HomeMy Public PortalAbout018-2015 - Adopting change to non-recurring charges from RP&LORDINANCE NO. 18-2015
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A CHANGE TO THE
NON -RECURRING CHARGES FOR SERVICES
RENDERED BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND'S
MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY, RICHMOND
POWER & LIGHT
WHEREAS, the City of Richmond, Indiana owns and operates a municipal electric utility
known as Richmond Power & Light (the "Utility") for the purpose of acquiring and distributing
electric energy in said City and surrounding areas; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (`Board") of the Utility desires to continue to
provide adequate and efficient electric service for the protection of the health, wellbeing and
property of the City of Richmond and its electric customers; and
WHEREAS, Common Council of the City of Richmond, Indiana (the "Council"), is the
legislative body for the City of Richmond, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, the Utility's current Appendix `B" lists certain non -recurring charges, but
does not includes a trip charge to cover the cost of providing this service its customers; and
WHEREAS, the Utility proposes that if a customer calls the customer service office and
makes a credit card payment while the Utility service person is at the customer's residence for a
service, including, but not limited to, a disconnect of the customer's electric utility service, that
the Utility will impose a $15.00 trip charge; and
WHEREAS, the $15.00 trip charge is a "non-discriminatory, reasonable and just" non-
recurring charge, as this trip charge would be outside the context of month -to -month rates and
charges for electric service; and
WHEREAS, this proposal, in the case of a disconnection of utility service, will save the
Utility the time and labor of pulling the meter and making a follow-up trip to reconnect service,
while saving the customer $15.00 and avoiding the interruption of services; and
WHEREAS, if the Utility service person makes a trip to a customer's residence for,
among other reasons, disconnection of the customer's utility service, or cannot access the meter,
the $15.00 trip charge will apply, as set forth in the list of Non -Recurring Charges on the
attached Appendix "B"; and
WHEREAS, the Board and Management of the Utility believe that adding a $15.00 trip
charge to the list of non -recurring charges is in the best interests of the Utility as well as its
customers; and
WHEREAS, under IC 8-1.5-3-4, the Board has the fiduciary responsibility of making
recommendations to the Common Council relative to the need for the adoption of revised electric
rates and charges; and
WHEREAS, the Board has adopted and passed Resolution 3-2015 recommending to the
Common Council that it approve by Ordinance the revised schedule of non -recurring charges set
forth in the attached Appendix `B"; and
WHEREAS, based upon the foregoing, the Common Council of the City of Richmond
now finds that the proposed $15.00 trip charge (i) is a "nondiscriminatory, reasonable and just"
charge for services within the meaning of IC 8-1.5-3-8, (ii) should be added to Appendix `B,"
(iii) approved by the Common Council by Rate Ordinance, and (iv) submitted to the Indiana
Utility Regulatory Commission ("Commission") for its approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, THAT:
Section 1. The addition of a $15.00 trip charge to the list of non -recurring charges set
forth on Appendix `B" is hereby adopted and approved as and for the charges to be utilized by
the Utility when charging customers for service, effective as set forth below.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage;
provided, however, that the addition of the $15.00 trip charge to Appendix `B" shall not become
effective unless and until approved by the Commission.
Section 3. The necessary and appropriate officials of the Utility are hereby
authorized and directed to file with the Commission, a request for approval of the $15.00 trip
charge in accordance with the above findings.
ADOPTED AND ENACTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RICHMOND, INDIANA, THIS �(_ DAY OF MARCH, 2015.
and approval by the Mayor.
ATT T:
Karen Chasteen
RICHMOND COMMON COUNCIL
wav " P. -, 0, , President
Ronald Oler, PhD
2
PRESENTED to the Mayor of the City of Richmond, Indiana, this /r? day of March,
2015, at 9:00 a.m.
Karen Chasteen
APPROVED by me, Sarah L. Hutton, Mayor of the City of Richmond, Indiana, this 2?�day of
March, 2015, at 9:05 a.m.
Mayor
Sarah L. Hutton
ATTE z
Karen Chasteen