HomeMy Public PortalAbout047-2022 - General - Amending Chapter 52 - Electric Utility (2) Y. p
COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHMOND, INDIANA
ORDINANCE NO. 47-2022
A GENERAL ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 52 (ELECTRIC
UTILITY) OF RICHMOND CODE
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond, Indiana owns and operates its own electric Utility,
Richmond Power&Light(RPL) under the supervision and control of the Richmond Utility
Service Board of Directors (Board)pursuant to IC § 8-1.5-3-4; and
WHEREAS, the Board passed Resolution 2-2022 recommending to the Common Council
of the City of Richmond(Council) to pass a resolution to opt out of the jurisdiction of the
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission(IURC); and
WHEREAS, the Council passed Resolution 10-2022 certifying to the Wayne County
Election Board that the following public question to the registered voters of the City of
Richmond at the next election be considered as prescribed by IC § 3-10-9-4 and IC § 8-1.5-3-
9(b) (without quotations):
"Shall the municipally owned utility be taken out of the jurisdiction of the utility
regulatory commission for the approval of rates and charges and of the issuance of
stocks,bonds,notes, or other evidence of indebtedness?" [ ] YES [] NO
WHEREAS, the Board and RPL operate a municipally owned, not-for-profit utility in a
responsible and prudent manner, resulting in rates that are lower than all other Indiana for-profit
electric companies; and
WHEREAS, the Board uses Cost of Service Studies to establish a Rate Tariff(Tariff)
based upon the cost of providing electric services to the ratepayers; and
WHEREAS, the Board passed Resolution 3-2022 that establishes criteria to be followed
for future Cost of Service Studies when determining future Tariffs if the voters of Richmond
vote to opt out of the jurisdiction of the IURC in 2022.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of
Richmond, Indiana that the findings and determinations set forth above in the recitals and
preambles to this ordinance are hereby made the findings and determinations of the City of
Richmond, Indiana, and that the amendments to Chapter 52 are enacted as follows with additions
shown:
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52.11 COST OF SERVICE STUDY CRITERIA
(a) Cost of Service Studies will be completed by a third-party consulting firm with
expertise in assessing the costs associated with and rate structures associated with
providing electrical services by municipally owned electric utilities.
(b) Programs, such as the winter assistance program from the Interlocal Community
Assistance Program(ICAP), will be honored.
(c) Guidelines established by the IURC for service disconnection due to non-payment
and reconnections will be utilized.
(d) Guidelines established by the IURC for fees assessed due to late and non-payment
will be utilized.
(e) Rate adjustments for RPL require adherence to Indiana State Law processes and
procedures, including customer protection via the requirement for nondiscriminatory,
reasonable and just charges pursuant to IC § 8-1.5-3-8, customer input at public hearings,
and rate adjustments approved by elected public officials.
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect if the voters of the City of Richmond,
Indiana,vote to opt out of the jurisdiction of the IURC in 2022.
Approved this /1 day of /4",. 22.
RICHMOND COMMON COUNCIL
ary T er, President
ATTEST-
Karen Chasteen, IAMC,MMC
PRESENTED to the Mayor y the City of Richmond, Indiana, this//day of
,2022, at /& a.m./p.m.
Karen Chasteen, IAMC, MMC
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APPROVED by me,David M. Snow, Mayor of the City of Richmond, Indiana, this/8
day of OC' V1 E(-2022, at 12.Z4a.m.0
, Mayor
' . Sw
ATTEST: C�IG�%,( • �-112Ac�
Karen Chasteen, IAMC, MMC
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