300 North Westminster St. Waynesfield, OH 45896
(419) 568-4991 - Fax: (419) 568-6685 info@waynesfieldohio.com

Utility Rules

VILLAGE OF WAYNESFIELD, OHIO GENERAL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS ELECTRIC DIVISION

SERVICE AREA: Services are available within the corporation area of Waynesfield, Ohio, and without the corporate area in those sections presently being served by the Village, and in other sections or unincorporated areas where the Village, at its option, determines that service is economically feasible, and in conformance with all applicable current statutes. Any expansion of such services shall be subject to the approval by Council.

DEFINITIONS:  As used herein, the words Waynesfield, Village, City and Utility are identical in meaning and refer to the Village of Waynesfield, Ohio, and its officials. Other definitions are listed herein.

SPECIAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS: When the use of electricity is subject to violent fluctuations, as in the case of welders and other equipment, the Consumer, if requested by the Village, shall at his own expense, reasonably limit such fluctuations.

The Utility is hereby authorized to establish a special service charge on a contractual basis for loads requiring capacity in excess of the normally metered demand, when such demand is sufficient to cause unreasonable and/or disturbing voltage fluctuations. In the case of welding machines and other equipment using high amounts of electricity or having high demand, the Village may provide service under a special service contract which contract shall make adequate allowance for the additional equipment and feeder capacity necessary to service the load in question.

CLASSES OF SERVICES: The Village may determine different rates for different classes of service, based upon the character of such service, as it deems such classification necessary. The Village shall determine in its sole discretion such classifications, and the decision of the Village shall be final and conclusive in resolving any dispute with respect to rate category.

APPLICATION FOR SERVICES: Before the Village will supply any electric service, the person desiring the same must make application in writing to the Village (on printed forms supplied by it for the purpose) specifying the place or location where service is desired and agreeing to comply with all the terms, rules, and regulations of the Village covering such service and agreeing to pay for the same in conformance with the rates of the Village applicable to the class of service desired. Said application shall be made at the Village Municipal Building, 300 N Westminster St., Waynesfield, OH.

All applications for service must be accepted on behalf of the Village by its officers, including the Village Administrator or the Fiscal Officer. Upon such acceptance, such application becomes a contract between the Consumer and the Village and binding upon both. The Village will not serve and may refuse to continue to serve any consumer who refuses to make proper application to the Village or who refuses to accept service or to continue service in conformance with the schedule of the Village, which schedule includes not only the rates of the Village, but the rules and regulations governing its service as well.

APPLICATION REQUIRED FOR EACH LOCATION: Consumers desiring service must make a separate application for each location or premises where service is desired. The Village will not serve more than on location, residence, place of business, or premises under a single application or contract for service.

DEPOSITS: No deposits are required as all utilities must be in the name of the property owner.

SERVICE SHALL BE DENIED PERSONS IN DEBT TO THE VILLAGE: The Village shall refuse to service, and shall refuse to continue to serve, persons who are in debt to the Village for service and who have made no arrangements satisfactory to the Village concerning the payment of the amounts owing.

METER LOCATION: Each consumer shall provide without charge to the Village, a suitable location for the meters and metering equipment to be installed by the Village, and the Village shall have the right to determine where its meters or metering equipment shall be located on the premises of the Consumer. The meters shall be so located as to be easily accessible to the Village’s employees or agents and must be located in a safe place. The Village reserves the right to require a relocation of its meters from time to time to effectuate the purposes of this provision, and the Consumer shall provide for such relocation on request and at the expense of the Consumer.

MEASUREMENTS OF ELECTRICITY: Electric energy applied to the Consumer shall be measured by meters or metering equipment suitable for the purpose, supplied, installed and maintained by the Village. The Meter readings shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of electricity supplied.

ESTIMATED BILLS: In the event the Village’s meter or metering equipment fails to properly register the electricity supplied during any month or other period of time, the Village will estimate the number of kilowatt- hours during the period of time in question, having due regard to the use of which the Consumer made of the electricity in question, and any other source of information and data permitting of the reasonable conclusion as to the electricity not measured or inaccurately measured, and the Consumer will be billed by the Village accordingly.

