POLICIES AND BYLAWS
Every effort is taken to ensure the policies displayed from this site are current, accurate and complete. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any information listed on this site, please contact the Lost River Electric Main Office at: (208) 588 - 3311 during normal business hours.
MEMBERSHIP POLICIES
Policy Bulletin No. 2-01
SUBJECT: Qualifications and Obligations of Members
POLICY: Article I, Section I of the Bylaws
RESPONSIBILITY: The member in question
PROCEDURE:
a. By: paying the Membership Fee as specified in the Bylaws and a Consumer Deposit as required by Board action.
b. Agreeing to purchase from the Cooperative electric energy or any other product or service offered for sale by the Cooperative as hereinafter specified in the Bylaws, Article I, Section 1.
c. Agreeing to comply with and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and any
Amendments thereto and such rules and regulations as may from time to time be adopted by the Board of Directors.
Amended by the Board of Directors on November 11, 1999.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-02
SUBJECT: Membership Fee
POLICY: The membership fee shall be $5.00, the payment of which
shall make the member eligible for one (1) service connection, providing all other requirements of the bylaws of the Cooperative have been met. No person, firm, corporation or body politic may own more than one (1) membership in the Cooperative. An individual and spouse may each become a member of the Cooperative if they so wish where they are receiving service through two or more connections. An individual and spouse may also hold one membership jointly, as provided for in said bylaws of the Cooperative.
In no case will service be made available until the membership fee has been paid. The membership is refundable upon request at termination of service, provided all amounts due the Cooperative have been paid. If there is an unpaid bill due the Cooperative the membership will be automatically applied on same.
The prospective member shall prepare and file an application for electric service and membership with the Cooperative. A representative of the Cooperative will collect the membership fee and issue receipt for same. The membership will be approved by the Board of Directors at the Regular Meeting following the date of application.
When service is terminated it is the responsibility of a representative of the Cooperative to see that all bills due the Cooperative from said member are paid before making refund of the membership.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on August 27, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-03
SUBJECT: Consumer Deposits
POLICY: In addition to the Membership Fee required by the Cooperative bylaws and Policy Bulletin No. 2-02, a consumer deposit shall be required. The amount of the consumer deposit will be determined as follows:
A consumer deposit of not less than one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) or in lieu of a deposit a letter of good standing from the most recent/past electrical power supplier, indicating a history of good credit, shall be required on each connection of the member.
If the applicant has or is receiving service from the Cooperative and has a payment history of a past due balance, a consumer deposit of not less than $150.00 shall be required for each new connection.
If the applicant has or is receiving service from the Cooperative or any other electrical utility provider and has previously been disconnected for non-payment, a consumer deposit shall be required; the amount of the consumer deposit, for any account except irrigation, will be determined by: (1) taking a monthly average of the KWH’s used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two (2), or $600.00, whichever is greater.
If a member has filed an action in bankruptcy and still requires electric service from the Cooperative, the member shall be required to make a consumer deposit determined by:
(1) taking a monthly average of the KWH’s used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two, or
(2) $600.00, whichever is greater.
If a member is an LLC, LLP, PLLC, Trust, Corporation or any other similar structured company or business entity, the amount of the consumer deposit, for any account except irrigation, will be determined by:
(1) taking a monthly average of the KWH’s used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two, or
(2) $600.00 for any service 25 KVA or less, $1,200.00 for any service between 26 KVA and 50 KVA transformer capacity, $2,500.00 for any service between 51 KVA and 100 KVA transformer capacity, $5,000 for any service between 101 and 499 KVA transformer capacity, $10,000 for any service 500 or greater KVA transformer capacity, whichever sum is greater.
If at any time, payment becomes delinquent, Lost River Electric Cooperative has the right to increase the deposit amount.
In no case shall service be made available until the required consumer deposit has been paid. At no time, as long as the service is active will the deposit be adjusted down.
All deposits are refundable upon request at termination of service, provided all amounts due the Cooperative have been paid. If there is an unpaid amount due the Cooperative, the consumer deposit shall be applied on same.
When a service is terminated it is the Cooperative’s responsibility to see that all bills due the Cooperative from said member are paid before making refund of the deposits.
Approved by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July, 2019.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-04
SUBJECT: Meter Reading and Billing
POLICY: All meters on the System, with the exception of irrigation meters, shall be read by the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) system and downloaded to the Cooperative’s NISC program for processing and billing. Non-irrigation meter readings will be downloaded on or about the 20th of every month. An estimate may be used for meters that may for whatever cause fail to emit a signal, if the Cooperative repeatedly fails to receive a signal a Cooperative employee will manually read and true up the estimated meter at least once annually. Billings on these accounts shall be computed and statements mailed to the consumers as soon after the reading date as is practicable.
All irrigation meters on the System shall be read by the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) system and downloaded to the Cooperative’s NISC program for processing and billing, during the last four working days of each month. If the Cooperative for whatever cause fails to receive a signal, a Cooperative employee will manually read the meter. Billings on these accounts shall be computed and statements mailed to the consumers as soon after the reading date as is practicable.
Billings on all meters on the System, with the exception of irrigation meters, shall be due and payable on or before the 20th day of the month following the date of the billing. Billings on irrigation meters shall be due and payable on or before the 25th day of the month following the date of the billing.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on January 1, 2024.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-05
SUBJECT: Late Payment Fee
POLICY: A late payment fee shall be charged on all delinquent accounts in accordance with the rate schedules in effect applying to the account. A 10% one-time fee or a 3% compounding fee for irrigation accounts will constitute a late payment fee. If a consumer has a balance due on his current energy bill due to misfiguring, a late payment fee will not be charged on this balance until after the consumer has been notified of such balance and given the opportunity to add it to his next month's energy bill. However, if the consumer fails to add this balance to his next month's bill, a late payment fee will be charged.
A late payment fee will not be charged on a balance of less than or equal to $10.00. When payment is not received at the main office, by the close of normal business hours on or before the 20th day of the month for all consumers except irrigation accounts or on or before the 25th day of the month for irrigation consumers, a late payment fee will be applied to the outstanding balance.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 12, 2015.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-06
SUBJECT: Connect and Disconnect Fees for Non-Irrigation Accounts
POLICY: Connection and disconnection fees will be as follows:
1. A $35.00 fee is charged to a consumer when he/she
requires an onsite visit to connect a previously disconnected service.
2. In the event that a membership is transferred to another service or a previously connected service is reconnected, and neither requires an onsite visit, by a utility employee, the fee is $15.00.
3. The connect or disconnect fee is to be paid on the consumer’s next billing cycle.
4. If the consumer disconnects service within six (6) months of the connection date, or if the consumer is being disconnected for failure to comply with a bylaw or policy, there will be a disconnect fee charged to their account. A $15.00 fee will be assessed, if the disconnection does not require an onsite visit, by a utility employee. If the visit requires an onsite visit by the employee, a fee of $35.00 is required.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 24, 2022.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-07
SUBJECT: Delinquent Accounts and Disconnection - (For Irrigation see Policy Bulletin No. 2-27)
POLICY: Payments not received at the main office by the close of normal business hours on or before the 20th day of the month for non-irrigation accounts will be considered past due and a late payment fee will be applied to the past due balance.
Lost River Electric will no longer use the payment envelope postmark date to prevent late payment fees. There will be no allowance made when the past due date falls on a weekend or holiday.
If payment is past due it is considered delinquent and is subject to disconnection.
If the account is paid in full, including an additional collection fee of $15.00, to a LREC employee or representative at the time he/she goes out to disconnect, the service will not be disconnected. In the event service is disconnected it will not be resumed until payment in full, including all past due, current and all KWH registered on the meter at the time of disconnection is paid. Acceptable arrangements for payment may be negotiable to allow for reinstatement of service. Each account will be subject to an additional $35.00 reconnect fee during regular work hours or additional labor costs if after normal business hours.
An additional deposit may also be required. (See Policy Bulletin No. 2-03)
Where a consumer has more than one meter, each service
shall be disconnected for non-payment.
Any unpaid bill for labor, and/or materials, and/or mileage shall have the same status as an unpaid electric energy bill and service may be disconnected for such non-payment.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 11, 2015.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-08
SUBJECT: Outages
POLICY: In the event of property damage or interruption of service as the result of actions of a consumer, his agent or contractor or the result of fault equipment belonging to the consumer, his agent or contractor, the Cooperative shall, at its discretion, charge the consumer for time and mileage to restore said property or service.
The employee responding to the damage or interruption of service call shall provide information relative to said damage or interruption and it shall be the responsibility of the Manager to determine the charges.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 11, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-09
SUBJECT: Minimum Bills
POLICY: The minimum bills shall comply with the rate schedules in effect at the time.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 9, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-10
SUBJECT: Retail Rates
POLICY: All members of the Cooperative shall purchase all of the electric energy used from the Cooperative in accordance with the rates in effect at the time and at the rate applicable to them.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 9, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-11
SUBJECT: Wiring
POLICY: Prior to the connection of the electric lines of the Cooperative to any new building either residential, commercial, business, or any type whatever, the building shall be properly tagged by either the owner or licensed electrician in compliance with the laws of the State of Idaho. The same shall apply on a building already receiving service from the Cooperative that would like service changed from 120 to 240 volt. Until such tag has been furnished, the lines of the Cooperative are not to be connected to said premises; provided that this rule shall not apply where temporary service is desired on a pole or temporary building during the construction of any permanent building and service is to be of a temporary nature only. In this case the consumer shall make application for a temporary tag at the Co-op office. Where any of the employees of the Cooperative or the State Inspector have notice or observe that the wiring in any building, to which electric energy is served by the Cooperative is in a condition so as to be dangerous to persons or property, such person shall immediately notify the Manager of the Cooperative of such dangerous condition. If the Manager, upon investigation determines that such dangerous condition exists, he shall at once have the service to the building where such condition exists discontinued and service shall not be restored to said premises until said building has been rewired and inspected and the certificate of the inspector showing that the wiring in said building complies with all the rules and regulations of the national Electric Code and the State of Idaho.
