Chapter 15 · Utilities

Article 3. Electricity

Sections 15-301 to 15-310 · 10 sections

15-301 Electric services.

Any person desiring electric current of the Augusta Municipal Electric Light Plant for any of the services herein set forth, and having made a meter deposit for each service required as provided for herein, shall be entitled to receive electric current for the service required for the premises or fixture designated; provided, that the electric wiring and apparatus in such premises or fixture shall conform and continue to conform to the ordinances of the city, relating to the installation, operation and maintenance of electric wiring and apparatus. The electric metering shall be installed as directed by the electric distribution superintendent.

(Code 1975, 20-102, Code 1991, 14-301)

15-302 Right to discontinue service.

The city hereby reserves the right to discontinue service to any or all electric customers, without notice, when same is necessary in the repair of the electric system or any part thereof.

(Code 1975, 20-103; Code 1991, 14-302)

15-303 Rates.

The users of electrical current or electrical energy from the municipally owned electric utility of the city shall be classified as follows:

(a)Residential Service;

(b)General Service/ Small Commercial Service;

(c)Large Commercial/Industrial Service.

The charges under such classified uses of electrical current or electrical energy shall be as stated as hereinafter set forth.

(Ord. 1310, Sec. 1; Code 1991, 14-303; Ord. 2218)

15-304 Residential service.

The Application, character of services and net monthly rate for residential service shall be as follows:

(a)Application: To provide electric service for all domestic purposes in single family residences and individually metered apartments when supplied at one point of delivery and measured through one-watt hour meter.

(b)Character of Service: Alternative current at approximately 60 cycles, single phase at such voltage as may be available for the service required.

(c)Net Monthly Rate:

Base Rate: $16.00 per month

Energy Rate: $0.1516 per kWh

(Ord. 1937, Sec. 1; Code 2010; Ord. 2127; Code 2020; Ord. 2218)

15-305 General Service/ Small Commercial Service.

The application, character of service and rates for commercial electric service in the city shall be as follows:

(a)Application: To provide electric service supplied to a commercial customer whose entire requirements on the premises are supplied under this rate at one metering point and customer energy usage is an average of 0 to 15,000 kwh’s monthly.

i. Calculation of monthly average will occur annually each year in January and will be based on the prior 12 months of usage. If the average usage exceeds 15,000 kwh’s monthly, the Net Monthly Rate will be changed to the Large Commercial/Industrial Service Rate beginning with the next month’s billing (February).

ii. For new accounts with no established usage and monthly average, the initial Net Monthly Rate will be established based on Zoning of the property. If zoned Commercial, the initial Net Monthly Rate will be the General Service/Small Commercial Service Rate. If zoned Industrial, the initial Net Monthly Rate will be the Large Commercial/Industrial Service Rate. Those rates will be reviewed the January after service is established and the average monthly usage will be based on the months of service available. The Net Monthly Rate will be based on the average monthly usage determined in January after the account is established and adjusted on the February billing

(b)Net Monthly Rate:

Base Rate: $30.00 per month

Energy Rate: $0.145 per kWh

(Ord. 1999, Sec. 2; Code 2010; Ord. 2127; Code 2020; Ord. 2218)

15-306 Large Commercial/Industrial Service.

The application, character of services, and net monthly rate for large commercial/industrial service shall be as follows:

(a)Application: To provide electric service supplied to a commercial customer whose entire requirements on the premises are supplied under this rate at one metering point and customer energy usage is an average of over 15,000 kwh’s monthly.

i. Calculation of monthly average will occur annually each year in January and will be based on the prior 12 months of usage. If the average is less than 15,000 kwh’s monthly, the Net Monthly Rate will be changed to the General Service/Small Commercial Service Rate beginning with the next month’s billing (February).

ii. For new accounts with no established usage and monthly average, the initial Net Monthly Rate will be established based on Zoning of the property. If zoned Commercial, the initial Net Monthly Rate will be the General Service/Small Commercial Service Rate. If zoned Industrial, the initial Net Monthly Rate will be the Large Commercial/Industrial Service Rate. Those rates will be reviewed the January after service is established and the average monthly usage will be based on the months of service available. The Net Monthly Rate will be based on the average monthly usage determined in January after the account is established and adjusted on the February billing.

(b)Net Monthly Rate:

Base Rate: $75.00 per month

Energy Rate: $0.145 per kWh

(Ord. 1999; Code 2010; Ord. 2127; Code 2020; Ord. 2218)

15-307 Electric Cost Adjustment (ECA).

An Electric Cost Adjustment (ECA) will be computed monthly by city staff, which will be applicable to all rate classes. A positive ECA charge may be assessed to customers when the total actual expenses exceed the budgeted expenses in the Electric Fund during a certain period. In the event, there is a surplus of revenue over actual expenses, excess may be carried over to another month or transferred to an Electric Reserve fund.

Monthly ECA = (Actual Costs – Budgeted Costs)/Total kWh’s Sold

(Ord. 2218)

15-308 Connection fees.

The governing body shall establish, by resolution, a fee for each connection to the electrical and water utilities operated by the city for those customers who are currently connected to the system, who have no past due balances with their account in good standing and wish to have their service relocated to another address within the utility system. For those customers who do not currently have connections to the utility system the fee is hereby established in the sum established from time to time by Resolution of the Governing Body of the City of Augusta, Kansas for each connection to the electrical and water utilities operated by the city. Such fee shall be payable each time the electrical or water utility is reconnected at the request of the customer.

(Ord. 1849, Sec. 2; Code 2010; Ord. 2218)

15-309 Electric transformer and service connection fees.

