Service Rules and Regulations

In This Section

Service Rules and Regulations

CAPE HATTERAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS

ELECTRIC SERVICE AVAILABILITY

Applications for Membership
Any person, firm, association, corporation or public body shall sign a written application for membership and pay any service security deposit that may be required by the Cooperative. In this application, the applicant shall agree to purchase from the Cooperative all electric energy used on the premises of the applicant and to be bound by the regulations and rate schedules established pursuant thereto. The applicant shall further agree to pay the minimum monthly bill stated in the application or, the minimum set forth in the written contract for service. Upon termination of membership, any deposits will be refunded or applied against any unpaid balance owed the Cooperative.
Service Security Deposits
A security deposit of at least $100.00 but not to exceed (2) months electric bills shall be required for receiving electric service. Consumers who sign up for the Bank Draft or Credit Card Draft (for at least 1 year) will only be required to pay a (1) month security deposit or $100 minimum. However, if credit is satisfactorily established, the service security deposit may be waived. (See Section 3)
Establishing Credit
A new applicant for membership, or a former member applying for reinstatement may establish satisfactory credit for a service connection by any of the following methods.
1. The applicant provides a cash security deposit; or
2. The applicant has established satisfactory credit, by record of his payment to another electric utility supplier;
  1. Residential Service Residential Letter Of Credit
  2. Commercial Service Commercial Letter Of Credit
3. The applicant is a former member of the Cooperative with satisfactory credit history within the last twelve months.
4. The applicant obtains a guarantor satisfactory to the Cooperative.
5. The applicant receives a score of 15 or lower on the Cooperatives credit scoring system
Billing
Consumers will be billed for the electricity used in their previous billing cycle. Payment is due on the date the bill is received. In the event the current monthly bill is not paid within twenty (20) days from the date of the bill, the bill is delinquent. Members having delinquent accounts will receive a written notice on their subsequent bill advising of possible disconnection of service unless the past due amount is paid within the time period stipulated in the notice.

Service Charges
The Cooperative charges the following standard service fees:

$50.00 fee to connect existing electric service during regular business hours, $100 for after hours reconnects
For reinstatement of disconnected service for the same member at the same location, in addition to the $50 connect fee, a monthly facility charge of $20.00 per month will be charged for each month service was disconnected.
$15.00 trip fee for each visit to disconnect.
$30.00 fee for each check or draft returned unpaid by the bank.
For all new service connections and all upgrades the connection fees will be:Residential/Commercial 0 - 200 Amps. $200.00 201 - 400 Amps. $400.00 over 400 Amps. $1 per Amp.
$15.00 to reconnect a security light.
Small Claims Court fee.
Monthly charge of $3.00 or $6.99 for external surge protectors installed by the Cooperative.
$25.00 fee for 200 amp residential single phase meter testing. Any service over 200 amps will require an on site inspection to determine cost. If the meter test results in a variance of +/- 5% the electric bill will be adjusted for the prior three months and the meter test fee will be refunded.
Meter Tampering - $200 fee plus estimated or actual usage
Meter Poles - $100 charge to set pole for member owned facilities. Charge includes purchase cost of 25 pole and labor to install. Pole becomes property and responsibility of the member. Member has the option to install pole, however, pole must meet Cooperative specifications.

Underground service charges-

From O/H Pole:	From U/G Source:	Monthly Maint. Charge
200 amp $211 plus $6.00/ft.	$80 plus $6.00/ft.	$3.65 per month
400 amp $331 plus $8.61/ft.	$70 plus $8.61/ft.	$5.85 per month
600 amp $384 plus $10.67/ft.	$-0-plus $10.67/ft	$8.00 per month

Other Reasons for Disconnects and Reconnects
1. Service may be disconnected immediately and without notice for the following reasons:
  1. discovery of meter tampering; or
  2. diversion of electric current; or
  3. discovery of a condition determined by the Cooperative to be hazardous; for violation of and/or non-compliance with any applicable state or local laws, regulations and codes pertaining to electric service; and for non-compliance with bylaws, rules and regulations of the Cooperative.
2. Electric service will be reconnected in the above cases under the following conditions:
  1. correction of the infraction; and
  2. payment for any estimated unmetered or diverted current; and
  3. payment of the applicable reconnection fee; and
  4. the member agrees to comply with reasonable requirements to protect the Cooperative against further infractions.
Information for Members
New members will receive a member information booklet which shall include the Cooperatives Service Rules and Regulations. Copies of Bylaws will be available upon request.
Responsibility of Member for Service
Each member is solely responsible for all electricity used until such time as service is disconnected.

Board Approved 09/20/07 Effective 1/1/08