Chapter 13.04 HYDROELECTRIC AND LIGHT SYSTEM

D. “Director” means the director, general manager, or superintendent of the light department of the city of Centralia. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1848 § 81, 1995: Ord. 1495 § 27, 1981).

13.04.020 Residential rate.

A. The residential rates shall be:

RESIDENTIAL	2016	2017	2018
Inside City
Customer charge—per month	$17.39	$21.39	$24.39
Energy charge—per kWh	$0.0740	$0.0746	$0.0763
Outside City
Customer Charge—per month	$19.11	$23.50	$26.79
Energy Charge—per kWh	$0.0820	$0.0826	$0.0844

B. Residential rates are available for general residential use for lighting, cooking, water heating, space heating, and incidental single-phase power. (Ord. 2367 § 1, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2182 § 1, 2006: Ord. 2121 § 1, 2004: Ord. 1812 § 1, 1994: Ord. 1797 § 1, 1993: Ord. 1641 § 1, 1988: Ord. 1637 § 1, 1988: Ord. 1519 § 1, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 1, 1981).

13.04.025 Low-income senior citizen customers and totally disabled customers.

A. “Low-income senior citizen customers” and “totally disabled customers,” as same are defined hereinafter, shall not be obligated to pay the customer charges set forth herein upon establishing their qualifications therefor, notwithstanding any language in this chapter to the contrary. Provided, however, this exemption shall only apply to the residential customer charge for low-income senior citizen customers and totally disabled customers residing in single-family dwelling units.

B. 1. For the purpose of this section, the terms “low-income senior citizen customers” and “low-income totally disabled customers” shall be and are the same as are defined in RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(II) as now in effect or hereafter amended.

2. The term “income,” as used herein, means gross income, as defined in Section 61(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as now in effect or hereinafter amended, plus any and all Social Security retirement and/or disability payments, Railroad Retirement Board pension and/or disability payments, and payments received from any other public or private pension, retirement, profit-sharing and disability plans, and unemployment compensation.

C. All classified customers applying for low-income senior citizen customer or totally disabled customer exemptions herein provided shall furnish a claim for exemption form available at the customer service center. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1720 § 1, 1991: Ord. 1519 § 10, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 1A, 1981).

13.04.028 General service customers.

A. Available to individuals, firms or corporations operating retail or wholesale establishments, business houses, hotels, hospitals, schools and churches.

B. Available in single- and three-phase and in voltages at the option of the city light department.

C. Rate classes for general service customers shall be established based on demand loads as defined in CMC 13.04.030, 13.04.035, 13.04.040, and 13.04.045.

D. Classification of general service customers into specific rate classes:

1. Rate classes shall be established once each year for each general service customer, prior to the July billing.

2. Demand loads will be reviewed for the previous twelve-month period, or for the number of previous months in service if less than twelve months. If at least one monthly demand is found, during the months under review, to be above the defined threshold of the customer’s current rate class, the customer’s rate class shall be changed to the higher rate class. If all monthly demands during the months under review are found to be below the defined threshold of the customer’s current rate class, the customer’s rate class shall be changed to that which is below the current threshold.

3. Specific rate classes shall be in effect for a minimum of a twelve-month period, until the next annual review of demand loads.

4. New general service customers will be placed into a general service rate class at the discretion of the light department. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010).

13.04.030 Small general service rate.

A. Small general service rates shall be:

SMALL GENERAL SERVICE	2016	2017	2018
Less than 50 kW demand
Customer Charge—Single-Phase—per month	$36.81	$45.28	$51.62
Customer Charge—Three-Phase—per month	$54.34	$66.83	$76.19
Energy Charge—Single- and Three-Phase—per kWh	$0.0826	$0.0827	$0.0842

B. General service rate is available to customers with a demand load of under fifty kW. (Ord. 2367 § 2, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 2, 2013: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2182 § 2, 2006: Ord. 2121 § 2, 2004: Ord. 1812 § 2, 1994: Ord. 1797 § 2, 1993: Ord. 1637 § 2, 1988: Ord. 1519 § 2, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 2, 1981).

