Dunlap |
|
| Natural Gas |
|
RULES AND REGULATIONS |
|
A. |
Service, Service Lines and Mains Appliances Installation of Appliances and Piping Payments and Penalties Code Requirements Miscellaneous Installation Price Schedule Pipe, Fittings and Parts Price Schedule Rate Schedule |
|
A. |
SERVICE, SERVICE LINES AND MAINS |
|
1. |
Any
person or business who wishes to obtain gas service must complete an
application and customer history card, service contract and easement
contract. |
|
2. |
Customers whose property already has a gas service may obtain or re-obtain
service by paying the proper meter deposit, and paying outstanding debts, if
any. |
|
3. |
Customers whose property is border by a gas main may obtain service by paying the proper tap fee and meter deposit. D.N.G.S. will run up to 100 linear feet of underground piping from the natural gas main or the paralleling street, whichever is closer, to meter. Any amount over 100 linear feet shall be installed at the rate of $2.00 per foot. Payment for extra footage shall be 50 % prior to installing the extra footage and the remaining balance shall be paid no later than 30 days after the installation of the service. Customers may be able to obtain natural gas service by digging and closing their own ditch. D.N.G.S. will install and oversee the backfilling of lines. A footage charge equal to the cost of the line and all necessary fitting will be used. Customers will be responsible for the clean up and settling of the area. This must be approved by the manager. |
|
4. |
Customers
whose property is not bordered by a natural gas main, but whose property can be reached by a main extension
of 100 feet or less may obtain service by
following item #3 in this section. Those whose property is more than 100 feet
away from a natural gas main may obtain service by paying a per footage cost
of the main extension, calculated by the manager. The main extension footage charge may be waived if sufficient evidence indicates that within the next two years additional customers will be added to reach the minimum allowable per mile. This must be approved by the Manager. All customers must pay tap deposits and any footage charges according to item B of section # 3. Customers may be able to obtain natural gas service by digging and closing their own ditch. D.N.G.S. will install and oversee the backfilling of lines. A footage charge equal to the cost of the line and all necessary fitting will be used. Customers will be responsible for the clean up and settling of the area. This must be approved by the manager. |
|
5. |
All service piping, meters, regulators, mains and associated items upstream
of the outlet side threads of the meter belongs to and is under
control of the D.N.G.S. Pipe paid for by the customer under section #3 and #4 shall become property of the D.N.G.S. upon its installation. Non-qualified personnel may not install any lines, fittings, etc. upstream of the outlet side of the meter threads. |
|
6. |
All customers must allow the D.N.G.S. access to the meter and associated piping whenever
required by the D.N.G.S. ( as per customer service and easement contracts.) During meter reading the customer shall allow access to or make arrangements with the D.N.G.S. to allow access to read the meter and patrol the service line. Animals must be chained, or pinned up or otherwise restrained to allow the meter reader access to the meter without endangerment. |
|
B. |
Nothing shall be placed on, around, or over the meter at any time,
Exceptions may be made for bushes, shrubs and ornamental fencing. The
customer, at the request of the D.N.G.S. may be asked to trim or remove anything
preventing access to the meter set. Should access be blocked when the meter is to be read, the meter consumption will be estimated and a bill sent. Should the meter reader be required to return to read the meter due to non-access to the meter, the highest hourly rate may be charged for the meter reader. |
|
7. |
Any ground disturbed in the installation and maintenance of the gas system
on private property shall be replaced and repaired to its original
condition. D.N.G.S. shall be responsible for any sinking of the area for a
period of three months, after which time it will be the property owners
responsibility. |
|
8. |
The customer shall keep the D.N.G.S. informed on any changes of gas loads. |
|
9. |
Seasonal turn-offs, turn-ons and pilot lights shall be performed at the
request of the customer. These services are performed at no additional
charge to the customer as part of the monthly service fee. |
|
10. |
Regulations may be subject to waiver or revision as per D.N.G.S. manager |
|
11. |
All natural gas main line extensions must be approved by the Mayor and the Board of Commissioners of the City of Dunlap. |
|
B. |
APPLIANCES |
|
1. |
All appliances shall be installed according to the applicable codes, laws
and regulations. |
|
2. |
Prior to the meter being unlocked and turned on, D.N.G.S. will inspect the
customers piping system for code violations and customer safety. Any code
violations must be repaired and re-inspected prior to turning the gas on. |
|
3. |
Exterior piping and piping entering a foundation shall be schedule 40 black
steel or galvanized pipe. Meters will only be connected to this. |
|
4. |
All steel piping shall be threaded or welded joints. A suitable pipe thread
compound shall be used on all threaded joints. |
|
5. |
The customer is responsible for all piping and connections downstream of the
meter. |
|
6. |
D.N.G.S. will lock off any customer whose appliances or piping, If in the
inspectors opinion, create a safety problem or fail to meet code requirements until said problem is corrected. |
|
7. |
No compression fittings (ferrell fittings) may be used on copper lines.
