Section II – New Service / Line Extensions – Union Rural Electric Cooperative

A. General Service Requirements:

A pre-construction meeting with a URE representative is required for any new electric service or line extension. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the location of distribution 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 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 electric service and easement.

The Member, Builder, or Developer shall furnish and install the meter base in the manner and location specified by the Cooperative. The meter base shall be kept sealed, under control of the Cooperative and maintained by the Member. In those instances where electric service is supplied to a low-profile structure or meter pole separate and apart from the electric consuming facility, then the member or developer shall install a fused disconnect or breaker on the low-profile structure or meter pole on the member’s side of the meter base.

The point of service may be referred to as a point of delivery, the point of attachment, or the line of demarcation. The Cooperative shall extend its facilities to the point of attachment designated by the Cooperative on the Member’s pole, building or other suitable structure.

All electric facilities installed by the Cooperative shall remain its property unless otherwise agreed to in writing.

The Cooperative reserves the right to require adequate protective posts or barriers at the expense of the Member where electric facilities are installed in areas of vehicular traffic.

The Member shall provide an unobstructed path at the Cooperative’s specified width for overhead or underground line extensions. For underground line extensions the path must be within six inches (6″) of final grade. The Member shall be responsible for the installation of conduit raceway as required by the Cooperative, Including, but not limited to, paved driveways and parking lot crossings in accordance with Cooperative specifications for underground installations. The Cooperative is not responsible for excavation settlement after construction. No electric facilities will be installed until paths are cleared, required conduits are in place and the grade slip has been submitted to the Cooperative.

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 de-energize any of its facilities if the grade is not to its safety standards or if additional hazards are present that could compromise the safety of personnel, equipment or the public.

B. Utility Easement Agreement

At the discretion of the Cooperative, an easement may be required for electric 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 electric service or utility easement must be obtained from any adjoining property owners, the Member shall be ultimately responsible to obtain all necessary utility easements from any and all property owners necessary to furnish said electric 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 electric facilities.

No fence, guardrail, wall, rocks, or other obstruction shall be placed near pad-mounted equipment (e.g., transformers, handholes, pedestals, or switchgear) 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 back and sides, and ten (10) feet from the front of all pad-mounted equipment or any side with an access door. 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 minimum easement width, which may include road right of way, shall be as follows:

Distribution Type	Easement Width	Easement Width adjacent to ROW or easement
Overhead Three Phase Primary	30 feet	15 feet
Underground Three Phase Primary	20 feet	10 feet
Overhead Single Phase Primary	20 feet	10 feet
Underground Single Phase Primary	20 feet	10 feet
Overhead Three Phase Secondary	20 feet	10 feet
Underground Three Phase Secondary	20 feet	10 feet

*Any deviation from these parameters must be mutually agreed upon by the member and the Cooperative. All easements must be properly documented and recorded with the appropriate County Agency.

The member shall be responsible for providing a clear unobstructed path free of vegetation and debris 6 inches from final grade prior to the installation of electric facilities. Permanent service shall not be energized until all applicable permits and/or easement(s) are received and all fees and/or CIAC (contribution in-aid to construction) are paid.

The Cooperative reserves the right to require adequate protective posts or barriers at the expense of the Member where electric facilities are installed in areas of vehicular traffic.

C. INSPECTIONS AND PERMITTING

Proof of Authority to Energize or Electrical Inspection pass ticket from government authority shall be required prior to energizing permanent electric services, non-cooperative temporary electric or electric service upgrades. All other activities shall require proof of permitting where a permit is required.

If no governmental authority has jurisdiction over the wiring owned by the Member, said
Member wiring shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the National Electrical code and the specifications and regulations of the Cooperative.

When the Cooperative deems that a potentially hazardous condition exists, it may refuse to energize the Member’s service until the Member remedies any deficiencies.

Service Restoration – Fire or Flood: If the meter or service entrance equipment has been subjected to fire or flood conditions, an inspection from the above referenced authorities, and a release, when applicable, from a Fire Marshall or equivalent authority is required before service will be restored.

D. Single-Phase Service

1. Single-Family Residence:

A permanent single-family residence is defined as a habitable structure used year-round with a permanent foundation, its own water and sewage system and requiring a supply voltage limited to 120/240 volts.