The wiring can be done by a licensed electrician, a member of the consumer's immediate family or the consumer himself so long as said wiring passes inspection of the State of Idaho inspector.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 9, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-12
SUBJECT: Easements for Cooperative Lines and Meter Accessibility
POLICY: The members of the Cooperative shall grant to it, an
easement over land owned by them for the transmission and distribution lines of the Cooperative without charge to the Cooperative. The members shall pay to the Cooperative a fee in the sum of $15.00 as remuneration for costs and services associated with the recording of said easement with the respective county assessor’s office
It is required of all members of Lost River Electric Cooperative that all meters are accessible for reading, maintaining, and/or replacing. Accessibility referred to for the purpose of this policy is;
1. Not inside an enclosure such as a residential dwelling, garage, shop, or any structure that requires entrance to access the meter.
2. Not in fenced areas that are locked unless a key to the lock is provided to Lost River Electric.
3. Not in areas that have vegetation around the meter in such a way that the meter is not easily accessible.
4. In general, anything that interferes with access to the meter.
If additions and/or renovations of any kind to any
structure, compromises the accessibility of the meter, it is the responsibility of the member to relocate, at their cost, the meter to a location that is accessible.
Electric service to any meter may be disconnected or terminated for noncompliance to this policy.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 28, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-13
SUBJECT: Line Extensions, Special Charges
POLICY: For construction of any extension of the Cooperative
lines where special charges will be necessary for this construction, the Cooperative will follow the procedure as recommended by the Board of Directors and the Rural Electrification Administration.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-14
SUBJECT: Applications for Electric Service
POLICY: The Cooperative shall receive an application for
electric service on the application form as follows:
Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Application for Electric Service
Full Legal Name(s):
First Middle Int. Last
Full Legal Name(s):
First Middle Int. Last
Social Security(s): Birthdate:
Social Security(s): Birthdate:
Mailing Address: Phone:
Service Address:
Email Address:
The undersigned hereby make application for Electric Service at the above address and agrees to pay for said service as measured by the Cooperative’s meter according to the rate applicable.
The applicant agrees to permit authorized agents of the Cooperative free access to the premises of the consumer for the purpose of inspection, reading, repairing, or removing property of the Cooperative.
The applicant agrees to pay the $5.00 membership and consumer deposit before service is made available, and further agrees to be put on the Ruralite magazine mailing list as a mode of communication between the Cooperative and the member.
The Cooperative shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to inspect any installation before electric service is introduced, or at any later time, and reserves the right to reject any wiring or appliances not in accordance with the Cooperative’s standards, but such inspection or failure to inspect or reject shall not be regarded as an insurance against defects in installation, wiring, or appliances and shall not render the Cooperative liable or responsible for any loss or damage, resulting from defects in the installation, wiring or appliances, or from violation of the Cooperative’s rules and regulations, or from accidents which may occur upon the customer’s premises.
The Seller shall use reasonable diligence to provide a constant and uninterrupted supply of electric power and energy, but if such supply shall fail because of (1) interruptions or reductions due to operation of devices installed for power system protection; (2) interruptions or reductions due to Acts of God, Government Authority, action of the elements, public enemy, vandalism, accident, strikes, labor trouble, and (3) temporary interruption or reductions which , in the opinion of the Seller, are necessary or desirable for the purposes of maintenance, repairs, replacements, installation of equipment or investigation or inspection; or for any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Seller, the Seller shall not be liable therefore, or for damages caused thereby.
The applicant agrees that this application is subject to the Cooperative’s Rules and Regulations, and that these rules and regulations are a part of the agreement.
Date: Signature:
Applicant
LOST RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
Signature:
LOST RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 28, 2020.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-15
SUBJECT: Meter Testing
POLICY: All new meters and meters in service shall be checked for accuracy when deemed necessary by the Cooperative. Any consumer's meter shall be tested upon request and payment of a deposit in an amount estimated to be the Cooperative's cost of testing said meter. After the test has been made and if the meter is found to be not more than two percent (2%) slow or two percent (2%) fast, the consumer shall forfeit the deposit as a service charge. If the meter is more than two percent (2%) slow or two percent (2%) fast, an adjustment shall be made in the consumer's energy billings for a period of sixty (60) days, a new meter shall be installed if necessary and the consumer's test deposit shall be refunded.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-16
SUBJECT: Inspection of Wiring
POLICY: The State of Idaho and Cooperative rules and
regulations shall be rigidly enforced with reference to inspection of electric wiring. (See Policy Bulletin No. 2-11.)
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-17
SUBJECT: Resale of Power by Consumers
POLICY: The Cooperative shall not permit the resale of
electricity by its members or consumers to other consumers.
Reviewed without change by the Board of Directors April 2, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-18
SUBJECT: Meter Installation After Regular Work Hours
POLICY: No meters shall be installed or reinstalled after
working hours, unless in the judgement of the Manager, there exists extenuating circumstances that will justify the additional expense.
In the event the Manager allows an installation or reinstallation of a meter at any time other than regular working hours, the consumer shall be billed for all overtime charged to the meter installation or reinstallation.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-19
SUBJECT: Checks (Non-Sufficient Fund)
POLICY: In the event the Cooperative receives a notice from the bank that the member check has been deemed uncollectible and returned to the Cooperative, thereby resulting in the member’s account being unpaid, the Cooperative will assess a Return Check Charge of $20.00 per occurrence.
Further, when a Non-Sufficient Fund check is received by Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc., inasmuch as paying monies by check is a privilege and not a right, a check not being legal tender, the Cooperative at their discretion shall have the privilege of demanding other forms of payment for monies due.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 11, 2015.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-20
SUBJECT: Temporary Service
POLICY: Connection Costs. Where it is necessary for the
Cooperative in order to supply service hereunder to extend lines, install transformers, install meter loops, make enlargements of any part of its system or do other work, the customer shall pay in advance the estimated cost of such work including installing and removing such facilities.
This policy was reviewed without change September 23, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-21
SUBJECT: Overpayment - Underpayment, Electric Energy Bills
POLICY: In the event a consumer overpays or underpays on his
monthly electric energy account in an amount not to exceed fifty cents ($.50), the bill shall be adjusted to agree with the payments. However, should it be noted that consumer underpays on his account consistently, he will be notified and ordered to pay exactly what the bill should have been.
This policy was review and abandoned August 8, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-22
SUBJECT: Service to Mobile Home
POLICY: For the purpose of this policy, a mobile home shall
mean a structure, built in one or more sections on a steel chassis, which is originally designed to allow for transporting on its own wheels to different sites, and is used with or without a permanent foundation.
When service is requested for a mobile home, at a site not presently being served under a current Agreement for Electric Service (contract), or when an existing service must be changed or upgraded in any manner, it shall be necessary for the consumer requesting such service to pay a $5.00 membership and $10.00 consumer deposit, all of which is refundable at termination of service, provided the consumer is in good standing with the Cooperative and has fulfilled the terms of the contract as required which is explained in this policy.
In addition to the foregoing requirements, it will be necessary that the consumer sign a contract with the Cooperative for not less than one (1) year and pay not less than one (1) year's minimum in advance. This is in addition to the membership and consumer deposit.
One twelfth (1/12) of the year's minimum paid in advance, will be credited monthly to the consumer's account. Should the consumer's service be terminated prior to the fulfillment of the contract, the balance of the advance payment will be applied on the account each month until the contract period has been completed.
In the event the consumer requires service at a location which necessitates more than the setting of a meter pole and the running of services to that pole, the term of the contract and the advance payment required will be increased to correspond with the additional investment involved.
The requirement of payment of not less than one (1) year's minimum in advance shall be waived upon presentation to the Cooperative of a copy of a duly recorded affidavit to the county assessor which places the mobile home on the county tax rolls as real property.
If the consumer's current energy bill is not paid by the 20th day of the month following the date it is due,
he is automatically subject to disconnect in accordance with Policy Bulletin No. 2-07 and no amounts will be refundable to him until all amounts due the Cooperative to fulfill the contract have been paid.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July 18, 1990.
This policy was reviewed and abandoned April 10, 2014.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-23
SUBJECT: Line Extension Policy / Yearly Guarantee
POLICY: Lost River Electric shall provide electric service to
all member-applicants under the following conditions:
When a member or potential member applies for electric service, the cost of providing that service will be estimated and the applicant shall sign an "Agreement for Service" which will require a yearly guarantee of 20% of the estimated cost of construction or a yearly guarantee based on the transformer capacity required, for the service, whichever is greater.
Beginning January 1, 2017, all non-irrigation accounts will be required to have on file at the Lost River Electric Cooperative’s main office, a signed Agreement for Service contract with a stipulated yearly guarantee.
This yearly guarantee shall be for the life of the contract and thereafter as long as service is required at that location. However, should facilities constructed for a specific yearly guarantee be later used in whole or in part to provide service to additional customers, the original cost of construction shall be pro-rated and the original guarantee reduced, but in no event shall the yearly guarantee be reduced to a figure less than minimums or guarantees required by the applicable rate for that particular type of service.
The yearly guarantee, if based on transformer capacity required, shall escalate with general rate adjustments.
In the event the applicant feels the required guarantee is greater than he can use on an annual basis at the present time or anytime in the future, he may, at his option, elect to make a contribution in aid of construction. The amount of the contribution would be deducted from the cost of construction and the yearly guarantee would be computed on the new balance.
