Rules & Regulations

1. Application for Service

Each prospective Customer desiring electric service may be required to sign Distributor’s standard form of application for service or contract before service is supplied by the Distributor.

2.  Deposit

Residential Customers

A deposit or suitable guarantee shall be required by any Customer before electric service is supplied. Residential deposits are based on class average and the requested amount will not exceed twice the highest monthly bill for that average. The deposit amount will be based on the following credit rating schedule:

Commercial Customers

Deposit amounts are based on prior usage in the customer’s facility.  If no history exists then it will be on the association to determine the customer’s expected usage.  An acceptable deposit amount or guarantee should not exceed twice the highest historical or projected monthly bill.

Other Matters

The Association may at its option return deposits, or a portion thereof, to customers after having established 1 year of good pay record.  All deposits paid in full and in excess of the average monthly bill held for longer than 1 year will accrue interest at the same rate as the Association’s interest bearing account.  This interest will be credited to the customer’s account at a specified date once each year.  Deposit balance, including interest earned, shall be accounted for and credited to the Customer or on the unpaid bills of the Customer upon termination of service or upon return of deposit to the customer.  The deposit balance, including accrued interest as well as the adequacy of such deposit, shall be subject to review by the Customer and Distributor.

An installment option will be available for all customers requiring a $400 deposit.  A mandatory initial deposit of $200 must be paid on the date service commences.  The remaining balance must be paid in full within the next 120 days.

Certain victims of a residential hardship, with proper documentation, may also be eligible for this installment option.  These customers would be granted a 60 day deferral on making any deposit.  The full amount of the deposit would then be due within 120 days of receiving service.

3. Point of Delivery

The point of delivery is the point, as designated by Distributor, on Customer’s premises where current is to be delivered to building or premises. All wiring and equipment beyond this point of delivery shall be provided and maintained by the Customer at no expense to the Distributor.

4. Customer’s Wiring-Standards

All wiring of Customer must conform to Distributor’s requirements and accepted modern standards, as exemplified by the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code and the National Electrical Code.

5. Inspections

Distributor shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to inspect any installation before electricity is introduced or at any later time, and reserves the right to reject any wiring or appliances not in accordance with Distributor’s standards; but such inspection or failure to inspect or reject shall not render Distributor liable or responsible for any loss or damage resulting from defects in the installation, wiring, or appliances, or from violation of Distributor’s rules, or from accidents which may occur upon Customer’s premises.

6. Underground Service Lines

Customers desiring underground service lines from Distributor’s overhead system must bear the excess cost incident thereto. Specifications and terms for such construction will be furnished by Distributor on request.

7. Customer’s Responsibility for Distributor’s Property

All meters, service connections, and other equipment furnished by Distributor shall be, and remain, the property of Distributor. Customer shall provide a space for and exercise proper care to protect the property of Distributor on its premises, and, in the event of loss or damage for same, the cost of the necessary repairs or replacements shall be paid by Customer.

8. Right of Access

Distributor’s identified employees shall have access to Customer’s premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of clearing right-of-way, mapping, reading meters, testing, repairing, removing, or exchanging any or all equipment belonging to Distributor.

9. Billing

Bill will be rendered monthly and shall be paid at the office of Distributor or at other locations designated by Distributor. Failure to receive bill will not release Customer from payment obligation. Should bills not be paid by due date specified on bill, Distributor may at any time, thereafter, upon 5 days written notice to Customer, discontinue service. Bills paid after due date specified on bill may be subject to additional charges. Such additional charges may apply to remittances received by mail after the due date. Should the bill fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the business day next following the due date will be held as a day of grace for delivery of payment. The net payment period for all customers will not be less than 15 days after the date of the bill. Distributor may establish for any class of service a late payment charge of not more than 5% for any unpaid portion of bill paid after the net payment period.

