11 • Interruption of Service

Adopted: 1980-05-16
Revised: 2000-01-21
Reviewed: 2000-01-21

A. Statement of Objectives

In the case of the insufficiency of available electrical energy to satisfy the member/owner’s (customer’s) electric demands due to insufficient supplies, a lack of capacity to serve areas or any other circumstance affecting the delivery of electrical energy, a procedure for interrupting service is hereby established.

B. Definition of Interruption

"Interruption" as initiated by Wells Rural Electric Company (the Company) means the partial or total discontinuance of electric service to a customer, a selected number of customers, or a group of customers in a particular geographic area now being served by the Company.

C. General Statement

The Company is the sole judge of when adequate electric service cannot be provided and therefore interruptions will be initiated by the Company. The Company will make reasonable effort to notify affected customers prior to the interruption if time permits. The Company will endeavor to exercise prudent utility practice in its interruption and timely restoration of service to all customers.

D. Method and Procedure of Interruption

When customer electric load demands reach a point that adequate power cannot be supplied or plant facilities of the Company, or companies that wheel electricity for this the Company, become overloaded and endangered, electric service to areas within the Company's service territory will be interrupted on an as needed basis to relieve the emergency or overload. The Company will be the sole judge in determining the need for electric service interruption. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Company will follow a general guideline for load reduction when adequate electric service cannot be provided. The general guideline for interruption of customer electric loads will proceed in the following order until sufficient electric load reduction occurs to relieve the emergency or overload:

1. The Company will request voluntary reduction of customers’ electric loads in the affected area.

2. The Company will interrupt Industrial and Large Commercial customer electric loads that can be served with customer-owned back-up (emergency) generation. The Company will maintain a current list of customer owned emergency generation.

3. The Company will interrupt remaining Industrial customer electric loads.

4. The Company will interrupt remaining Large Commercial customer electric loads.

5. The Company will initiate an interruption of the remaining customer electric loads on an area rotation basis of approximately two hours per area.

Circumstances may exist such that adequate electric service cannot be provided and the above priority list for interruption of customer electric loads cannot be applied. The Company will be the sole judge in the application of the above priority list for interruption of customer electric loads.

E. Equipment Protection

Interruptions may occur without notice, on any or all of the Company’s facilities, depending on the cause or need for such an interruption. All customers who have backup generation or equipment that may be damaged due to the interruption or restoration of power must have adequate protective equipment or backup to provide the needed protection. The Company will not be responsible for any damage or loss caused by the interruption of service.

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