply of electric service to
any member or members WITH REASONABLE NOTICE for any of the following
reasons:
1.
For non-payment of a bill for service rendered, including any late
payment charge.
2.
For refusal of access to Okefenoke REMC’s equipment as defined in Policy
407.
3.
For failure to install meter base on an outside wall of the structure
being served to permit access to the meter at all times.
4.
Where a member’s equipment or wiring, or Okefenoke REMC’s equipment or
lines, are creating or contributing to hazardous condition.
5.
For violation and or non-compliance with any applicable State or Local
law, regulations and codes pertaining to electric service.
6.
For non-compliance with bylaws, policies, rules and regulations of the
Cooperative.
The
discontinuance of service for any of these causes does not release the member
from the obligation to pay for energy received, or the charges specified in any
existing contract or policy.
F. Adjustment
of Bills
Based on Members
Request for Test:
An adjustment
of past bills for service will be made if the meter is tested and found to be
in excess of 102% average accuracy. The amount of adjustment shall be
calculated on the basis that the metering equipment should be 100% accurate.
For kilowatt and kilowatt-hours meters, the average shall be the average of
percent indicated at light load and at heavy load, giving the heavy load
indication a weight of four.
The records of
the member’s energy usage and previous tests will be reviewed and a mutually
acceptable agreement reached between the member and Cooperative as to when the
error began.
Meters testing
below 98% average accuracy will be adjusted based on the above averaging
method. The Cooperative will review the member’s energy usage and all other
pertinent information, but any adjustment made will be limited to the previous
six months.
Other
Adjustments:
Whenever it is
found that for any reason other than incorrect calibration or meter tampering,
the meter apparatus has not registered or reported the true consumption or that
the member was billed incorrectly due to an error in rate, fees or any other
charges, the member’s account will be adjusted.
If the Cooperative,
after exercising due diligence, is unable to determine the exact date that the
billing error began, the adjustment will be based on the period of time that it
can reasonably confirm that the billing error occurred.
If the adjusted
bills are less than billed to the consumer, the account will be adjusted
throughout the entire period of incorrect billing. If the adjusted bills are
more than the consumer was billed, the account will be limited to the previous
six months and the member will be allowed to pay this adjusted amount in
installments. The number of installments will be no less than the number of
months adjusted.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy
applies to all members and services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General
Manager will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: July
25, 2006
Supersedes: December
28, 2004
Attest: _______________
Secretary
Effective Date: November
1, 2006
POLICY NO.
406
METER
TAMPERING & CURRENT DIVERSION
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy to provide guidance in situations
where meter tampering, current diversion or cut meter seals have been found.
II. CONTENT:
A. Meter Seals
All meters on lines of the Cooperative shall be sealed
at all times and no seal shall be broken without permission from an employee of
the Cooperative. Upon giving permission for any seal to be broken, a service
order to reseal the meter shall be created and printed immediately.
It shall be the responsibility of each and every
member to see that the meter seal at their premises is not broken or tampered
with. Upon finding any seal broken, an investigation shall be made. Broken
meter seals will constitute grounds for questioning the accuracy of meter
registration and the possibility of meter tampering. If it is determined that
there was no valid reason for the seal to be cut, the member will be charged a
Cut Seal Fee as prescribed by the Board of Directors.
B. Unauthorized Service Connection
When it becomes evident that tampering with the
Cooperative’s metering equipment for the purpose of connecting electric service
has occurred, then it will be the policy of the Cooperative to disconnect the
service immediately and without notice. The following conditions must be met
before service will be restored:
1. Payment of an unauthorized service
connection fee.
2. Payment of a reconnect for
non-payment fee during regular working hours. An overtime reconnect for
non-payment fee must be paid if service is reconnected after regular working
hours.
3. Payment for all kWh used and any
other amounts owed to the Cooperative.
4. The member must agree to comply
with reasonable requirements to protect the Cooperative against further
infractions.
5. The member’s deposit will be
reviewed in accordance with the Cooperative’s deposit policy. Any additional
increase in deposit is due to reconnecting the service.
6. The member must make payment of
all amounts required for reconnection at one of the Cooperative’s office before
the service is reconnected. The only acceptable form of payment is cash.
C. Meter Tampering and Current
Diversion
When it becomes evident that a member has tampered
with the Cooperative’s metering or service equipment for the purpose of
defrauding the Cooperative by attempting to prevent the full or complete
registration or recording or all energy and services used, then it will be the
policy of the Cooperative to disconnect the service immediately and without
notice. The following conditions must be met before service will be restored:
1.
Payment of a meter tampering/current
diversion fee.
2. Payment of a reconnect for
non-payment fee during regular working hours. An overtime reconnect for
non-payment fee must be paid if service is reconnected after regular working
hours.
3. The Cooperative reserves the right
to collect the difference between what the member has paid and the recalculated
bill before service is restored. The Cooperative reserves the exclusive right
to recalculate the billing on the account based on past billing history, the
highest twelve-months’ usage for this type service, and/or any other factors
deemed appropriate by the Cooperative.
4. The member must agree to comply with
reasonable requirements to protect the Cooperative against further infractions.
5. The member’s deposit will be
reviewed in accordance with the Cooperative’s deposit policy. Any additional
increase in deposit is due prior to reconnecting the service.
6. The member must make payment of
all amounts required for reconnection at one of the Cooperative’s office before
the service is reconnected. The only acceptable form of payment is cash.
D.
When service is disconnected
at the pole or transformer for meter tampering or unauthorized use of service
and is subsequently reconnected, the member will be charged a Disconnect at
Pole/Transformer Fee in addition to the fees specified in Section B and C. In
the event that service is not reconnected for the same member at this
location, the disconnected account will be charged the Disconnect at Pole/Transformer
Fee.
E.
The meter tampering fee,
unauthorized service connection fee, disconnect at pole/transformer fee,
reconnect fee and overtime reconnect fee will be in an amount as prescribed by
the Board of Directors.
The Cooperative reserves the right to take any legal
action it deems appropriate.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General Manager will be responsible for carrying
out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: July
25, 2006
Supersedes: April
26, 1994
Attest: ______________
Secretary
Effective Date: November
1, 2006
POLICY NO. 407
EASEMENTS,
RIGHT OF ACCESS AND PROTECTION OF COOPERATIVE PROPERTY
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy to provide guidance for acquiring
easements, right-of-way, right of access to member’s premises, and protection
of Cooperative property on member’s premises.
II. CONTENT:
A. Member
to Grant Easements to Cooperative if Required:
Each member, upon being requested to do so by the
Cooperative, shall execute and deliver to the Cooperative grants of easement or
rights-of-way over as defined in Policy 411, on and under such lands owned by
the member in accordance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the
Cooperative shall require, or the furnishing of electric service to the member
or other members or for the construction, operation, maintenance or relocation
of the Cooperative’s electric facilities.
B. Right
of Access:
The Cooperative’s identified employees shall have the
right of safe access, without interference from any hostile source, to the
member’s premises at all times for the purpose of reading meters, collecting
bills, disconnection of service, testing, repairing, removing, maintaining or
exchanging any or all equipment and facilities which are the property of the
Cooperative.
C. Protection
of Cooperative Property on Member Premises:
The member shall protect the equipment of the
Cooperative on the premises and shall not interfere with, alter, or permit
interference with, or alteration of meters or other property including load
management devices except by duly authorized representatives of the
Cooperative.
The cost of the necessary replacements and repairs to
correct damage to the property of the Cooperative due to, caused by, or arising
from carelessness, neglect, or misuse by unauthorized persons, shall be paid by
the person/persons responsible for such damage.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General Manager will be responsible for carrying
out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: April
26, 1994
Attest: ____________________
Effective Date: July
1, 1994
POLICY
NO. 408
GENERAL
CONDITIONS FOR MEMBER WITHDRAWAL
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy to provide conditions for member
withdrawal.
II. CONTENT:
A. A
member may voluntarily withdraw in good standing from membership upon compliance
with the generally applicable conditions set forth following:
1. Payment of any and all amounts due
the Cooperative, and cessation of and non-compliance with his membership
obligations; all as of the effective date of withdrawal; and either
a. Removal to other premises not furnished
service by the Cooperative; or
b. Ceasing
to use any central station electric service whatever at any of the
premises to which such service has been furnished by the Cooperative
pursuant to his membership; or
c. (With
the prior approval of the Board of Directors) resigning his membership
in favor of another applicant who shall own or directly occupy
or use the same premises to which the Cooperative has furnished
service pursuant to the resigning member’s membership.
