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Home09 • Service Connections and Line ExtensionsAdopted: 1984-12-20 A. General Provisions:
1. Modifications and new physical connections to the Company's existing electric system shall be made under the provisions of this Rule. As used in this Rule, modifications and new physical connections include the design and installation of wires, lines and other distribution equipment necessary to physically connect, expand, relocate or change Distribution Facilities. This Rule applies to both permanent and temporary connections to the Company’s existing electric system. 2. Applications for modifications and new physical connections shall include but not be limited to design, materials, and construction. The Application shall, in all respects, be processed on a reasonable, good faith, first come first serve, and nondiscriminatory basis and in accordance with this Rule and all other Rules of the Company. All persons requesting service must complete a WREC Application for Electric Service.
B. Applicability:
1. This Rule is applicable to all Applicants requesting service connections and line extensions in the Company’s service territory. The Company shall review all Applications to determine the feasibility of service connections and line extensions as requested, and shall determine if a contract between the Company and the Applicant is necessary for the facilities requested. For the purpose of this Rule service connections and line extensions within the corporate limits of municipalities or other franchising entities, shall be governed by franchise provisions and ordinances, if and where applicable. 2. The Company requires separate Agreements setting forth contributions in aid of construction when the Applicant requires service in excess of 5,000 kVA. C. Availability:
1. Available, within WREC’s service territory, to all classes of retail electric service. 2. When more than one applicant is to be served from a proposed extension the Company will prorate the cost of those sections of the extension used in common to each affected applicant. D. Ownership: The Company shall own all service connection and line extension installations and retain all rights to them. All service connections and line extensions shall become part of the Company’s distribution system and Applicant releases to Company all rights, title and interest thereto. E. Company Specification:
1. Design and Construction – All service connections and line extensions shall be designed and constructed to Company’s standards and specifications. 2. Right-of-Way – The Company shall construct, own, operate, and maintain lines only along public streets, roads, highways, public lands, and private property that the Company has the legal right to occupy. If additional right-of-way, or change to existing right-of-way, is required for the facilities requested, the Applicant shall be required to furnish such right-of-way to the Company at no cost to the Company. 3. Line Routing – The facilities shall be designed by the Company in such a manner as to result in the most economical installation to the Applicant and the Company along the most practical and direct route while complying with the Company’s engineering, operating, and construction standards and practices, and with applicable federal, state, and local permitting and routing requirements. F. Preliminary Investigation and Engineering:
1. Preliminary Investigation and Engineering – The Company will provide Preliminary Investigation and Engineering consistent with the provisions of this Rule, to Potential Applicants and Applicants. This Preliminary Investigation and Engineering will not be considered a formal estimate and will not be binding on the Company, on the Potential Applicant or Applicant. 2. Preliminary Investigation – The cost of Preliminary Investigation is provided at no cost to the Potential Applicant or Applicant. The cost of such service is included in the rate base for the class of service requested by the Potential Applicant or Applicant. 3. Preliminary Engineering - If estimated Preliminary Engineering services are less than or equal to $200.00, this amount will not be required in advance and will be included in the total estimated costs of the service connection or line extension. If estimated Preliminary Engineering services are more than $200.00, the Potential Applicant or Applicant will be required to advance the total amount to the Company prior to the Company providing such services. G. Service Connection Classification:
1. Temporary Service – The Applicant is responsible for paying to the Company all costs associated with the installation and removal of a Temporary Service. The Company shall require a deposit by the Applicant of the estimate of all costs associated with the installation and removal of a Temporary Service prior to processing the application. No credit is given for non-recoverable material used. 2. Typical Service – The cost of a Typical Service is included in the rate base for the class of service requested by the Applicant. The Typical Service investment for each Rate Class is defined in Rule 1. Any cost in excess of the Typical Service shall be classified as Aid to Construction and will be the responsibility of the Applicant. 3. Relocating or Increasing Capacity - All costs associated with relocating or increasing the capacity of existing services shall be classified as Aid to Construction and will be the responsibility of the Applicant. H. Line Extension Classification and Reclassification:
1. The Company shall classify Line Extensions as "Permanent" or “Temporary" each as defined in Rule No. 1 of the Company’s Rules. 2. Reclassification – An Applicant may request a reclassification of a Line Extension. The Company shall consider such requests based on undue burden or adverse effect on the Applicant. I. Cost Estimate: The Company will provide cost estimates for Service Connection facilities exceeding the Typical Connection, and Line Extensions, to Applicants that have completed an application for service. If the estimated cost for Engineering services associated with providing the cost estimate are less than or equal to $200.00, this amount will not be required in advance and will be included in the total estimated costs of the service connection or line extension. If the estimated Engineering services are more than $200.00, the Applicant will be required to advance the total amount to the Company prior to the Company providing such Engineering services and cost estimate. J. Applicant Responsibility: Unless otherwise agreed in writing upon such conditions as have been established from time to time by the Company, the Applicant shall enter into an agreement with the Company, and pre-pay to the Company the estimated cost for Service Connections and/or Line Extensions prior to the Company initiating design and construction. Following completion of the Service Connection or Line Extension, the Company shall refund to the Applicant any overpayment if the actual cost of the facilities is less than the estimated cost pre-paid by the Applicant. If the costs for the facilities exceed the estimated cost pre-paid by the Applicant, he/she will pay to the Company the difference. L. Financing: M. Cancellation of Project: If it is determined by the Company that the Applicant has cancelled or significantly delayed the project, the Company shall terminate the agreement and refund to the Applicant any unspent funds held by the Company for the terminated project. N. Special Provisions: 1. An Applicant whose loads require a transformer sized 225 kVA through 4999 kVA shall be assessed a capacity charge of $40 per kVA. The capacity charge is required by the Company to mitigate the risk of unused capacity. This capacity charge will be returned to the Applicant at a rate not to exceed 1/10 of the total amount of the capacity charge per year for the 10 year period following initiation of service, provided the Applicant’s load meets or exceeds an average annual kW usage equal to 50 percent of the transformer kVA rating. If the Applicant’s average annual kW usage is less than 50 percent of the transformer kVA rating in any given year, the amount of capacity charge returned to the Applicant shall be reduced by the same ratio as the Applicant’s reduction of average annual kW usage for that year. An Applicant is only eligible for repayment of the capacity charge after 12 months of consecutive service. The Company will make repayment of the capacity charge annually in November following the first 12 consecutive months of service. 2. Applicant(s) whose service requires a transformer size of 225 kVA or larger shall meet a design Power Factor of 98% minimum. Applicant(s) shall provide, as a minimum, a one-line diagram of the power factor design. Power factor correction equipment shall be installed to follow the load, i.e., when the load is on, the power factor equipment is on and when the load is off, the power factor equipment is off. Applicant(s) with a transformer size of 225 kVA or larger shall provide a professional engineer’s certification that the applicant(s) load is designed for a power factor of 98% minimum. The professional engineer shall be licensed in the state that the applicant(s) service is to be located in.
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