In the event the applicant elects to not buy down the construction costs up front, the original buy down costs will be multiplied by 10%, thus resulting in a new buy down amount that may be paid down over time as per the following.
1. If the member does not meet the yearly guarantee in annual energy costs the balance that they are billed in excess of their transformer capacity is applied to the new buy down amount. This excess is applied annually. Over time, after the member has paid off the buy down amount plus the 10%, their yearly guarantee will be reduced to transformer capacity.
2. If the member should elect to buy down the yearly guarantee at a later date, the amount they have paid in excess of their annual energy costs, over time, will be deducted from the balance of the total buy down amount.
If the cost of construction will be, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, excessive, the applicant shall be required to make a contribution in aid of construction. Such contributions shall be set by the Board of Directors and shall reduce the yearly guarantee in the same manner as a voluntary contribution would.
All yearly guarantees specified in an "Agreement" may be met by:
1. the normal minimums
2. demand charges
3. energy charges specified in the "Agreement" and the applicable rate schedule
However, should these normal minimums, demand charges and energy charges be less than the yearly guarantee required by the "Agreement", the difference would be due and payable no later than January 10th each year.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on November 4, 2015.
This policy reviewed by the Board of Directors on June, 24, 2022. This policy only applies to any members who currently have or had a documented construction project completed or in process prior to June 27, 2022.
This policy amended by the Board of Directors on July 22, 2022 to reduce existing contracts based on cost of construction procedure Reduction Schedule Sheet/z:Forms.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-24
SUBJECT: Damage to Co-op Property
POLICY: The consumer is responsible and must pay for any Co-op
property such as meters, meter glasses, services, etc. that are broken or damaged by the consumer.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-25
SUBJECT: Irrigation Season / Related Charges
POLICY: The normal irrigation pumping season shall be from April 1 to October 20, inclusive. Should a consumer desire service from October 21 through October 31, a charge of $50.00 will be made for each installation left on. This charge will be made to defray the cost of disconnection after the regular route has been finished. In the event the consumer desires to use the ‘irrigation pump’ and /or pivot prior to April 1 or after October 31, it will be necessary to pay $5.00 per connected horsepower for each month service is provided. The current irrigation rate for each KWH used will also be charged. In the event the consumer desires to utilize the service for the purpose of anything other than operating an electric motor or motors to propel system(s) which provide water, see Policy 2-40.
When a new pump installation is completed after October 20, the monthly billing period for the new installation shall commence at the beginning of the next irrigation season. If prior to October 20, the year’s first Yearly Minimum Charge shall be prorated on the basis of the number of months service was made available.
This charge shall be prorated to the nearest dollar on a full month basis. A consumer to whom service is made available during any time in the month shall be considered as having received service for that full month in determining the yearly minimum charge for the initial irrigation season.
In the event service is required to move a ‘pivot only’ and no requirements to operate the irrigation pump, consumers may call the main office during normal business hours and schedule an appointment to have the power turned on. Power will be provided for 24 hours and a charge of $100.00 plus the current irrigation rate for each KWH used will be charged.
IMPORTANT
For clarification and understanding:
If an irrigation pump system is utilized for any period of time prior to April 1 or after October 31, said pump shall be billed as follows:
The irrigator will be charged $5.00 per connected horsepower for each pump plus KWH used, for each month energized during this time period. This charge will be billed regardless of the duration the pump was energized.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 27, 2019.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-26
SUBJECT: Trouble Calls - Consumer's Side of Meter
POLICY: The Cooperative shall, when called upon, take care of
minor repairs and replacements on the Consumer's side of the meter.
There shall be a minimum charge of $30.00 plus material for this service. The minimum charge shall cover the first hour on the job and the consumer shall be billed at the rate of $30.00 per hour after the first hour. In the event the trouble call necessitates overtime, the rate of $45.00 per hour shall apply.
The above charges cover the service of one man. In the event the services of more than one man is required, the hourly rate shall apply to each man's time. In no event shall less than two men answer an overtime trouble call. In this case, the consumer will be billed for the time of all men involved.
Reviewed and abandoned by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 10, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-27
SUBJECT: Payment of Irrigation Pumping Accounts and Late Payment Fees
POLICY: Prior to the connection of any irrigation installation, the horsepower charge must be paid in full on that installation. All delinquent amounts on all of the consumer's accounts must also be paid in full before service is connected.
Installations not paid by the due date are subject to late payment fees.
Late payment fees will be computed as follows:
The delinquent account will be subject to a three percent (3%) late payment fee, compounding in each month until paid in full.
If, during the current irrigation season, an amount of $100.00 or more, due for energy and/or late payment fee(s) on any account, is not paid on or before the second due date following the date of the bill, that account shall be placed in an Advanced status. Five (5) business days prior to being placed in advanced status Lost River Electric shall call the property owner, account holder and or lessee(s) as final notice of pending advance status. An annual advance payment, based on the average energy billing for the last three years the pump was operated, shall be required for the next three (3) irrigation seasons. The advance payment shall be in the form of a letter of credit from a lending institution or in cash.
If a new owner acquires a delinquent irrigation account there is no obligation for prepayment for power. However, prior to connecting the irrigation pump all other accounts, as well as any arrears on the newly purchased installation, belonging to the new owner must be in good standing.
In the event an amount of $100.00 or more, due from energy and/or late payment fee(s) on any account not secured by an agreement for service to irrigation which constitutes
a valid lien or provides for the filing of a lien against the property on which the irrigation installation sits and the property on which the water is to be used, is not paid on or before the last day of the year in which it becomes due, in addition to the advance payment required, it shall be necessary for the owner of said installation to execute a new agreement which does constitute a valid lien or provides for the filing of such a lien. This new agreement shall be for a period of one year and thereafter from year to year until terminated by either party giving the other three months' notice in writing.
If a consumer is involved in a partnership in an irrigation pumping account, a delinquent amount on that account shall be considered as a joint and several obligation of each partner, with the total account considered as being due from each partner individually, regardless of what amounts have been paid by which partner and the total amount must be paid in full prior to the connection of service to any of the partner's, individual's or partnership's pumping installations.
In the event a consumer terminates an Agreement for Electric Service to Irrigation Pump, and a previous year's balance is due on the account that has been terminated, the consumer shall be asked to provide the Cooperative with a payment schedule which will clear the balance due prior to October 31 of the year of termination. In the event the consumer will not provide a payment schedule or does not adhere to the schedule which he does provide, the Cooperative shall proceed with legal action to collect all amounts due on the account, and service will not again be extended to those premises until said account or accounts are paid in full.
In the event an irrigation pumping account has become delinquent, the Cooperative may proceed with all legal remedies available to it for the collection of all amounts due on the account.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 24, 2019.
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Randy R. Purser, President
Policy Bulletin No. 2-28
SUBJECT: Cutting, Trimming and Controlling Growth of Trees
POLICY: The members and other property owners have granted to the Cooperative the right to cut, trim and control the growth by chemical means, of all trees and shrubbery to the extent necessary to keep them clear of the electric system, and to cut all dead, weak, leaning or dangerous trees that are tall enough to strike the electric system in falling. However, in order to assure the continuing good will of the members and other property owners, the Cooperative shall refrain from cutting or trimming any ornamental tree near a residence without the expressed consent of the owner, and shall refrain from cutting any tree regardless of location, without the expressed consent of the owner, and shall perform the minimum amount of trimming necessary to keep the electric line and system clear. Trimming which will drastically alter the appearance of the tree or shrub shall be discussed with the owner and shall receive his consent.
In the event the required clearing of right-of-way cannot be performed because of the owner's refusal to have the required cutting, trimming or controlling performed, the property owner shall be asked to sign an agreement which will hold the Cooperative harmless and shall indemnify the Cooperative in any action resulting from our not performing the required clearing of right-of-way.
In the event the agreement cannot be executed by the property owner, a Conditions Needing Attention Report shall be prepared by the person assessing the right-of-way obstructions and said report shall be submitted to the Cooperative Manager who will obtain the agreement or will report the matter to the Board of Directors who will make final determination in the matter.
Trimming or cutting of trees or shrubbery which does not pose a hazard to the electric system shall be prohibited.
All debris from any cutting or trimming shall be removed by the Cooperative unless prior arrangements have been agreed upon by the Cooperative and the owner.
Application of chemical for controlling growth of trees
and shrubs must receive prior approval of the owner.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-28 P.2
Any deviation from the above policy, except during an extreme emergency or outage, must receive prior approval of the Manager.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July 12, 2012.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-29
SUBJECT: Vandalism - Destruction of Co-op Property
POLICY: A $1,500.00 reward will be paid to or among the person
or persons who will cause to be apprehended and convicted, any person or persons who maliciously injures or destroys any real or personal property belonging to the Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-30
SUBJECT: Civil Rights, Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
POLICY: Pursuant to Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, as it is established policy that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status, be excluded from participation in, admission or excess to, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination by the Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
The Cooperative will comply fully with all requirements imposed by, or pursuant to, the acts mentioned above and the rules and regulations of the Rural Utilities Service.
The Cooperative is to be known as an equal opportunity employer.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 11, 2000.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-31
SUBJECT: Continuity of Service
POLICY: The Cooperative shall use reasonable diligence to
provide a constant and uninterrupted supply of electric power and energy, but if such supply shall fail because of (1) interruptions or reductions due to operation of devices installed for power system protections; (2) interruptions or reductions due to Acts of God, Governmental Authority, actions of the elements, public enemy, vandalism, accident, strikes, labor trouble; and (3) temporary interruption or reduction which, in the opinion of the Cooperative, are necessary or desirable for the purposes of maintenance, repairs, replacements, installation of equipment or investigation or inspection; or for any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Cooperative, the Cooperative shall not be liable therefor, or for damages caused thereby.