B. Upon such withdrawal, the
member shall be entitled to a refund of his membership fee
and of any service connection or security deposit then held by the Cooperative.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General Manager will be responsible for carrying
out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: April
26, 1994
Attest: ____________________
Effective Date: July
1, 1994
POLICY NO. 409
FEES SCHEDULE
I.
OBJECTIVE:
To establish
policy to set fee amounts charged by the Cooperative.
II.
CONTENT:
Membership Fee 5.00
Minimum
Residential Security Deposit 100.00
Collection Fee 25.00
Connection/Transfer
Fee 25.00
Overtime
Connection/Transfer Fee 75.00
Extended Hours
Reconnect for Non-Payment Fee 110.00
Reconnect for
Non-Payment Fee 50.00
Overtime
Reconnect for Non-Payment F e e 85.00
Disconnect at
Pole/Transformer Fee 120.00
Service Call
Fee
75.00
Construction
Mobilization Fee 250.00minimum
or
actual
cost
Returned
Payment Fee
30.00
E-Check
Convenience Fee
0.60
Credit Card
Convenience Fee 3.00
E-Billing with
Automatic Payment (monthly credit) 0.60
Unauthorized
Service Connection Fee 150.00 minimum
or
actual
cost of
investigation
Meter Tampering
Fee/Current Diversion Fee 350.00 minimum or
actual
cost of
investigation
Cut Seal Fee
25.00
Meter Test Fee
10.00
Annual Interest
Rate
18% APR
Underground Service Lateral Fees.
Single
Phase Service Lateral 200 Ampere 160.00
Single
Phase Service Lateral in excess of 200 Amperes 400.00
Three
Phase Service Lateral 400.00
Overhead
Service Lateral Fees
Three
Phase Service Lateral 400 Amp or Less 400.00
Three
Phase Service Lateral, Greater than 400 Amp Feasibility Study
Cumberland Island Line Extension Fee est. 15.00 per foot
Temporary
Service Fee 50.00
Outdoor
Lighting Fixture Installation Fee 25.00
Outdoor
Lighting Underground Service Fee 1.50 per
foot
Outdoor Lighting Pole Installation Fees
Town
& Country Light
(Underground
System Only) 210.00
30 Foot Wood Pole 185.00
35 Foot
Wood Pole 210.00
40 Foot
WoodPole 320.00
45 Foot
Wood Pole 405.00
50 Foot
Wood Pole 460.00
Security Light
Relocation Fees
Light
Only 150.00
Light and
Pole 150.00
Plus Applicable
Pole Charges
Hourly Rates
Labor
37.50 per man-hour
Bucket/Derrick
Truck 22.00 per
hour
Pickup
7.50 per hour
III.
APPLICABILITY:
This policy
applies to all members and services.
IV.
RESPONSIBILITY:
The General
Manager will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: September
25, 2007
Supersedes: December
28, 2004
Attest: ___________________
Secretary
Effective Date: October
1, 2007
POLICY NO. 410
GENERAL LINE EXTENSION
I.
OBJECTIVE
To establish policy to provide for
extension of electric service facilities.
II.
CONTENT:
A. Overhead Line Extensions
1.
Permanent Residences
The Cooperative shall extend single-phase, overhead
electric service facilities to all permanent residences in the area served by
the Cooperative at the regularly established rates in accordance with Schedule
A of Policy No. 409. Necessary right-of-way easements must be secured at no
cost to the Cooperative.
A permanent residence is defined as one, which will be
the member’s principal dwelling and occupied the majority of the year.
A mobile home shall be considered a permanent
residence provided that it has a separate, individually utilized water and
septic system and is the member’s principal dwelling and occupied the majority
of the year. A mobile home utilizing public or community water and septic
systems shall qualify as a permanent residence provided that it is the member’s
principal dwelling and occupied the majority of the year.
2. Commercial, Industrial, Public Buildings and Installations
Single-phase, overhead electric service facilities
shall be extended to commercial/industrial or public buildings at the regularly
established rates in accordance with Schedule A of Policy No. 409. Necessary
right-of-way easements must be secured at no cost to the Cooperative.
3. Other Permanent Installations
Single phase, overhead electric service shall be extended
to all other installations not included in Sections II.A.1 or II.A.2 of this
Policy in accordance with Schedule B of Policy No. 409. Necessary right-of-way
easements must be secured at no cost to the Cooperative.
4.
Residential Developments
(Overhead)
Single phase, overhead electric service shall be
extended to residential developments in the area served by the Cooperative in
accordance with Schedule A of Policy No. 409. A recorded utility easement is
required prior to construction of any facilities.
5. Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting will be installed on existing poles
subject to payment of the Outdoor Lighting Fixture Installation Fee as
specified in Policy 409. In cases where a wooden pole must be installed to
mount the light, a contribution in aid of construction shall be required as
specified by the Outdoor Lighting Pole Installation Fee in Policy No. 409. If
the member requests installation of special types of poles not addressed in
Policy No. 409, the member shall be responsible for the full cost of such
special poles. Should the member request relocation of outdoor lighting
fixtures and/or poles, the Security Light Relocation Fees in Policy No. 409
will be applied. The Security Light Relocation Fees will also be applied for
the installation of a new light if the member has requested the removal of
outdoor lighting at the same general location in the previous twelve months.
Primary line extensions shall not be built to serve outdoor lighting without a
contribution-in-aid of construction for the full cost of the extension. No
outdoor lighting shall be installed on rental property except in the property
owners’ name.
B. Underground Line Extensions
Underground electric service shall be available under the following
terms and conditions:
1.
Residential Services
For individually constructed
new permanent residences where no primary construction is required, the
Cooperative will extend single-phase, 120/240 Volt electric service facilities
at the regularly established rates upon payment of Underground Service Lateral
Fee as specified in Policy No. 409. The member or the member’s electrical
contractor shall be required to install conduit from point of source to
member’s meter base as specified by OREMC.
In addition to the above,
extensions that require underground primary construction shall require a
contribution in aid of construction in accordance with Schedule C of Policy No.
409. If deemed necessary by the Cooperative, the member or the member’s
contractor shall be required to install conduit for the primary conductor to
the Cooperative’s specifications.
2.
Commercial, Industrial, Public Buildings and Installations
Single-phase, 120/240 Volt
underground electric service facilities shall be extended to commercial /
industrial or public buildings at the regularly established rates upon payment
of the appropriate Underground Service Lateral Fee as specified in Policy No.
409. The member or the member’s electrical contractor shall be required to
install conduit from point of source to member’s meter base as specified by
OREMC.
In addition to the above, extensions that require
underground primary construction shall require a contribution in aid of
construction in accordance with Schedule C of Policy No. 409. If deemed
necessary by the Cooperative, the member or the member’s contractor shall be
required to install conduit for the primary conductor to the Cooperative’s
specifications.
3.
Other Permanent Installations
Single-phase, 120/240 Volt
underground electric service facilities shall be extended to all other
installations not included in Sections II.B.1 or II.B.2 of this policy as
follows. Where no primary construction is required, the Cooperative will extend
Single-phase, 120/240 Volt underground electric service facilities to these
installations at the regularly established rates upon payment of Underground
Service Lateral Fees as specified in Policy No. 409. The member or the member’s
electrical contractor shall be required to install conduit from point of source
to member’s meter base as specified by OREMC.
In addition to the above, extensions that require
underground primary construction shall require a contribution in aid of
construction in accordance with Schedule C of Policy No. 409. If deemed
necessary by the Cooperative, the member or the member’s contractor shall be
required to install conduit for the primary conductor to the Cooperative’s
specifications.
4. Residential Developments (Underground)
For new residential
developments requiring underground electrical service, the developer shall be
required to install a total conduit system. The OREMC engineering department
shall design the conduit system, and the developer’s contractor shall install
the conduit system in accordance with OREMC‘s design and specifications. A
recorded utility easement will be required. The developer shall be responsible
for obtaining and compliance with any required National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (“NPDES”) permits.
The manual, “Procedures,
Standards, and Specifications for the Installation of Underground Electrical
Facilities for Residential / Commercial Developers” will be made available to
the developer. This document outlines the process and procedures the developer
must follow for the proper installation of the conduit system.
The developer shall be required
to pay in advance of construction, a non-refundable contribution in aid of
construction in accordance with Schedule C of Policy No. 409. Underground
service lateral fees and temporary service fees will be required as appropriate
for each service within the development.