13.04.035 Medium general service rate.

A. Medium general service rates shall be:

MEDIUM GENERAL SERVICE	2016	2017	2018
50 kW to 200 kW demand
Customer Charge—per month	$74.76	$94.76	$114.75
Energy Charge—per kWh	$0.0676	$0.0702	$0.0730
Demand Charge—per kW	$6.00	$6.23	$6.48

B. Medium general service is available to customers with a demand load of fifty kW or higher, up to and including two hundred kW. (Ord. 2367 § 3, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 3, 2013: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010).

13.04.040 Large general service rate.

A. Large general service rate shall be:

LARGE GENERAL SERVICE	2016	2017	2018
Greater than 200 kW to 1,000 kW demand
Customer Charge—per month	$86.68	$106.66	$126.66
Energy Charge—per kWh	$0.0667	$0.0697	$0.0725
Demand Charge—per kW	$6.40	$6.71	$7.15

B. Large general service is available to customers with a demand load of greater than two hundred kW, up to and including one thousand kW.

C. By special arrangement, service is available at unregulated primary voltage of 7.2 kV and above at one or more points of delivery. (Ord. 2367 § 4, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 4, 2013: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2182 § 3, 2006: Ord. 2121 § 3, 2004: Ord. 1812 § 3, 1994: Ord. 1797 § 3, 1993: Ord. 1637 § 3, 1988: Ord. 1519 § 3 (part), 1982: Ord. 1495 § 3 (part), 1981).

13.04.045 Extra large general service rate.

A. Extra large general service rate shall be:

EXTRA LARGE GENERAL SERVICE	2016	2017	2018
Greater than 1,000 kW demand
Customer Charge—per month	$96.69	$126.66	$156.61
Energy Charge—per kWh	$0.0665	$0.0695	$0.0722
Demand Charge—per kW	$6.60	$7.00	$7.55

Rates for new customers for this service or for existing customers with incremental increases in demand exceeding one thousand kW will be covered by individual contract between the city and customer. Rates will be based on current market rate.

B. Extra large general service is available at:

1. Unregulated primary voltage of 7.2 kV and above at one or more points of delivery for use where the connected load is in excess of one thousand kW, and the customer owns his own primary distribution facilities, including transformers; or

2. Three-phase four-hundred-eighty-volt secondary voltage under special arrangement with Centralia city light.

3. In either case, subsection (B)(1) or (2) of this section, the customer shall pay for all installed facilities.

C. Available only to customers that execute a written power supply contract with the city for a period of not less than five years.

D. Loads that are determined to be new large single loads by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) are not eligible for this service.

E. Energy and demand amounts (kilowatt-hours and kilowatts) and power factor will be measured by meters located at or near the point(s) of delivery. (Ord. 2367 § 5, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 5, 2013: Ord. 2277 § 1, 2012: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010).

13.04.050 Power factor adjustment.

A. Applies to any general service customer subject to demand charges at the discretion of the light department director.

B. Adjustment of bill shall be made for low power factor and power factor metering equipment shall be installed when, in the judgment of the light department director, power factor is below ninety-five percent.

C. If the average power factor at which power is delivered to the purchaser during the billing period is ninety-five percent or more, no adjustment will be made in the registered kilowatt-hours. If such average power factor is less than ninety-five percent then the registered kilowatt-hours shall be adjusted by adding one percent to the bill for every one percent the customer is below the ninety-five percent power factor. This adjustment may be waived in whole or in part to the extent that the light department director determines that a power factor of less than ninety-five percent would in any particular case be advantageous to the department. Unless specifically otherwise agreed, the department shall not be obligated to deliver power at any time to a power factor below eighty-five percent.

D. The formula for determining average power factor is as follows: Average power factor equals kilowatt-hours divided by (the square root of the square of the kilowatt-hours plus the square of the reactive kilovolt ampere hours) times one hundred percent.

E. Power Factor Ratchet.

1. Applies to large general service and extra large general service customers only.

2. Power factor adjustment shall be based on the lowest power factor during the previous twelve months. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1519 § 3 (part), 1982: Ord. 1495 § 3 (part), 1981).