This policy applies to all consumers of the Cooperative without exception.
Reviewed by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 12, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32
SUBJECT: Curtailment of Electrical Consumption
POLICY: This policy establishes the steps that the Cooperative
will adopt and follow in the event of certain emergencies necessitating curtailment of delivery of electrical energy to some or all of the members of the Cooperative. The emergencies covered by this plan are those resulting from regional energy or capacity deficiencies, and those resulting from equipment failure or other casualties on the system of the Cooperative, beyond the reasonable control of the Cooperative, or on or affecting the system of any supplier of energy to the Cooperative.
I. DEFINITIONS. As used in this policy the following definitions apply:
1. "Major Use Member" is a member who used 10,000 KWH or more in any billing month within the base period, or who is estimated
to use 10,000 KWH (without curtailment) in any billing month during a curtailment period for purposes other than irrigation.
2. "Base Period" is a 12 month period preceding
a curtailment period, and shall be designated by the Cooperative for each curtailment period.
3. For each member, the "billing month" is based
on the billing period for which his respective billing is computed.
4. "Base Period Month Energy" is the KWH use
indicated or estimated in a given billing month in the base period for the purpose of this plan.
II. CURTAILMENTS REQUIRED BY REGIONAL DEFICIENCIES OF ENERGY OR CAPACITY.
1. To the extent permitted by the operating
characteristics of the Cooperative's system, curtailments will be effected in the sequence stated below, but the Cooperative in its sole judgment may vary from said sequence in order to protect system performance, integrity, reliability or stability.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.2
2. Any curtailment action by the Cooperative on
account of regional deficiencies will be in coordination with other utility systems in the region as far as possible.
3. Curtailment steps will normally begin with
voluntary curtailment, and if necessary, will be followed by non-voluntary curtailment.
VOLUNTARY CURTAILMENT
4. Upon declaration of an emergency and order
for curtailment issued by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, or upon receiving a notice or directive from the Bonneville Power Administrator, or from other authorized state or federal officials or agencies, or when the Cooperative's Board of Directors so determines, the Cooperative will take the following steps to initiate voluntary curtailment:
a. Initiate curtailment of all non-
essential uses of the Cooperative system itself.
b. Inform the public of the emergency
through the news media and request that all members voluntarily curtail all non-essential uses.
c. Request curtailment of non-essential
uses by governmental agencies and institutions at all levels.
d. Request voluntary curtailment of non-
essential use in all commercial buildings.
e. Direct specific requests to all major
use members for voluntary curtailment of non-essential use.
f. Encourage operation of any member-owned
generating equipment located in the Cooperative's service area and not then being operated, for operation in parallel with the Cooperative's system, subject to the availability of fuel.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.3
g. If additional voluntary curtailment is
required, intensify public appeals to members through media and direct contacts, with notice that non-voluntary curtailment is imminent and will be invoked if voluntary curtailment is not increased.
NON-VOLUNTARY CURTAILMENT
5. Upon declaration of an emergency and
order for non-voluntary curtailment by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission under the provisions of Idaho Code 61-531 et. seq., or if the Cooperative is ordered to curtail by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to notification of the Bonneville Power Administrator based on forecasted deficiencies in energy or capacity and the Pacific Northwest Power Pool Area, the Cooperative will implement non-voluntary curtailment procedures herein set forth.
6. Upon issuance of the curtailment order
by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the Board of Directors of the Cooperative will determine and announce the beginning date of such curtailment and the required curtailment percentage of the base period energy, together with specific methods of achieving the required curtailment among members.
7. The Cooperative shall give its members
advance notice of the curtailment, which notice shall contain the beginning date of non-voluntary curtailment and a summary of the methods of achieving the required curtailment percentage. Such notice shall be published in the newspaper or newspapers of general circulation within the Cooperative's service area for at least four consecutive weeks prior to the beginning date of non-voluntary curtailment, unless emergency circumstances necessitate shorter or different notice.
8. In addition to the foregoing, the
cooperative may give further consideration to operational procedures, including voltage reduction and interruption of service as
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.4
necessary to maintain integrity of service.
To the extent practicable, public notice will be given through the news media before any such operational procedures are implemented.
9. a. In all cases, the Cooperative will
determine each member's base period month energy or respective billing period based upon historical energy records of the member and similar members' usage, which shall be the primary source of such determination, and the Cooperative may also give consideration, among other matters, to any or all of the following: (i) installed increases in load; (ii) changes in the member's operations or, in the case of residential members, in the member's living arrangements; (iii) any involuntary or non-voluntary curtailment made during the base period; (iv) changes in the member's billing month; and (v) significant differences in weather conditions. The base period month energy thus determined by the cooperative shall be conclusively presumed to be accurate unless the member, prior to initiation of non-voluntary curtailment, documents to the cooperative in writing changes in the member's facilities or operations, or living arrangements, with a brief written description of each change. Representatives of the Cooperative shall have the right to inspect the member's facility and operating schedules and living arrangements to verify all such changes, and the Cooperative shall have the sole discretion to either accept or reject the proposed changes in the base period month energy.
b. New members who do not have an historical base period will have a base period month energy or respective billing period established after consideration of the above factors and of similar determination for comparable members.
c. If the Cooperative and the member cannot agree on the base period month energy for one or more billing periods, the member
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.5
shall have the right to request a hearing before the Board of Directors of the Cooperative. Such request shall be in writing and shall state the specific reasons why the member believes that the base period month energy determined by the Cooperative is in error. Pending said hearing, the determination of the disputed base period month energy or respective period by the Cooperative shall control. The decision reached by the Cooperative Board of Directors following such hearing shall be final.
d. Non-voluntary curtailment shall apply equally to all classes of the Cooperative's members, and regardless of
the size of each member's load; provided that unless the Board of Directors of
the Cooperative determines to the contrary, differing percentages of curtailment may apply to essential uses of energy, including but not limited to those uses deemed essential and listed on Exhibit "A" attached hereto.
10. Any member who considers that non-voluntary curtailment in accordance with this plan imposes an unusual, unique and excessive hardship upon him may apply to the Board of Directors of the Cooperative for a variance from the curtailment plan, stating in writing his reasons for application. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may grant a hearing on said application for variance, and the decision of the Board taken upon said application shall be final.
11. After the commencement of the non-
voluntary curtailment, the Cooperative may monitor the use of energy by each major use member. The Cooperative may also monitor the use of energy by members other than major use members, by conducting a random sample selection of member accounts.
12. If the Cooperative finds that a member has not complied with the required curtailment, it will give the member written notice of such non-compliance together with a notice of intention to disconnect pursuant to
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.6
the Cooperative policy and procedures then in effect for termination of a member's service. The member shall have such rights to a hearing before the Cooperative as are provided in the Cooperative policies and procedures for such termination.
13. Should voluntary curtailment of the
entire system reach a determinable level, the Cooperative may, if practicable, institute operational procedures within the system, such as reduction of system voltage if possible, to reach the desired curtailment level.
14. The Cooperative will make an appropriate
announcement when curtailment may be terminated.
III. CURTAILMENTS REQUIRED BY EQUIPMENT FAILURES
OR OTHER CASUALTIES ON THE SYSTEM OF THE COOPERATIVE OR ITS SUPPLIERS.
1. During the duration of an order for
curtailment by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, emergencies caused by equipment failures or other casualties on the Cooperative's own system, beyond the Cooperative's reasonable control, or on or affecting the system of any supplier of energy to the Cooperative, may require the Cooperative to implement a curtailment program on all its system, or in a designated portion thereof.
2. Whenever possible, the Cooperative's
Board of Directors will determine whether a system failure curtailment program is needed, the extent and amount of the necessary curtailment, beginning date thereof, and whether non-voluntary curtailment is necessary while such order to curtail is in effect.
3. Curtailments required by equipment
failures, system casualties, causes beyond control, or failure of supply will follow the procedures hereinabove set forth for voluntary or non-voluntary curtailment, provided that an order for curtailment from the Idaho Public
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.7
Utilities Commission is outstanding and in effect.
IV. NON-LIABILITY. The Cooperative, its Board of
Directors, Manager, employees, representatives and agents shall not be liable to its consumers or members or any other person, association, partnership, or corporation for any interruption, suspension, curtailment, termination, denial, or fluctuation in service or for any injury, loss or damage caused by any action taken by the Cooperative, its Board of Directors, Manager, employees, representatives and agents as a result of (a) this curtailment plan or any amendments thereto filed with and approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission or the implementation or enforcement thereof, (b) actions taken pursuant to an order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission or by reason of curtailment of electric service pursuant to any order for curtailment or the curtailment
plan of the Cooperative on file with and approved by the Commission, or (c) inability of the Cooperative or any supplier or transferor of electric energy to the Cooperative to furnish adequate or sufficient supplies of electric power by reason of the emergency declared to exist by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Under Idaho Code 61-531 et.seq. or the inability to obtain an order from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission which allows adequate time to construct necessary generating and transmission facilities.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-33
SUBJECT: Use of Cooperative Personnel and Equipment for Activity
Unrelated to the Transmission or Distribution of Electric Energy
POLICY: The Cooperative shall, when called upon to do so and at
the discretion of the Manager, provide the personnel and equipment necessary to accomplish certain activities which are not related to its primary function of transmission and distribution of electric energy to its members.
Such use of Cooperative personnel and equipment is strictly prohibited without the expressed consent of the Manager.
The Manager or Operations Manager shall determine the number of persons assigned to perform said work.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 8, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-34
SUBJECT: Correction of Electrical Hazards Created by Customers or the General Public.