The Consumer may, if he wishes, present any information or data within his knowledge on the subject, but if no objection is made to the Village within five (5) days from the date of rendition of the estimated bill, then it shall become an account stated and be due and payable within the time provided and as stated on such bill. All meters and metering equipment shall be considered accurate if they register within three (3%) percent fast or slow. Whenever a meter is found to be inaccurate, it shall be restored to accuracy or be replaced by the Village with an accurate meter without cost to the Consumer.

BILLS FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE: a) Under normal conditions, meters will be read monthly in units of kilowatt-hours and, in the case of some commercial and industrial users at the discretion of the Utility, in units of maximum demand and kilowatt-hours, and a bill based upon such readings will be rendered to the Consumer. All bills for service are payable at the Municipal Building, 300 N Westminster St, Waynesfield, Ohio; placed in the night drop box, paid online or mailed. Bills will indicate the number of kilowatt-hours supplied and, when necessary, the monthly maximum demand; the amount of the bill; the last day of which the bill is payable “net,” i.e., before a delayed payment penalty is added or the date of expiration of the period within in which any applicable discount will be allowed. Any remittance received by mail at the designated place as provided above bearing a United States Post Office cancellation stamp dated not later than the day the date indicated on the bill as the last date on which said bill is payable “net” (as defined above) will be accepted as within the next payment period. All remittances must be accompanied by the bill or a copy of the bill. All payments must have the Customer’s account written on the check.

b)  The Village reserves the right to require that meters be read and bills for electric service be paid on a weekly, bi-weekly or other periodic basis when, in its judgement, such a procedure is necessary or desirable. Due allowance and adjustments shall be made in such cases so that said rates shall conform to the monthly basis rates.

DISCONNECTION OR DENIAL OF SERVICE: The Utility reserves the right to refuse any applicant for service and shall not provide such service to any such applicant if the applicant is indebted to the Utility for any service theretofore rendered at any location, provided that the Utility shall advise applicant to that effect. The Utility reserves the right to discontinue service to any customer without notice in case of an emergency or to prevent fraud, or if the account is in arrears fifteen (15) days or more.

The account of a customer will be considered delinquent if, for any given bill containing a previous balance have not been made by the due date. Such delinquent accounts shall be subject to disconnection for non-payment. If a disconnection occurs, the full balance of the account plus a $30 reconnect fee must be paid before the utilities are restored.

The Utility also reserves the right to disconnect service to any customer for failure to comply with these rules and regulations.

The Utility will place bills in the mail for delivery to consumers, and failure on the part of the customer to receive a bill shall not entitle the customer to pay at the net rate after the date when payment is due, nor in any way discharge customer’s responsibility for said bill. If for any reason a customer does not receive a bill for service rendered, said customer shall notify the Utility Clerk and a duplicate bill will be issued.

DISCONNECTION PROCEDURES:

a) Upon the 16th day of the month the bill is due, if the utility bill balance is not paid in full, a ten percent (10%) penalty will be incurred. The bill is then considered delinquent. If the delinquent bill is not paid in full by the 15th of the following month, the utilities will be shut off.

b)  The Utility will not disconnect service for a delinquent bill on either a bank or Village employee holiday. The Utility will not disconnect service for a delinquent bill after 12:30 p.m. local time on Friday or the day preceding a bank or Village holiday.

d)  Payment of delinquent bills may be made any time until actual disconnection. Occupant may pay said delinquent portion of the Utility Bill at that time to a duly authorized and bonded agent, at the Municipal Building, 300 N Westminster St., Waynesfield, OH

CONCERNING RENTAL PROPERTIES:

1.  Owner of property (land) shall be responsible for all utility charges

2.  Utilities will not be turned on until entire bill is paid in full. All delinquent bills will be accessed to taxes after 90 days.

