HomeMy WebLinkAbout3287 Amending and Updating AMC 14.12 - Electric System Regulations ORDINANCE NO. 3287
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND UPDATEVG CHAPTER 14.12 -ELECTRIC
SYSTEM REGULATIONS
Annotated to show deletions and additions to the Ashland Municipal Code sections being
modified. Deletions are bold lined through, and additions are bold underlined.
WHEREAS,Article 2. Section I of the Ashland City Charter provides:
Powers of the City. The City shall have all powers which the constitutions, statutes, and
common law of the United States and of this State expressly or impliedly grant or allow
municipalities, as fully as though this Charter specifically enumerated each of those
powers, as well as all powers not inconsistent with the foregoing; and, in addition thereto,
shall possess all powers hereinafter specifically granted. All the authority thereof shall
have perpetual succession.
WHEREAS,the City wishes to update Chapter 14.12 to align with the requirements set forth in
the modem Electric Service Requirements Manual and to provide for tree trimming in hazardous
situations.
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
14.12.020 Construction and Temporary Service
There is a charge for temporary service for new construction requiring only a service drop and
meter setting, in an amount to be set by resolution of the Council,which is as follows
Sim for S.- phase cnsn jinn
Ingle- -,
i zn na r__th
X-0— --- .-Pee phase. s
I of the charge shall be paid at the time of request for service. Such temporavy
qru'et-ure an-' e- state
el +
lec-41fat MUllec— --+--n. Where possib-1-1,-Xie temporary
Iso us,
service shoult"'B"es.—h4h- e a' -,.,r
permanent service. Other tempora4�3 ---
14.12.030 Permanent Service-Underground
A. It is the policy of the City to encourage the installation of-underground distribution and
service facilities where practical and economically feasible. The applicant shall make application
for underground service with the following exceptions:
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 1 of 8
1. Any replacement or relocation of a set-vice on a lot when it does not necessitate any
increase in the number of existing overhead lines and/or utility poles;
2. Any increase in service size if no additional overhead lines and/or utility poles are
required; and
3. Single-family dwellings, when utility poles exist along property lines, except where
required in the subdivision title', provided, that a service panel shall be 'installed to convert to
underground utilities at a future date with two 'inch(2") conduit stubbed out to an accessible
area.
4.
B. The City will bear all cost except trenching and backfilling and any required conduit in place
which shall be the responsibility of the applicant. The applicant shall sign an appropriate
easement to allow the City lines to be underground and for adequate maintenance access.
Locations must be approved by the City. �- All services require conduits.
C. The City will not install more than one service either overhead or-underground for the same
voltage and phase classification for any one ZM
building g or group of buildings except as separate
services, unless for the convenience of the City or where required by law or local ordinance.
Multiple-family dwellings requiring separate metering may have more than one service.
D. All transformers, meters, service wires, fixtures installed by the City at its expense on the
customer's premises for the purpose of delivering electric energy to the customer, shall be the
property of the City and may be repaired or replaced at any time and removed at the termination
of service, and may be used to supply other customers whether or not on the same premises. No
rent or other charge shall be made by the customer against the City for placing or maintaining its
facilities upon the customer's premises.
E. _Resslde_�Mial services above one hundred (100)amper-e&suall vp a two -hundr-ed (200)
rnnfar hMZa Above two hundFed twenty, five (225) amper-es, sen4ces shall have a four
IJA n-If _--t-Aned meter-base with bypasses "bove T.,U
dr-ed (400)
amperei, current transf-onner-s shall be usedt. Container oir method of suppoirting—euT+-vent
t v—a n s-f o_12-m-eiRS ssh_alfll be approved by the City and shall include not less than one (1) 1
condu-* Q.--Ie PI, hundred (200) amp meters will seiwe -Sfi
Hase
4_14.1-11 411
IALA and thr-ee "") phases two -----. one hund-r-ed
KNIA exeept tour applic-ation and
equiFements for additional' i fformation-and-fo Se or culrlre
applications. Meter locations must be outside the bung, easily accessible,
andeom-eH'
,er-readding,and not more than and one-n-alf(4- -1/2) 1eet or-less
than five and one- S ___s behind loeked door
. - con�+_
F-, or a repr 4w-4u4all
o -make r
andli 1,4-g
or-Meteir loe -Ang d For
metering standards, applicants shall refer to the most up-to-date Electric Service
Requirements Manual.