The Cooperative shall extend up to five spans of single-phase primary electric distribution facilities to a permanent single-family residence at no cost to the Member constructed along and immediately adjacent to any existing road right of way limits having been legally dedicated for public use by a governmental authority.

The Cooperative will supply and install the service conductors from the transformer to the point of service. Residential Service exceeding 320 Amps in size will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The measurement to calculate the CIAC shall begin from the nearest existing electrical distribution facilities from which the line extension is to be constructed, or from the nearest public road right -of way when existing facilities are installed on the opposite side of the roadway. The measurement shall follow the proposed path as determined by the Cooperative and will normally be located along property lines when practical.

Additional charges may apply if the original path of the line extension changes at the request of or caused by the Member/builder or for reasons deemed appropriate by URE.

Payment of the CIAC must be made in full prior to a permanent service being energized.

The Cooperative has authority granted by the Board of Trustees to use its discretion to waive a portion or all of the CIAC when the owner/builder has choice of the electric supplier due to territorial lot split.

2. Single-Phase Commercial:

A commercial service is defined as an electric service provided to a property where, as determined by the Cooperative, the elements of a business operation exist, this includes offices, retail stores, warehouses, factories, schools, churches, and other non-residential facilities, where supply voltages are limited to 120/240, 240/480 volts, and where electric service is normally used on a year-round basis.

The Cooperative will extend single-phase electric distribution facilities to the designated point of service and provide the necessary CTs, PTs, meter base and meter for services of 400 amps and above. The Member is responsible for providing and installing meter bases, CT/PT cabinets, disconnect switches, concrete transformer pads, grounding grid, underground conduits, transformer protection posts and cable trenching required for the secondary service. The member will provide and install service conductors and transformer connection lugs.

All 480-volt services must have a lockable disconnect switch, capable of isolating all conductors, installed ahead of the meter base.

All meter bases, CT/PT cabinets or service disconnect switches mounted in a location exposed to vehicular traffic or delivery docks must be shielded from contact with protection posts or railing. These protection devices should not interfere with the ability to remove meters or opening of the utility equipment doors. Overhead service to a commercial building will be at the discretion of the Cooperative.

The Member or builder shall be required to pay a contribution in aid of construction (CIAC) equal to 100% of the actual cost of all electric distribution facilities necessary to provide electric service from the point of attachment of existing distribution facilities to the point of service. This includes any line extensions constructed along a public road right-of-way. The CIAC amount may be reduced if the projected revenue is sufficient to justify the investment and operating expenses as determined by the Cooperative.

3. Other Temporary, Permanent, or Seasonal Single-Phase Services:

The Cooperative shall extend single-phase electric distribution facilities to a member, for uses that do not qualify as a single-phase residential or single phase commercial service, as defined by the Cooperative, provided the required supply voltage is 120/240, 240/480. Such services include, but are not limited to, a barn, garage, pump, grain dryer, cabin, trailer, billboard, etc.

The Member or builder shall be required to pay a contribution in aid of construction (CIAC) equal to 100% of the actual cost for all electric distribution facilities necessary to provide electric service from the point of service to existing distribution facilities. This includes any line extensions constructed along a public road right-of-way.

The Cooperative encourages Members or prospective Members to provide electric service to these types of loads from the existing service panel if possible. When this is not practical, the Cooperative will provide the engineering services for one (1) cost estimate upon receipt of a non-refundable Engineering Fee, which will be credited toward the completion of the project. Members or prospective Members may be charged a trip fee for each additional field visit requested beyond the initial site visit required for re-engineering or revised cost estimates.

A. REFUND ELIGIBILITY FOR SUBSEQUENT SINGLE PHASE RESIDENTIAL SERVICE

If a member initially installs a permanent, or seasonal single-phase service and subsequently connects a single family residential service to the same facilities, the member may be eligible for a partial refund, provided the following is met:

1. The residential service is served from the existing permanent, or seasonal single-phase facilities and has received an inspection for permanent electric service within 36 months of the date in which the original permanent single-phase service was energized.

The amount of the refund shall be determined at the discretion of the Cooperative.

Reconnection of a temporary, permanent or seasonal service having been disconnected at the request of the Member shall be charged a connect fee in addition to a sum equal to the monthly base charge specified in the applicable rate schedule for each month the service was disconnected.