POLICY: The basic objective of the Lost River Electric
Cooperative, Inc. is to meet its responsibilities as a public utility in a manner which will prevent property damage and personal injury. The prevention of accidents is desirable and possible and is the responsibility of each person in the employ of the Cooperative.
In the event any employee perceives a condition that will, in their opinion, present a safety hazard to the general public or to the employees of the Cooperative, it shall be that employee's responsibility to prepare a "CONDITIONS NEEDING ATTENTION REPORT" and present that "Report" to the Operations Superintendent, the Office Manager or the Manager of the Cooperative as soon as possible. The hazard should be discussed with the person to whom the report is given.
As soon as possible after a "Report" is made, the person or persons responsible for creating the hazard shall be contacted by telephone or in person for the purpose of discussing the matter with them. A solution and a time schedule for clearing the hazard shall be agreed on at that time and that solution and time schedule shall be noted on the "Report" and presented to the Manager. The Manager shall prepare and mail a letter to the customer which will confirm the agreement and the schedule.
In the event the customer shall not agree to a solution or a time schedule or shall not adhere to the solution and schedule agreed on, the matter shall be presented to the Board of Directors, accompanied by recommendations from the staff on what steps by the Cooperative are needed to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. The Board shall assess the matter, the recommendations and the resulting conclusion and, if appropriate, shall direct the staff to proceed with the action and render billings for the associated costs to the customer.
The customer shall be advised in writing by certified mail of the Board action and shall be given a specific date to remove the hazard or arrange with the Cooperative to have the hazard removed. The customer shall be advised that if he does not agree with the action of the Board, he should, within ten (10) days, indicate his desire to meet with the Board at its next scheduled meeting to present his position on the matter.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-34 P.2
If this is not done and if, after the date specified in the letter, the hazard still exists, the Cooperative shall take the appropriate action as specified in the letter and the customer shall be billed for the associated costs. Unpaid charges shall
subject all of the customer's accounts to disconnection under Policy Bulletin No. 2-07.
In the case of an extreme emergency when time does not allow for the foregoing procedure because of critically hazardous conditions, the Manager or the Operations Superintendent may authorize the removal of the hazard at once, or de-energize, or terminate the service. Should this become necessary, the Board of Directors shall review the action of the Manager or Operations Superintendent and shall determine the appropriate action at that time.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on February 11, 1993.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-35
SUBJECT: Weatherization Program
POLICY: Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. shall participate
in the Bonneville Power Administration Long Term Energy Conservation Program and shall provide energy audits to all customers with electric heat installed in permanent housing who receive electric service from the Cooperative. Mobile homes do not qualify as permanent housing under this policy.
The Cooperative shall perform an energy audit on those residences that qualify after the necessary applications and agreements have been made by and with the customers and shall bill the customer $200.00 for the audit. This bill will be rendered on the 20th day of the month after the audit is completed and an additional charge will be added to the cost of the audit at the rate of 1% of the amount unpaid on the last day of the second month following the date of the bill and a like charge of 1% of the amount unpaid shall be added to the cost of the audit on the last day of each subsequent month.
Reimbursement for the cost of the audit and any interest charged will be made when recommended measures are installed as specified and the Cooperative has received reimbursement from Bonneville Power Administration. A decision not to install any measures will void any reimbursement for the audit.
In the event the customer's actions or inactions preclude reimbursement for the audit by Bonneville Power Administration, the amount due for the cost of the audit plus accrued interest, shall become due and payable on thirty days' notice. Non-payment of these costs shall subject the customer to disconnection of their electric service under Policy Bulletin No. 2-07.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-36
SUBJECT: Bankruptcy
POLICY: Upon receipt of a notice of a bankruptcy petition, a meter reading must be obtained at once. Using that reading and the previous readings on the account, either estimated or actual, a meter reading is determined for the date of filing and the account is billed to that date. Any membership deposit, consumer deposit or separate connect deposits on file with the Cooperative, in the name of the petitioner, and any prepayments on the account are then applied against the final billing and the final billing and any offsets are listed on the Proof of Claim and submitted to the Cooperative Attorney, for submission to the Bankruptcy Court.
In the event the petitioner requires electric service after the date of filing, a new account must be set up for the customer, a completely new account number assigned and a new membership deposit and a consumer deposit billed. The amount of the consumer deposit, for all accounts except irrigation, is determined by taking a monthly average of the KWH's used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two. These deposits are billed to the customer by a letter sent by certified mail as soon after the notice of filing has been received as is practicable. The letter shall allow ten days for the payment of the deposits or the receipt of adequate assurance the deposits shall be paid. In the event said payment or adequate assurance is not received, service shall be disconnected on the eleventh day or the first working day thereafter, following the date of the letter.
In the event there is a prepayment on the account which is in excess of the amount needed to clear the amount owing on the account, the balance of said prepayment shall be placed on the new account and shall be used in the same manner as was originally intended for said prepayment.
In the event the petitioner requires electric service to an irrigation installation or a large power installation, after the date of filing, the Cooperative shall require, in addition to the normal yearly guarantee of horsepower charge, a new deposit in the amount of the existing deposit and a letter of credit
Policy Bulletin No. 2-36 P.2
from a financing institution or a prepayment in an amount equal to the average energy billing for the last three years the installation was operated. This letter of credit or prepayment is requested until such time as the proceedings in bankruptcy are completed.
The new account shall be dealt with in strict compliance with Policy Bulletin No. 2-07 – Delinquent Accounts and Disconnection.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 14, 2001.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-37
SUBJECT: Inspection of Cooperative Records
POLICY: The Board of Directors of Lost River Electric
Cooperative, Inc. recognizes the right of each member of the Cooperative to obtain information relative to the operation of the Cooperative.
Idaho Code 30-319 (Non Profit Corporation Act) provides that "All books and records of a corporation may be inspected by any member, or his agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time".
Idaho Code 30-1-52 (Business Corporation Act) provides that "Any person who shall have been a holder of record of shares...at least six (6) months immediately preceding his demand...upon written demand stating the purpose thereof, shall have the right to examine, in person, or by agent or attorney, at any reasonable time or times, for any proper purpose its relevant books and records".
To facilitate the Cooperative's compliance with these provisions of the law the member making the request or his agent shall be asked to attend a regular meeting of the Board of Directors and identify in writing, on a Board approved form provided for that purpose, those records he wishes to examine and the purpose for which the examination is requested.
After a review of the request, the Board of Directors shall determine whether the request is for a proper purpose as provided for by relevant law and, if it is, shall instruct the Cooperative staff to provide the records requested at a time mutually agreed upon by the member and the Board. Such time shall be during regular business hours of the Cooperative. A Cooperative employee or representative shall be present during such inspection and the member requesting the inspection shall be responsible for the actual expenses of the employee to be present during the same. If copies are requested, the Cooperative shall make the copies and shall charge the member the usual fee for such service. Any cost, expense or time spent by the Cooperative for the research of the Cooperative records for a member, will be charged at the actual cost to the Cooperative. The member will be informed as to the hourly rates, etc., that the Cooperative shall charge for the services requested. All costs must be paid at the time of the inspection.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on November 10, 1988.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-38
SUBJECT: Alternative Method for Determining Horsepower Rating of Irrigation Installations.
POLICY: Rate Schedule I requires the horsepower rating of an
irrigation installation be determined by the nameplate of the motor or motors of the installation.
Because a motor may be undersized or oversized, an optional method for determining horsepower shall be available to anyone wishing to choose the alternative. Initially, the horsepower charge, based on the nameplate rating of the unit, and any other amounts due the Cooperative at the time of connection must be paid. The meter will be read by the Cooperative on a monthly basis and after the final reading of the season, the maximum demand used at any time during the season shall be used to determine the maximum horsepower that the unit used. The horsepower charge for the season will then be recomputed, using that maximum horsepower and the consumer shall be credited or billed for any difference in the original horsepower charge. The computed horsepower shall also be used to compute initial horsepower charge for the next irrigation season.
The selection of the alternate method of computation of horsepower shall be binding and, once selected, will be the only computation of horsepower allowed on that installation.
In the event the installation is not used for a season after the alternate method of computation is chosen, the yearly minimum required by the "Agreement for Service to Irrigation" or the horsepower charge required by Schedule I, based on the maximum demand from the last year of operation, whichever is greater, shall be due and payable prior to the last due date following October 20 of that irrigation season.
An application for the alternate method of determination must be signed by the consumer at least three (3) days prior to the date service is required and shall be irrevocable for the life of the irrigation installation.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 10, 2003.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-39
SUBJECT: Test Service for Irrigation Installations
POLICY: In the event service is required to an irrigation
installation which was previously served with electricity and the Agreement for Service has been terminated, for the purpose of testing only, the Cooperative shall make said service available for a period not to exceed two hours during a non-peaking period at the Cooperative's discretion.
The owner of the facility shall make a written request for said service, shall pay all past due amounts owed to the Cooperative, shall prepay the Cooperative's estimated costs of providing said service, plus a charge of $1.00 per horsepower based on the nameplate of the motors which will be energized and shall pay for any KWH consumed at the current Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. KWH rate under Schedule I.
Should service be required for longer than a two hour period, the procedure for line extensions under Policy Bulletin No. 2-23 shall be applicable.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. February 26, 1990.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-40
SUBJECT: Alternative Use of an Irrigation Service Installation – Utilization of the irrigation service for the purpose of anything other than operating an electric motor or motors to propel system(s) which provide water.
POLICY: Electric energy delivered by Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. to a member under the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement for Electric Service - Irrigation shall be used solely for the purpose of operating an electric motor or motors to propel systems which provide water for irrigation.
Use of the electric energy for any other purpose cannot be delivered under the Cooperative's Rate Schedule I - Irrigation Service, but shall be delivered under Rate Schedule C-1 – Rural Farm Service, if the service(s) require 50 KW or less and under the Rate Schedule LP- Large Power Service, if the service requires 51 KW or more.