In addition to the per-foot charges for underground
primary conductor outlined in Schedule C of Policy No. 409, the developer will
be required to submit a non-refundable Special Equipment Fee equal to the
installed cost of all special equipment (transformers, switchgear or
sectionalizing equipment) to be installed in the development.
5. Outdoor Lighting
Underground service to outdoor lighting will be
installed at the Cooperative’s discretion. If the lighting is to be installed
on an existing overhead pole deemed by the Cooperative to be in a suitable
location, the lighting will be installed upon payment of the Outdoor Lighting
Fixture Installation Fee specified in Policy 409. In cases where a pole must be
installed to mount the light, a contribution in aid of construction shall be
required as specified by the Outdoor Lighting Pole Installation Fee in Policy
No. 409. In instances where the member requests the installation of outdoor
lighting at a location other than immediately adjacent to Cooperative equipment
to supply the light, a contribution in aid of construction shall be required as
specified by the Outdoor Lighting Underground Service Fee in Policy No. 409.
The member or the member’s contractor shall be
required to install conduit for the underground service conductor to the
Cooperative’s specifications. If the member requests installation of special
types of poles not addressed in Policy No. 409, the member shall be responsible
for the full cost of such special poles. Should the member request relocation
of outdoor lighting fixtures and/or poles, the Security Light Relocation Fees
in Policy No. 409 will be applied. The Security Light Relocation Fees will also
be applied for the installation of a new light if the member has requested the
removal of outdoor lighting at the same general location in the previous twelve
months
Primary line extensions shall not be built to serve
outdoor lighting without a contribution in aid of construction for the full
cost of the extension. No outdoor lighting shall be installed on rental
property except in property owners’ name.
6. Conversion of Overhead to Underground
Members requesting conversion of existing overhead
electric facilities to underground distribution facilities shall be responsible
for all costs associated with the conversion, including cost of removal for the
overhead facilities and the cost of construction for the new underground
facilities
7. Cumberland Island
Members requesting electric service on Cumberland Island shall be required to make a contribution in aid of construction from
point of source to point of service as determined by actual construction
costs. Prior to construction by the Cooperative the member shall make payment
to the Cooperative of the estimated construction cost as determined by the
Cumberland Island Line Extension Fee as specified in Policy 409.
Upon close-out of the construction work order, any
contribution in aid of construction paid in excess of actual construction costs
shall be refunded to the member.
In addition to the foregoing requirements, the
following requirements shall also apply to any underground line extension:
1. Underground electric service will not be provided in established wetland areas
except where as the consumer and or developer provides a total conduit system according to OREMC specifications.
2. All underground services shall require installation by the consumer of a conduit
system from point of source to point of service according to OREMC specifications.
3. The owner or developer shall provide, without cost to
the Cooperative clear
(free of stumps, debris, and other obstructions) easements
and rights-of-way, suitable for the installation, operation, and
maintenance of underground facilities. The owner or developer will be
required to have the rights-of-way and all streets, alleys, sidewalks, and
driveway entrances graded to final grade, and will have lot lines
established before construction of the electrical distribution
system begins.
4. The Cooperative shall determine the
preferred method of service
based on good engineering design, applicable
construction codes and specifications, economics, and other
pertinent factors. If the preferred method of service is not
acceptable, the member will be required to pay a contribution in aid of
construction equal to the estimated additional cost to provide
service by the non-preferred method.
5. The owner or developer will reimburse the
Cooperative for the cost of cutting
through and replacing pavement
within the development, and all costs of punching and/or boring.
6. If underground facilities are desired, it shall be the
responsibility of the
owner/developer to provide all necessary protection for
items including, but not limited to: shrubs, trees, grass sod, irrigation,
water and septic systems during installation and/or maintenance of underground
facilities. The owner or developer will hold the Cooperative and/or its
subcontractors harmless against any claims of such damage. Plants, shrubs and
trees shall not be planted any closer than ten feet from the front, or five
feet from the side or rear of any electrical equipment, transformer, junction
boxes, etc. It will be the responsibility of the owner or developer to re-seed
and/or maintain the trench cover.
C. Three
Phase Service
The Cooperative will not normally extend three-phase
service to installations that can be adequately served by single-phase
service. Exceptions may be made where the installation is in close proximity
to existing multi-phase lines. In such cases where no primary construction is
required, the Cooperative will make available three phase service facilities at
the regularly established rates upon payment of the appropriate Overhead or
Underground Service Lateral Fee as specified in Policy No. 409.
For overhead three phase service 400 Amp or less, this
fee includes the service conductor. For overhead three phase service in excess
of 400 Amp, a feasibility study will be performed by the Cooperative to
determine the amount of the Three Phase Overhead Lateral Fee.
For 200 ampere, three phase underground service, the
Three Phase Service Lateral Fee includes the service conductor, with the member
providing and installing the service conduit to Cooperative specifications. For
three phase underground services in excess of 200 ampere, the member shall
provide, install, and maintain the service conduit and conductor to Cooperative
specifications.
For installations requiring three-phase service at a
distance from multi-phase lines, a feasibility study will be done by the
Cooperative to determine the amount of contribution-in-aid of construction
required
If the proposed construction is consistent with long
range system planning, the required contribution may be mitigated.
D. Temporary Services
1. Overhead Temporary for
Construction
Temporary service of 120/240 volts, single-phase, will
be furnished for construction upon payment of the temporary service fee as
specified in Policy 409, provided that permanent service is to be furnished by
the Cooperative. In addition to the above, extensions that require primary
construction shall require a contribution in aid of construction in accordance
with Schedule A or Schedule B of Policy No. 409. The member applying for
temporary service shall be required to furnish and install temporary service
equipment conforming to the Cooperative’s wiring standards and shall be
installed at a location approved by the Cooperative.
2. Underground Temporary for
Construction
Temporary service of 120/240 volts, single-phase, will
be furnished for construction in areas where the Cooperative has underground
facilities in place or the permanent service will be underground. Such
installation shall require payment of the Temporary Service Fee specified in
Policy 409, provided that permanent service is to be furnished by the
Cooperative. In addition to the above, extensions that require primary
construction shall require a contribution in aid of construction in accordance
with Schedule A, Schedule B, or Schedule C of Policy No. 409. The temporary
service equipment must be located immediately adjacent to the pad-mount
transformer or secondary junction box provided by the Cooperative. Temporary
service equipment shall conform to the Cooperative’s wiring standards and shall
be installed at a location approved by the Cooperative.
3. Service to Temporary Loads
Service will be extended to temporary loads upon
receipt of a contribution in aid of construction equal to twice the estimated
construction cost to provide the service.
E. Contributions In Aid Of Construction
Any required contribution in aid of construction shall
be paid prior to construction of facilities.
If determined to be in the best interest of the Cooperative,
contributions in aid of construction may be modified or waived upon approval of
the Cooperative’s General Manager or his designee.
Special consideration may be given to members who pay
aid in construction charges when other members may be reasonably expected to
take service from the line extension.
F. Facilities Extension Ownership
All line extensions, service wire and connections, no
matter who pays or contributes toward paying the cost thereof, are to be made
by the Cooperative and remain the property of the Cooperative. The Cooperative
shall not be required to serve any consumer over a line built, owned, operated,
or maintained by the member or a third party.
All property of the Cooperative placed in or upon the
member’s premises, used in supplying service to the member, is placed there
under the member’s protection. The cost for any loss or damage to such
property, normal wear and tear excepted, shall be payable by the member.
The Cooperative shall have access to such property at
all reasonable times. The member shall not commit or cause or permit any act
that will or may result in damage to or loss of such property or in the loss of
life or injury to any person, or the loss of or damage to any property, in
relation to such property.
III.
APPLICABILITY
This policy applies to all members and applicants for
service of the Cooperative.
IV.
RESPONSIBILITY
The General Manager or his designee will be
responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: September 25,
2007
Supersedes: July 23, 2002
Attest: ____________________
Secretary
Effective Date: October 1, 2007
POLICY
NO. 411
RIGHTS-OF-WAY
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy for procurement of rights-of-way
by applicants for service and to provide for the clearing, reclearing, and
maintenance of rights-of-way by the Cooperative.
II. CONTENT:
Right-of-way easements are required of landowners for
the purpose of providing location of and access to electric distribution lines
for construction, operation and maintenance.
A. Procurement
by Applicants
Applicants for service may be required to secure to,
and for, the Cooperative all necessary and convenient rights-of-way and to pay
the costs of securing same.
Applicants for service shall also be responsible for
initial clearing of rights-of-way necessary for line extensions for provision
of service unless the Cooperative determines that it is in the best interests
of the Cooperative to provide said initial clearing.