CERTIFICATION OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS: Upon becoming delinquent, the account may be certified by the Village Administrator to the County Auditor to be placed upon the tax duplicate and become a perfected lien according to the Ohio Revised Code. The Village Administrator shall certify all such delinquent accounts. Also, the Village Administrator may certify any delinquent amounts immediately upon learning that the subject premises is for sale, or a sale is pending.

RECONNECTION OF SERVICE: The Utility will reinstate service to a customer who has been disconnected for a delinquent bill by no later than the close of the first regular Utility working day following the day upon which payment for service, including any applicable deposit, is made and service reinstatement is requested. If the customer wishes to guarantee the reinstatement of service on the same day on which payment is rendered, the customer must before 1:00 p.m. on such day, both make payment and request that service be reinstated that day.

RECONNECTION CHARGE: Prior to the reconnection of a delinquent account, payment of the reconnection charge shall be made. Said charge to be shown in the current Rate Ordinance.

CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES FOR WHOLE CONTRACT PERIOD: The various rate sheets of this schedule provide a minimum period during which service will be received and supplied, and that service will be received and supplied beyond such minimum period unless the contract is terminated by written notice from either party a specified number of days in advance of the date of termination. Each Consumer shall be responsible for all charges (including minimum monthly charges) computed in accordance with the applicable rates until the end of the contract period, as defined in said rate sheets.

DISCONTINUANCE OF SUPPLY BECAUSE OF FRAUD, LOSS OR DAMAGE: In the event the Consumer resorts to any fraudulent practice in the use of electricity supplied, or is the beneficiary of any fraudulent practice, or the City’s meter, metering equipment or property has been damaged due to fault or negligence on the part of the Consumer, his servants or agents, the City will discontinue its electric service without notice.

Service will not be restored or resumed until the Consumer shall have given satisfactory assurance that such fraudulent use, tampering, damage or negligence will be discontinued, and shall have paid to the City an amount estimated by the City to be reasonable compensation for electricity fraudulently used and not paid for, and for any damage to property of the City. Plus, the payment of the reconnection charge.

DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE DUE TO DANGER: The authorized agents of the City at all reasonable times shall have free access to the premises in which electricity is used to determine whether the electricity is being distributed and used in a safe manner and in accordance with these rules and regulations.

The City reserves to itself the right to discontinue without advance notice the supply of electricity to any Consumer where a dangerous condition is discovered to exist on the Consumer’s premises or where, because of conditions beyond the Consumer’s premises, such discontinuance of the supply of electricity is reasonably necessary. Service will not be restored until such dangerous condition or conductions shall have been corrected.

RESPONSIBILITY OF CONSUMER AFTER ELECTRICITY IS DELIVERED: The Consumer shall install, provide, operate and maintain the service entrance wiring and all other wiring, appliances and devices necessary to receive the electricity supplied from and after the point of delivery, except such equipment necessary for metering purposes and other devices owned and maintained by the City; and, the Consumer shall also provide install, operate and maintain all appliances and devices necessary to utilize the electricity supplied. The City will not be responsible in damages, or otherwise, for any injuries to person or property arising from, caused by, or incident to the failure on the part of the Consumer to properly install, operate or maintain any wiring, appliances or devices after the point of delivery, or for any defects therein.

POINT OF DELIVERY: The point of delivery of electricity supplied by the City, unless otherwise specified by special contract or by specific rate sheets in the schedule, shall be at the point of connection of the City’s supply lines with the service entrance wires of the Consumer, or the point where electricity supplied by the City enters the facilities (conductors) of the Consumer.

DISCONTINUANCE OF SUPPLY BECAUSE CONSUMER IS VACATING PREMISES: Any residential or commercial lighting Consumer who desires a discontinuance of the supply of electricity because he is vacating the premises or is removing to another location, or for any other reason, shall give at least seventy-two (72) hours advance notice to the City of such desire and shall be liable for all electricity supplied the premises to be vacated until seventy-two (72) hours after such notice is received by the City. In this connection, notice to a meter reader will not be considered proper notice.