13.04.055 Pole attachment rate.

The pole attachment rate shall be fourteen dollars and twenty-seven cents, plus leasehold tax when applicable, per attachment per year which shall provide one foot of vertical space on a pole and one point of contact with a maximum combined cross-sectional area of three square inches (two-inch diameter). (Ord. 2277 § 2, 2012).

13.04.060 Public street lighting rate.

A. The public street lighting rates per month shall be:

PUBLIC STREET LIGHTS—High Pressure Sodium (HPS)	2016	2017	2018
Unmetered—Flat rates per month
Public Street Lights 100 Watt—HPS	$3.79	$3.97	$4.16
Public Street Lights 150 Watt—HPS	$5.69	$5.96	$6.24
Public Street Lights 200 Watt—HPS	$7.58	$7.94	$8.33
Public Street Lights 250 Watt—HPS	$9.48	$9.93	$10.41

PUBLIC STREET LIGHTS—Light Emitting Diode (LED)	2016	2017	2018
Unmetered—Flat rates per month
Public Street Lights 24 Watt—LED	$0.91	$0.95	$1.00
Public Street Lights 48 Watt—LED	$1.82	$1.91	$2.00
Public Street Lights 53 Watt—LED	$2.01	$2.11	$2.21
Public Street Lights 78 Watt—LED	$2.96	$3.10	$3.25
Public Street Lights 101 Watt—LED	$3.83	$4.01	$4.20
Public Street Lights 168 Watt—LED	$6.37	$6.67	$6.99

B. The above schedule is applicable to overhead lighting from dusk to dawn for public streets, alleys, thoroughfares and grounds, installed in accordance with the department’s specifications and where department facilities are available. (Ord. 2367 § 6, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 6, 2013: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2182 § 4, 2006: Ord. 2121 § 4, 2004: Ord. 1812 § 4, 1994: Ord. 1797 § 4, 1993: Ord. 1637 § 4, 1988: Ord. 1519 § 4, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 4, 1981).

13.04.061 Security lighting rate.

The monthly rate for security lighting as described in Chapter 13.08 CMC shall be:

SECURITY LIGHTS	2016	2017	2018
Unmetered—Flat rate per month
Security Lights 150 and 200 Watts	$7.76	$8.14	$8.53

(Ord. 2367 § 7, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 7, 2013: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2182 § 5, 2006: Ord. 2121 § 5, 2004).

13.04.065 Effective date of rates.

Rates set forth in this chapter shall be in full force and effect with the August 2016 billing and for subsequent years with the March billing of said year. (Ord. 2367 § 8, 2016: Ord. 2301 § 8, 2013; Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010).

13.04.070 Customer services.

A. Service calls may be made by the city to replace customer’s fuses, install meters, provide service connections or perform services on customer-owned equipment when feasible and when ordered by the customer. The light department shall make such charges for materials and service thus rendered which will recover the city’s costs of furnishing such services and materials if same are provided outside normal business hours of eight a.m. to four-thirty p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays).

B. The foregoing charges shall apply to traveling time to and from the customer’s property, from the light department of the city of Centralia.

C. Meters will be tested when ordered by a customer, but not more than once in any twelve-month period. If the meter is found to be more than two percent fast, no charge will be made for the testing, and billing shall be corrected in proportion to amount of error found in meter. If, however, the meter is found to be registering no more than two percent fast, then the customer shall pay a charge of fifty dollars. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1810 § 2, 1994: Ord. 1519 § 5, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 5, 1981).

13.04.080 Temporary service.

A. Temporary service is for circuses, carnivals, contractors and other customers requiring service for less than one year.

B. The light department will make such charges as are reasonable and the customer will pay for same at the prevailing rates.

C. Services to residences or commercial buildings for less than one month will be considered temporary service. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1519 § 6, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 6, 1981).

13.04.090 Classification of separate residence.

In apartment houses, each apartment shall be classed as a separate residence and no part or portion of an account shall be transferred from the building or apartment to another for the benefit of the minimum charge or lower bracket of rate. Each apartment, dwelling, etc., unless metered separately, will take electricity under the various general service rates. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 7, 1981).