F. No connection will be made to facilities that do not have the approval of the State Electrical
Wiring Inspector or, in the opinion of the City will constitute a hazard. The City adopts the
National Electrical Code, National Safety Code and the State of Oregon Bureau of Labor Rules
as its rules and regulations, latest editions of each.
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 2 of 8
The City shall require that any electric meter base installed after April 15, 1975, shall be of the
type that can be sealed by the City with a locking meter ring. If any question should arise
regarding acceptable types of meter bases, the Director of Electric Utilities shall be consulted.
dimensions,1 11 new underground services to have - -If 11 -or
transformer- cabinet(for current transformer installations). Contact the Direct
Fleetrie Utilities for
base,(400) amp meter base will not require a ring type-meter
g With a pad".6ek,and. Shall be equipped w1th-by
The City s �,
Electric T
but .11
10cling zx.i n t adleck 4irybypasses.am shall hr ll equi nd with
14.12.036 Relocation of Services and facilities
If relocation of service or distribution facilities on or adjacent to customer's premises, including
City-owned transformers, is for the convenience of the applicant or the customer, such relocation
will be performed by the City at the expense of the applicant or the customer,provided applicant
or customer pays in advance a nonrefundable sung equal to the estimated installation cost of the
relocated facilities, including operating expense, plus estimated removal cost, less estimated
salvage and less depreciation of the facilities to be removed.
14.12.038 Point of Delivery
The "point of delivery;"unless otherwise specified by the City, is that location on the customer's
building or structure where City's circuit and customer's system are interconnected. Any
additional service supplied to the customer at other points of delivery or at a different voltage or
phase classification shall be separately metered and billed. City will supply the exterior
connection conitnonly known as "service conmection"betNveen City's transformers or lines and
the point of delivery. If more than one service is required for delivery of electric power and
energy to a customer,then (a) each service connection shall be separately metered and billed, or
(b) City may establish the"point of delivery"on its transformer platform or other structure and
install one set of metering equipment, in which event all service wires and other facilities beyond
the point of delivery shall be installed and owned by customer; provided, however, that when the
metering equipment is separated from customer's premises by a street or railroad, City will
furnish, own and maintain the necessary overhead service wire over such street or railroad.
Should customer require delivery through more than one transformer installation, or shall require
service at more than one voltage or phase, each service connection of each voltage and phase
will be separately metered and billed unless customer owns all transformation and distribution
facilities located beyond City's meter which, in such case, will be located on the primary side of
customer's facilities and will constitute the point of delivery.
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 3 of 8
14.12.040 Set-vice use requirements
A. No motor shall be allowed to start which causes interference with other customers.
Maximum single phase allowable is five (5) HP by special permission, otherwise three(3) HP.
Three (3)phase motors twenty(20) HP and larger shall have reduced voltage starting where
customers other than the applicant are served from the same transformer bank Each customer
shall review the motor starting requirements of customer's equipment when it may interfere with
the customer's own electric service. See Table#1 for other allowable motor starting conditions.
B. Other devices which cause unusual fluctuation such as X-ray apparatus, hoists, furnaces,
electric heat, must be limited to reasonable levels on request of the City.
C. The, customer shall provide circuit protective devices or fuses at customer's service entrance
or cable attachment to protect the power company equipment from any faults.
D. The location of the overhead service, where applicable, shall be on that portion of the
building that can be served from the City's facilities at a minimum of cost. Clearances shall be in
accordance with the National Electrical Safety Code, latest edition, and in general the point of
attachment and line routing shall be not less than twelve (12) feet above the finished grade.
Across roadways greater heights are required. Confer with the City staff where there may be
unusual circumstances. Additional poles will not be installed to render service at the fear or in all
inaccessible point of the building, except at customer's cost. Minimum metal raceway for
overhead or underground service entrance shall be t-cvo-inch(2")rigid galvanized steel conduit
securely fastened and to give a minimum of three feet above inaccessible roofs or other roofs
may require additional clearance.
E. The customer shall provide protective devices for the customer's equipment to protect
against single phasing and high and low voltage conditions. Three (3)phase motors shall have
protection in all three(3) legs. Wiring facilities on the customer's premises shall be kept at
customer's expense.