CONSUMER TO PROTECT CITY PROPERTY ON PREMISES: All equipment furnished by the City shall remain its property, and the wiring system on the premises of the Consumer to which the City’s service is to be connected shall be so installed that the City may carry out the contract and shall be kept in proper condition by the Consumer.

ACCESS TO PREMISES: The duly authorized agents of the City shall have the right and privilege to enter the Consumer’s premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of reading meters, inspecting the Consumer’s wiring system and for the purpose of installing, inspecting, keeping in repair and for removal of any or all of the City’s equipment used in connection with the supply of electricity. The agents of the City shall have accessibility to the meter 24 hours a day.

CONTINUITY OF SERVICE:

a)  The City will endeavor to supply electricity continuously and without interruption, and under all reasonable and normal conditions of operation to maintain the range of voltage and frequency of electricity supplied within reasonable limits. The City shall NOT be responsible in damages or otherwise for any failure to supply electricity, or for any interruption of the supply or for variations in voltage and frequency or phase reversals, when such failure, interruption or variation is due to any case beyond its control.

b)  The City shall not be liable for any damage or loss which the Consumer may sustain due to any interruption of supply, variations in voltage or frequency, or phase reversals resulting from the use of characteristics of electric appliances of the Consumer or other Consumers supplied by the City.

c)  The City shall not be liable for any damage or loss which the Consumer may sustain due to interruptions of service, variations in service characteristics, phase reversals or any other cause, when such interruptions, variations, or phase reversals are attributable in whole or in part to the inability or failure of the City to render service of the character or in the quantity desired due to orders or regulations issued by any governmental authority.

RESALE OF ELECTRICITY PROHIBITED: The electric energy furnished is for the personal use of the Consumer and the Consumer shall not sell any of such electric energy to any other person without the written consent of the City, and for violation of this condition the City may remove its meter and equipment and discontinue service without notice.

SERVICE CONTRACT IS NOT TRANSFERABLE: The contract between the Consumer and the City covering the supply of electricity is not transferable to any other person, and no agent of the City has the authority to consent in writing, or otherwise, to such transfer. Every prospective Consumer desiring electric service must make an application to the City for such service, and upon its acceptable by a properly authorized agent of the City, service will be supplied.

NO AGENT CAN MODIFY CONTRACT: No agent has the right to amend, modify or alter the application, contract rates, terms, conditions, rules or regulations as prepared and published by the City.

CHARGES AND PAYMENT FOR TEMPORARY SERVICE: Any applicant desiring temporary service shall pay the entire cost of installation of facilities necessary to furnish such temporary service and also the entire cost of disconnecting and removing the same. Current charge is as shown on the attached charge page.

CONSUMER SHALL NOTIFY CITY OF INCREASE OR DECREASE IN LOAD: The service connection, transformers, meters and appliance supplied by the City for each Consumer have a definite capacity, therefore, the Consumer shall notify the City promptly of any material increase or decrease in the load connected or of any material change in his wiring installation.

RIGHT TO DISCONTINUE SERVICE: The City reserved the right to discontinue its service and disconnect its lines and/or remove its property for any of the following reasons:

(a) For repairs.

(b) For non-payment of bills when due.

(c) For any fraudulent representation or concealment in relation to consumption or use of electric energy.

(d) For violation of or refusal to comply with any of the General Rules and Regulations applying at any time to Consumer’s service.

(e) In the event the Consumer uses electricity in a manner detrimental to the service in general or in his immediate locality.

(f)  When made incompatible, unreasonable or unlawful by any ordinances of this municipality, laws of the State of Ohio, or of the Federal Government or any of its agencies.

(g) To prevent any unlawful discrimination in rates or service. (h) When the Consumer has removed from the premises.

(i)  For tampering with the City’s meter or meter connections, or to safeguard the City’s property from damage or further damage.

(j)  For reasons of safety.

(k) For any violation of the contract.

The reasons hereinabove set forth shall be in addition to the specific reasons contained elsewhere in the City’s rules and regulations.