B. Delays
Applications for service for an extension to be
constructed where right-of-way is not owned by the Cooperative will only be
accepted subject to delays incident to obtaining satisfactory right-of-way,
highway and railroad crossing permits, or other permits which may be required.
Satisfactory right-of-way clearance for electric lines
to the point of delivery of a new service must be accomplished before the
service connection will be made.
C. Clearing,
Reclearing, and Maintenance of Rights-of-Way
Normally, only a 20 foot right-of-way may be
required. Exceptions from this normal range will be made only by special
arrangement in consideration of the Cooperative’s requirements and conditions
affecting the landowner’s property.
The Cooperative shall have the rights of ingress and
egress from the premises at reasonable times and as required, and shall have
the right to cut and trim trees and shrubbery to the extent necessary to keep
them clear of the electric lines and meter bases and to cut all dead, weak, and
dangerous trees which may endanger the line by falling.
The member shall allow the Cooperative to clear and
trim trees which will endanger the lines of the Cooperative and imperil service
to that member or other members. The member shall refrain from:
1. Planting trees, shrubs, etc.,
along the Cooperative’s right-of-way which may at some time in the future
endanger the lines.
2.
Placing structures on the
right-of-way. If the member does place vegetation or structures within the
right-of-way, the Cooperative will not be responsible for damages done to
same. Members shall gain the approval of the Cooperative before placing fences
on the right-of-way. Members may be required to install gates at locations
designated by the Cooperative to ensure that access to Cooperative facilities
is not inhibited.
3. Planting trees, shrubs, etc.,
around underground transformers.
The Cooperative shall use all reasonable care and
diligence in the clearing, reclearing, and maintenance of rights-of-way. The
Cooperative shall make reasonable attempt to give notice to the landowners of
scheduled or planned clearing and reclearing and alterations within the
existing right-of-way.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and applicants for
service of the Cooperative.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
or his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Approved: April 26, 1994
Attest: ___________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY
NO. 412
STANDARD
SUPPLY VOLTAGES
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish standard supply voltages available in the
Cooperative’s service territory.
II. CONTENT:
One system of alternating current, 60 Hz, is supplied
throughout the Cooperative’s system.
The voltages, number of phases, and type of metering
which will be supplied depends upon the Cooperative’s facilities available and
upon the character, size, and location of the load to be served. Therefore,
the member shall consult the Cooperative before proceeding with the purchase of
installation of wiring or equipment. To avoid misunderstanding, this
information should be in writing.
The standard secondary voltages described below are
nominal and are subject to a plus or minus ten percent variation:
Single-phase 2-wire 120
volts
Single-phase 3-wire 120/240
volts
Three-phase 4-wire 120/208
volts
Three-phase 4-wire 120/240
volts*
Three-phase 4-wire 240/480
volts*
Three-phase 4-wire 277/480
volts
*Note: These voltages are not available
form pad-mounted transformers.
The standard primary voltages described below are
nominal and are subject to a plus or minus ten percent variation:
Single-phase 2-wire 7200
volts
Single-phase 2-wire 14400
volts
Three-phase 4-wire 7200/112470
volts
Three-phase 4-wire 14400/24940
volts
It will not be considered a violation when voltages
outside of the prescribed limits are caused by any of the following:
1.
Action of the elements;
2.
Service interruptions;
3.
Temporary separation of parts of
the system from the main system;
4.
Infrequent fluctuations not
exceeding five minutes duration;
5.
Other causes beyond the control of
the Cooperative.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services of the
Cooperative.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
of his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Approved: April 26, 1994
Approved: ____________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY
NO. 413
COOPERATIVE’S
LIABILITY
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish
policy to limit the liability of the Cooperative for damages that occur due to
acts or occurrences beyond the control of the Cooperative.
II. CONTENT:
The Cooperative
will use reasonable diligence in furnishing a regular and uninterrupted supply
of energy, but does not guarantee uninterrupted service. The Cooperative shall
not be liable for damages in case such supply should be interrupted or fail by
reason of an act of God, the public enemy, sabotage, accidents, labor disputes,
orders or acts of civil or military authority, breakdowns or injury to the
machinery, transmission lines, distributions lines or other facilities of the
company, extraordinary repairs of any other cause whatsoever, or, by reason of
any act of the Cooperative including the interruption of service to any
consumer, taken to prevent or limit the extent or duration of interruption,
instability or disturbance on the electric system of the Cooperative or any
electric system interconnected, directly or indirectly, with the Cooperative’s
system, whenever such act is necessary or indicated in the sole judgement of
the Cooperative. The Cooperative shall not be liable for damages to a member’s
premises, including but not limited to a member’s electronic equipment, caused
by lightning transmitted over or through the Cooperative’s transmission and/or
distribution lines to the member’s premises.
Unless otherwise
provided in a contract between the Cooperative and the member, the point at
which service is delivered by the Cooperative to the member, to be known as
“delivery point”, shall be the point at which the member’s facilities are
connected to the Cooperative’s facilities. The Cooperative shall not be liable
for any loss, injury or damage resulting from the member’s use of his equipment
or occasioned by the energy furnished by the Cooperative beyond the delivery
point.
The member shall
provide and maintain suitable protective devices on his equipment to prevent
any loss, injury or damage that might result from single-phasing conditions or
any other fluctuation or irregularity in the supply of energy. The Cooperative
shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage resulting from a
single-phasing condition or any other fluctuation or irregularity in the supply
of energy which could have been prevented by the use of such protective
devices.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy
applies to all members and services of the Cooperative.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the
responsibility of the General Manager or his designee to carry out the
provisions of this policy.
Date Approved: April 26, 1994
Approved: ____________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY
NO. 414
CO-GENERATION
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish guidelines for any Cooperative member
desiring to co-generate electric energy.
II. CONTENT:
Any member wishing to become a co-generator or small
power producer shall meet all rules and regulations of the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) Sections 201 and 210, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 70 issued March 13, 1980
(45FR17959), and the Cooperative.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to any member of the Cooperative
desiring to become a co-generator.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
or his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Approved: April 26, 1994
Approved: ____________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY
NO. 415
RESALE
OF POWER
I. OBJECTIVE:
To prohibit resale of electricity by members of the
Cooperative.
II. CONTENT:
Members shall not directly resell energy for any
purpose. Members shall not divert electric energy to other premises or use it
for purposes other than those permitted by the bylaws, rules and regulations of
the Cooperative, and by state or local laws, rules, and codes.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services of the
Cooperative.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
or his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Approved: April 26, 1994
Approved: ____________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY NO.
416
SERVICE
CONNECTIONS, MEMBER WIRING, MEMBER EQUIPMENT
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy that ensures adequacy and proper
installation of member wiring and equipment.
II. CONTENT:
A. Service
Connections
1. The Cooperative will furnish and
install only one service drop to a
metered point. The member must furnish a
point of attachment for the Cooperative’s service facilities which will meet
the National Electrical Safety Code, the National Electric Code, State, Local
and Cooperative requirements.
2. The point of attachment furnished
by the member must be designated by
the Cooperative to ensure construction at a
reasonable cost and in accordance with sound engineering practices.
3. The Cooperative’s responsibility
for installation and/or maintenance of service
facilities except load
management devices shall not extend beyond the point of attachment to the
member’s building, central distribution point, or the electric power measuring
device.
4. When the member’s service
requirements are of such nature that a point of
attachment must be located on a
pole, the member will be responsible for furnishing and installing the pole.
5. No more than one residence, mobile
home or separate business will be served
through one meter.
6. All service facilities and
equipment constructed and installed by the
Cooperative shall remain the sole
property of the Cooperative and shall not become part of the property of
premises to which said facilities are attached or on which said
facilities are constructed.
B. General
Wiring Requirements
1. The Cooperative’s responsibility
extends only to the supplying of service at the
point of attachment. Any
change to electrical installations must meet standards of the National Electrical
Code, Sate, County, Local, and Cooperative requirements.
2. The member assumes full
responsibility for the power on member’s
premises from the point of attachment
thereof and for the wires, apparatus, devices, and appurtenances thereon, used
in connection with the service except for load management devices. The member
shall indemnify, save harmless, and defend the Cooperative against all claims,
demands, cost of expense for loss, damage or injury to persons or property in
any manner directly or indirectly arising from, connected with, or growing out
of, the transmission or use of power by the member at or on the member’s side
of the point of delivery.