10. Discontinuance of Service by Distributor

Distributor may refuse to connect or may discontinue service for the violation of any of its Rules and Regulations, or for violation of any of the provisions of the Schedule of Rates and Charges, or of the application of Customer or contract with Customer. Distributor may discontinue service to Customer for the theft of current or the appearance of current theft devices on the premises of Customer. The discontinuance of service by Distributor for any causes as stated in the rule does not release Customer from his obligation to Distributor for the payment of minimum bills as specified in application of Customer or contract with Customer.

11. Termination of Electric Service

Customer’s electric service may not be terminated for nonpayment of a bill except after affording the affected customer due process. Reasonable prior written notice (including notice of available rights and remedies) shall be given before termination for nonpayment.

12. Connection, Reconnection, & Disconnection Charges

Distributor may establish and collect standard charges to cover the reasonable average cost, including administration, of connecting or reconnecting service, or disconnecting service as provided before. Higher charges may be established and collected when connections and reconnections are performed after normal office hours, or when special circumstances warrant.

13. Termination of Contract by Customer

Customers who have fulfilled their contract terms and wish to discontinue service must give at least 3 days’ written notice to that effect, unless contract specifies otherwise. Notice to discontinue service prior to expiration of contract term will not relieve Customer from any minimum or guaranteed payment under any contract date.

14. Service Charges for Temporary Service

Customers requiring electric service on a temporary basis may be required by Distributor to pay all costs for connection and disconnection incidental to the supplying and removing of service. This rule applies to circuses, carnivals, fairs, temporary construction, and the like.

15. Interruption of Service

Distributor will use reasonable diligence in supplying current, but shall not be liable for breach of contract in the event of, or for loss, injury, or damage to persons or property resulting from, interruptions in service, excessive or inadequate voltage, single-phasing, or otherwise unsatisfactory service, whether or not caused by negligence.

16. Shortage of Electricity

In the event of an emergency or other condition causing a shortage in the amount of electricity for Distributor to meet the demand on its system, Distributor may, by an allocation method deemed equitable by Distributor, fix the amount of electricity to be made available for use by Customer and/or may otherwise restrict the time during which Customer may make use of electricity and the uses which Customer may make of electricity. If such actions become necessary, Customer may request a variance because of unusual circumstances including matters adversely affecting the public health, safety and welfare. If Customer fails to comply with such allocation or restriction, Distributor may take such remedial actions as it deems appropriate under the circumstances including temporarily disconnecting electric service and charging additional amounts because of the excess use of electricity. The provisions of the Section entitled “Interruption of Service” of this Schedule of Rules and Regulations are applicable to any such allocation or restriction.

17. Voltage Fluctuations Caused by Customer

Electric service must not be used in such a manner as to cause unusual fluctuations or disturbances to Distributor’s system. Distributor may require Customer, at his own expense, to install suitable apparatus which will reasonably limit such fluctuations.

18. Additional Load

The service connection, transformers, meters, and equipment supplied by Distributor for each Customer have definite capacity, and no addition to the equipment or load connected thereto will be allowed except by consent of Distributor. Failure to give notice of additions or changes in load, and to obtain Distributor’s consent for same, shall render Customer liable for any damage to any of Distributor’s lines or equipment caused by the additional or changed installation.

19. Standby & Resale Service

All purchased electric service (other than emergency or standby service) used on the premises of Customer shall be supplied exclusively by Distributor, and Customer shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, sublet, assign, or otherwise dispose of the electric service or any part thereof.

20. Notice of Trouble

Customer shall notify Distributor immediately should the service be unsatisfactory for any reason, or should there be any defects, trouble, or accidents affecting the supply of electricity. Such notices, if verbal, should be confirmed in writing.

21. Non-Standard Service

Customer shall pay the cost of any special installation necessary to meet his peculiar requirements, for service at other than standard voltages, or for the supply of closer voltage regulation than required by standard practice.

22. Meter Tests

Distributor will, at its own expense, make periodical tests and inspections of its meters in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy. Distributor will make additional tests or inspections of its meters at the request of Customer. If tests made at Customer’s request show that the meter is accurate within 2%, slow or fast, no adjustment will be made in Customer’s bill, and Distributor’s standard testing charge will be paid by Customer. In case the test shows meter to be in excess of 2%, slow or fast, an adjustment shall be made in Customer’s bill over a period of not more than 30 days prior to date of such test, unless the actual date on which such error began can be accurately determined, in which case said actual date shall apply, and cost of making test shall be borne by Distributor.