LOCATION AND ENCLOSURE FOR EQUIPMENT ON CONSUMERS PREMISES: Where, because of the physical location of the Consumer’s premises and the nature of the Consumer’s load, it is necessary that transformers and other facilities be installed on the premises of the Consumer, the Consumer shall furnish such vaults and enclosures (including foundation pads) and fencing as may be necessary or desirable so as to permit the installation of such equipment on the premises of the Consumer.

EMERGENCY AND AUXILIARY SERVICE: When energy for light and power purposes is provided by a Consumer from a source other than that furnished by the City, the Consumer shall have the privilege of using the City’s electric service as an auxiliary source of supply under the following conditions:

a)  For auxiliary or break-down service, the Consumer shall furnish and install suitable throw-over equipment between the City’s meter and the Consumer’s land, such throw-over equipment to be connected and arranged so that the load can be transferred from the Consumer’s independent source of supply to the City’s service. Such throw-over equipment shall be subject to the approval of the City.

b)  Consumers providing a supply of power from an isolated power plant or other source of power than that provided by the City shall not operate such source of power in parallel with the City’s service because of possible hazard to both the Consumer’s and the City’s equipment; however, in special cases, where in the opinion of the City such source of supply is of the proper type and so operated as not to jeopardize the City’s system or service, the City may grant permission for such parallel operation, provided such method of operation is covered by a special contract covering such conditions.

c)  All consumers wishing to install any kind of generator that is wired into the house must get a permit from the Village Administrator, installation inspection and approved by the Utility Superintendent or his representative.

USE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY BY CONSUMER: The rates for electric energy provided herein are classified by the character of use of such energy. The use of any devices or apparatus where the form of energy supplied by the City is altered for the benefit or convenience of the Consumer shall not entitle him to any other rate than is called for by the ultimate use of the energy supplied. Under this rule, Consumers who may install motor generators sets or other converting equipment for the specific purpose of transforming or converting current from one form to another for lighting purposes, shall not be entitled to power rates.

With particular reference to power Consumers, it shall be understood that upon the expiration of a contract, the Consumer, may elect to renew contract upon the same or another rate published by the City applicable in the place in which the Consumer may reside or operate, and available to the Consumer, except that in no case shall the City be required to maintain equipment different from or in addition to that generally furnished to other Consumers receiving electrical supply under the terms of the rate elected by the Consumer. The Consumer shall install only motors, apparatus or appliances or devices which are suitable for operation with the character of the service available or supplied by the City, and which shall not be detrimental to same, and the electric power must be used in such a manner as to cause not provided-for voltage fluctuations or disturbances in the City’s transmission or distribution system. The City shall be the sole judge as to the suitability of apparatus or appliances to be connected to its lines, and, also, as to whether the operation of such apparatus or appliances will be detrimental to its general service.

All apparatus used by the Consumer shall be of such type as to secure the highest practicable commercial efficiency and power factor and the proper balancing of load. Motors which are frequently started, or motors arranged for automatic control must be of a type to give necessary starting torque with minimum current flow, and must be of a type, and equipped with controlling devices, approved by the City.

Loads of lagging power factor interfered with the voltage regulation of the City’s alternating current circuits and make for undesirable operation of the City’s equipment. Low power factor equipment, connected to the City’s supply lines and having less than 85% lagging power factor, shall be corrected by the Consumer when so requested by the City.

Whenever vapor arc, gaseous tubes, or other types of lighting or sign equipment having low power factor characteristics are installed, moved to a new location, rearranged or rebuilt after October 1, 1978, the Consumer shall furnish, install and maintain at his own expense corrective apparatus which will increase to power factor to not less than 90% lagging when so requested by the City.

The case of violation of the above rules, service may be disconnected by the City until such time as the Consumer’s use of the electric energy furnished hereunder shall conform to these regulations. Such suspension of service by the City shall not operate as a cancellation of the contract.

