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Power Rules & Regulations

MORRISTOWN POWER SYSTEM SCHEDULE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS June 28, 2012

1. Application for Service. Each prospective Customer desiring electric service may be required to sign Commission's standard form of application for service or contract before service is supplied, discontinued, or transferred by Commission.
2. Customer Deposits. A cash deposit or suitable guarantee equal to approximately two times the average monthly bill may be required of any Customer before electric service is supplied.  Commercial and Industrial Customers may elect to substitute either a Bank Financial Letter of Credit or a Surety Bond provided by an approved insurance underwriter in lieu of a cash deposit.  Upon termination of service, deposit may be applied by Commission against unpaid bill of Customer, and if any balance remains after such application is made, said balance shall be refunded to the Customer.   Customers must provide a cash deposit or suitable guarantee prior to placing permanent service in the customer’s name and failure to provide such deposit may result in disconnect of the temporary construction service. Customers previously qualified under the TVA Enhanced Security Deposit Program who subsequently lose eligibility, customers who fail to renew Bank Financial Letters of Credit, or customers who have their Surety Bonds terminated shall provide a cash deposit or suitable guarantee within 30 days notice by MUS or the deposit will be recovered in equal amounts over a six month period added to the monthly bill.  Failure to meet the customer deposit requirements may result in disconnection of service.
3. Point of Delivery. The point of delivery is the point, as designated by Commission, on Customer's premises where current is to be delivered to building or premises.  All wiring and equipment beyond this point of delivery shall be provided and maintained by Customer at no expense to Commission.
4. Customer's Wiring - Standards. All wiring of Customer must conform to Commission's requirements, the City of Morristown's Electrical Ordinances, and accepted modern standards as exemplified by the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code and the National Electrical Code.
5. Inspections. The M.P.S. shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to inspect any installation before utility service is introduced, or at any later time, and reserves the right to reject service to any facilities not in compliance with M.P.S.'s standards; but such inspection or failure to inspect or reject shall not be regarded as an assurance against defects in installation or an assurance of the quality or safety of appliances or their installation, and shall not render M.P.S. liable or responsible for any loss or damage to person or property resulting from defects in the installation, or from appliances, or the installation thereof, or from violation of M.P.S.'s rules and regulations, or from accidents which may occur upon the applicant's premises, it being understood that utility installations and their safety shall be the sole responsibility of the applicant.  The Applicant further agrees to claim no damage on account of interruption of electrical service, it being understood that the rates charged applicant do not contemplate uninterrupted service guarantees.
6. Underground Electric Distribution & Service Lines. Customers desiring underground primary distribution lines from Commission's overhead service system must bear 100% of the cost difference between overhead and underground construction.  Customers desiring underground service lines from the Commission's distribution system must bear 100% of the cost difference between overhead and underground construction.  Specifications and terms for such construction will be furnished by Commission on request.
7. Customer's Responsibility for Commission's Property. All meters, service connections, and other equipment furnished by Commission shall be, and remain, the property of Commission.  Customer shall provide a space for and shall exercise proper care to protect the property of Commission on Customer's premises, and, in the event of loss or damage to Commission's property arising from neglect of Customer to care for same, the cost of the necessary repairs or replacements shall be paid by Customer.  Customer shall in no way tamper with Commission's meter or electrical equipment.
8. Right of Access. Commission's identified employees shall have access to Customer's premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of tree pruning, reading meters, testing, inspection, repairing, removing, or exchanging any or all equipment belonging to Commission.  Customer is also responsible for the protection of Commission's employees from Customer's pets and animals.
9.

Billing. Bills will be rendered monthly and shall be payable on or before the designated due date of bill at the office of Commission or other authorized designated places.  Failure to receive bill will not release Customer from payment obligation.  The bill is due and payable on billing date.  The final date for paying net amount of bill is no later than 15 days from billing date.  Payments after the 15-day period will be subject to a late payment charge.  The residential late payment charge will be computed as a charge of 5 percent of the electric bill excluding other charges and sales tax.  The late payment charge for other classes of service will be computed as a charge of 5 percent of the first $250.00 portion of the electric bill, plus 1 percent of the remaining portion of the bill excluding other charges and sales tax.   Commission will mail a second notice for any and all delinquent bills stating that unless the bill is paid within five (5) days from the postmark date of the second notice, service is subject to termination without further notice.   A notice that service is subject to
termination for nonpayment will be printed on the second notice.  This notice will include:

(a) The amount due, including any other charges.
(b) The last date of payment to avoid disconnection.

