22-074 - 1R.  An ordinance to approve amendments to the Electric Service Rules and Regulations.

These revisions were presented to the Public Utilities Advisory Board and at their meeting held on July 21, 2022, the Board unanimously approved a motion to recommend adoption by the City Council. IPL staff also recommends approval of the ordinance.

Chapter 16 – “Public Utility Services”, Article 5 – “Electric Utility” Section 16.05.005 – “Electric Service Rules and Regulations” of the City of Independence Code of Ordinances allows for the promulgation of electric utility-related rules and regulations including, but not limited to, charges for use of equipment, methods and conditions of service, temporary service, overhead and underground service, electric load requirements and so on. Such rules and regulations are to be approved by ordinance of the City Council.

Amendments to the current Electric Service Policies Manual adopted by the City Council on March 5, 2018, via Ordinance No, 18862 are needed due to changing economic conditions. The most impactful amendments are summarized below:

• Removed outdated contact information and updated “District Map” to “Service Area Map”.
• Changed commercial customer service requirement related to residential development from 3 or more meters to 5 or more meters.
• Changed residential customer service requirement to 4 or less meters.
• Removed multiple references to specific code (NEC, NESC, etc.) sections as these sections are subject to frequent changes. Replaced with language of meeting or exceeding the reference code requirements.
• Changed from IPL providing, installing, and maintaining temporary service equipment to the Customer providing, installing, and maintaining the temporary service equipment.
• Changed the wording as pertaining to residential services as follows:
o “All new services, customer-initiated upgrades, relocations, or modifications shall be placed underground.”, to read “In areas that predominately consist of overhead distribution lines, customers can choose to have either an overhead or underground service. In areas that predominately consist of underground lines, all services shall be placed underground.”
o “All services requiring upgrade due to damage caused by storms shall be placed underground.”, to read “All services requiring upgrade due to damage caused by storms are recommended to be placed underground. However, the customer may still maintain on overhead service, but is entirely responsible for future replacements should the overhead service be damaged again. IPL, at its discretion, may require customer to place service underground especially with a history of excessive repairs to said service or possibility for damage due to vegetation issues. Customer is also responsible for all damage done to IPL facilities as a result of the customer’s overhead service.”
o “Development of a residential lot or subdivision requires the installation of an underground distribution and lighting system. The customer of such an area shall contact IPL prior to or during the planning/design phase.”, to read “Development of a single residential lot in areas that predominately consists of overhead distribution lines, customers can choose to have either an overhead or underground service. In areas that predominately consist of underground lines, all services shall be placed underground.”
• Changed wording from “IPL furnished meter socket” or “IPL provided meter socket” to “IPL approved meter socket” for all services.
• Added statements regarding the installation of cover-up and charging for the installation, removal and materials associated with this activity.

The fiscal impact to the City for these amendments is approximately a savings of $35,000.00 per annum due to IPL no longer providing meter sockets. There are also the intangible benefits of using staff more efficiently instead of spending hours each week delivering meter sockets and setting/resetting/repairing temporary meter locations. There is also the additional benefit of not impeding the final construction of a building should IPL run short of meter sockets.