207.1 - Trip Fee
Except as provided in these rules, the Cooperative shall charge $100.00 for each trip to a member’s premises which is requested by the member or reasonably necessary under these rules or standard operating practice, (e.g. trip to member’s premises for collection of a bill, connection, disconnection, reconnection, trouble report investigation). The cooperative shall charge $45.00 for each trip to the member’s premises for meter reading under the following circumstances: (1) if a member fails to timely provide the Cooperative with an accurate meter reading for 2 consecutive months; (2) if a member submits an unusually high or unusually low meter reading; (3) in connection with annual meter reading if there is a large discrepancy between the actual reading and the reading reported by a member; (4) if there are inaccuracies in the member’s meter reading; (5) if the Cooperative is not able to obtain access in its normal meter reading cycle; or (6) if the member fails to keep an appointment and the Cooperative makes a trip to the premises.
The Cooperative does not normally reconnect service after business hours unless a member has a medical emergency.
If a trip to a member’s premises is made outside of the Cooperative’s business hours, the member shall be charged $150.00.
No charge shall be made to investigate an outage or service irregularity unless caused by the member or the member’s installation or equipment.
207.2 - Membership Fee
Each applicant shall be charged a membership fee of $25.00.
207.3 - Returned Check
The Cooperative shall charge $35.00 for each check or other form of payment which is dishonored or returned to the Cooperative. Any member having a check or other from of payment dishonored two or more times in a 12-month period may be required to pay by cash, money order, or certified check.
207.4 - Meter Test Fee
If a member’s meter has been tested at the member’s request and within a period of four (4) years the member requests a new test, the Cooperative shall perform the test. If the meter is found to be within the accuracy standards established by the American National Standards Institutes, Inc., the Cooperative will charge the member a fee which reflects the cost to test the meter, however, this charge shall not be more than $100.00 for a residential member.
207.5 - Supplemental Engineering Services Fee
If additional engineering services are required because information provided by the member was incomplete or inaccurate, or because of changes made at the request of the member, the Cooperative may charge the member a non-refundable fee for Supplemental Engineering Services relating to the construction of the Cooperative facilities. Such fee shall not be more than $300.00.
207.6 - Switchover Fee
Where service to a member is being switched between the Cooperative and another electric utility, the following charges shall apply when the Cooperative is the disconnecting utility:
A. A charge to cover average labor and transportation costs incurred in the disconnection of service.
B. Any unpaid construction, line extension, or other contract charges.
C. A charge for removal of any property, plant or facilities of the Cooperative used to provide service to the member, if the member requests removal or removal is required for legal or safety reasons, or by requirement of any authority.
D. A charge for distribution facilities rendered idle as a result of the disconnection and not usable on another part of the Cooperative’s system based on the original cost of such facilities less depreciation, salvage and contributions in aid of construction, but including the cost of removing idled plant deemed by the Cooperative to be economically salvageable.
E. Prior to disconnection, the member shall pay the Cooperative for all service up through the date of disconnection as well as the charges set forth in this tariff. Upon receipt of payment, the Cooperative shall give the member a paid receipt.
Consistent with the Rules of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, members are advised that the connecting electric utility may not provide service to a member until the connecting utility has evidence from the Cooperative that the member has paid for electric service through the date of disconnection and any charges for disconnection under this tariff.
207.7 - Delinquent Accounts
The Cooperative may assess a late fee of $10.00 or five percent (5%) whichever is greater, on each delinquent bill.
207.8 - Meter Tampering
If the Cooperative determines that a member has tampered with a meter or is otherwise obtaining electric service in an illegal manner, the Cooperative will disconnect the service. The member’s service shall not be restored until the member has paid a $250.00 fee to defray the costs associated with the investigation of the incident in question. The member must also pay all expenses incurred by the Cooperative in connection with the repair and/or replacement of the meter and other electric facilities owned by the Cooperative, along with the estimated billing for energy consumed but not metered as the result of the tampering incident. In cases of meter tampering or bypassing of meter, electric energy consumed, but not metered, may be estimated by the Cooperative based on amounts used under similar conditions during preceding years. Where no previous usage history exists or where previous usage
history is considered unreliable due to meter tampering or bypassing of meter, consumption may be estimated on the basis of usage levels of similar installations and under similar conditions.
207.9 - Transfer of Service Fee
A consumer eligible for electric service under all rates, shall, before service is transferred to their name pay all unpaid balances an, on the occasion that service has not been is connected at the location, be billed a $20.00 Transfer of Service Fee to transfer active service into their name.
Every applicant who has previously been a customer of the Utility and whose service has been discontinued for non-payment of bills or meter tampering or bypassing of meter shall be required before service is rendered to pay all amounts due the Utility or execute a Deferred Payment Agreement, if offered, and re-establish credit.
207.10 - New Service Application Fee
A consumer eligible for electric service under all rates shall pay all unpaid balances and a non-refundable $300.00 New Service Application Fee. The New Service Application Fee will be included in the consumer’s contribution in aid of construction (CIAD) costs.
Any request or application that is ready for construction but is on hold waiting for the Applicant to pay fees or is otherwise placed on hold by the Applicant may be cancelled six ( 6 ) months after the engineering is complete, or upon six ( 6 ) months of inactivity on the part of the Applicant.
If the line extension has been designed to the Applicant’s designated point of Delivery and the Applicant subsequently requests a redesign of the line extension, the Applicant shall be required to pay an additional non-refundable Supplemental Engineering Services Fee at the time of this request.
207.11 - Engineering Fee
Persons requesting utility easements only shall be charged a non-refundable Engineering Fee of $150.00 per hour (minimum 1 hour) for each request for clerical or field work to obtain easements, or any other documentation necessary. This fee must be paid prior to delivery of requested documentation.
207.12 - Easement Filing Fee
A consumer shall pay a $100.00 Easement Filing Fee which will be included in the consumer's contribution in aid of construction (CIAC) costs. Easements obtained through the course of staking new electric service will be filed and duly recorded in the official public records of the county where service is being provided. This fee will be refunded if the easement is not officially filed.
207.13 - Remote Disconnect/Reconnect
During normal business hours, if a meter is remotely disconnected for any reason (non-payment, member request, etc) the member shall pay a Remote Disconnect Fee of $50.00. Upon reconnect during normal business hours, the member shall pay a Remote Reconnect Fee of $50.00. If the disconnect and/or reconnect occur outside of normal business hours, the fee will be increased to $100.00 per disconnect/reconnect.