3. It is the responsibility of each
member to cause all premises receiving
electric service to become and remain
wired in accordance with the specifications and requirements of the
Cooperative, the National Electrical Code, and any requirement of local
government agencies having jurisdiction over the installation of electric
wiring. Reference copies of the National Electric Code are on file at
Okefenoke Offices in Hilliard, Florida, Kingsland, Georgia and Nahunta,
Georgia.
4. In the event of a known hazardous
condition or potentially hazardous
condition because of a violation of
requirements, electric service will not be connected until the condition is
corrected. In the event service is being received, the member will be notified
by certified mail with copy to County or Local Inspector, if applicable, that
if the deficiencies are not corrected in a reasonable time, service may be
discontinued.
5. Where applicable, members will be
required to conform with existing State,
County and Local wiring regulations.
C. Member
Equipment
1. All motor installations on the
Cooperative’s lines must conform to the
rules and regulations as set forth in
the National Electrical Code, and such other codes as may be applicable. All
motors, single and three-phase, above ten (10) horsepower must be approved by
the Cooperative before installation. All motors or other apparatus requiring
unchanged phase rotation and/or continuity of three-phase supply shall be
equipped with suitable protection against reversal or phase failure.
2.
Where auxiliary or standby power
is installed by the member to provide
emergency power, parallel operation of
the member’s generating equipment with the Cooperative’s system will not be
allowed. A double throw switch must be used to prevent possible injury to
Cooperative workmen by making it impossible for power to be fed back into the
main line from the emergency generator. Any generator found connected to
wiring system without an approved double throw switch shall be cause for
disconnecting service.
3. Members desiring to operate
electric welders or other devices with high
inrush or fluctuating currents must
supply the Cooperative with information regarding the electrical
characteristics of the equipment. Service will not be allowed to equipment
which adversely affects the Cooperative’s equipment or the service to the
members. The Cooperative should be consulted before the purchase of
installation of the equipment.
4. The member shall own, maintain,
and operate all substations and
transforming equipment where voltage, phase, or
frequency is desired other than that under which service is rendered and metered.
a. All protective devices required by these
regulations shall be
provided by the
member and at the member’s sole expense.
b.
In order for the Cooperative to
provide proper voltage
and give the best service possible, it is important that
members notify the Cooperative when new equipment or major appliances are added
such as: electric range, electric water heater, electric clothes dryer,
heating and air-conditioning units or large electric motor (5 horsepower or
larger). This will give the Cooperative representatives the opportunity to
check to determine if the transformer, and wire size are large enough to take
care of the member’s new equipment.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services of the
Cooperative.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
or his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: April
26, 1994
Attest: ____________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY NO.
417
ELECTRIC
METERING EQUIPMENT
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy for the application and
installation of electric metering equipment.
II. CONTENT:
All meter bases should be installed on an exterior
surface or pole as nearly as possible at eye level. Upon receipt of the
application for service, an authorized representative of the Cooperative shall
approve the location of the meter center in a mutually agreeable location.
All meter installations shall be made in accordance
with the National Electric Code and all other applicable codes.
All meters shall be placed ahead of all switches and
protective devices unless otherwise agreed to by the Cooperative.
For large single-phase installations of over 200
amperes and for three-phase installations, the Cooperative shall specify the
type of metering equipment required before installation of same.
In case of new line construction requiring the
relocation of the meter, said relocation shall be at the expense of the
Cooperative.
The Cooperative will normally furnish a single meter
for each class of service at the point of connection to the member’s premises.
Any member desiring service at two or more separately metered points of
connection to the distribution system shall be billed separately at each such
point and the metered energy consumption of such members shall not be combined
for billing purposes.
Current transformer metering will be used when the
magnitude of the load to be served warrants installation of such equipment.
However, if requested by member simply for member’s convenience, member shall
pay additional costs associated with current transformer metering installation.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all members and services of the
Cooperative.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General Manager or his designee shall be
responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: April
26, 1994
Attest: ____________________
Effective Date: July 1, 1994
POLICY NO.
418
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST HIGH VOLTAGE LINES
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy assuring compliance with the
Georgia High Voltage Safety Act.
II. CONTENT:
A. Purpose of The Act
The purpose of the High Voltage Safety Act is to
prevent injury to persons or property, and interruptions of utility service
resulting from accidental or inadvertent contact with high voltage electrical
lines (See Attachment 1). High voltage electrical lines are defined as
overhead high voltage lines in excess of 750 volts between conductors of from
any conductor to ground. The Act provides that no work shall be done in the
vicinity of such lines unless and until the Cooperative has been notified of
such work and has taken one of the following safety measures:
1. De-energizing
and grounding the line
2. Relocating the line
3. Installing protective covering or
mechanical barriers
B. Applicability
of The Act
The High Voltage Safety Act applies to a person or
entity in pursuit of his trade or business.
Even though private citizens working on their own
property are exempted by this law they shall receive the same response that a
person in pursuit of a trade or business would receive.
Any telephone company, cable television company, or
other entity which has a joint use contract with the Cooperative is exempted
from this act.
C. Compliance
with The Act
No person in pursuit of a trade or business shall
commence any work within ten feet of any high voltage line unless and until the
person responsible for the work has given notice to the Utilities Protection
Center during its regular business hours at least 72 hours (excluding weekends
and holidays) prior to commencing work.
If the Cooperative is contacted directly by a person
in pursuit of a trade or business concerning work to be performed within ten
feet of a high voltage line within the State of Georgia, the Cooperative shall
direct the person to the Utilities Protection Center to comply with the law
before commencing any work. If the work to be performed is within the State of
Florida, the Cooperative shall deal directly with the person making the
request.
The Utilities Protection Center will forward to the
Cooperative all notices involving Cooperative owned high voltage lines. After
receiving notification from the Utilities Protection Center, the Cooperative
shall contact the person whose name is given on the Utilities Protection Center
notice within a reasonable time.
Information shall be maintained by the Cooperative of
actions of the person doing the work in connection with the Act (See Attachment
2). The following arrangements should be discussed and agreed upon in writing
and recorded for the safety precautions required:
1.
Date and Time
2.
Name of Owner and Firm
3.
Name of Person
4.
Coordination of the work schedule
5.
Type of work and equipment to be
utilized
6.
Evaluating safeguard deemed to be
most feasible under the
circumstances
7.
The specific lines affected by
this notification shall be identified,
and instructions given that if work is
to be done within ten feet
of other lines located near the work site,
additional notification is
necessary.
8. Payment and costs to affect such
safety precautions if applicable.
D. Reimbursement
of Costs Incurred by The Cooperative
The person or firm planning to perform work near a
high voltage line shall be required to reimburse the Cooperative for costs
incurred in affecting necessary safety precautions. Such costs shall be
determined by an hourly rate for labor and equipment as set forth in Policy No.
409, Fees Schedule. If relocation of facilities is required, the cost of any
unsalvageable material shall be recouped in addition to the labor and equipment
charges.
The Cooperative shall maintain sole discretion as to
the most appropriate safeguard, and as to the men and equipment required to
affect the necessary safety precautions.
The cost of providing temporary precautionary measures
shall be borne by the Cooperative when:
1. During public highway
construction, high voltage electric lines
are located upon public highways or
roads (state or county), and
2. The construction is undertaken
pursuant to a permit issued by
the state or county and neither the state or
county received
consideration for the permit.
NOTE: Even though no cost is
associated with the above, the law still require
the person that is to perform
the work to contact the Utilities Protection Center.
E. Refusal
to Enter an Agreement
If for any reason a person planning to work near a
high voltage line refuses to enter an agreement as mentioned above, the Manager
of Engineering Services or the Manager of Distribution Services (or designee)
will explain the necessity for safety around Cooperative facilities and will
take whatever steps are appropriate in an attempt to secure an agreement.
Also, the person to perform such work shall be made
aware of the penalty if not in compliance with this Act:
1.
Guilty of a misdemeanor
2.
Upon conviction, a fine of
$1,000.00 for a first offense and
$3,000.00 for a second or subsequent offense.
If all attempts to reach an agreement fail, then steps
shall be taken immediately to enjoin such person(s) from proceeding with any
work in violation of the Act.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy shall apply to all persons who perform
work within ten feet of the Cooperative’s high voltage lines, within the State
of Georgia unless specifically exempted by the Act. In the case of work to be
performed in the State of Florida, all persons shall be encouraged to comply
with this policy. In any event the requirements of the National Electrical
Safety Code must be adhered to.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
or his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: April
26, 1994
Attest: ____________________
Adopted: July 1,
1994
POLICY NO.
