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Non-Billing Procedures
Hibbing Public Utilities
Billing and Service Procedures
Attaching Euipment on HPU Property
Customer Areas of Responsibility
Customer Request for HPU Equipment Relocation
Location of Underground Facilities
Removal of Utility Service Lines
Attaching Equipment on HPU Property
Customers must obtain written consent from the HPUC
prior to
attaching any equipment or material to HPUC owned equipment or
property. Failure
to obtain written consent may result in criminal prosecution of the
customer for
property destruction or defacement. (back
to top)
Customer Areas of Responsibility
Customers will be charged
for service
calls when the service problem is on the customer's area of
responsibility. Charges will vary according to work performed and
whether
or not the service call is during regular business hours. Customer
areas of
responsibility are as follows:
Electric Overhead: Downstream of the HPUC's connection at the weatherhead (mast).
Electric Underground: Downstream of meter socket. For exceptions call Electric Department.
Steam: Downstream of the HPUC isolation valve; usually in the manhole or vault in the alley.
Gas: Downstream of the meter set at the union to the customer's service.
Water: Downstream of the HPUC standpipe and shutoff valve. (back to top)
Customer Requests for HPU Equipment Relocation
HPUC equipment including mains, service lines, and meters may be relocated or moved upon request by a customer according to the following guidelines.
1) The customer is responsible for the costs of moving HPUC equipment located on public property, easements, or customer property that currently serves the customer in a satisfactory manner.
2) The customer is responsible for making the necessary arrangements for the relocation of equipment owned by another utility company or third party. (back to top)
Location of Underground Facilities
Upon request, the HPUC will provide the location of existing underground electric, steam, water, or gas facilities to assist excavator, contractors, and homeowners in their building projects. The HPUC is not responsible for any costs associated with damage to facilities as a result of the activities of the excavator, contractor, or homeowner.
Customer Procedure
1) Customer calls Gopher State One-Call at 1-800-252-1166 and places an order for locating underground utility service facilities.
2) Gopher State notifies the HPUC engineering department by fax of the customer request for underground locations
3) The HPUC engineering department locates underground facilities by using information, maps and locating equipment.
4) Excavations shall be done according to G.S.O.C. policies and procedures. (back to top)
1) A customer is defined by the HPUC as an individual, business, partnership, or governmental agency supplied with utility service at one location. Utility service supplies at more that one location will be metered and billed under separate accounts.
2) If a customer owns or manages several buildings in various locations that are not in close proximity to each other as a single business, each building will be metered and billed as a separate account.
3) If a customer owns several buildings adjacent and in close proximity to each other in the operation of a single business, the customer may have one service connection to provide the utility service to the entire group of buildings. All the buildings may be on the same meter and billed together as one account.
4) If a customer owns several buildings that are separated by a street, alley, or highway in the operation of a single business, the customer may have one service connection to provide utility service to the entire group of buildings. The customer must pay for the cost of installation and materials necessary to provide one service connections in this situation.
Sub-metering is not allowed by the HPUC. Utility service will not be supplied to the owners, tenants, or occupants of any building through a master meter for sub-metering or resale to the tenants or building occupants. (back to top)
The following procedures and policies apply to new housing lot development.
1) HPUC management and Engineering Department personnel will meet with the developer during the planning stages of the housing development project. A plan will be developed for the HPUC to install natural gas distribution mains and electric main feeder and transformers after the final grades are completed at no cost to the developer. The electrical conduits and gas piping will be installed under the streets before final paving.
2) The City of Hibbing is responsible for installing the water and sewer distribution mains in the new development.
3) The HPUC will install street lighting at a designated fee per lot.
4) Street lighting fees must be paid to the HPUC by the developer prior to the installation of natural gas and electric service mains. (back to top)
Removal of Utility Service Lines
Any service line that is installed by the HPUC and is not used by the customer for two years following installation or discontinuation of service will be deemed abandoned and may be removed by the HPUC at its discretion for reasons of safety and surety of service to existing customers.
All water, gas, steam, or electric services that become obsolete because of the installation of new or larger service will be terminated and shut off at the main.
When a house or structure is torn down or moved and utility service is not needed, the service lines will be terminated and shut off at the main. All work performed and expenses incurred in cutting and shutting the service off permanently is the responsibility of the property owner. (back to top)
The HPUC has the statutory right to contribute annually, a sum not to exceed one percent of the previous year's gross revenues, or $20,000.00, whichever is less.
By statute, HPUC contributions must be for purpose of advertising, improving and developing the tourism, recreational, industrial, commercial, or vocational resources of the City of Hibbing.
Any party wishing to make
a request
for contribution from the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission must
complete a
Request for Contribution application form and submit it to the office
of the
General Manager. The request will be brought to the Commission for
discussion
and action at the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting following
receipt
of the application form.
(back to top)
A scheduled outage is defined as an outage that is scheduled at least 72 hours in advance. The appropriate people will be notified if any electrical outages affects customer's on Medical Alert Status. Also, hospitals, clinics, schools, and businesses will be called if in the affected outage area to inform them of the outage and the expected duration. (back to top)
When a customer calls for service the employees in the Turbine Room will in form the customer of the potential charges for the service including the extra cost for after hours service.
Only one employee will be called out after hours until assessment of the problem determines that a second employee is required.
The employee(s) called out are to use good judgment and discretion when diagnosing problems on the customer's fixtures and equipment.
Customers will be charged
for service
calls when the service problem is located in their area of
responsibility.
(see
Customer's area of
Reponsibility) (back to top)
The HPUC will trim trees
or
vegetation that interfere with electrical wires at no cost to the
customer. The
customer is responsible for clean-up of the branches and debris
following
trimming or removal of trees or vegetation by the HPUC.
On Utility Easement
The HPUC will trim or
remove trees
and vegetation conflicting with electrical wires on the electrical
power
easement. The HPUC will work with the property owner and will attempt
to retain
a portion of the tree or vegetation whenever possible. The HPUC will
make the
final decision on judgments concerning the trimming or removal of trees
or vegetation
on the easement.
On Customer Property
Trees
1) The HPUC will trim a tree conflicting with electrical wires on a customer's property at no charge to the customer, but will not remove or pay for the removal of a tree that is near electrical wires.
2) If severe weather or other conditions cause a tree or tree branch to come down on electrical wires, the HPUC will trim the tree and will disconnect, repair, and reconnect the electrical service at no cost to the customer.
3) If a customer refuses to trim or remove a tree conflicting with electrical wires at the request of the HPUC, the customer is responsible for the cost of HPUC time and materials in the event the tree causes a power outage or other utility problems.
4) If a customer is taking down a tree on their property, the HPUC will assist in the tree removal process by disconnecting and reconnecting the electrical wires at no cost to the customer.
Vegetation
The HPUC will trim or remove vegetation conflicting with electrical wires on a customer's property at the customer's request. If vegetation is the cause of a power outage at the customer's residence, the HPUC will repair the electrical wires and trim the vegetation at no expense to the customer. (back to top)
All underground installations of electric, steam, gas, and water services will be performed from May 1st through October 31st due to seasonal limitations and adherence to sound engineering practices.
Installations that are done between November 1st and April 30th when the air temperature is lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit require approval by the Commission. (back to top)
An unscheduled outage is defined as an unexpected sudden failure of any utility distribution system. HPUC employees will work to remedy the situation in the shortest and safest time possible. (back to top)
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