10.

Discontinuance of Service by Commission.  Commission may refuse to connect or may discontinue service for the violation of any of its Rules and Regulations, or for violation of  any of the provisions of the Schedule of Rates and Charges, or for violation of Customer's application or Customer's contract. 

Commission may discontinue service to Customer for the theft of current or the appearance of current theft devices on the premises of Customer.  The discontinuance of service by Commission for any causes as stated in this rule does not release Customer from Customer's obligation to Commission for any payment of any bills as specified in application of Customer or contract with Customer.

The Service Manager and General Manager are available to hear complaints and disputes if they are not satisfactorily settled with regular Customer Service personnel.
           
Hearings on disputed bills will be held by appointment at Commission's office on any business day.  The Service Manager or his designee will hear the evidence, render a decision in writing and shall promptly provide the customer with a copy of said decision.   The customer may not later than noon of the fifth business day after a decision is rendered, submit a request for an appeal hearing conducted by the General Manager.  The General Manager will hear evidence and render a final decision in writing and shall promptly provide the customer with copy of such decision.  The customer requesting a hearing has the right to examine Commission's records pertaining to that customer's service.  In addition, the customer has a right to have a representative at the hearing, to testify and to present witnesses.

The Customer's service will not be discontinued until after the above procedures have been complied with. A copy of the above hearing and appeal procedures will be posted in Commission's offices. The Commission will exercise special consideration for elderly, handicapped, and severe weather circumstances in applying termination procedures.
11.

Miscellaneous Service Charges.  A Miscellaneous Service Charge will be billed to the Customer for the following reasons:

A.  Returned Check Charge                                                                    $25.00
B.  Trip/Connect/Disconnect/Reconnect Charge during Office Hours      $25.00
C.  Trip/Connect/Disconnect/Reconnect Charge after Hours                  $50.00
D.  Disconnect/Reconnect Service at Pole during Office Hours               $50.00
E.  Disconnect/Reconnect Service at Pole after Office Hours              Actual Cost     
F.  Customer Compliance with Commission Rules Repairs                     $50.00
G.  Meter Test                                                                                        $50.00
H.  Temporary Pole Service Connect                                                      $50.00