Any member wishing to utilize a unit, contracted for as an irrigation installation, for any other purpose, shall give the Cooperative at least three days notice in writing of their intentions. The Cooperative shall read the meter on the next working day following the receipt of the written notice and shall transfer the installation from an irrigation service to a Schedule C-1 – Rural Farm Service, if the service(s) require 50 KW or less and under the Rate Schedule LP- Large Power Service, if the service requires 51 KW or more.
This change of designation shall remain in effect until the member advises the Cooperative in writing the alternative use has been discontinued and another meter reading has been obtained or until the beginning of a new annual irrigation season. A charge of $15.00 shall be made for this transfer.
In the event written notice has not been received by the Cooperative and it is determined an installation is being used for any purpose other than irrigation,
Policy Bulletin No. 2-40 P.2
the installation shall be transferred from an irrigation service to a Schedule C-1 – Rural Farm Service, if the service(s) require 50 KW or less and under the Rate Schedule LP- Large Power Service, if the service requires 51 KW or more, effective the date of the last meter reading taken by the Cooperative. A notice shall be mailed to the member advising them of the action taken. This change of designation shall remain in effect until the member advises the Cooperative in writing the alternative use has been discontinued and another meter reading has been obtained or until the beginning of a new annual irrigation season. A charge of $15.00 shall be made for this transfer.
The KWH and the KW of Demand used under the Rural Farm or Large Power designation shall be billed under Rate Schedule LP and shall not qualify for the irrigation discount but shall be considered when determining annual minimums required by contract.
In the event the installation is not metered with a demand meter, the horsepower rating of the equipment used for the alternate purpose shall be substituted for a registered KW of demand for each billing period.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 27, 2019.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-41
SUBJECT: Level Payment Plan – Irrigation
POLICY: The normal irrigation season begins on April 1st and ends on the 20th of October each year. Yearly minimums or horsepower charges are required to be paid in full prior to service being made available at the beginning of the season.
The Cooperative shall provide an option which would allow a monthly payment beginning in January of each year, based on the highest billing year on the unit in the previous five year period. In the event there is not a five-year history on the unit, the monthly payment would be computed using an estimated billing for the unit based on the following formula: HP times .746 KWH per hour times 24 hours per day times three months (90 days), which would equal the total estimated KWH usage. That total year’s billing or the estimated annual billing shall be divided by 12 and 1/12th would be due and payable each month beginning with January. The billing would be subject to the standard three percent (3%) penalty if not paid on or before the 15th day of the following month.
Application for the levelized payment plan on any unit must be received in writing by the Cooperative prior to December 31st of the previous year for which levelized billings is desired. It shall be the responsibility of the irrigator to make timely application for each and every unit for which the levelized payment plan is desired. Late application shall be accommodated through March 31st by the payment, by the irrigator, of the amounts due for the current year’s calendar months which have elapsed prior to the late application.
In no event shall service be made available on or after April 1 of any year unless money equal to the yearly minimum or horsepower charge has been paid.
This plan shall not be available on any irrigation account on which there is a past-due balance or on which a prepayment is required for any reason.
In the event a levelized payment has not been paid by the 20th day of the month following the due date of
Policy Bulletin No. 2-41 P. 2
such payment, the levelized payment option shall be terminated and the normal payment requirements shall apply from that date through the end of the current irrigation season.
Once an application is made for the levelized payment plan, it cannot be altered before the end of the calendar year specified in the application.
In the event the size of the unit is changed anytime during the calendar year, the payment required for the remaining months in that calendar year shall be recomputed using the estimate billing formula stated above.
At the time the unit is disconnected for the season, the final billing shall be computed and the actual amount due shall be divided by the remaining months in the calendar year and the subsequent monthly billings will be adjusted to clear the account in full by December 31st of that year.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. December 9. 2010.
This policy has been abandoned as of the board meeting held February 13, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-42
SUBJECT: Emergency Service for Terminated Irrigation Installations
POLICY: In the event the State of Idaho declares one or all of the counties served by the Cooperative as an emergency disaster drought relief area, and service is requested to an irrigation installation which was previously served with electricity, and where the Agreement for Service has been terminated, the Cooperative shall make said service available for the current irrigation season, under the following terms:
The Consumer shall make a written request for said service, provide proof of Order Authorizing Temporary Change of Water Right executed by the State of Idaho, Department of Water Resources, and shall prepay the Cooperative’s estimated installation and removal costs associated with providing service, which will defray the costs of the temporary service. In addition to the Cooperative’s estimated costs of providing service to the pump installation, the Consumer will also be required to pay the computed horsepower charge before a meter is installed.
Reviewed by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on August 14, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-43
SUBJECT: Stopped Meter or Meter Registering Incorrectly for Residential or Commercial
POLICY: This policy establishes the steps that the Cooperative will adopt and follow in the event that a consumers meter does not register properly.
I. For meters that are not registering or are registering incorrectly:
1. The Member will be contacted immediately to notify them of the situation regarding their meter.
2. At this time the Cooperative will gather information from the Member to establish a usage pattern and go over the historical usage on the meter.
3. The old meter will be removed and may be tested for accuracy and replaced with a new meter.
4. The Cooperative will then take check reads off of the new meter for a period of time to establish an average daily KWH usage by the Member.
5. Once the Cooperative has an average daily use we will then establish a time frame that the meter was not registering.
6. The time frame is then divided up into monthly billing cycles using the previous dates that the meter was read.
7. The number of days in the billing cycle is then multiplied by the average daily KWH usage, to obtain a monthly average KWH usage.
8. The monthly KWH usages are then add together to come up with a total KWH usage by the Member.
9. The total KWH that the Member has already been billed for in that time frame is then subtracted from the total average KWH usage.
10. The balance of the average KWH usage is then multiplied by the rate at which the Member would have been billed at in that time frame.
11. The yearly guarantee for that service will then be taken into consideration if the Member has not been meeting the yearly guarantee.
12. The Cooperative will then establish an estimated billing based on the information obtained by us as well as the information that the Member has provided.
13. The Member is then contacted a final time to go over all the information that was used to determine the estimated billing. The Member and the Cooperative can then come to an agreement on an amount that is considered fair to both the Cooperative and the Member.
II. For stopped meters or meters registering incorrectly for more than a year the Cooperative will retro bill 80% of the total estimate.
III. This policy, at the discretion of the Cooperative, may or may not apply to situations of power theft and/or damage to a meter whether intentional or unintentional.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on October 28, 2010.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-44
Subject: Harmonic Distortion
Purpose: It is the goal of Lost River Electric Cooperative to provide good, quality and reliable electric service. In an effort to improve and maintain good voltage regulation and power quality, Lost River Electric is implementing this harmonics policy. This policy will protect Lost River Electric’s equipment and protect member owned equipment from the damage that harmonic distortion can cause on an electric distribution system.
Modern day electronic equipment is the cause for most harmonics. This equipment, if not designed or filtered properly can cause other sensitive equipment to malfunction, shutdown or fail. The effects of harmonics are often undetected until an actual failure occurs. Harmonics can overheat transformers, shorten the life or damage the utility’s equipment, interfere with metering, and cause problems for Lost River’s members. These damaging effects cause interruptions, expensive downtime and loss of revenue.
Harmonic distortion is often generated by customer owned equipment, such as the installation of variable speed motor drives, arc furnaces and other high frequency equipment. This type of member owned equipment can cause harmonics on Lost River’s system, if poorly designed or not filtered. Industrial, commercial and irrigation electrical systems often have large amounts of electronic equipment, therefore are more likely to induce significant amount of harmonic voltage and current on to Lost River’s system.
Policy: It shall be the policy of the cooperative to require that all member owned equipment comply with the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard #519. Lost River Electric shall monitor harmonic distortion at the members’ service point, using the thresholds set forth in the above IEEE standard and require as a condition of service that any harmonic distortion be filtered.
1. All variable frequency drives that are currently installed on irrigation or commercial services will be required to meet the IEEE 519 harmonic standard or provide a filter for the installation by June 1, 2014.
2. All new installations of variable frequency drives on irrigation or commercial services will be required to meet the IEEE standard for harmonics before the service is connected.
3. All other electrical services will be monitored by the Cooperative, and members will be notified if equipment producing harmonic distortion, above the acceptable standard, is detected.
4. All maintenance and replacement costs for this equipment will be the responsibility of the member.
5. Lost River Electric will retain a copy of the IEEE standard at our office and cooperative personnel will determine the applicable percentage thresholds for each specific service using the IEEE standard #519.
This policy supersedes any existing policy which may be in conflict with the provisions of this policy.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 8, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-45
SUBJECT: – Net Billing
POLICY: Net-Metering service is available to members of Lost River Electric Cooperative (LREC) who own and operate power generation equipment subject to the following conditions:
· Generates electricity fueled by solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro, or fuel cell.
· Located on Member’s premises and interconnected and operating in parallel with LREC’s existing transmission and distribution system.
· Available on a first-come, first-serve basis until the cumulative level of net-billing and other generation equals 15% of the total measured peak load or design capacity of the circuit (as most recently measured at the substation).
· Intended to primarily offset part or all of the Member’s own electrical requirements.
Small Generation Interconnection Requirements
The following Small Generation Interconnection Requirements (“SGIR”) shall apply to all Small Generating Facilities connecting with LREC system as an eligible renewable energy resources and a “Qualifying Facility” as defined in Section 201 of the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (“PURPA”), applying for connection to LREC’s System. These procedures are intended to comply with the applicable requirements applied to LREC by: the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Inspector’s Office (to the extent applicable), USDA Rural Utilities Service (to the extent applicable), the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (to the extent applicable), LREC’s Power Purchase Agreements, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
LREC may interconnect with the following Small Generating Facilities if the following conditions are met:
1. A Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with residential class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is fifteen (15) kW or less for a residential service, or a commercial class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is twenty-five (25) kW or less pursuant to the Level 1 (25 kW Inverter Process).