13.04.100 Application for service.

A. Application for electric energy shall be made to and upon forms furnished by the light department, shall be signed by the applicant or by some person by him duly authorized, shall give location or description of the premises to be served, and upon acceptance by the city shall constitute a contract between the city and the applicant by which the city agrees to furnish and the applicant to accept electric energy for the period and premises specified under the terms and conditions prescribed by ordinance, providing that no amendatory or subsequent ordinance shall affect any existing contract, except as to rates. Acceptance shall be in writing endorsed upon the application by the light department director, or by his agent duly authorized in writing, or by a physical electrical connection with applicant’s premises. Unless so accepted within thirty days, the application will be deemed rejected and the applicant notified of rejection.

B. All contracts shall be binding for the period specified and shall thereafter continue in effect until thirty days after written notice of discontinuance is filed in the office of the light department director and until all charges due have been paid. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 8, 1981).

13.04.105 Electric service installation and upgrading—Service connection fees—Equipment maintenance.

A. The city light department shall, at its own expense, extend its overhead electric service as needed to provide electric service on all dedicated city streets and county roads in the city’s service area. If three-phase power is requested and only single-phase is available, the customer will be charged for the necessary materials and labor to expand the electric system to provide the three-phase power; however, the city shall pay such expansion costs if, as determined by the director, the potential for growth in the area justifies the expenditure by the city.

B. Existing residential customers that require service upgrading because of added power needs shall be responsible for the cost of the larger transformers, labor, and materials needed to provide the service upgrade.

C. The city shall install electric service distribution systems in new residential developments at the expense of the developer. The entire cost to be paid by the developer shall be established on the following basis:

1. The developer shall provide the city with adequate drawings of the proposed development with all pertinent survey information, showing the location of streets, sidewalks, curbs, lot corners, utilities, and final grade.

2. The developer shall grant all utility easements required by the city.

3. The developer shall perform all necessary trenching, backfilling, and earth moving required by the city.

4. The developer shall install PVC conduit of proper size for installation and removal of wire for all underground primary, secondary, and service wires.

5. The developer or customer shall pay for the service drop from the pole to the service entrance.

6. If more than one customer is to receive service from a transformer, the cost of the transformer shall be divided among the customers served.

D. Mobile homes on permanent foundations shall be considered permanent homes, and electrical service shall be available to them on the same basis as conventionally constructed homes.

E. Electric service to trailer courts and mobile home court developments shall be provided at the expense of the developer. All underground primary, secondary, and service wires shall be installed in PVC conduit.

F. Large and extra large general service customers that desire the use of primary voltages for distribution of electricity to their facility or development shall be responsible for all costs of such installation.

G. Approval by the city shall be required for all general service customers that desire a new or upgraded electric service from the city’s electric system. All new services, or upgrades to existing services, shall be at the expense of the customer.

1. The city light department shall calculate the cost to provide such services by using the most current material, labor, equipment, and overhead rates plus any other potential costs that may impact the overall expense of providing the services.

2. The city council shall adopt, by resolution, a service connection fee schedule to establish rates, fees, charges, and other costs imposed by the city for providing new or upgraded electric services. Such fee schedule may be amended from time to time by resolution or other appropriate action of the city council.

3. At least one copy of the service connection fee schedule shall remain on file in the office of the city clerk for public use and examination. Copies shall also be available from the city light department.

H. The city light department shall own and maintain or replace all electrical equipment owned by the city. All other equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement shall be the responsibility of the customer unless otherwise agreed upon by the customer and the city. The city light department shall not be responsible for maintaining, repairing, or replacing any transformer that has a secondary voltage different from the standard used throughout the city’s electric system. (Ord. 2538 § 1, 2023; Ord. 2444 § 1, 2020; Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1519 § 9, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 8A, 1981).

13.04.120 Unauthorized connections unlawful.

It is unlawful for any person other than the light department director or a duly authorized employee of the city, to connect any house, premises, wire or other equipment with the city’s electric system. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 10, 1981).

13.04.130 Application required for connection.

It is unlawful for any consumer of electric energy to connect his service with that of any other person, or to in any way supply any other person or premises with electric energy through his service, without first filing a written application for such connection or use in the office of the light department upon a form provided for such purpose and receiving a permit therefor. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 11, 1981).