23. Relocation of Outdoor Lighting Facilities

Distributor shall, at the request of Customer, relocate or change existing Distributor-owned equipment. Customer shall reimburse Distributor for such charges at actual cost including appropriate overheads.

24. Billing Adjusted to Standard Periods

The demand charges and the blocks in the energy charges set forth in the rate schedules are based on billing periods of approximately 1 month. In the case of the first billing of new accounts (temporary service excepted) and final billings of all accounts (temporary service excepted) where the period covered by the billing involves fractions of a month, the demand charges and the blocks of the energy charge will be adjusted to a basis proportionate with the period of time during which service is extended.

25. Residential Energy Services Program

Distributor, in fulfillment of the purposes and provisions of the Tennessee Valley Authority Act and as part of its electric service, may make available funds to eligible electric Customers for energy improvements identified in a survey for the Customer’s dwelling under the Residential Energy Services Program being conducted by Distributor and TVA. Eligible Customers must sign repayment agreements under which the funds made available will be repaid to the Distributor. Monthly repayment amounts due for this service will be included as part of the electric bills from Distributor. Except as otherwise agreed in the repayment agreement, the provisions of the section entitled Billing of this Schedule of Rules and Regulations shall apply to bills for the amounts made available by Distributor as part of its electric service for weatherization measures. Distributor may also make available disbursements to participants to encourage the installation and efficient use of electric appliances and devices in dwellings.

26.  Information to Consumer

Distributor will reasonably inform customers about rates and service practice policies by making such information available upon application for service, at any other time upon request, and by making current rates available for inspection on the Distributor’s website.  The distributor, upon request by customer, will provide a statement of the monthly consumption for the prior twelve months if it is reasonably ascertainable.  All retail rate actions initiated by the Distributor shall be communicated to Customers by public statement issued through print media, the distributor’s website, or through the postal service in order to make the majority of the customers in a service area aware of the change.

27. Scope

This Schedule of Rules and Regulations is a part of all contracts for receiving electric service from Distributor, and applies to all service received from Distributor, whether the service is based upon contract, agreement, signed application, or otherwise. A copy of this schedule, together with a copy of Distributor’s Schedule of Rates and Charges, shall be kept open to inspection at the offices of Distributor.

28. Revisions

These Rules and Regulations may be revised, amended, supplemented, or otherwise changed from time to time, without notice. Such changes, when effective, shall have the same force as the present Rules and Regulations.

29. Conflict

In case of conflict between any provision of any rate schedule and the Schedule of Rules and Regulations, the rate schedule shall apply.

30.  Termination of Service in Harsh Weather Conditions

Distributor may not elect to terminate customer service for nonpayment during periods of extreme weather conditions if by 8 a.m., on the scheduled disconnection day, an excessive freeze or heat warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the areas in which our customer service centers operate.  These customer service centers are located in Houston, Calhoun City, and Eupora.  Respectively their zip codes are 38851, 38916, and 39744.  No termination of service will be made until weather conditions have returned to a normal state.  To mitigate potential abuse from this policy, the Distributor will limit the number of postponements for a customer from severe weather conditions to twice in a twelve-month period.

31.  Termination of Service in Cases of Documented Medical Hardship

Customers with documented and approved medical hardships shall receive a postponement of disconnection of services for 30 days.  A postponement of disconnection is only intended for situations in which disconnection would create a life-threatening situation.  This relief is provided to allow the customer time to make the necessary payment or to find alternative shelter.  The Distributor’s Medical Hardship form will only be given out upon request of the customer, and must be approved by a licensed medical practitioner.  The distributor will only grant this postponement of termination twice within a twelve-month period.  No life-threatening medical condition will relieve a customer of the obligation to pay for previously provided electrical service.

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