Section II – New Service / Line Extensions

A. General Service Requirements

A pre-construction meeting with a URE representative is required for any new electric service or line extension to determine the location of distribution facilities including metering equipment and to determine the amount of contribution in aid of construction if applicable. Property pins must be installed and located prior to the preliminary 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 contribution in aid of construction 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. The Cooperative at its option may own the point of attachment.

The Member shall provide an unencumbered path at the Cooperative's specified width for overhead or underground line extension. If the line extension is underground the path must be within 6 inches of final grade. The Member shall be responsible for the installation of conduit raceway as required by the Cooperative such as but not limited to paved driveway and parking lot crossings and to 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, conduits are in place, and/or the grade slip has been submitted to the Cooperative.

The Cooperative reserves the right to assess the Member a trip charge for any unnecessary trips to the job site due to a problem caused by the Member. The Cooperative also reserves the right to de-energize any of its facilities if the grade is not to its safety standards.

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 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.

The minimum easement width, which may include road right of way, shall be as follows:

*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.

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.

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.

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

C. Single-Phase Service

1. Single-Family Residence

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.

A permanent single-family residence is defined as a home used year-round for habitation with its own water system, sewage system and permanent foundation.

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

Contribution In Aid of Construction (CIAC)

The following guidelines shall be used to calculate (CIAC):

• The measurement to calculate the CIAC shall begin from the closest point of contact of 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 line extension charges shall be levied for changing the original path 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 permanent service being energized.

Management has authority granted by the Board of Trustees February 26, 2006 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. Commercial

The Cooperative shall extend single-phase electric distribution facilities to a commercial business where, as determined by the Cooperative, the elements of a business operation exist and where electric service is normally used on a year-round basis.

The Member is responsible for providing and installing any necessary 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. Members with services larger than 400 amps will be required to provide, install service conductors and transformer connection lugs.

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 shall be required to pay a contribution in aid of construction at 100% of the actual cost for all electric distribution facilities necessary to provide electric service from the point of attachment of existing distribution facilities including line extension along a public road right-of-way unless 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 that is not a residence or commercial business provided the Member pay a contribution in aid of construction at 100% of the actual work order cost for all electric distribution facilities necessary to provide service from existing distribution facilities including line extension along a public road right-of-way. Types of services are, but not limited to, a barn, garage, pump, grain dryer, cabin, trailer, billboard, etc.

The Cooperative encourages its Members or prospective Members to provide the 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 1 cost estimate upon an up-front nonrefundable payment of a $100 engineering charge credited toward the completion of the project Members or prospective Members shall be charged a trip charge for each additional request of more than 1 field trips for re-engineering estimates.

If the member chooses to serve a temporary, permanent, or seasonal single-phase and later connects a single-family residential service to these facilities, the member may be entitled to a partial refund if either of the following events take place:

1. The individually metered residential service has passed a permanent electrical inspection by the County governing authority within one year of the date in which the original permanent single phase service was connected.
2. The residential service is served from existing permanent single-phase facilities and has received the permit for permanent electric service within 36 months of the date in which the original permanent single-phase service was connected.

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. Multi-Unit Residence

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, upon request of the Cooperative, install at the owner's expense separate wiring so that each dwelling unit can be metered and billed separately. The Member or owner shall also be responsible for obtaining 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 whether they are residential or commercial 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 larger than 400 amps will be required to provide and install service conductors and transformer connection lugs. Any conduit crossings for services will be installed and provided by the Member. The Cooperative has the sole discretion as to the definition of a multi-unit dwelling.

All gang meter bases shall have each service location labeled with a permanent identification tag in order to correctly identify which meter corresponds to a particular dwelling, in accordance with the most current version of the NEC.

5. Temporary Construction Service (per service)

A Member or the Member's contractor may request temporary construction power during construction, remodeling, maintenance, repair, or demolition. A temporary construction service shall be defined as to not exceed a one year, 12-month period without prior approval from the Cooperative and payment of the extended temporary service costs below. 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 of URE’s temporary service will result in additional charges. Any electric facilities required to be installed for the purpose to provide the temporary service shall fall under the appropriate line extension guidelines for determining CIAC. Any electric facilities that are not incorporated into the permanent service shall be removed at 100% of the cost of removal to the Member.

1. Single-phase Member owned temporary structure: $0
2. URE supplied single-phase temporary structure: $0 first year
3. URE supplied single-phase temporary structure/year: $300 per year after first year

6. Temporary Electric Service

When electric service is required temporarily for any purpose, the applicant shall pay a CIAC with the Cooperative for the total estimated cost of construction, plus any total estimated cost of removal, minus the estimated salvage value of all equipment and materials.

D. Residential Plats

Residential plats (subdivisions) are defined as single family homes or condominiums that must meet the following criteria:

• Recorded and platted by the Developer with the appropriate electric and natural gas utility easements

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 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 will address the installation of its primary facilities as described below.

The Cooperative shall have sole discretion of charging a CIAC. The CIAC must be paid in advance of installation of electric primary facilities.

E. Commercial Park Developments

Commercial Parks 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.

F. 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 and 3-year agreement shall be required prior to the installation of any private light.

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 shall be required prior to the installation of street light facilities installed by the Cooperative.

G. Three-Phase Service

1. Individual

Where an extension or expansion of Cooperative's facilities is necessary to provide three-phase electric service, the Cooperative reserves the right to require a contribution in aid of construction where, as determined by the Cooperative, the probable additional revenue is insufficient to justify the investment and operating expenses involved.

The Member shall be responsible for the installation of any concrete transformer pads, grounding grid, switchgear pads, secondary cabinets, transformer pad grounding, C.T./P.T. cabinet, meter bases, transformer protection posts, secondary service cables, service cable connection lugs and conduit raceways as required by the Cooperative in accordance with Cooperative specifications. The Cooperative will provide the necessary C.T. / P. T. metering devices as well as the meter for the Member’s facility. All 320 amp 120/208 V three-phase self-contained meter bases with by-pass levers must be approved by the cooperative, but are provided by the member. All 480-volt services up to 600 Amps, must have a lockable disconnect switch before the CT/PT cabinet to isolate all phase conductors. All three phase services larger than 600 Amps, are required to have a Cooperative specific metering cabinet that is provided by the Cooperative but paid for by the member.

Typical three phase voltages provided by the Cooperative are as follows:

• 120/208 WYE
• 277/480 WYE
• 120/240 DELTA

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.

2. Multiple Tenants

Three-phase facilities may be requested by a commercial builder for multiple-tenant buildings. In the event a tenant requests or requires single-phase service from the three-phase service, the tenant and building owner may enter into a written agreement with the Cooperative to make the necessary changes to the electric facilities to provide single-phase service. The owner shall reimburse the Cooperative all costs associated with providing the single-phase electric service.

Contribution in Aid to Construction (CIAC) may be required at the discretion of the Cooperative.

All multi-tenant buildings whether they are residential or commercial 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. Members with services larger than 400 amps will be required to provide and install conductors with connection lugs.

All gang meter bases shall have each service location permanently tagged in order to identify which meter corresponds to a particular business space per the National Electrical Code.

3. Temporary Three-Phase Service

The Cooperative will provide temporary three-phase service. The member or contractor shall be responsible for paying 100% of the cost of construction to install and remove as a contribution in aid to construction. The CIAC must be paid in full prior to the start of the project.