Source: http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Ellensburg/html/Ellensburg09/Ellensburg0910.html
Timestamp: 2013-05-24 20:51:39
Document Index: 103751978

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2']

Chapter 9.10 NEW UTILITY SERVICE CONNECTIONS
Chapter 9.10NEW UTILITY SERVICE CONNECTIONS
9.10.030 General.
9.10.100 Electrical service requirements.
9.10.200 Gas service requirements.
9.10.300 Sewer service requirements.
9.10.400 Water service requirements.
This chapter establishes the rules for obtaining municipal utility services (electric, gas, sewer or water) where utility mains or other primary infrastructure is available at the property line but service lines and meters do not exist. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]
“City standards” means the construction standards administratively adopted by each of the city’s utilities specifying sizes, types and quantities of components, and methods used to build city-owned utility plant and infrastructure. “Plant investment fee” or “PIF” means a charge representing a landowner’s equity in the existing depreciated utility plant that benefits all users of a particular utility. Plant investment fees shall be based on the size of the meter and in the case of sewer shall be based on the size of the water meter.
“Reimbursement fee” means a charge paid by an applicant to reimburse parties (including the city) who have previously paid for the extension of utility service. Parties other than the city must have entered into a reimbursement agreement with the city. “Service credit” means a dollar amount credited against the cost of city-owned and installed facilities that must otherwise be paid by the applicant. Under no circumstances will the city pay the customer if the service credit exceeds the installed cost of facilities nor shall any excess credit be applicable for any other purpose. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]
A. The city shall own and maintain all service lines (except as noted in ECC 9.10.100(B) and (C)) and other facilities required to provide utility service to the customer up to and including the meter. All equipment or facilities on the customer side of the meter must be provided, installed and maintained by the customer and must meet or exceed city standards.
B. The customer shall pay all costs for all city-owned service facilities plus any applicable plant investment fee, plus any applicable reimbursement fee, and less any applicable service credit. Adopted fee and credit amounts are listed in Chapter 9.92 ECC.
C. Utility service for city-owned buildings and facilities shall be provided on the same terms and conditions as those required for any other utility customer.
D. It is unlawful for any person other than authorized city employees or authorized contractors to connect or disconnect any part of the city-owned utility system. Violation of this section constitutes a misdemeanor.
E. It shall be the customer’s responsibility to notify the city of any defective utility service.
F. The city shall have the right to refuse or cease to deliver utility service to a customer if any part of the customer-owned service, appliances, or apparatus shall at any time be unsafe, or if the utilization of utility service is prohibited or forbidden under any law or municipal ordinance. The city may refuse to serve until the customer shall put such part in good and safe condition and/or comply with all laws, ordinances, and regulations applicable thereto. The city does not assume the duty of inspecting the customer’s service equipment, appliances or apparatus or any part thereof, and assumes no liability therefor. The city shall have the right to refuse to provide utility service to any premises or at any time to discontinue service if found necessary to do so in order to protect against abuse or fraud.
G. Authorized employees of the city shall have free and unrestricted access to any and all premises furnished with utility service by the city for the purpose of inspecting utility installations, reading, installing and removing meters or repairing any property of the city including backflow devices.
H. It is unlawful for any person supplied with city utilities under this chapter, or any other person, to interfere with any meter, or modify, remove, disconnect, or otherwise interfere with any equipment, wires, or appurtenances of the system belonging to the city. This includes providing any utility service (electric, gas, sewer or water) to any other person(s) or property(ies). Violation of this section constitutes a misdemeanor.
I. All facilities covered by this chapter must be constructed to city standards. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]
A. All new nonindustrial services must be installed underground unless the new service is fed from an existing overhead line.
B. The city shall own, install and maintain all underground service and secondary wires associated with service panels 400 amps or less.
C. The customer shall own, install, and maintain all underground service and secondary wires associated with service panels greater than 400 amps. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]
A. The city will not tap a high pressure gas main except when conditions, in the sole judgment of the energy services director, justify a tap.
B. Each utility customer shall be subject to all rules and regulations adopted by the Ellensburg city council and the director relating to the installation, construction, reconstruction, adjustment and repair of house gas piping, gas appliances, fixtures and apparatus in all buildings served by the city gas utility.
C. If the applicant’s building is located a substantial distance from the main, or if there is a hazard or obstruction (such as plowed land) between the gas main and the applicant’s building which prevents the city from prudently installing a service line, the city may, at its discretion, allow the meter to be located at or near the applicant’s property line, as close as practical to the city’s main, at a location agreed upon by the customer and the city.
D. The end-use customer shall be responsible for the payment of any amount as determined in ECC 9.10.030(B). Payment shall be in the form of a monthly fee added to the utility bill for a period of seven years. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]
A. A public works construction permit and/or sewer permit must be obtained prior to any construction. Permits shall be valid for 90 calendar days, unless approved otherwise on the permit. The public works director may extend the duration of a permit upon written application of the applicant or may determine that a new permit is required (including payment of fees).
B. The owner or occupant of any land or premises shall be required to connect waste pipes used as a receptacle for drainage of sanitary sewage, industrial wastes or other waterborne contamination to the nearest accessible public sewer whenever there is a public sewer within 200 feet. The public works director shall prescribe the manner in which such connection shall be made. Such connection shall be made within 60 days after date of receipt of notice by certified mail. C. Whenever any land, buildings or premises are required to be connected to a public sewer or otherwise drained as provided in this section, and the owner or occupant fails to comply, the public works director may make such connection and the cost thereof shall be charged to the owner, agent or occupant, and a billing showing the amount thereof delivered to him, or posted upon the premises, whereupon the amount shall immediately be paid to the city. D. All vaults or privies shall be decommissioned per public works development standards.
E. A plant investment fee shall not be required for any irrigation service or other use which does not enter the sanitary sewer system. If a property is connected to the sanitary sewer system but not the city water system then the PIF fee shall be established by the public works director. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]
A. A public works construction permit and/or water permit must be obtained prior to any construction. Permits shall be valid for 90 calendar days, unless approved otherwise on the permit. The public works director may extend the duration of a permit upon written application of the applicant or may determine that a new permit is required (including payment of fees).
B. The owner or occupant of any land or premises shall be required to disconnect any well or potential feature which may create a “backflow” to the city’s water system prior to water service connection. [Ord. 4503 § 2, 2007.]