flared fittings only. |
|
8. |
All inlet and exhaust vents shall meet code requirements. |
|
C. |
INSTALLATION OF APPLIANCES AND PIPING |
|
1. |
Appliances will not installed by the D.N.G.S. for the customer. The
appliance must be in good working order and meet all code requirements
for its particular location. The appliance must be AGA and / or UL approved and
listed. |
|
2. |
Customer piping may be installed by D.N.G.S. provided that the pipe and
fittings are supplied by D.N.G.S. |
|
3. |
Appliances may be repaired by D.N.G.S. upon approval for repairs by the
customer. Providing D.N.G.S. has a qualified repair technician on staff. |
|
4. |
D.N.G.S. may repair all types of natural gas equipment, except boilers, air
conditioners or non-gas portions of combined heating and cooling packages.
Provided D.N.G.S. has a qualified repair technician on staff. |
|
5. |
Only natural gas equipment will be serviced. |
|
6. |
D.N.G.S. may convert LP gas appliances to natural gas. |
|
7. |
All installations, piping and repairs must be approved by the customer prior
to beginning work. |
|
8. |
All special order parts will require a 50% deposit prior to ordering part. |
|
9. |
Parts and piping may be purchased by the customer from D.N.G.S. |
|
10. |
Piping purchased from D.N.G.S. which has been cut or threaded for the
customer is not returnable. |
|
11. |
Installation of appliances and parts and repairs are subject to price
schedule H. |
|
12. |
Piping, fittings, vent, parts and supplies are subject to price schedule I. |
|
13. |
All prices are subject to change without notice. |
|
14. |
All prices are subject to payments and penalties, sales tax and section D. |
|
D. |
PAYMENTS, PENALTIES AND COLLECTIONS |
|
1. |
All natural gas bills are past due after the 12th of each billing month.
Customers have 10 days after the 12th of each billing month to contact
D.N.G.S. and make arrangements for paying the bill. after the 22nd (or the
next working day if on a weekend) of each billing month, natural gas service
is subject to disconnection. Collection of delinquent accounts shall be
pursued to the fullest extent of the law. |
|
2. |
All merchandise and material accounts past 30 days due are subject to collection to the fullest extent of the law. |
|
3. |
Payment schedules for delinquent accounts must be approved by the Manger.
