Section II – New Service/Line Extensions
A. General Service Requirements:
A pre-construction meeting with a URE representative is required for any new natural gas service or line extension. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the location of the natural gas facilities including metering equipment and establish any applicable amount of Contribution in Aid of Construction (CIAC). A driveway must be established, and property pins must be installed and identified prior to the pre-construction meeting. Line extensions will normally be located along lot lines when appropriate. The Cooperative shall have sole discretion as to the location of all distribution facilities. Variance to Cooperative recommended location of distribution facilities may result in an additional CIAC charge to recover any additional expense to the Cooperative. If any property damage occurs as a result of the deviation, repairs are at the member’s expense.
The Cooperative will extend up to 150 feet of main line along and immediately adjacent to any existing road right of way with limits having been legally dedicated for public use by a governmental authority.
The prospective Member, Builder or Developer requesting service shall provide an accurate site map indicating the proposed or existing structures, driveways, parking lot, leach field and any other underground facilities to assist with the engineering of the natural gas service and easement.
The general term “service line” is commonly used to designate the complete gas piping and connection from the Cooperative gas main line up to and including the gas meter outlet. It consists of two distinct parts: (1) the Cooperative’s service line connection and (2) the Member’s service line. The entire service line shall be installed and maintained in compliance with Federal DOT Rules and Regulations CFR Part 192, applicable State regulations, and the Cooperative.
- Cooperative Service Line Connection. The service line connection consists of the connection at the main, necessary pipe and appurtenances to extend to either the Member’s property line, excess flow valve, and/or curb valve location and curb box. This connection shall be made by the Cooperative at its expense and remains the property of the Cooperative.
- Member Service Line. The member service line consists of the pipe from the outlet of the curb valve or property line, extending to and including the meter manifold. The member’s service line shall be installed and maintained at the member’s expense, and it shall be and remain the property of the member. All service lines must be installed to the Cooperative specifications, required inspections, and agreeable termination point. The Cooperative shall not be liable for any imperfections therein or for any damage, injury or loss resulting, directly
or indirectly, from the escape of gas therefrom.
New members may have an approved by the Cooperative contractor install the member service line or enter into an agreement for the Cooperative to install it at the member’s expense, if supplied load information determines it economically required.
All natural gas facilities owned by the Cooperative shall remain its property unless otherwise agreed to in writing.
Where service is provided from high or medium pressure distribution lines, Cooperative approved pressure regulator(s) will be installed upstream of the gas meter to reduce the higher gas pressure to the desired delivery pressure. Safety overpressure protection devices shall be included or installed with the pressure regulators. After installation, the regulators and safety devices shall become property of the Cooperative to maintain or replace as needed.
The Cooperative will furnish each residential member with a meter of such size and type as the Cooperative determines will adequately serve the member’s requirements and such meter shall be and remain the property of the Cooperative. The Cooperative shall have the right to replace it or test it for accuracy as the Cooperative may deem necessary. For our commercial members, the Cooperative will construct or cause to construct a prefabricated meter manifold with meter, designed to the member’s requested specifications, and at the member’s expense. The Cooperative will assist the member or their representative with the installation of the meter manifold.
The Cooperative or the Cooperative’s Authorized Agent is the only one allowed to connect or disconnect the Cooperative’s meters, regulators or reading correctors or in any way alter or interfere with the Cooperative’s meters, regulators or reading correctors.
The Cooperative reserves the right to require adequate protective posts or barriers at the expense of the Member where natural gas facilities are installed in areas of vehicular traffic.
The Member shall provide an unobstructed path at the Cooperative’s specified width for line extensions. For line extensions the path must be within six inches (6″) of final grade before the Cooperative will install any facilities. The Cooperative is not responsible for excavation settlement after construction.
If the member requests the relocation of Cooperative’s facilities for their convenience and the Cooperative agrees to perform the relocation, the member shall pay all costs associated with the relocation.
The Cooperative reserves the right to assess the Member a trip charge for any additional trips to the job site caused by issues attributable to the member. Additionally, the Cooperative reserves the right to shut the natural gas service off if hazards are present that could compromise the safety of personnel, equipment or the public.
The Cooperative, its agents or its employees shall have the right to enter upon a member’s premises only as may be required to inspect, make repairs to its equipment or to otherwise remove the source of emergency conditions that are, or that the Cooperative has reason to expect soon will be, endangering the safety, health or welfare of Cooperative employees, the general public, or the safety of the property of the Cooperative or others.
B. Utility Easement Agreement:
At the discretion of the Cooperative, an easement may be required for natural gas facilities. Easement(s) must be executed by the property owner(s) on the Cooperative’s standard utility easement agreement. If the Member is not the owner of the property to be supplied with natural gas service or utility easement must be obtained from any adjoining property owners, the Member shall be ultimately responsible for obtaining all necessary utility easements from any and all property owners necessary to furnish said natural gas service.
The member shall grant to the Cooperative and the Cooperative will maintain easement(s) and/or road right-of-way according to its specifications with the right to cut, trim and control the growth of vegetation using mechanical or chemical methods within the easement and/or road right-of-way or that may interfere with or threaten to endanger the operation or maintenance of the Cooperative’s natural gas facilities.