Eligibility for Net Metering is described in Section 5 (“Net Metering”).
LREC has both the right and obligation under the regulations implementing PURPA to purchase energy and capacity from Qualifying Facilities, as defined in Section 201 of PURPA. The amount of energy and capacity purchased by LREC is subject to the capability of LREC’s electric system to accept and deliver such energy and capacity, as determined solely by LREC. In order for LREC to ensure compliance with its Power Purchase Agreements and or purchase of energy through this policy, only the capacity from a Qualifying Facility with a connected nameplate generating capacity of no greater than fifteen (15) kW for a residential service and no greater than twenty-five (25) kW for a commercial service shall be approved.
Section 1. Application
A. Applicability
1. LREC permits interconnection of any Small Generating Facility that meets the requirements set forth herein and LREC’s Small Generation Interconnection Guidelines, including all standards concerning protective equipment, inspection, maintenance, insurance, metering, and liability. LREC shall evaluate each Interconnection Request on a case-by-case-basis.
LREC’s processes for evaluating Interconnection Requests are as follows:
A. Level 1 Process (See Attachment) – An Interconnection
Request to connect a Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility no larger than fifteen (15) kW for residential or twenty-five (25) kW for commercial shall be evaluated by LREC under its simplified interconnection procedures outlined in the Level 1 Process.
2. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified in the Glossary of Terms. (See Attachment 1)
3. As a condition of interconnection with LREC’s System, each Interconnection Consumer shall comply with requirements to ensure infrastructure security, operational security, including physical, operational, and cyber-security, as determined by LREC or required by applicable law. The Interconnection Consumer shall provide all security measures required by LREC.
B. Pre-Application
1. LREC, through its Operations Department, will provide basic information on the application process and LREC’s system upon request from the Interconnection Consumer presenting a proposed project for a specific site.
2. In responding to any other informal request from an Interconnection Consumer, LREC may provide information regarding specific locations, feeders, or small areas of LREC’s System. Such information may include relevant system studies, interconnection studies, and Operating Requirements and other information useful in understanding a particular point of interconnection on LREC’s System.
3. LREC shall not be required to provide information to the
Interconnection Consumer that would violate confidentiality provisions of prior agreements or critical infrastructure requirements. LREC shall comply with reasonable requests for such information unless such information is proprietary or confidential and cannot be provided pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.
4. An interconnection consumer may submit a formal written request for a pre-application report on a proposed interconnection at a specific site using a Pre-application Interconnection Form supplied by LREC unless such information is confidential and cannot be provided pursuant to a confidentiality agreement. LREC shall respond to pre-application report requests within twenty (20) Business Days
C. Interconnection Request
1. The Interconnection Consumer shall submit a Pre-Application Interconnection Request (See Attachment) to LREC as required in this procedure, together with the processing fee or deposit specified in the Interconnection Request. The Interconnection Request shall be date- and time-stamped upon receipt. The original date-and time-stamp applied to the Interconnection Request at the time of its original submission shall be accepted as the qualifying date- and time-stamp for the purposes of any timetable in this procedure.
2. LREC shall notify the Interconnection Consumer within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of the interconnection Request as to whether the Interconnection Request is deemed, in the sole discretion of LREC, to be complete or incomplete.
a. If the Interconnection Request is incomplete, LREC shall provide notice that the Interconnection Request is incomplete and will provide a written list detailing all information that must be provided to complete the Interconnection Request. The Interconnection Consumer will have ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the notice to submit the listed information or request a
time extension to provide such information. If the
Interconnection Consumer does not provide the required
information or a request for an extension of time within the deadline, the Interconnection Request will be deemed
withdrawn.
b. An Interconnection Request will be deemed complete upon submission of the required information to LREC as reasonably determined by LREC on or before the applicable deadline, at which time a meeting will be scheduled between the Interconnection Consumer and the Operations Manager.
D. Modification of the Interconnection Request
Any modification of the project data or equipment configuration, project design, or to the interconnection site of the Small Generating Facility not otherwise agreed to in writing by LREC and the Interconnection Consumer may be deemed a withdrawal of the Interconnection Request.
E. Site control
1. In addition to the information required to be submitted to LREC in an Interconnection Request, an Interconnection Consumer shall submit site control documentation with the Interconnection Request. Site control may be demonstrated through:
a. ownership of, a leasehold interest in, or a right to develop the site for the purpose of constructing the Small Generating Facility;
b. an option to purchase or acquire a leasehold site for such purpose; or
c. an exclusivity or other business relationship between the Interconnection Consumer and the entity having the right to sell, lease, or grant the Interconnection Consumer the right to possess or occupy a site for such purpose.
F. Queue Position
1. LREC shall place each Interconnection Request in a first-come, first-serve basis per feeder and per substation.
2. The order of each Interconnection Request will be used by LREC to determine the cost responsibility of the Interconnection Consumer for any System upgrades that LREC determines are necessary to accommodate the interconnection. Except for Upgrades to LREC’s transmission System, the Interconnection Consumer(s) whose interconnection causes the need for upgrades to the Interconnection Facilities and Upgrades shall be responsible for 100% of such costs. For interconnections to LREC’s transmission System, the Interconnection Consumer(s) whose interconnection causes the need for upgrades to the Interconnection Facilities and Upgrades shall be responsible for 100% of such costs, subject to LREC requiring later contribution toward any transmission Upgrades related to costs by Interconnection Consumers that interconnect after completion of the System Upgrades and that LREC determines benefit from such Upgrades. LREC shall allocate such costs in a manner it deems to be consistent with applicable law and LREC’s rules and regulations.
3. Interconnection Requests may be studied serially or in clusters for the purpose of the system impact study.
G. Assignment/Transfer of Ownership of the Facility
Interconnection Agreements shall survive transfer of ownership of the Small Generating Facility to a new owner when the new owner agrees in writing to comply with the terms of the agreement and so notifies LREC.
Section 2. Level 1 Process (25kW Inverter Process)
A. Applicability
The Level 1 Process for a Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with residential class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is fifteen (15) kW or less for a residential service or a commercial class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is twenty-five (25) kW or less pursuant to the Level 1.
Process utilizes an all-in-one document that includes a Short Form Interconnection Request, simplified procedures, and an abbreviated set of terms and conditions (see Attachment).
For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1 and 5 of these Procedures shall apply to the Level 1 Process, with the exception of Section 5.H (“Interconnection Agreement”).
Eligibility for Net Metering is described in Section 5.M (“Net Metering”).
B. Processing Fee
To initiate the Level 1 Process, an Interconnection Consumer shall submit a Short Form Interconnection Request and a non-refundable processing fee of One Hundred and Ninety-Five Dollars ($195) to LREC (see Attachment).
C. Initial Review
Within fifteen (15) Business Days after LREC notifies the Interconnection Consumer it has received a complete Interconnection Request in accordance with Section 1.C, LREC shall: (1) perform an initial review using
the Screens set forth below, (2) shall notify the Interconnection Consumer of the results, and (3) include with the notification copies of the analysis and
data underlying LREC’s determinations under the following Screens.
1. Screens:
a. The proposed Small Generating Facility Point of Interconnection must be on a portion of LREC’s System. Proposed interconnection resources on highly seasonal circuits shall also be subject to the supplemental review
b. For interconnection of a proposed Small Generating Facility to a radial distribution circuit, the aggregated generation, including the proposed generating facility, shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the line section’s annual peak load as most recently measured at the substation or calculated for the line section. A line section is that portion of LREC’s electric system
connected to a Consumer bounded by automatic sectionalizing
devices or the end of the distribution line. A fuse is not an automatic sectionalizing device. Energy storage system capacity for purposes of this screen shall be based on only the capacity that is designed to inject electricity to LREC’s distribution system (other than inadvertent exports and fault contribution).
c. The proposed Small Generating Facility, in aggregate with other generation on the distribution circuit, shall not contribute more than ten percent (10%) to the distribution circuit’s maximum fault current at the point on the high voltage (primary) level nearest the proposed Point of Interconnection.
d. The proposed Small Generating Facility, in aggregate with other generation on the distribution circuit, shall not cause any distribution protective devices and equipment (including, but not limited to, substation breakers, fused cutouts, and line re-closers), or the Interconnection Consumer equipment on the system to exceed 87.5% of its short circuit interrupting capability; nor shall the interconnection be proposed for a circuit that already exceeds 87.5% of the short circuit interrupting
capability.
e. The proposed Small Generating Facility shall meet the rapid voltage change and flicker requirements of IEEE Standard 1453 (2015) and IEEE Standard 1547-2018,or until such time new DERs applying for interconnection will comply with IEEE 1547-2018 based on the appropriate test.
f. The type of interconnection to a primary distribution line shall be determined based on the table below, including a review of the type of electrical service rating
Consumer, including line configuration and the transformer
connection to limit the potential for creating over-voltages on LREC’s electric power system due to a loss of ground during the operating time of any anti-islanding function.