419
REIMBURSE
FOR RELOCATION, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF
FACILITIES
AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy for recovering costs incurred in
relocation, repair, or replacement of Cooperative facilities and for
miscellaneous services performed by the Cooperative.
II. CONTENT:
A. Relocation
of Cooperative Facilities
- When it is determined to be in the
best interest of the Cooperative to relocate existing facilities, the
Cooperative shall bear the cost of relocation. If the relocated facilities are
not convenient to the existing service facilities of the member, the
Cooperative will pay for relocation of the member’s service facilities.
- If the Cooperative should be requested
by a member or a third party to relocate or alter any overhead or underground
facilities solely for benefit of the member or third party, the member or third
party making the request shall bear the cost. Any relocation or alteration
must meet all code requirements and sound engineering practices.
- Costs relating to the replacement
of existing overhead facilities with underground shall be borne by the member
requesting such replacement.
- Security lights will be relocated
upon receipt of the Security Light Relocation Fee as specified in Policy No.
409. Members who request the installation of an additional security light(s)
at the same location for a period of 12 months after the additional
installation without payment of the Security Light Relocation Fee, if it is
determined by the Cooperative that the intent is to circumvent the Relocation
Fee.
- If the relocation or alteration is
requested by a State Department of Transportation or a County Road Department,
the Cooperative will participate in the cost of the project on a pro rata basis
to the extent that the existing facilities were constructed on state or county
rights-of-way.
B. Repair
or Replacement of Cooperative Facilities
If Cooperative facilities require repair or
replacement due to damage caused by accident or negligence of a member or third
party, the member or third party causing the damage shall bear the cost for
necessary repair or replacement. Such cost shall be the cost of materials used
plus labor and equipment costs as determined in accordance with Policy No. 409.
C. Miscellaneous
Services and Fees
When the Cooperative shall from time to time provide
escort services for house movers or similar entities, the firm or individual
requesting such service shall be billed at the labor and equipment rates
specified in Policy No. 409. These same labor and equipment rates shall apply
to any other miscellaneous services that the Cooperative may elect to perform.
If the Cooperative’s employee(s) are dispatched to
repair Cooperative equipment or restore service at a member’s premises and
there was no problem on the Cooperative’s part of the service, the member shall
be billed a Service Call Fee as specified in Policy 409.
If the Cooperative’s construction crew is dispatched
to build, alter and/or remove facilities at a premise and is unable to perform
the scheduled work because the premise does not meet all necessary requirements
for service or a request is made to cancel, postpone or change after the crew
is on the premise, a Construction Mobilization Fee shall be required and billed
to the account. If the work is to be rescheduled, the fee must be paid before
the work is performed.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy shall apply to all parties causing damage
to or requesting relocation of Cooperative facilities and to all parties for
whom the Cooperative may elect to perform miscellaneous services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
It shall be the responsibility of the General Manager
or his designee to carry out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: 7/25/06
Supersedes: 7/26/05
Attest: ______________
Secretary
Effective Date: November 1,
2006
POLICY
NO. 420
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
I. OBJECTIVE:
To establish policy for OREMC involvement in promoting
economic development within our service territory which results in the
increased sale of electricity and/or the betterment of the quality of life for
our members.
II. CONTENT:
We at OREMC recognize that the economic survival of
rural areas in America today mandates that a unified and professional approach
must be made towards economic development. It is imperative that all entities
of a community bring together their respective resources for the purpose of
attracting new industry, improving infrastructure and generally meeting the
current and future economic needs of that community. This fact, coupled with
the imminent approach of deregulation of the electric industry, and the impact
it is certain to have on our ability to maintain and attract new load to our
system, calls for a commitment to the economic development process by OREMC.
The management and staff of OREMC will take an active
roll in any Chamber of Commerce, Development Authority, or other local body
which they deem promotes their knowledge and input into the local economic
development process. They will advise the Board of Directors of all
significant developments within the territory and will make recommendations as
to the need for the Board to commit efforts and resources to particular
projects.
III. APPLICABILITY:
This policy applies to all communities, members and
services.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY:
The General Manager will be responsible for carrying
out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: March
21, 1996
Attest: ____________________
Effective Date: March 21, 1996
POLICY NO. 421
Net Metering of
Customer Owned
Renewable
Distributed Generation Facilities
1. Purpose
To describe the
terms and conditions under which Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation
(OREMC) will provide net metering services to customers with renewable
distributed generation facilities connected to the OREMC electric distribution
system.
2. Glossary of
Terms
Throughout this
policy and the Application for Net Metering Services there are terms used that
are specific to this process that warrant a clear, mutually understood
definition. To that end the following definitions are provided:
·
“Billing Period”
is the elapsed time between the dates on which OREMC normally reads the retail
service meter for billing.
·
“Bi-directional
Meter” is an industry standard device designed and manufactured to accurately
measure, record and store the amount of electrical energy flowing in either
direction through the one device (i.e. the amount of energy delivered to the
member from OREMC and the amount of energy produced by the customer generator
and delivered to OREMC).
·
“Bi-directional
metering” is measuring the amount of electrical energy supplied by OREMC to a
member and the amount of electrical energy fed back to OREMC from the member’s
renewable distributed generation facility using the same meter.
·
"Customer
Generator" is the member of OREMC that is the owner and operator of a
Renewable Distributed Generation Facility.
·
"Renewable
Distributed Generation Facility" is a facility (land, equipment,
materials, other items associated with the generator site) that is owned and
operated by an OREMC member for the sole purpose of producing electrical energy
which:
o
Is located on
the OREMC member premises;
o
Uses a solar
photovoltaic system, fuel cell, or wind turbine for the production of
electrical energy;
o
Has a peak
generating capacity of no more than 10kW for residential applications and 100kW
for non-residential applications;
o
Operates the
renewable distributed generation device in parallel with OREMC’s electric
distribution facilities;
o
Is connected to
OREMC’s electric distribution system on either side of the OREMC owned electric
meter;
o
Is primarily
intended to offset a part or all of the member’s electrical energy requirements
as supplied by OREMC.
·
“Electric
Distribution System” is the wires, poles, reclosers, regulators, transformers
and other associated equipment and facilities owned, operated and maintained by
OREMC for the purposes of the timely and reliable delivery of electrical energy
to their customers.
·
"Electric
Membership Corporation”, “(EMC)" is a rural electric membership
corporation organized under Article 2 of the Official Georgia Code Annotated,
title 46 - 3.
·
"Electric
Service Provider" is the electric membership corporation which is engaged
in the business of distributing electricity to retail electric customers in the
state of Georgia.
·
“Excess Net
Generation” is the difference between the electrical energy produced by the
customer owned generation and the electrical energy consumed by the customer
during the billing period.
·
“Net Billing”
is the processing of and accounting for the excess net generation delivered to
the OREMC electric distribution system by the Customer Generator.
·
“Net Metering”
is measuring, recording and storing the electrical energy generated by the
Customer Generator in excess of the electric energy delivered to the Customer
Generator by OREMC and delivered to the OREMC electric distribution system.
3. Scope
The state of Georgia passed legislation (Georgia Code 46-3-50) with the intent to encourage investment in and the
development of renewable energy resources in Georgia. This legislation
requires the electric utilities in the state, including the rural electric
membership corporations, to make net metering services available to their
electric service customers in order to encourage the development and
installation of Renewable Distributed Generation Facilities at their customers’
premises.
In order to comply with this legislation, OREMC prepared this Net Metering
Policy. This Policy describes OREMC’s response to this legislation and
compliance to the statute. The Net Metering Services described herein shall be
offered to the OREMC members, Customer Generators, across the OREMC service
area, which meet the qualification for this service. However, under no
circumstances shall OREMC’s compliance to this legislation be grounds for
cross-subsidization either between classes of customers or between customers within
a specific class.
4. Qualifications for
Net Metering
To qualify for Net
Metering Service under this policy the interested party shall be a member of
OREMC in good standing as defined within other policies and rules within OREMC
and incorporated herein by reference. The customer requesting the Net Metering
Service shall submit a completed Application for Interconnection to OREMC at
least twenty (20) business days prior to the date the Customer Generator plans
to physically connect the renewable distributed generation facility to OREMC’s
electric distribution system.
Upon receipt of the completed Application for Interconnection, OREMC shall have
twenty (20) business days to review the Application and notify the Customer
Generator as to whether the Application is approved or not. If the Application
is approved the Customer Generator must complete and duly execute an
Interconnection Agreement based on the size and type of renewable resource
planned for installation.