F. The City Electric Department may,require the customer to provide, at the customer's
expense, equipment to reduce the lagging or leading reactive requirements (�KVAR) of the
customer's equipment so that the ratio of total KNV to total KVA (volts times amperes tines
square root of three (3) for three (3) phase is not less than eighty-five percent ('85%), contmonly
known as power factor. This is not more than sixty percent(60%)reactive power to one hundred
percent (100%)true power. The City reserves the right to bill twenty-five cents (25�)per KVA
of excess reactive demand per month if the customer falls to reduce the reactive demand to the
limits above.
G. The customer shall notify the City when adding additional load which may affect the ability
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of the City to provide adequate service with existing lines and equipment.
H. The City reserves the night to refuse service to loads of a character that may seriously impair
service to any other customers unless the customer agrees to provide, at customer's expense,
suitable equipment to reasonably limit such fluctuations, as in the case of hoist or elevator
motors, `welders, furnaces, compressors and other installations of like character,where the use of
electricity is intermittent or subject to violent fluctuations.
14.12.050 Metering and Interruption of Deliveries
A. If the seal of the City's meter is broken or if the meter, for any cause, does not properly
register, the customer shall be liable for an average monthly bill for that period of the year.
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 4 of 8
B. The rate schedules of the City are applicable only for service supplied entirely by the City
without interconnection with an outside source except that interconnection may be made through
a double pole switch where necessary to meet minimum requirements for emergencies.
C. The City will exercise reasonable diligence and care to furnish continuous and sufficient
supply of electricity to its customers and to avoid any shortage or interruption of delivery
thereof. It cannot, however, guarantee complete freedom from interruption. The City will not be
liable for interruption or shortage or insufficiency of supply, or any loss or damage occasioned
thereby if same is the result beyond its reasonable control. The City may suspend service
temporarily for repairs but will attempt to give a reasonable notice to the customers as
circumstances permit. Such repairs and improvements will be performed as rapidly as may be
practical and where reasonable shall be performed at such times as will cause the least
inconvenience to the customers.
D. During times of shortage of supply the City will apportion its available supply of electricity
among its customers as directed by the Public Utilities Commission or Federal Power
Commission. In the absence of such direction it will apportion the supply in the marnier that
appears most equitable under conditions then prevailing.
E. All City meters will be sealed by the City, and it is unlawful for any person, other than an
authorized representative of the City to break or tamper with the seal for the purpose of
supplying electricity to the premises. When an-unauthorized breaking or tampering of the meter
seal is discovered, the City shall remove the meter entirely, and shall install a blank in the meter
socket. Electric service will not be reinstated until a fee, double the usual reconnect fee, has been
paid by the customer. Any customer who damages or causes a City electric meter to malfunction
shall be held liable for any expenses incurred by the City to repair or replace said meter, and the
bill must be paid in full before service can be restored.
F. Sub-metering shall be the customer's own responsibility where master meters are installed.
G. For metering 'installations on customer premises the City furnishes necessary instrument
transformers, test facilities and meters, for the City's billing purposes and tests only.
14.12.060 Meter Testing
A. Prior to Installation. Every meter will be tested before installation and no meter will be
placed in service if found to register more than two percent (2%) fast or two percent (.10 0) slow.
New factory meters will not necessarily be tested other than at the factory.
B. Custoiner Request. A customer may, on notice of not less than one (1)week,require the City
to test the meter used to measure customer's requirements.No charge will be made for such a
test except:
1. If a customer requests a meter test within six (6)months after installation or more than
once per year, a deposit to cover the reasonable cost of the test will be required of the
customer in accordance with the following schedule:
a. For each single phase meter $10.00
b. Single phase meters with instrument transformers $15.00
C. Three Phase meters $25.00
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 5 of 8
d. Thee Phase meters with instrument transformers $30.00
e. The deposit will be returtied if the meter is found to register more than four
percent (4%) fast. The excess overcharge will be refunded to the customer
for the period of twelve (12)months. The customer, or authorized
representative, may witness the tests.
C. Nonregistering of meters found more than four percent (4%) slow shall require the City to
render an additional billing on an estimated basis for the previous three (3) month period based
on the City"s experience with the customers of the same class and general characteristics of the
customer's operations.
D. When it is found that the error in a meter is due to causes, the date of which can reliably be
established, the billing will be computed back to that date; provided, however, that in no case
will a bill for-undercharge on residential service be rendered for a period exceeding three (3)
months.