Payment schedules and accounts 30 days past due on merchandise and
materials shall be subject to a monthly finance charge as set forth in the
rate schedule. Said finance charges shall be compounded monthly on the
outstanding balance. |
|
4. |
All accounts which are at the end of each fiscal year past due shall be subject to all collection
fees, attorney fees, court costs and any other cost associated with the
collection of the delinquent account. |
|
5. |
No customer shall be allowed to obtain gas under his or her name if any
outstanding amount is owed on any account in their name. Reinstatement
of any account which has gone through the collection process shall be subject to a deposit
of the standard deposit amount multiplied by each time the customer has been
through the collection process. See rate schedule G. |
|
6. |
Accounts which are considered to be high risk accounts (accounts which have been 40 days late for more than three times during a year or
whose payment and credit history is considered high risk) shall be subject to a
meter deposit set forth by the manager upon review of their account, payment
history, and credit history. |
|
7. |
Upon approval of the manager, merchandise or material accounts may be paid upon a payment schedule. For accounts up to and including $1,000
the payment schedule will be no more than 6 months. For accounts over $1,000 the
payment schedule will be no more than 12 months. |
|
8. |
All accounts for installation, materials, parts, labor, or supplies are due
and payable 30 days after first billing. |
|
9. |
Cut-off procedures will follow TCA 65-32 all parts and all City Ordinances or
Commission rules and T.R.A. procedures governing such proceedures. |
|
10. |
Installment payments on natural gas utility bills shall follow TCA 65-33 all
parts as a minimum, and city ordinances or commission rules governing such
polices. |
|
E. |
CODE REQUIREMENTS |
|
1. |
All piping, equipment and installation shall follow all portions of the
following codes. |
|
A. |
Minimum Federal Safety Standards Parts 190 and 199. |
|
B. |
National Fuel Gas Code |
| C. |
National Fire Protection Code |
| D. |
Southern Building Code |
| E. |
National Electric Code |
|
F. |
Any other codes as required by the specific application such as F.H.A.,
F.m.H.A., F.M., V.A., H.U.D., etc. |
|
2. |
All appliances shall be AGA and /or UL approved and listed and shall be
labeled as so. |
|
3. |
All regulations of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority , Local City Codes,
Local County Codes, and Rules and Regulations of the D.N.G.S. shall be followed. |
|
4. |
All installations must follow standard or acceptable installation or
construction practices . |
|
5. |
If two codes are conflicting the stricter of the two shall govern. |
|
6. |
Code
and safety violations which are found will be noted and action taken to
assure such violations is corrected. Natural gas service may be locked off or disconnected if violations are found. |
|
F. |
MISCELLANEOUS |
|
1. |
Any person or persons who are caught stealing, tampering or in any other way
damaging equipment owned or operated by the D.N.G.S. will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
When meter locks are found removed or broken, the meter will be removed and
the customer billed for any gas used and a charge of $100.00 accessed for
tampering. |
|
2. |
Any person or persons who are caught stealing gas may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. |
|
3. |
Any one preventing access to D.N.G.S. property or equipment will be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. |
|
4. |
Any exceptions or deviations from any of these rule or regulations set forth
in this document must be approved by the manager of D.N.G.S. |
|
5. |
Any person or contractor shall notify the D.N.G.S. or TENNESSEE ONE CALL
SYSTEM within 72 hours of digging, excavating, blasting or any other
activity that may damage any facility owned or operated by D.N.G.S. in accordance
with TCA 65-31 all parts. |
|
6. |
Any person or contractor who fails to notify D.N.G.S. or TENNESSEE ONE CALL
SYSTEM within 72 hours of digging, excavating, blasting or any other
activity that may damage any facility owned or operated by D.N.G.S. and does
damage a natural gas facility, may be billed for all cost of and associated
with the repairing of the damaged facility. this includes, but is not
limited to, lost natural gas, material for repair, labor, equipment and any
other items incidental to the repair. |
|
G. |
INSTALLATION PRICE SCHEDULE |
|
1. |
Labor charges shall be at the rate of pay for each employee, plus all
federal requirements and retirement at their current rate. |
|
2. |
Minimum labor charge is one hour. |
|
3. |
Trenching, if required, for customer piping is $50.00 per hour plus material
charges. The customer shall be responsible for reasonable clean up. |
|
4. |
Installation of a customers job shall be material used plus labor. |
|
H. |
MATERIAL PRICE SCHEDULE |
|
1. |
Material, parts, supplies, piping and other items are priced separately and prices are available upon request. Customer charge will be actual cost of item plus 10%. |
|
RATE SCHEDULE |
||||||||||||
|
METER DEPOSITS |
OTHER CHARGES |
|||||||||||
|
INITIAL |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Transfer | Reconnect |
Tap Fee |
Minimum Bill |
Commodity |
Late Fee |
Footage | ||
| Residential | Owner | Renter | ||||||||||
|
$25 |
$100 |
$50 / $200 |
$75 / $ 300 | $100 / $400 | $20 | 20 | $150 | $5 |
$0.0430 x B.T.U. |
10% | $2 | |
|
Small Commercial |
$50 |
$50 |
$100 | $150 | $200 | $20 | $20 | $150 | $10 |
$0.0465 x B.T.U. |
10% | $2 |
| Industrial | $100 | $100 |
$200 |
$200 |
$300 |
$400 |
$20 |
$150 |
$25 |
$0.0152 |
10% |
$2 |