To be considered a viable candidate for the Net Metering Services, the Customer
Generator shall be a residential customer with a 10kW or less renewable based distributed generation facility to
be interconnected. Or they may be a non-residential Customer Generator with a
100 kW or less renewable distributed generation facility for interconnection to
OREMC.
Applications for Interconnection shall be received and considered from
qualified Customer Generators on a first-come, first-served basis until such
time as the cumulative total renewable generating capacity of all applications
received and those Customer Generators currently on the Net Metering Service
equals 0.2% of OREMC’s annual peak demand (kW) from the previous year.
However, OREMC reserves the right to wave this upper limit, as it deems appropriate
and necessary.
Customer Generators whose Applications for Interconnection and Net Metering
Service will result in the cumulative total renewable capacity of the Customer
Generators exceeding the 0.2% capacity limitation specified in the previous
paragraph may not be accepted for Net Metering Service at the sole discretion
of OREMC.
5. Safe, Reliable
Operation
Safety to the
general public, the OREMC staff, facilities and equipment is the first and
foremost consideration with any interconnection of a renewable distributed
generation facility. The Customer Generator shall submit their design,
construction plans, interconnection configuration requirements and other
related information, manufacturer’s specifications and manuals for their
Renewable Distributed Generation Facility to OREMC along with their Application
for Interconnection. This submittal shall be accompanied by a letter signed
and stamped by the professional engineer participating in the design,
configuration, construction and installation of this Renewable Distributed
Generation Facility with the Customer Generator or the professional engineer
employed by the manufacturer of the Renewable Distributed Generation Facility
confirming the design, construction and configuration meet or exceeds the
manufacturing specifications for the Renewable Distributed Generation Facility
as well as the appropriate local, county and state codes. In addition this
letter shall confirm that the design, construction and configuration meet the
current versions of the National Electric Code (NEC), the National Electric
Safety Code (NESC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
standards contained in IEEE 1547 for and the standards specified in
Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) 1741.
OREMC retains the right to inspect the Renewable Distributed Generation
Facility at any time during the construction and installation process to assess
the progress and to determine when their distribution system will need to be
prepared to connect to the Renewable Distributed Generation Facility. However,
at no time will these inspections or any communications between the parties on
site be considered as acceptance of the Customer Generator’s installation or
distributed Renewable Generation Facilities.
The requirements for a safe, reliable interconnection of a Renewable
Distributed Generation Facility with the OREMC electric distribution system are
also specified by OREMC’s “Policy for the Interconnection of Distributed
Generation Facilities”. These requirements shall be fully adhered to by the
Customer Generator.
6. Initiation of Net
Metering Service
Once OREMC has
received, reviewed and approved the Application for Interconnection and both
parties have executed the Interconnection Agreement, and the Customer Generator
has confirmed with OREMC in writing that their Renewable Distributed Generation
Facility is ready to energize, OREMC will proceed with the interconnection and
close the disconnect switch between the Renewable Distributed Generation
Facility and the OREMC’s electric distribution system and begin operation.
7. Interconnection and
Net Metering
Low cost, yet
accurate monitoring and tracking of the energy delivered to the Customer
Generator and the energy delivered to the OREMC electric distribution system from
the Renewable Distributed Generation Facility requires the use of readily
available, industry standard metering equipment. OREMC will deploy the
appropriate metering equipment using either single directional metering or
bi-directional metering as needed to capture the energy data. A bi-directional
meter will be used if the Renewable Distributed Generation Facilities are
connected to the OREMC electric distribution system on the Customer Generator
side of the customer meter. However, if the Renewable Distributed Generation
Facilities are connected to the electric distribution system on the OREMC side
of the meter, a single directional meter will be used.
8. Meter Reading and
Billing
To the extent
practical OREMC’s existing automatic meter reading system will be used to read
the meters and retrieve the stored energy data on a regular basis for billing
purposes.
Billing for services and the energy OREMC delivers to the Customer Generator
will be calculated and the bill rendered per the current customer billing
cycles as previously established and maintained in the existing billing system.
The energy rate charged the Customer Generator for the energy delivered by
OREMC and the associated base rate will be those rates contained in OREMC’s
existing residential and commercial rate schedules. Excess energy produced and
delivered to the OREMC electric distribution system, which is in excess of the
energy delivered by OREMC, will be recorded and credited to the Customer
Generator’s account pursuant to the Net Metering Rider, NMTR-001.
9. Associated Costs
and Cost Recovery
The Customer
Generator shall be responsible for all costs associated with the design,
construction installation, operation and maintenance of the Renewable
Distributed Generation Facility installed. As each Renewable Distributed
Generation Facility is typically unique in configuration and energy output, it
is reasonable to expect the costs associated with the interconnection, meter
installation and configuration to be unique.
Based on the design and interconnection information provided OREMC by the
Customer Generator during the Application for Interconnection process, OREMC
will compute a cost estimate for the interconnection. This cost estimate shall
be paid in full by the Customer Generator up front prior to the commencement of
any work on the part of OREMC. OREMC will track all actual costs associated
with the interconnection to the respective Renewable Distributed Generation
Facility including installation and the net metering application. All such
costs will be the obligation of the Customer Generator and will be fully
recovered by OREMC from the Customer Generator. If the actual costs of the
installation and start-up of the interconnection exceed the original cost
estimate OREMC prepared, the Customer Generator shall reimburse OREMC for these
additional costs. Under no circumstances shall any portion of these
interconnection and net metering costs become the responsibility of OREMC or
any of their other members nor will these costs be allocated to any other
member or member class.
APPLICABILITY
This policy applies to all members
applying for Net metering Service of Okefenoke Rural Electric Corporation.
RESPONSIBILITY
The General Manager or his designee
will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: January
31, 2008
Attest:
Effective Date: February
1, 2008
POLICY NO. 422
Policy for the
Interconnection of Distributed Generation Resources to the
Electric
Distribution System
1.
Purpose
To describe the
business terms and conditions and the operational expectations and limitations
under which Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation (OREMC) will
connect member owned distributed generation to the OREMC electric distribution
system while providing the guidance needed to the OREMC staff to provide
technical and business support for these interconnections.
2.
Glossary of
Terms
Throughout this
policy and the associated forms and interconnection process, there is
terminology used that is specific to the policy and the associated business
practices and processes that warrant a clear, mutually understood definition.
To that end the following definitions are provided:
·
“Billing Period”
is the elapsed time between the dates on which OREMC normally reads the retail
service meter for billing.
·
“Customer Generator”
is the member of OREMC that is the owner and operator of Distributed
Generation.
·
"Distributed
Generation” “(DG)” is a small-scale generating facility (e.g. land, equipment,
materials, other items associated with a generator site) that is owned and
operated by an OREMC member for the purposes of producing electrical energy to
offset the members electrical energy needs which:
o
Is located on
the OREMC member premises;
o
Is connected to,
and operated in parallel with OREMC’s electric distribution system;
o
Is intended to
supply a process need within the member’s facilities or provide part or all of
the member’s electrical energy requirements as supplied by OREMC.
·
“Electric
Distribution System” is the wires, poles, reclosers, regulators, transformers
and other associated equipment and facilities owned, operated and maintained by
OREMC for the purposes of the timely and reliable delivery of electrical energy
to their members.
·
"Electric
Membership Corporation", “(EMC)” means a rural electric corporation organized
under Article 2 of the Official Georgia Code Annotated, title 46 - 3.
·
"Electric
Service Provider" is the electric membership corporation which is engaged
in the business of distributing electricity to retail electric members in the
state of Georgia.
·
“Force Majeure”
is any event that is beyond the reasonable control of the affected Party, and
that the affected Party is unable to prevent or protect against by exercising
reasonable due diligence including, but not limited to the following events or circumstances,
but only to the extent that they satisfy the requirements: acts of war, public
disorder, rebellion or insurrection; floods, hurricanes, earthquakes,
lightning, storms or other natural disasters or calamities; explosions or
fires; strikes, work stoppages or labor disputes; embargoes; or sabotage.
·
“Interconnection”
is the facility, equipment and materials that connect two systems such as a
non-utility generator to a utility electric system.
·
“Point of
Interconnection” is the physical point of connection between two systems such
as the non-utility generator and an electric utility system.
3.
Scope
This policy applies
to all consumer members of Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation
(OREMC) who desire to install, interconnect, own and operate member owned,
Distributed Generation on the OREMC electric distribution system. Any consumer
member of OREMC may own, install and operate Distributed Generation on their
premises as long as they shall abide by the terms and conditions of the Interconnection
Agreement executed between OREMC and the respective Customer Generator.