14.12.080 Electricity - Resale
A. A customer shall not resell electricity received from the City to any person, except:
1. By special written permission, or
2. Where the charge is absorbed in the rental for the premises or space occupied, excepting
multiple-family units which shall be individually metered pursuant to ORS 456.763, and
billed by the City.
3. Should a customer resell electricity otherwise than as provided in the foregoing
paragraphs., the City may either discontinue, service to such customer or supply electricity
directly to the sub-customer as the City may elect.
14,12.090 General Provisions
A. No one, but duly authorized employees of the City, is allowed to run any service wires on
City poles or make any connection with City wires on City poles or underground or make any
connection with City wires on service side of meter and all unauthorized persons are warned that
they are liable for such connections under Section 164.365 [Felony- Criminal Mischief] Oregon
Revised Statutes.
B. No connections, disconnect or repairs to electric service will be made other than during
regular working hours,unless life or property is endangered, as specified by the state laws of
Oregon governing nrunicipalities in the hours allowed for working employees. Orders for
connecting and disconnecting services received 111 the forenoon will be connected 111 the
afternoon of the same day and orders received in the afternoon will be performed in the forenoon
of the next regular working day, where possible.
C. The City shall have the right to refuse or discontinue electric service to a customer if any
part of customer's wiring or equipment or the use thereof is found unsafe by the City or in
violation of applicable laws, ordinances,rules or regulations of public authorities until it has
been put in a safe condition or the violation remedied. The City does not assume the duty of
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 6 of 8
inspecting or repairing the customer's lines or appliances or apparatus or any part thereof and
assumes no liability therefore.
D. The City will not be responsible for transmission and delivery of electric energy through the
customer's wiring and equipment regardless of the place where such energy may be transformed
or metered and will not be responsible for the same or for any loss or damage occasioned thereby
whether to the customer or their person or otherwise or at all.
E. The City shall at all times have the night to ingress to and egress from a customer's premises,
at all reasonable hours, for purposes connected with the famishing of electric energy and the
exercise of any and all rights secured to it by law or these rules.
F. It is the general policy of the City and the Electric Department to operate the electric system
and conform to the general policies of other utilities III the immediate general areas. Unanswered
questions or situations may be resolved by using other utility rules as guidelines.
G. The City to will trim trees on private property if such trees, in the
judgment of the City, create a hazard to electric service lines on the same or adjacent properties.
In the event. sud, owner- f!efu 40fl-Atag4e H. The City Council may, from time to time, make additional rules and regulations for electric
service and set fees for energy sold and for services rendered. The staff is authorized to recover
amounts equal to costs plus overhead for damages and unusual situations not covered
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specifically
peel ically by these regulations.
14,12.092 Location of Electric Meters
In conjunction with the construction of new residential structures, electric meter bases shall be
installed on the side of the structure, nearest the City's service point and nearest the front of the
structure as practicable, -unless an alternate location is approved by the Director of Electric
Utilities. On comer lots, the meter base may be located on the rear of the structure, nearest the
City's service point and nearest the side street as practicable. Questions regarding meter
locations can be addressed by either consulting the Electric Sex-vice Requirements Manual
or by contacting the Ashland Electric Department.
14.12.095 Penalties
Any person-,vho violates any provision of this Chapter is subject to Section 1.08,020 of the
Ashland Municipal Code. Iri addition to other legal and equitable remedies available to the City
of Ashland, including restriction or termination of service:
Violation of any section of this chapter AMC 14.12 is a Class I violation.
SECTION 2. Severability. Each section of this ordinance, and any part thereof, is severable,
and if any part of this ordinance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
remainder of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. Codification. Provisions of this Ordinance shall be 'incorporated in the City Code
and the word "ordinance"may be changed to "code", "article", "section", "chapter"or another
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page's of 8
word, and the sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered, or re-lettered,provided however
that any Whereas clauses and boilerplate provisions (i.e. Sections 3-5) need not be codified and
the City Recorder is authorized to correct any cross-references and any typographical errors.
The foregoing ordinance was first read by title only in accordance with Article X, Section
2(C) of the City Charter on the 5 day of , 2026, and duly ,
PASSED and ADOPTED this day of (�, �, ►ti 2026.
PASSED by the City Council this _day of a (CZ V 92026.
ATTEST:
Alissa olodzinski, City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this day of a/&Z , 2026.
1" A-1'�
Tonya daham,Mayor
Reviewed as to form: -
/i a, City Attorney
ORDINANCE NO. 3287 Page 8 of 8