No fence, guardrail, wall, rocks, or other obstruction shall be placed near above ground
equipment (e.g., regulators, meters, etc.) that would limit the Cooperative from performing operation, maintenance, or repair of the equipment. This includes any tree, shrub, bush, or other vegetation that would have to be removed to operate, maintain, or replace equipment. The minimum clearance is three (3) feet from the equipment. Additionally, a member shall not cover (even partially) any of these devices with plants, mulch, dirt, rocks, artificial rocks, or other landscaping as this prevents them from being quickly located, safely operated, as well as accelerating their corrosion. The Cooperative shall not be responsible for replacing shrubs, plants, fences, wall screenings, or other obstructions that need to be removed for maintenance or restoration work.
The Cooperative reserves the right to require adequate protective posts or barriers at the expense of the Member where natural gas facilities are installed in areas of vehicular traffic.
C. Inspections and Permitting:
Proof of Authority to Turn on Gas Service pass ticket from government authority shall be required prior to turning on any natural gas service.
If no governmental authority has jurisdiction over the installation, the Cooperative will test the gas service.
When the Cooperative deems that a potentially hazardous condition exists, it may refuse to turn on the Member’s service until the Member remedies any deficiencies.
D. Safety Information:
- EXCESS FLOW VALVE NOTIFICATION:
Excess Flow valves (EFV) which meet new Federal DOT governmental standards are available to be installed in single existing residential or small commercial gas service lines, which operate continuously at or above 10 psig and with a total anticipated load below 1000 scfh. An excess flow valve is a safety device designed to automatically shut off or greatly reduce the flow of natural gas if the service line becomes damaged, resulting in blowing gas or service line breaks. Potential safety benefits that may be derived from installing an EFV in your service line, include a reduced chance of fire, explosion, personal injury or property damage resulting from excavation related or other significant accidents. An EFV does not protect against slow leaks resulting from corrosion, threaded joints, or against house piping leaks which develop beyond the meter assembly.CERC has been installing EFV’s on all new applicable service lines since January 2008 and will continue to do so. Members with qualifying service lines installed prior to 2008 have the option to install an EFV on their existing service. Excess flow valve installation is not mandatory. If you decide to have an EFV installed on your gas service line, you must pay all costs associated with installation and any possible future maintenance and replacement costs. Initial installation, maintenance, and replacement costs can range from $500 to $700, mostly due to excavation costs.
To see if you qualify for (and/or) to schedule an EFV installation, please contact our office at 1-800-642-1826 to speak to a representative.
E. Residential Developments:
Residential Developments (subdivisions) are defined as single family homes or condominiums that meet the following criteria:
- The development is recorded and platted by the Developer with all required natural gas and other utility easements clearly defined.
- Lots are served by dedicated public roadways maintained by a governmental authority.
In addition, residential developments must also meet both of the following criteria:
- Average density of no less than two single family residences per acre.
- Provides 15 building lots or more.
The Developer and the Cooperative shall execute a written Developer Agreement outlining payment requirements and other terms of construction and service prior to facilities being installed.
The Cooperative shall calculate a contribution-in-aid of construction to cover a minimum of 40% of the cost to install the mainline infrastructure, based on the Cooperative’s standard installation practices. If the homes are going to be constructed with natural gas heat and natural gas water heaters, the CIAC may be reduced accordingly.
For developments that do not meet the criteria of a residential plat, the Cooperative shall determine the requirements for installation of its facilities and, at its sole discretion, may require a contribution in aid of construction of up to 100%. Any required CIAC shall be paid in full prior to the installation of the Cooperative’s primary facilities.
The Cooperative may wave the CIAC if there is available competition to serve.
The Cooperative shall have no obligation to make any extensions during the month of December, January, February, and March.
F. Commercial Developments:
Commercial Developments shall be defined as a large tract of land developed for the express purpose of locating multiple businesses and industries. The Cooperative shall locate and install facilities within platted and recorded easements designated for natural gas utilities. The Developer will be required to pay a contribution-in-aid of construction for the installation of Cooperative facilities –to be determined through an economic analysis of the proposed business revenues and cost to serve. Individual businesses or industries may be required to provide additional CIAC for their services which is beyond the primary distribution provided to the development.
The location of the natural gas facilities for any type of development shall be based on sound engineering standards and least cost approach to the Cooperative. Any variance to the location of the facilities by the Developer or other controlling authorities may result in additional contribution in aid of construction assessed to the Developer to recover any additional expense to the Cooperative.
The Developer must sign an Agreement for Natural Gas Facilities.
The Cooperative shall have sole discretion of charging a CIAC based on a percentage of a minimum of 40% up to 100% of the total estimated cost to install facilities. The amount of the CIAC shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Cooperative. The CIAC must be
paid in advance of the installation of facilities.
The Cooperative may wave the CIAC if there is available competition to serve.
The Cooperative shall have no obligation to make any extensions during the month of December, January, February, and March.
G. Charges and Payment for Temporary Service:
In addition to regular payments for gas used, the member shall pay the cost for all material, (less salvage), labor and other necessary expense incurred by the Cooperative in supplying gas service to the member at their request for any temporary purpose or use.