This policy addresses the installation of Distributed Generation by OREMC
members on their premises with a maximum generation capacity of ten (10)
megawatts (MW). This maximum capacity limit applies to Distributed Generation
installed at any member class, whether residential, commercial or industrial.
This upper limitation of ten (10) MW is due directly to the capacity of the
standard equipment and materials OREMC maintains in inventory without special
order or handling. Any Customer Generator desiring to install Distributed
Generation with a capacity greater than 10 MW shall be referred to OREMC’s
transmission provider for an application to interconnect directly onto the bulk
transmission system.
4.
Safety
Safety to the
general public, the OREMC staff, facilities and equipment is the first and
foremost consideration with any interconnection. The interconnection of
Distributed Generation shall not under any circumstances be allowed to reduce,
minimize or impair the safety to the general public, OREMC staff, facilities
and equipment. To the extent necessary to ensure safe operation of OREMC’s
electric distribution system, the Customer Generator’s Distributed Generation
installation shall adhere to the most current edition of the National Electric
Safety Code (NESC) and to the most current version of OREMC’s safety rules and
procedures.
In order to ensure electrical isolation from the OREMC electric distribution
system when necessary for routine maintenance of the electric distribution
system or during emergency conditions affecting the electric system conditions,
a manual, air-gap disconnect switch capable of being tagged open, and
pre-approved by OREMC shall be installed by the Customer Generator. This
manual disconnect switch shall be installed in a physical location which is
available and readily accessible to OREMC personnel for operation twenty-four
hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
OREMC shall have the option to inspect the final installation of the
Distribution Generation and the connection to the OREMC electric distribution
system. OREMC may refuse to allow the Customer Generator to close the
disconnect switch to the OREMC electric distribution system if any defects or
problems are found with the interconnection or if any misapplications of
equipment or materials are detected. However, under no circumstances shall
this inspection by OREMC be deemed to warrant, validate or otherwise certify
the interconnection or the proper installation of the Distributed Generation.
That is the sole responsibility of the Customer Generator’s licensed engineer
or the supplier(s) of the Distributed Generation equipment.
5.
Reliability
of Operation
OREMC is required
by its member-owners, state regulatory authorities, and prudent engineering
practice to operate its electric distribution system in a secure and reliable
manner for the benefit of these electric member-owners. As such, all Customer
Generator applicants are required to be familiar with and shall be compliant
with the following standards: the most current edition of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1547 and 1547.1, “IEEE
1547 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power
Systems” and “IEEE 1547.1 Standard for Conformance Test Procedures for
Equipment Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems”,
the National Electrical Code (NEC), and the Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
regulations in UL 1741, as well as local, county and state regulations
governing the installation of distributed generation on a member’s premise.
The Customer Generator shall not be authorized to proceed with energizing the
interconnection until such time OREMC has received approved copies of all
local, county and state notices, permits and other instruments conveying
approval to proceed with the installation and operation from these local
authorities.
6.
Cost
OREMC shall recover
all their costs associated with the engineering, design, construction,
installation, metering and interconnection of the Distributed Generation with
their electric distribution system. OREMC will not subsidize these
interconnection costs from any other member class and will not allocate these
costs across their various member classes.
Since each Distributed Generation installation is typically unique in
configuration, fuel source, and energy output, it is reasonable to expect the
costs associated with the interconnection to be unique. That is the total cost
for the interconnection will be the actual costs incurred for the
interconnection and not an estimate. As noted in the Application for
Interconnection Process, OREMC will provide the Customer Generator applicant an
estimate of the total cost to interconnect the Distributed Generation following
submittal of the completed Application for Interconnection. As part of the
Application for Interconnection process the Customer Generator shall pay the
total amount of the estimated cost up front before OREMC will begin any work on
the interconnection. Once the interconnection is completed and all actual
costs are received and totaled for the interconnection, the Customer Generator
shall be responsible for payment of any additional costs in excess of the
original estimate. In the event the actual total cost of the interconnection
is less than the original cost estimate paid by the Customer Generator, OREMC
will refund the difference to the Customer Generator.
The total cost of the Distributed Generation facility including all equipment
and materials, the design, construction, installation, testing and operational
verification shall be the sole responsibility of the Customer Generator.
Additionally, the cost of the interconnection including all cost of labor to install
and maintain the equipment necessary to meet the required electric system
interconnection configuration, the prescribed equipment and testing of the
protective relay scheme, metering equipment and all equipment necessary to meet
the applicable safety requirements established within this policy shall be the
responsibility of the Customer Generator.
All future costs that may be required to meet additional requirements for
public safety or system reliability, that may be required as a direct result of
new conditions issued from the state, the public service commission or other
government authority shall be the sole responsibility of the Customer
Generator.
Once the interconnection is completed and the project successfully energized
and on-line, the monthly meter reading, energy billing and other monthly
service costs will be recovered through the existing Rate Schedules which are
incorporated herein by reference.
The cost of the interconnection is separate from and in addition to any fees,
tariffs or other rates prescribed in other applicable OREMC Rate Schedules. It
is not intended for these interconnection costs to supersede or otherwise void
existing Rate Schedules, but they are to be applied in addition to these other
rates where applicable.
7.
Liability
With respect to
OREMC’s provision of electric service to the Customer Generator and the
services provided by OREMC pursuant to the Interconnection Agreement, OREMC’s
liability to the Customer Generator shall be limited as set forth in OREMC’s
currently effective tariffs and terms and conditions for electric service.
The Customer Generator shall assume all liability for and shall indemnify OREMC
and its members, trustees, directors, officers, managers, employees,
representatives, affiliates, successors and assigns for and shall hold them
harmless from and against any claims, losses, costs, and expenses of any kind
to the extent that they result, in whole or in part, from the Customer
Generator’s negligence or wrongful conduct in connection with the design,
construction, installation, testing, operation or maintenance of the
Distributed Generator facility or Interconnection facilities. Such indemnity
shall include, but is not limited to financial responsibility for monetary
losses; reasonable costs and expenses defending an action or claim; damages
related to death or injury; damages to property or the disruption of business.
The Customer Generator shall have current liability insurance appropriate and
sufficient to address the potential liability requirements of the Distributed
Generation installation.
8.
Interconnection
OREMC will provide
the option for any of their electric members in good standing with OREMC to
interconnect with their electric distribution system to the extent the member
meets the terms and conditions set forth in this policy and the Interconnection
Agreement. OREMC will work with the Customer Generator to determine the
capacity requirements and design criteria of the interconnection facilities
necessary to meet the proposed capacity requirements of the proposed
Distributed Generator. As noted in Section 6, “Costs”, the Customer Generator
will be responsible for all costs associated with that interconnection
facility.
Since this interconnection will provide for the delivery of electric energy
purchased by the Customer Generator and will provide an electrical path for the
delivery of excess energy produced by the Distributed Generator, OREMC will
install or cause to be installed industry standard electrical metering
equipment appropriate to the capacity and configuration of the
interconnection.
OREMC will deploy electric industry standard and readily available metering
equipment to measure and record both the electrical energy delivered by OREMC
to the point of interconnection with the Distributed Generation Facility and to
measure and record the energy produced in excess of the energy delivered.
9.
Metering
Reading and Billing
To the extent
practical OREMC’s existing automatic meter reading system will be used to read
the meters and record the energy data from the meters installed at each
Distributed Generator location. The billing for this account will be
calculated and the bill rendered per the billing cycles currently established
and maintained in OREMC’s existing billing system.
The energy rate charged the Customer Generator for the energy delivered by
OREMC will be the published base rate currently available for the specific
member class plus the then current retail energy rate per the applicable Rate
Schedule for the respective member class. Energy produced by the Customer
Generator in excess of their local load, if any, will be addressed in the
Interconnection Agreement.
To
the extent the Customer Generator produces excess energy in any billing cycle,
that is, the energy produced exceeds the energy delivered to the Customer
Generator via the interconnection with OREMC, the net excess energy will be
metered, recorded, calculated and processed as prescribed in the
Interconnection Agreement.
10. Diagrams Required
The Customer
Generator shall provide a single-line diagram of their proposed Distributed
Generator facilities indicating the planned electrical configuration,
interconnection and electrical relationship to the OREMC metering
installation. The single-line diagram shall be prepared and stamped by a
registered professional engineer working directly with the Customer Generator
or directly for the supplier of the Distributed Generator.
APPLICABILITY
This policy applies to all members
and applicants for service of Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation.
RESPONSIBILITY
The General Manager or his designee
will be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this policy.
Date Adopted: January
31, 2008
Attest:
Secretary
Effective Date: February 1,
2008