13.04.140 Inspection prior to connection.

The light department may, before connecting any premises with the city’s electric system or furnishing electric energy therefrom, cause the wiring and electric equipment to be inspected and in proper condition satisfactory to the city; and may, until the same are in proper condition, refuse to connect the service wires with the city’s electric system. The light department shall have the power at any time to disconnect the city’s service from any wiring or electric equipment which is defective or dangerous until the same is repaired to the satisfaction of the city. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 12, 1981).

13.04.150 Meters to be city property.

All meters and other facilities furnished by the city shall be and remain the property of the city and the right to remove, replace or repair the same is expressly reserved. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 13, 1981).

13.04.160 Broken meter seal—Determination of charge.

If the seal of the city’s meter is broken or the meter from any cause does not properly register, the consumer shall be charged at the average daily consumption as shown by the meter during the previous month. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 14, 1981).

13.04.165 Resealing charge.

A resealing charge of fifty dollars for resealing a meter shall be paid by the customer where the seal has been cut, broken, removed or in any way altered or tampered with by anyone other than authorized Centralia light department personnel. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1519 § 7, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 14A, 1981).

13.04.170 Nonliability for interruption of service.

The city will use reasonable diligence to provide a regular and uninterrupted supply of electrical power, but in case the supply of electrical power should be interrupted or disturbed for any cause, the city shall not be liable for personal injuries or property damage or any damage whatsoever resulting therefrom, other than damage or injuries caused by negligent acts of the city, nor will such failure constitute a breach of agreement for service. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1741 § 1, 1992: Ord. 1495 § 15, 1981).

13.04.180 Addition of electric equipment unlawful.

It is unlawful to add any additional electric equipment requiring more than three thousand watts of electrical energy to the services installed under the original contract without first notifying the light department. In addition to the penalty herein provided, such customer shall be liable for all damages to the city that may occur as a result of the failure to so notify the light department. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 16, 1981).

13.04.190 Violation of contract—Consumer liability.

In case the consumer of electric energy violates his contract or orders the discontinuance of the service, he shall be liable for all loss and damage incurred by the city by reason thereof, and in addition thereto shall be liable for payment of the minimum monthly charge of the service for the unexpired portion of the contract, together with such percentage of the cost of installation as the remainder of the term of the contract bears to the whole term of the contract. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 17, 1981).

13.04.200 Billing.

A. All bills for electrical service shall be due and payable as stated in Chapter 13.02 CMC.

B. The billings for electrical service of the city of Centralia will be combined with the billings for water and sewerage services of the city of Centralia. The delinquency or nonpayment of all or any portion of said combined billing shall subject the consumer of the services from the city of Centralia to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1810 § 3, 1994: Ord. 1495 § 18, 1981).

13.04.205 Returned-check charge.

A returned-check charge of twenty dollars per check shall be levied and paid for all sums received by a check which is subsequently returned to the city by a bank for lack of sufficient funds in the customer’s bank account or the account being closed. This charge may be added to the billing for such customer. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1860 § 1, 1996: Ord. 1519 § 8, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 18A, 1981).

13.04.210 Accounts of consumers.

It shall be the duty of the director to keep accounts with all consumers of electric energy and to enter on such accounts all charges and penalties. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1848 § 82, 1995: Ord. 1495 § 19, 1981).

13.04.220 Consumer responsibility.

The consumer shall at all times keep his wiring and electrical equipment in such condition that they can be used for the purposes set forth in his application without causing damage to the city. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 20, 1981).

13.04.230 Defective service.

In case of defective service, notice of the fact shall be given the light department. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 21, 1981).

13.04.240 Unlawful demands of compensation.

It is unlawful for any inspector, agent or employee of the city to ask, demand or accept any personal compensation for any service rendered to consumers of electric energy, or other persons, in connection with supplying or furnishing electric energy by the city. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 22, 1981).

13.04.250 City agreements to be in writing.

No promise, agreement or representation of any employee or agent of the city with reference to the furnishing of electric energy shall be binding on the city unless the same is in writing signed by the light department director, or his authorized agent, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 23, 1981).