12. Termination of Contract by Customer. Customers who have fulfilled their contract terms and wish to discontinue service must give at least three (3) days' written notice to that effect, unless contract specifies otherwise.  Notice to discontinue service prior to expiration of contract term will not relieve Customer from any minimum or guaranteed payment under any applicable contract or prevailing rate.
13. Temporary Service Charges. Customers requiring electric service on a temporary basis may be required by Commission to pay all cost for connection and disconnection incidental to the supplying and removing of service including a temporary pole charge of $50.00.  This rule will apply to circuses, carnivals, fairs, temporary construction, etc.
14. Interruption of Service. Commission will use reasonable diligence in supplying current, but shall not be liable for breach of contract in the event of, or for loss, injury, or damage to persons or property resulting from, interruptions in service, excessive or inadequate voltage, single-phasing, or otherwise unsatisfactory service, whether or not caused by negligence.
15. Shortage of Electricity. In the event of an emergency or other condition causing a shortage in the amount of electricity for Distributor to meet the demand on its system, Distributor may, by an allocation method deemed equitable by Distributor, fix the amount of electricity to be made available for use by Customer and/or may otherwise restrict the time during which Customer may make use of electricity and the uses which Customer may make of electricity.  If such actions become necessary, Customer may request a variance because of unusual circumstances including matters adversely affecting the public health, safety and welfare.  If Customer fails to comply with such allocation or restriction, Distributor may take such remedial actions as it deems appropriate under the circumstances including temporarily disconnecting electric service and charging additional amounts because of the excess use of electricity.  The provisions of the Section entitled Interruption of Service of this Schedule of Rules and Regulations are applicable to any such allocation or restriction.
16. Voltage Fluctuations Caused by Customer. Customer shall operate its facilities as not to cause unusual fluctuations or disturbances on Commissions system.  Customer agrees to install and maintain, when requested by the Commission, necessary corrective devices approved by Commission to maintain power quality within reasonable limits as established by applicable ANSI STANDARDS.  Harmonic voltage limits shall conform at minimum to the IEEE-519 Recommended Practices and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electrical Power Systems.  Customer shall provide Commission with a suitable and acceptable plan to prevent unusual fluctuations caused by the Customer’s utilization of disturbing loads.  If Customer fails to implement corrective action after reasonable notice, Commission shall then make changes to its distribution system necessary to prevent unusual fluctuations caused by the Customer at the Customer’s expense.
17. Additional Load. The service connection, transformers, meters, and equipment supplied by Commission for each Customer have definite capacity, and no addition to the equipment or load connected thereto will be allowed, except by consent of Commission.  Failure to give notice of any additions or changes in load, and to obtain Commission's consent for same, shall render Customer liable for any damage to any of Commission's lines or equipment caused by the additional or changed installation.
18. Standby and Resale Service. All purchased electric service (other than emergency or standby service) used on the premises of Customer shall be supplied exclusively by Commission, and Customer shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, sublet, assign, or otherwise dispose of the electric service or any part thereof.
19. Notice of Trouble. Customer shall notify Commission immediately should the service be unsatisfactory for any reason, or should there be any defects, trouble, or accidents affecting the supply of electricity.  Such notices, if verbal, should be confirmed in writing.
20. Non-Standard Service. Customer shall pay a Facility Charge for any special installation necessary to meet Customer's requirements for service at other than standard service provided by the Distributor in accordance with existing rate schedule.
21. Meter Tests. Commission will, at its own expense, make periodic tests and inspections of its meters in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy.  MPS will make additional tests and inspections of its meter installations at the request of the Customer.  If testing of the meter shows accuracy within + or - 2%, the Customer will be charged for the cost of the test. In cases where the test shows meter accuracy outside + or - 2%, an adjustment will be made in the Customer’s bill for the partial month during which the test was made and the previous month’s bill.  All costs for this testing will be paid by MPS.  In the case of meter failure or loss of data for all or part of a billing period, MPS will estimate consumption from the best information available.
22.

Commission-Owned Equipment. Commission shall, at the request of Customer, relocate or change existing Commission-owned equipment.  Customer shall reimburse Commission for such changes at actual cost including appropriate overheads.

