The electric service furnished by the City shall be furnished in accordance with the rates, charges and rules and regulations provided for in this article and such additional rules and regulations as are promulgated pursuant to the authority granted in this article.

(Code 1982)

Before any user of electricity shall connect his premises with or use electric current from the electric system of the City, application for the connection of such service must be made to the City by the owner of the property on which the electricity is to be used or by his duly authorized agent.  The application shall be made on a form supplied by the City and, among other things, shall state the location of the property and the purposes for which the electricity is to be used.  When the prospective user has met all requirements, s/he shall be authorized to connect to or use electric current from the electric system.

(Code 1982)

A.    All electric meters shall be installed by the City after the customer has had all wiring.

B.    The City shall have the right to designate the location of the electric meter for each customer.  If the City deems it necessary to have the location of any meter changed to a different location, the customer shall cause the required change to be made.  Any expense incident to a change in location of a meter to conform to the requirements of the City shall be borne by the property owner or the customer.

C.    Unless otherwise designated by the City, all meters shall be located on the outside of the customer’s house or building.  The meter socket base, or the metal meter enclosure, shall be not less than five (5) feet, nor more than seven (7) feet, above the ground or point where the meter reader will stand when reading the meter.  Enclosed porches will not be considered as outside locations.

D.    The customer’s service leads from the City’s service wires to the meter shall be installed either in rigid metal conduit or by other wiring methods approved in applicable ordinances of the City.

E.    Meters for new service to new homes and new commercial buildings shall be installed in a meter socket base to be furnished by the City and installed by the customer at his expense.  When there are alterations in the wiring of existing homes or commercial buildings which necessitate changes in the entrance switch, meter loop or meter setting, the customer shall install, at his expense, an approved City socket as furnished by the City.

F.    The City shall keep all meters in good repair and proper working condition without cost to the customer, unless there is damage to the meter for which the customer is liable under other provisions of this article.  All meters shall be inspected and tested by the City without cost to the customer as often as is deemed necessary by the City to determine the state of repair and recording accuracy.  All tests of meters shall be made in accordance with established and accepted methods.  The results of all testing of meters shall be conclusive.  Customers requesting that their electric meter be tested because they question their bill will be billed for any applicable charges for such services as may be established by ordinance or resolution of the Board of Commissioners.  If the meter tested is not within three percent (3%) accuracy, plus or minus, then a proper adjustment will be made at the next regular billing and the charge of meter fee will be waived; provided, however, no adjustment shall be made for a period exceeding the preceding two (2) months’ billing, and in no event will adjustment be made for the three percent (3%) range, plus or minus, of error.

(Code 1982; see also 6-310, 6-316)

A schedule of rates, conditions of service and availability shall be as set by resolution of the Commission, which schedule shall be on file in the City Manager’s Office.

(Code 1982)

Each customer shall make payment of fees set by resolution to be due at the Office of the Department of Utilities in the City Hall during regular hours on or before the due date or within fifteen (15) days thereafter; provided, that if the due date is the twenty-fifth (25th) day of a calendar month, payment may be on or before the tenth (10th) day of the calendar month following.  If the amount due is not paid within said time, the account shall be classified as delinquent and shall therefore have a late payment fee consisting of the greater of ten dollars ($10.00) or ten percent (10%) of the billed amount.  If the account becomes delinquent five (5) days, the electric service of the customer shall be disconnected and remain discontinued until final payment is made of all amounts due, including the late payment fee imposed, plus any applicable disconnection and/or reconnection charges as may be established by ordinance or resolution of the Governing Body. 

(Code 2015)

Provision for deposits for electrical service shall be as set forth by resolution of the Commission.

(Code 1982)

Extensions of the distribution system to furnish electric service shall be made in accordance with City policy.

(Code 1982; K.S.A. 12-808 et seq.)

The City shall have the right to refuse service or terminate existing service to any customer when the electric energy furnished is used to power any apparatus, the use of which impairs the normal flow of power to other customers or which otherwise interferes with the satisfactory operation of the electric system or of any portion thereof.

(Code 1982)

The City shall give notice to the customers affected of any suspension or interruption of service whenever it is practicable; provided, however, that the City shall have the right to suspend or interrupt delivery of electric energy, without notice to the customers affected, whenever such suspension or interruption is necessary to permit repair of lines or other facilities or whenever conditions beyond the immediate control of the City require suspension or interruption of service.

(Code 1982)

A.    It shall be unlawful for any person to break the seal of any meter; to switch, install or alter any wiring; to make any electrical connections; to attach any wires; to attach any devices to wires or meters; or to arrange any wiring, meter, equipment or device in a manner to obtain electric energy supplied by the City, or to use or waste or allow to be used or wasted the same, without such electric energy being properly metered, billed for or paid for in accordance with the rates established by resolution; provided, however, that duly licensed electricians performing work regulated by the ordinances of the City may use sufficient electricity to test their work by permission of the City Inspector or the Director of Utilities.

B.    A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor.

(Code 1982)

A.    It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally deface, injure or destroy any meter pole, wire, insulation, lamp or any other property or facility used in the operation of the electric system by the Utilities Department, or to erect signs on poles or buildings used in such operation without permission, or to interfere with the City’s electric system.

B.    A violation of this Section is a Class B misdemeanor.

(Code 1982)

The City Manager or his/her designee shall promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as may from time to time be necessary to properly conduct and administer the operation of the electric system of the City and to establish conditions of service to its customers.  Violations of such rules and regulations will be punishable as provided in this article.  Fees for insufficient fund checks or other uncollectible instruments of payment may be established by ordinance or resolution of the Board of Commissioners.

(Code 1982)

The City Manager or designee or any City employee designated by the Director shall have access to any premises supplied with electric energy by the electric system operated by the City, and shall have authority to direct compliance with the provisions of this article and with the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority set forth in this article.

(Code 1982)

If the City Manager or his designee shall discover, upon any premises served by the electric system, any violation of this article, or of any rule or regulation promulgated there under, the Director shall order cessation of the prohibited practice or discontinue service to the premises or both, and s/he may request the City Attorney to prosecute the offending customer or property owner.

(Code 1982)

After authorization by the City Manager, on any collection action filed by the city attorney or any attorney acting on behalf of the City of Ottawa, for an unpaid and delinquent electric utility bill, the City hereby authorizes the said attorney to include as the costs of the action the reasonable collection costs, including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees necessary thereunder, as a lawful damage to be sought by the city attorney in any collection.

(Code 2015)