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5.2. ERMUSR 12-13-2016 �i Elk River , Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO: FROM: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams, P.E. —General Manager John Dietz—Chair Al Nadeau—Vice Chair Daryl Thompson—Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: December 13, 2016 5.2 SUBJECT: Policy Review—Access to Private Property BACKGROUND: Elk River Municipal Utilities has a policy regarding access to private property where ERMU equipment is located. The ERMU Electric Rules state: "The Utility shall have access at all reasonable hours to meters, service connections and other property owned by it which may be located on customer's property. Access shall be provided for purposes of installation, maintenance, reading, checking or removal if necessary. Failure to provide access shall result in termination of service until it has been provided. It shall also be a requirement that the electric meter shall be located outside the building before service will be restored." The authority for the Commission to create these policies comes through Minnesota Statute 412.361 Public Utility; Commission Powers. This authority has been adopted into City Ordinance. DISCUSSION: In accordance with National Electric Safety Code requirements staff has been conducting audits and physical inspections of all equipment including metering. These audits and inspections of meters are to verify equipment installation for public and employee safety as well as to identify and prevent theft of electricity. Physical inspection of metering always requires access to ERMU property located on customer property. When inspecting metering for electric theft it is critical that the inspection be conducted without notice. Over 5% of the meters inspected this year indicated signs of meter tampering. Although access to customer property is legal, ERMU occasionally received feedback from customers questioning this. The unannounced access to ERMU property located on customer i" PDNERED BY Page 1 of 2 NATURE Reliable Public Power Provide( P O WE R E D To $ ERV E PR property is often perceived as poor customer service. However, with prior notification it is less likely that electric theft wouldn't be caught. The current policy is broadly written. Staff would like to discuss the policy's language most specifically relating to gates, fences, and customer notifications. ACTION REQUESTED: There is no action requested. ATTACHMENTS: • ERMU Policy—E.1 Electric Department Rules—Page 4: Access • City Ordinance 78 Utilities—Article IV Elec Systems— Section 78-312 Rules and Regulations • Minnesota Statute 412.361 Public Utility; Commission Powers 0 P�ONEREO 01 Page 2 of 2 NATURE Reliable Public. rOVERED BY Power Provider P owERE❑ T o S ERvE AP ELECTRIC RULES ELECTRICAL REGULATIONS GENERAL All electrical wiring, apparatus, and equipment for electric light, heat, and power, shall comply with rules and regulations of the Elk River Municipal Utilities, and the latest edition of the National Electric Code. This includes compliance with the Railroad and Warehouse Commission, the Commissioner of Insurance, or the Industrial Commission, as applicable, the Minnesota Building Code and any other code as adopted by a governmental agency applicable to safe and adequate electric wiring and installation of equipment. Deviations from the regulations may be made only at the discretion, and with the approval of, the General Manager or Supervisor of Distribution, Elk River Municipal Utilities. PURPOSE The primary purpose of these regulations is the practical safeguarding of persons, of buildings and their contents from hazards arising from the use of electricity for light, heat, power, radio and television signaling, and other safeguards to life and property. The City of Elk River has adopted the current National Electric Code Standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters as approved by the American Standards Association as minimum requirements for electrical wiring and installations. Other requirements, as may be adopted by the Utilities Commission, are included herein and shall be complied with by all licensed electricians working within the jurisdiction of the Elk River Municipal Utilities service area. The Elk River Municipal Utilities operates under the National Electric Safety Code. ACCESS The Utility shall have access at all reasonable hours to meters, service connections and other property owned by it which may be located on customer's property. Access shall be provided for purposes of installation, maintenance, reading, checking or removal if necessary. Failure to provide access shall result in termination of service until it has been provided. It shall also be a requirement that the electric meter shall be located outside the building before service will be restored. SERVICE CONTINUITY The Utility will do all it can, when practical, to supply continuous service to its customers. It does not assume direct liability for loss or damage to persons or property due to its service, or as a result of failure of the service, interruptions, or variation because of an act of God, strikes, or any causes beyond the Utility's control. The Utility reserves the right to curtail or temporarily interrupt the customer's electrical service, when necessary, to make repairs, and replacement changes to the Utility's facilities, either on or off the customer's premises, or during emergencies, when power may not be available on a short term basis. 4 no Sec. 78-312. Rules and regulations. ERMU shall have the authority to adopt such rules and regulations for operation and use of the electric system as it shall deem appropriate. Such rules and regulations shall be valid and enforceable, to the extent they are consistent with other law, including this Code. (Ord. No. 10-18, § 1, 10-11-2010) ml 1 MINNESOTA STATUTES 2016 412.361 412.361 PUBLIC UTILITY; COMMISSION POWERS. Subdivision 1. Contract; bid provisions apply. The commission shall have power to extend and to modify or rebuild any public utility and to do anything it deems necessary for its proper and efficient operation; and it may enter into necessary contracts for these purposes. The provisions of section 412.311 relating to advertisement for bids shall apply to contracts of the public utilities commission. Subd.2.Hire,direct,fix pay for personnel.The commission shall have power to employ all necessary help for the management and operation of the public utility,prescribe duties of officers and employees and fix their compensation. Subd. 3. Buy fuel, supplies,wholesale energy. The commission shall have power to buy all fuel and supplies, and it may purchase wholesale electric energy, steam heat, hot water energy, gas or water, as the case may be,for municipal distribution. Subd. 4. Fix rates; adopt service rules. The commission shall have power to fix rates and to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for utility service supplied by the municipally owned public utilities within its jurisdiction. Subd. 5.Relations,finances with city.The commission shall have power to enter into agreements with the council for payments by the city for utility service, compensation for the use by either the commission or the city of buildings,equipment,and personnel under the control of the other,payments to the city in lieu of taxes, transfers of surplus utility funds to the general fund, and also agreements on other subjects of relationships between the commission and the council. History: 1949 c 119 s 46; 1953 c 735 s 6; 1973 c 123 art 2 s 1 Subd 2; 1981 c 334 s 4 Copyright©2016 by the Revisor of Statutes,State of Minnesota.All Rights Reserved. 1 n2