4. SINGLE-PHASE MULTI-UNIT RESIDENCE:

A multiple unit residence is defined as a single property or structure that contains two or more separate dwelling units intended for independent occupancy, such as apartment buildings, duplexes, or similar residential complexes, typically sharing common walls, utilities, or access areas and require a supply voltage limited to 120/240 volts.

The Cooperative reserves the right to require multiple-unit residence to be separately metered. The Member or owner of an apartment house or a single-family house which is converted or constructed for separate and individual living quarters or dwelling units for more than one family, shall, at the owners expense, install separate wiring so that each dwelling unit can be individually metered and billed.

The Member or owner shall also be responsible for providing and installing gang meter bases that are used to separate services. The meter bases shall be subject to the approval of the Cooperative.

All multi-unit buildings, that receive electric service from a single transformer are required to provide a lockable load break disconnect switch so that service to individual tenants may be interrupted for maintenance purposes.

Members with services exceeding 400 amps will be required to provide and install service
conductors and transformer connection lugs. Any conduit crossings for services will be provided and installed by the Member.

All gang meter bases shall have each service location labeled with a permanent identification tag to correctly identify which meter corresponds to a particular dwelling, in accordance with the current edition of the National Electric Code.

5. SINGLE-PHASE TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICE (PER SERVICE):

A temporary construction service is defined as a short-term electrical service installed to supply power during the construction phase of a project. It shall not exceed a 12-month duration unless the extended temporary service costs outlined below are paid.

A Member or the Member’s contractor may request temporary construction power during construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition. The Cooperative may install a temporary service structure at no charge, or the Member may install his/her own temporary service structure in accordance with Cooperative specifications. Modification or damage to URE’s temporary service will result in additional charges.

Single-phase Member owned temporary structure: $0.00
URE supplied single-phase temporary structure: $0.00 first year
URE supplied single-phase temporary structure/year: $300 per year after first year

6. SINGLE-PHASE TEMPORARY COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICE (PER SERVICE):

A single-phase temporary commercial construction service is defined as an electric service provided for a limited duration to supply power for construction-related activities at a commercial site prior to the installation of permanent electric service with a supply voltage limited to 120/240 volts.

The Cooperative may provide single-phase temporary commercial construction service upon request. The member or their contractor shall be responsible for 100% of the costs associated with the construction and retirement of the temporary facilities, as a contribution in aid of construction. All CIAC charges must be paid in full prior to the commencement of any construction activities by the Cooperative.

Any electric facilities required to be installed for the purpose of providing the temporary service shall fall under the appropriate line extension guidelines for determining CIAC.

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 electric 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 2 or more of the following criteria:

Average density of no less than two single family residences per acre.
Street and building lot layouts that allow the Cooperative to serve a minimum average of two homes per transformer.
Provides 15 building lots or more.

Lots served by dedicated public roadways maintained by a governmental authority Residential plats (subdivisions) must also meet 2 or more of the following criteria:

Average density of no less than two single family residence per acre
Street and building lot layouts that allow the Cooperative to serve a minimum average of two homes per transformer
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 following costs are based on the Cooperative’s standard installation practices and assume that residential services will generally be limited to 200 amps. Services exceeding 200 amps will be permitted subject to Cooperative review and payment of appropriate CIAC.

Front lot $1500 per lot
Rear lot $2100 per lot

The Cooperative reserves the right to require the developer to install conduit raceway for all or portions of the cables to be installed in the development.

For developments that do not meet the criteria of a residential plat, the Cooperative shall determine the requirements for installation of its primary facilities and, at its sole discretion, may require a contribution in aid of construction. Any required CIAC shall be paid in full prior to the installation of the Cooperative’s primary facilities.

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 primary distribution facilities within platted and recorded easements designated for electric 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 primary distribution facilities for any type development shall be based on sound engineering standards and least cost approach to the Cooperative. Any variance to the location of the distribution 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 Electric Facilities.

The Cooperative reserves the right to require the developer to install conduit raceway for all or portions of the cables to be installed in the development.

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 electric facilities. The amount of the CIAC shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Cooperative. The CIAC must be paid in advance of installation of electric primary facilities.