23. Billing Adjusted to Standard Periods. The demand charges and the blocks in the energy charges set forth in the rate schedules are based on billing periods of approximately one month. In the case of final billings where the period covered by the billing is over, or less than, a month, the demand charges and the blocks of the energy charge will be prorated for the period of time for which service was rendered.
24. Residential Energy Service Program. Commission as part of its electric service will arrange to offer available funds to eligible customers for electric Heat Pumps/Water Heaters.  Eligible Customers must sign repayment agreements under which the funds will be repaid to the Commission.  Monthly repayment amounts due for this service will be included as part of the electric bills from Commission.
25. Scope and Information. Commission will make available to Customer upon application for service, and anytime upon request, information concerning current service practice policies and current rates applicable to such Customer.  Upon request a Customer will receive a statement of such Customer's monthly kWh consumption for the prior 12-month period.  Customer shall be notified of the availability of the current rate schedule, Commission's policies, and consumption information by the most practicable combinations of advertisements and/or mail.  To the extent practicable, Customers shall be notified of any proposed changes deemed to be significant by Commission in Commission's rates, Rules and Regulations, and/or policies at least 30 days prior to implementation of such changes by the most practicable combinations of mail, newspaper and/or website advertisement.  This Schedule of Rules and Regulations is a part of all contracts for receiving electric service from Commission and applies to all service received from Commission, whether the service is based upon contract, agreement, signed application, or otherwise.  A copy of this Schedule, together with a copy of Commission's Schedule of Rates and Charges, shall be kept open to inspection at the offices of Commission.
26. Revisions. Except as provided above in section 25, these Rules and Regulations may be revised, amended, supplemented, or otherwise changed from time to time, without notice.  Such changes, when effective, shall have the same force as the present Rules and Regulations and will be kept open to inspection at the offices of Commission.
27. Conflict. In case of conflict between any provision of any rate schedule and the Schedule of Rules and Regulations, the rate schedule shall apply.
28. Policy of Non-Discrimination. Commission has and holds a policy of not discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age (provided that the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract); because all or part of the applicant's income is derived from any public assistance program; or because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.
29. Three Phase Load Limitations. Customer agrees to obtain approval from Commission prior to the installation of all electric furnaces of 200 kW and larger, and for three phase electric motors of 150 HP and larger for across the line starting.
30. Single Phase Load Limitations. Customer agrees to obtain approval from Commission prior to the installation of single phase electric motors 10 HP and larger.  No single phase load above 100 kW will be served.
31. Customers Communications Requirements for Metering. Customers with metering that requires telephone communications shall supply at Customer’s expense a dedicated analog telephone line; this line cannot pass through the Customer’s telephone switch.
32. Allowable Fixed Capacitors for Power Factor Correction. Customers are allowed to install fixed, unswitched, capacitors on the secondary side of Commission’s transformers for correction of power factor at a KVAR rating not to exceed ten (10) percent of the installed transformer bank capacity in KVA.
33. Customer Use of Generators. Customers utilizing generators for emergency power shall provide a disconnecting means to assure generated power and utility power cannot serve the same load simultaneously. Disconnecting means, such as a double-throw switch, must assure the generator power has no return path to Commission supplied meters, equipment or wires. Customer generated power represents an extreme danger to Commission employees working on lines considered de-energized.
34. Line Extension for Residential Locations. Customers or developers of approved residential subdivision developments with requests for three phase power requirements and/or projected capital investments greater than $300.00 shall post a deposit to MUS in an amount equal to the estimated cost to serve the development via standard overhead distribution for a term of ten (10) years. The deposits and released portions shall be administered in accordance with MUS Policy F-10.006.
35. Line Extensions for Private Industrial and Commercial Developments. Customers or developers of private industrial and/or commercial developments with requests for three phase power requirements shall pay a monthly investment charge of 1.5 % per month of the allocated costs to serve the development via standard overhead distribution. In addition, the customer must provide a deposit to MUS to cover the full allocated cost during the investment period until the amount is recovered in whole. The investment charge deposit shall be administered in accordance with MUS Policy F-10.007.
36. Contract Demand. Where mandated by TVA contract and applicable rate schedules. Commission may require the customer provide electric load information sufficient in order to determine the contract demand, absent of which the Commission reserves the right to establish the contract demand. It shall be the policy of the Commission to set the contract demand kW equal to the installed transformer kVA capacity unless lower demands are determined appropriate by the Commission.
37. Load Control Program. As part of its electric service and under a load control program conducted by MUC and TVA, MUC and/or TVA operates load control devices placed upon the premises or equipment of Customers who have agreed to the installation of such devices in order to reduce demand upon MUC’s and/or TVA’s system.  MUC and/or TVA may from time to time by publishing a notice in a daily newspaper in Morristown, Tennessee, or by notice on Customer’s bills, establish, modify, or rescind times, conditions, and durations of operation of load control devices and establish, modify, or rescind incentive payments to be made to Customers on whose premises or equipment load control devices have been installed.  At any time, Customers, at their option, may terminate their participation in load control programs operated by MUC and/or TVA, after which the load control devices will be removed or disconnected from their premises or equipment.  Damages shall be limited to the repair and/or replacement of equipment under warranty at the sole discretion of MUC.
38. Customer Specific Energy Use Data. Upon request, using procedures established by MUC and in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 10-7-504, MUC will make available to customers their available energy consumption data.  MUC will not provide to other parties any customer’s individually identifiable energy consumption data or other individually identifiable customer data collected by MUC without the customer’s authorization, using authorization procedures established by MUC. Aggregated energy use data will be utilized only by MUC and parties authorized by MUC in order to enhance system security, reliability, and improve system efficiency and will not be provided to any to any other parties except with MUC approval.  Nothing in this paragraph limits TVA’s rights as provided under the Wholesale Power Contract.