13.04.260 Unlawful acts.

It is unlawful for any persons to in any manner injure, mutilate, destroy, remove, disconnect or in any way interfere or tamper with any of the machinery, poles, wires, meters or other equipment belonging to or in any manner connected with the light and power system of the city. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 24, 1981).

13.04.270 Notice of discontinuance of service required.

Whenever it becomes necessary to remove or cut any of the wires belonging to the city, prior notice shall be given to the light department by the person desiring such cutting, or disconnection, stating when and where the same is required. A sum sufficient to cover the cost thereof, as estimated by the light department, shall be deposited with the city, and such cutting, disconnecting or removing of wires shall be done by or under the direction of the light department director; and the cost of labor and materials shall be paid by the person desiring the work to be done and to the extent available shall be withdrawn from the moneys deposited with the city. Any surplus of such deposit shall be returned upon a voucher duly signed by the light department director. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1495 § 25, 1981).

13.04.280 Discretion of director.

Whenever under the provisions of this chapter discretion is vested in the light department director, such discretion shall be subject to the control and review of the city manager. (Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1848 § 83, 1995: Ord. 1495 § 26, 1981).

13.04.290 Violation—Penalty.

A. Persons alleged to be violating any provisions of this chapter may be subject to termination of electric service by the city upon being given ten days’ written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, directed to such person’s address as last shown on the city records, informing them of the alleged violation and informing them that failure to correct such violation will result in termination of such service at the end of said ten-day period.

B. Continuing violations and failure to comply after receiving notice of violation of the provisions of this chapter are declared to be misdemeanors, and conviction therefor shall subject the offender to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars. (Ord. 2327 § 1, 2014: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1519 § 11, 1982: Ord. 1495 § 29, 1981).

13.04.300 Net metering.

Net metering is the application of a meter that measures the net difference between delivered real energy (kWh) to a customer and received real energy (kWh) from a customer over a billing interval. Any remaining received real energy (kWh) from the customer on March 31st of each calendar year is forfeited by the customer. Net metered locations are limited to a generation capacity of not more than one hundred kW; use solar, wind or hydropower as fuel; and are intended to offset part or all of a customer’s electrical load. The cumulative generating capacity of net metering systems connected to the city distribution system is limited to two thousand two hundred forty one kW on a first-come basis. All customers wishing to participate in net metering shall be required to enter into an agreement with city light. The light department director or his/her designee shall have the authority to approve or deny, without cause, entry into any such agreement. (Ord. 2462 § 1, 2021; Ord. 2403 § 1, 2018: Ord. 2357 § 1, 2015: Ord. 2246 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 2227 § 2, 2009).

13.04.301 Renewable energy system incentive payment.

A “renewable energy system” is defined as a solar energy system, an anaerobic digester or a wind generator used to produce electricity. RCW 82.16.110 and 82.16.120 provide for investment cost recovery incentives for each kilowatt-hour generated by a customer from a renewable energy system. All customers wishing to take advantage of these cost recovery incentives must comply with the requirements of the statute. Applications must be received by August 1st in a form and manner acceptable to City Light and in compliance with the statute. No individual customer is eligible for more than five thousand dollars per year. Total payments are limited to three hundred fourteen thousand and seventy-six dollars. In the event applications for payment exceed three hundred fourteen thousand and seventy-six dollars, individual incentive payments shall be reduced proportionately. Customers who installed renewable energy systems prior to September 30, 2017, are eligible to receive incentive payments up to June 30, 2021. Customers who installed renewable energy systems after October 1, 2017, are entitled to receive incentive payments up to June 30, 2029. (Ord. 2403 § 2, 2018: Ord. 2251 § 2, 2010).

13.04.310 Access to premises.

In the course of conducting official business, authorized employees of the light department, with proper identification and after reasonable attempt to make contact with the tenant or owner during nonemergency situations, shall have access to all parts of a premises in accordance with CMC 13.04.150. If city employees are refused access per CMC 13.04.150, it shall constitute a violation of this chapter and may result in penalties as outlined in CMC 13.04.290.

If any electric user refuses access to parts of a premises for inspection by city light personnel appointed by the city, electric service may be disconnected until such access is granted and user shall be subject to fees and assessments outlined in CMC 13.02.080 and 13.02.090. (Ord. 2327 § 2, 2014).