G. Outdoor Lighting

1. Private Lighting

Any Member may request lighting from the Cooperative to provide lighting to private property available in post-top, flood and mast arm units. A contribution in aid of construction shall be required prior to the installation of any private light. The Member shall be responsible for 100% of the associated work order cost, less the cost of the light fixture.

2. Public Street Lighting

Street lighting services are available to governmental bodies and developers to provide roadway lighting on public roads. The services will be provided under contract to governmental agencies and under standard tariffs to commercial and industrial Members. A contribution in aid of construction equal to 100% of the associated work order cost shall be required prior to the installation of street light facilities installed by the Cooperative.

H. Three-Phase Service

1. Individual Three-Phase Services

An individual three-phase service is defined as an electric service supplied to a single location. The service is not shared with other members or units, includes its own metering, service conductors, disconnecting means and requires a supply voltage of 120/208, or 277/480.

For all three-phase services the Member shall be responsible for the installation of any concrete transformer pads, grounding grid, switchgear pads, secondary cabinets, transformer pad grounding, transformer protection posts, secondary service cables, service cable connection lugs and conduit raceways as specified by the Cooperative in accordance with Cooperative standards and the latest edition of the National Electric Code.

- Three-phase services less than 400 amps:

The member shall be responsible for installing a three-phase meter base. The Cooperative will
provide the meter base and meter for the member’s facility.

- Three-phase services 400 amps but less than 1000 amps:

The Member shall provide and install a CT/PT cabinet. The member is responsible for providing Polaris style connections in the CT/PT cabinet. The Cooperative will provide the necessary CT/PT metering devices, meter base, and meter.

- Three-phase services 1000 amps or larger:

A Cooperative-specific metering cabinet is required. This cabinet will be provided by the Cooperative but paid for and installed by the Member. The Cooperative will supply the CT/PT metering devices, meter base, and meter.

All 480-volt services up to 600 Amps, must have a lockable disconnect switch before the CT/PT cabinet, or, if no CT/PT cabinet is required, ahead of the meter base.

The Member shall be responsible for providing adequate access to the transformer including a road base to the transformer sufficient for the Cooperative’s utility vehicles.

The Member may be required to pay a contribution in aid of construction (CIAC). This includes any line extensions along a public road right-of-way. The CIAC amount shall be calculated based on the projected revenue as determined by the Cooperative.

2. Three-Phase Multiple Tenant Service

A three-phase multi-tenant service is defined as an electric service in which three-phase power is supplied from a common three-phase source to a building or facility containing multiple individual services. The service is shared among two or more tenants and consists of a single three-phase service entrance, a supply voltage of 120/208 or 277/480, with individual meter bases, meters, and disconnects, to separately measure usage and control power for each tenant.

- Three-phase services less than 400 amps:
  The member shall be responsible for installing a three-phase meter base. The Cooperative will provide the meter base and meter for the member’s facility.
- Three-phase services 400 amps but less than 1000 amps:
  The Member shall provide and install a CT/PT cabinet. The member is responsible for providing Polaris style connections in the CT/PT cabinet. The Cooperative will provide the necessary CT/PT metering devices, meter base, and meter.
- Three-phase services 1000 amps or larger:
  A Cooperative-specific metering cabinet is required. This cabinet will be provided by the Cooperative but paid for and installed by the Member. The Cooperative will supply the CT/PT metering devices, meter base, and meter.

All multi-tenant buildings that receive electric service from a single transformer are required to provide a lockable load break disconnect switch before each meter base or CT/PT cabinet for each tenant service so that service to individual tenants may be interrupted for maintenance purposes.

3. Temporary Three-Phase Service

A temporary three-phase service is defined as an electric service supplied on a temporary basis to a single location for construction, maintenance, testing, or similar short-term purposes. The service is not shared with other Members or units and includes its own metering, service conductors, and disconnecting means. Temporary three-phase service is intended for limited duration use and shall be installed in accordance with Cooperative requirements and applicable codes. Approved supply voltages include 120/208 or 277/480.

The Cooperative may provide temporary three-phase service upon request. The member or their contractor shall be responsible for 100% of the costs associated with the construction and retirement of the temporary facilities, as a contribution in aid of construction. All CIAC charges must be paid in full prior to the commencement of any construction activities by the Cooperative.

Section II – New Service / Line Extensions