FIRE OR OTHER CASUALTY – CONSUMER’S PREMISES: In case a fire or other casualty shall occur in the Consumer’s premises, rendering them wholly unfit for the purpose of the Consumer’s business, the contract shall thereupon be suspended until such time as the premises shall have been reconstructed and reoccupied by the Consumer for the purpose of his business.

CONJUNCTIONAL SERVICE AND RESALE: Electricity supplied by the City is for the exclusive use of the Consumer on the premises to which such energy is delivered by the City. In no case may service be shared with another, sold to another, or transmitted off the premises.

Where an industrial or commercial Consumer’s establishment contains two or more buildings, and such buildings are separated by street, alley, or railroad right-of-way, and there is no other intervening property under separate ownership and operations, the Consumer, at his own expense and responsibility, and subject to approval of the City, may interconnect such buildings so as to permit the Consumer to receive energy for the operation and maintenance of his establishment from one point of delivery with one point of measurements. The privilege herein granted is not transferable and automatically terminates if and when the buildings cease to be a part of a single establishment or are separately owned and operated.

CITY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSUMER’S APPARATUS: Neither by inspections nor the rendering of emergency or advisory service does the City give any warranty, expressed or implied, as to the adequacy, safety or other characteristics of any equipment, wires, appliances or devices owned or maintained by the Consumer.

CONSUMER SHALL PAY FOR CHANGES IN CITY FACILITIES: Whenever the City shall make changes in its overhead system of poles and wires, or its underground system to permit work to be done by contractors or others, or for the convenience of the Consumer, the cost of the changes shall be paid by the party requiring same.

CITY INSPECTION: The City may, upon its own initiative, inspect Consumer’s wiring in order to insure itself that safe methods of construction have been follower. Such inspections, being for its own benefit and information, the City does not thereby assume any responsibility for the performance of such Consumer wiring installations.

SUPPLYING SERVICE:

a)  Service to building will be by overhead if coming from overhead distribution lines, if coming from underground, or pad mount transformer the service will be underground and installed at Village expense.

b)  If underground service is requested from overhead distribution, and Village determines it can be done, it will be installed by the Village at the owner’s expense. The Village will trench for the owner at Villages’ rate or the owner can hire their own contractor for the trenching.

c)  Village will supply residential drop wire for overhead up to 200 amp service for a distance of up to 150 feet at no charge.

GENERAL:

SERVICE INSTALLATIONS

a)  The City reserves to itself the right to designate the location at which its supply conductors will be brought and attached to the building or structure of the Consumer. In order to avoid delay and unnecessary expense, the Consumer shall consult the City and request the City to designate the location where such supply conductors will be attached.

b)  In general, only on set of supply conductors from the same system of distribution will be installed to any building. Where both single phase and three phase service are to be supplied, separate sets of supply-conductors may, at the discretion of the City, be installed to the building. If special conditions arise, more than one set of supply conductors from the same or different system of distribution may, at the discretion of the City, be installed to the building, and these supply conductors may terminate at different locations.

c)  The City will make the final connections of Consumer’s wiring to its supply conductors and will not permit unauthorized connections.

d)  The City reserved the right to install service facilities which, in its judgment, are adequate to supply the Consumer’s active load.

RECONNECT FEE:   $30.00

STANDARD FEES

TEMP SERVICE:   Pole and meter $100.00 plus electric usage

TRENCHING & COVER FEE:   $1.00 per foot

SECURITY LIGHT:   $6.00 per month

METER CHARGE:   $5.00

RELOCATION OF SERVICE POLE OR WIRE:   Time and Material

UNDERGROUND WIRE:   At cost

DEPOSIT:    None.

TIME TABLE FOR UTILITY BILL

1.   Pursuant to Resolution 23-3-2, no utility billing cycle will be greater than thirty (30) days +/-2 days.

2.   Bills mailed by 3rd of month.

3.   Bills due by 15th of month

4.   Bills become delinquent on the 16th

5.   Shut-offs are subject to occur on the 16th of the month after the bill is delinquent without further notice.

6.   Upon payment of delinquent bill, and reconnect fee, utilities will be restored according to the Rules and Regulations of Village.