(a)The City shall supply and install the transformer and associated materials which are necessary to provide electric service for all new residential, commercial and industrial customers. For underground service, the developer or customer shall be responsible for trenching and the installation of conduit according to city specifications. The City will be responsible for supplying the meter can to the electrician except that the City shall retain and install the meter can for three phase pad mount transformers. The City shall charge an Electric Transformer Fee to assist in the payment of the expenses associated with the provision of electric service to the customer. The Electric Transformer Fee shall be paid to the City at the time the required building permits are issued by the Building Department.

(b)Fees for all overhead and underground three phase service shall be calculated based on the cost to the City for the transformer and associated materials. The City shall work with the customers to identify the amperage load and size of transformer. They city will also document to the customer the cost of the transformers and associated materials.

(c)Single Phase Electric Transformer and Service Connection fees shall be established from time to time by Resolution of the Governing Body for the City of Augusta, Kansas.

(d)Fees for all overhead to underground service conversions shall be calculated on the actual cost of associated wire and materials to the city. The customer shall be responsible for the conduit and installation of the conduit from the meter can to the transformer pad or utility pole. Conduits shall be installed by a licensed electrician in accordance with the most recently adopted National Electric Codes and any local amendments.

(e)For an upgrade of an existing service over 200 amps single phase which requires a new transformer, the customer will receive a credit for the existing transformer and pay the difference between the two transformer costs.

(f)Connection of the overhead service cable to the customer shall be at the service mat or attachment point on the house as applicable. Installation of the meter can, service mast, attachment point and electrical cable from the meter can to the weather head/attachment point shall be installed by a licensed electrician in accordance with the most recently adopted National Electric Codes and any local amendments.

(g)The City retains ownership of all transformers, meters, meter cans and service drop cable or service lateral cable.

(Ord. 1941; Code 2010; Ord. 2218)

15-310 Interconnection standards for customer-owned renewable electric generation facilities and distributed generation.

(a)There is hereby adopted Interconnection Standards for Installation and Parallel Operation of Customer-Owned Renewable Electric Generation Facilities dated July 6, 2021.

(b)The adopted Interconnection Standards for Installation and Parallel Operation of Customer-Owned Renewable Electric Generation Facilities dated July 6, 2021, may be amended, and modified in whole or in part by the Governing Body of the City of Augusta, Kansas, as deemed appropriate by the Governing Body.

(c)Distributed generation will be offered on first come first served basis to all customers. In no case shall the City be obligated to purchase an amount greater than four percent (4%) of the utility’s peak power requirement for the previous year.

(d)Distributed Generation Customers:

Residential Customers: Any residential customer of the City’s electric utility that installs an energy producing system or renewable generator with a capacity of 25 kilowatts or less must first successfully complete and have approved the City of Augusta’s “Interconnection Standards for Installation and Distribution Operation of Customers-Owned Renewable Electric Generation Facilities.”

General Service/Small Commercial and Large Commercial/Industrial Customers: Any general service/small commercial or large commercial/industrial customer who wish to install an energy producing system or renewable generator with a capacity of 200 kilowatts or less must first successfully complete and have approved the City of Augusta’s “Interconnection Standards for Installation and Distribution Operations of Customer-Owned Renewable Electric Generation Facilities.”

All distribution generation contracts shall comply with the requirements of K.S.A. 66-1,184 et seq., as amended. The cost of any equipment required to be installed for such attachment or metering and installation shall be the sole responsibility of the customer and such equipment shall not cause damage to the City’s electric system or equipment or present an undue hazard to City personnel.

(e)Interconnection Application Fee: Residential, general service/small commercial, and large commercial/industrial customers are subject to a non-refundable processing fee of $250.00 and must accompany a completed Interconnection Application.

(f)Net Monthly Rate:

(1)Distributed Generation Customers with an Interconnection Application dated after April 4, 2023 (Parallel Generation):

Base Rate: Determined by customer class described in section 15-304-306.

Energy Rate: Determined by customer class described in section 15-304-306.

Appropriately sized generators (as defined in K.S.A. 66-1184) owned by customer-generators will at times either generate more electricity than the customer can consume on premises or only meet a portion or none of the customers electricity needs. During periods of time when the generator owned by the customer-generator cannot provide all of the customer’s electricity needs, the electricity provided by the electric utility will be billed at the same rate as that established for similar rate class customers that do not own generation. During periods of time when the generator owned by the customer-generator produces electricity in excess of its own needs, and such excess electricity is supplied back to the electric utility, the electric utility shall compensate the customer for this excess energy at a rate that is 150% of the utility’s monthly system average cost of energy per kilowatt hour, per K.S.A. 66-1184.

The City may, at its discretion, either pay the customer for excess energy at aforementioned rate or calculate such payment and deduct from the customer’s bill as a credit.

(2)Distributed Generation Customers with an Interconnection Application dated April 4, 2023 or Prior: (Net Metering)

Base Rate: Determined by customer class described in section 15-304-306.

Energy Rate: Determined by customer class described in section 15-304-306.

Appropriately sized generators (as defined in K.S.A. 66-1184) owned by customer-generators will at times either generate more electricity than the customer can consume on premises or only meet a portion or none of the customers electricity needs. During periods of time when the generator owned by the customer-generator cannot provide all of the customer’s electricity needs, the electricity provided by the electric utility will be billed at the same rate as that established for similar rate class customers that do not own generation. During periods of time when the generator owned by the customer-generator produces electricity in excess of its own needs, and such excess electricity is supplied back to the electric utility, the electric utility shall compensate the customer for this excess energy at a rate that is 150% of the utility’s energy cost per kilowatt hour, per K.S.A. 66-1184.

The City may, at its discretion, either pay the customer for excess energy at aforementioned rate or calculate such payment and deduct from the customer’s bill as a credit.

(Ord. 2176; Ord. 2218; Ord. 2247)