Primary Distribution Line Type of Interconnection to
Primary Distribution Line Result/Criteria
Three-phase, three wire 3-phase or single phase,
phase-to-phase Pass Screen Three-phase, four wire Effectively-grounded 3 phase or Single-phase, line-to-neutral Pass Screen
g. If the proposed Small Generating Facility is to be
interconnected on single-phase shared secondary, the
aggregate generation capacity on the shared secondary,
including the proposed Small Generating Facility, shall not
exceed twenty-five (25) kW. Energy storage system(s) capacity for purposes of this screen shall be based on only the capacity that is designed to inject electricity to LREC’s distribution system (other than inadvertent exports and fault contribution).
h. If the proposed Small Generating Facility is single-phase and is to be interconnected on a center tap neutral of a two-hundred forty (240) volt service, its addition shall not create an imbalance between the two sides of the two-hundred forty (240) volt service of more than twenty percent (20%) of the nameplate rating of the service transformer.
i. No construction of facilities by LREC on its system shall be required to accommodate the Small Generating Facility
j. For interconnection of a proposed Small Generating Facility to the load side of spot network protectors serving more than a single Consumer, the proposed Small Generating Facility must utilize an inverter-based equipment package and, together with the aggregated other inverter-based generation, shall not exceed the smaller of five percent (5%) of a spot network’s maximum load or three hundred (300) kW. For spot networks serving a single Consumer, the Small Generating Facility must use inverter-based equipment package and either meet the requirements above or shall use a protection scheme or operate the generator so as not to exceed on-site load or otherwise prevent nuisance operation of the spot network
protectors.
k. For interconnection of a proposed Small Generating Facility to the load side of area network protectors, the proposed Small Generating Facility must utilize an inverter-based equipment package and, together with the aggregated other inverter- based generation, shall not exceed the smaller of ten percent (10%) of an area network’s minimum load or five hundred (500)kW.
l. The nameplate capacity of a proposed Small Generating
Facility, in combination with the nameplate capacity of any
previously interconnected Small Generating Facility, shall not exceed the capacity of the Consumer’s existing electrical service unless there is a simultaneous request for an upgrade to the Consumer’s electrical service, regardless of exporting or non-exporting designations for any of the interconnection resources.
2. If LREC determines that the proposed interconnection passes the Screens, the Interconnection Request shall be approved and LREC will provide to the Interconnection Consumer an executable Interconnection Agreement within five (5) Business Days after the determination.
3. If the proposed interconnection fails the Screens, and LREC determines from the initial review that the Small Generating Facility may nevertheless be interconnected consistently with safety, reliability and power quality standards if the Interconnection Consumer is willing
to consider minor modifications or further study as determined in LREC’s sole discretion, LREC will provide the Interconnection Consumer with an opportunity to attend a Consumer Options Meeting(as defined below) to discuss such proposed changes.
D. Consumer Options Meeting
1. If the proposed interconnection fails the Screens as determined by LREC, and LREC determines the Interconnection Request cannot be approved without (1) minor modifications at minimal cost; (2) a supplemental study or other additional studies or actions; or (3) at significant cost to address safety, reliability, or other power quality problems, within the five (5) Business Day period after the determination, LREC shall notify the Interconnection Consumer and provide copies of the data and analyses underlying its conclusion.
Within ten (10) Business Days of the determination, LREC shall offer to convene a consumer options meeting for review if requested by Interconnection Consumer.
Section 5. Provisions that Apply to All Interconnection Requests
A. Reasonable Efforts
LREC will make reasonable efforts to meet all time frames provided in these procedures unless LREC and the Interconnection Consumer agree to a different schedule. If LREC cannot meet a deadline provided herein, it shall notify the Interconnection Consumer, explain the reason for failure to meet the deadline, and provide an estimated time by which it will complete the applicable interconnection procedure.
B. Disputes
1. The Parties agree to attempt to resolve all disputes arising out of the interconnection provisions of these Procedures.
2. In the event of a dispute, either Party shall provide the other Party with a written notice of dispute. Such notice shall describe in detail the nature of the dispute
C. Interconnection Metering
All metering necessitated by the use of the Small Generating Facility shall be installed at the Interconnection Consumer’s expense and in accordance with LREC’s rules and regulations.
D. Commissioning Tests
1. Commissioning testing of the Interconnection Consumer’s installed equipment shall be performed pursuant to applicable codes and standards, including, but not limited to, the latest version thereof.
IEEE Standard Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment
Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems” that is in effect. LREC must be given at least five (5) Business Days written notice of the tests and one or more LREC representatives may be present to witness the commissioning tests.
2. If the commissioning tests are not satisfactory in the sole judgment of LREC, LREC shall have the right to disconnect the Small Generating Facility if LREC provides written notice to the Interconnection Consumer within three (3) Business Days after the commissioning tests have been completed. Such notice may be provided via electronic mail.
3. If LREC waives its right to witness the commissioning tests, or if the commissioning tests are successfully completed in the sole judgment of LREC, LREC shall provide the Interconnection Consumer an operational approval letter within three (3) Business Days after notification that the commissioning test has been successfully completed. This letter may be provided via electronic mail.
E. Confidentiality
1. Confidential information means any confidential and/or proprietary information provided by one Party to the other Party that is clearly marked or otherwise designated “Confidential”. All design, operating specifications and metering data provided by the Interconnection Consumer shall be deemed confidential information regardless of whether it is clearly marked or otherwise designated as such.
2. Confidential information does not include information previously in the public domain, required to be publicly submitted or divulged by governmental authorities (after notice to the other Party and after exhausting any opportunity to oppose such publication or release), or necessary to be divulged in an action to enforce an agreement between the Parties. Each Party receiving confidential information shall hold such information in confidence and shall not disclose it to
any third party nor to the public without the prior written authorization from the Party providing that information, except to fulfill obligations under agreements between the parties, or to fulfill legal or regulatory requirements.
a. Each Party shall employ at least the same standard of care to
protect confidential information obtained from the other Party
as it employs to protect its own confidential information.
b. Each Party is entitled to equitable relief, by injunction or
otherwise, to enforce its rights under this provision to prevent the release of confidential information without bond or proof of
damages, and may seek other remedies available at law or in
equity for breach of this provision.
3. Notwithstanding anything in Section 5 to the contrary, if the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Inspector’s Office, during the course of an investigation or otherwise, requests information from one of the Parties that is otherwise required to be maintained in confidence, the Party shall provide the requested information to the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Inspector’ Office, within the time provided for in the request for information.
F. Comparability
LREC shall receive, process, and analyze all Interconnection Requests in a timely manner as set forth in this procedure. LREC shall use the same reasonable efforts in processing and analyzing Interconnection Requests from all Interconnection Consumers, whether the Small Generating Facility is
owned or operated by LREC, its subsidiaries or affiliates, or others.
G. Record Retention
LREC shall maintain records for three (3) years, subject to audit, of all Interconnection Requests received under this procedure, the time frames required to complete Interconnection Request approvals and disapprovals, and justification for the actions taken on each Interconnection Request.
H. Interconnection Agreement
1. Prior to the Interconnection Consumer’s operation of a Small
Generating Facility under the Level 2 Process or the Level 3 Process, an Interconnection Consumer must enter into an Interconnection Agreement with LREC.
2. After receiving an Interconnection Agreement from LREC, the Interconnection Consumer shall have thirty (30) Business Days to sign and return the Interconnection Agreement, or request that LREC file an unexecuted agreement with BPA.
3. If the Interconnection Consumer does not sign the Interconnection Agreement or ask that it be filed unexecuted within thirty (30) Business Days, the Interconnection Request shall be deemed withdrawn.
4. After the Interconnection Agreement is signed by Interconnection Consumer and LREC, the interconnection of the Small Generating Facility shall proceed under the provisions of the Interconnection Agreement.
5. In case of any conflict between the specific terms of the
Interconnection Agreement and this procedure and/or guidelines, the terms of the Interconnection Agreement shall govern.
I. Coordination with Affected Systems
LREC shall coordinate the conduct of any studies required to determine the impact of the Interconnection Request on Affected Systems with Affected System operators and, if possible, include those results in its applicable interconnection study (e.g., feasibility study, system impact study, or facilities study) within the time frame specified in these procedures. LREC will include such Affected System Operators in all meetings held with the Interconnection Consumer as required by these procedures. The Interconnection Consumer will cooperate with LREC in all matters related to the conduct of studies and the determination of modifications to Affected Systems.
J. Capacity of the Small Generating Facility
1. If the Interconnection Request is for an increase in capacity for an existing Small Generating Facility, the Interconnection Request shall be evaluated on the basis of the new total capacity of the Small Generating Facility.
2. If the Interconnection Request is for a Small Generating Facility that includes multiple energy production devices at a site for which the Interconnection Consumer seeks a single Point of Interconnection, the Interconnection Request shall be evaluated on the basis of the aggregate capacity of the multiple devices.
3. The Interconnection Request shall be evaluated using the maximum rated capacity of the Small Generating Facility.
K. Insurance
The Member, at their own expense, shall secure and maintain in effect while interconnected to the Cooperative’s distribution system liability insurance insuring Member’s indemnification obligations under Section 11 above, with a combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage of not less than $500,000 for each occurrence. A Certificate of Insurance evidencing the requisite coverage shall be provided to the Cooperative prior to interconnecting to the Cooperative’s distribution system. Cooperative shall be permitted to periodically obtain proof of current insurance coverage. The Member will not be allowed to commence or continue interconnected operations unless evidence is provided that satisfactory insurance coverage is in effect
5. Certificates of Insurance evidencing the requisite coverage and provision(s) shall be furnished to LREC prior to the date of
interconnection of the Small Generating Facility. LREC shall be
permitted to periodically obtain proof of current insurance coverage from the Interconnection Consumer in order to verify proper liability insurance coverage. Interconnection Consumer will not be allowed to commence or continue interconnected operations unless evidence is provided that satisfactory insurance coverage is in effect at all times.
A. Hold Harmless- The Member assumes all responsibility for the electric service upon Member’s premises at and from the Point of Interconnection and for the wires and equipment used in connection therewith; and Member will protect and save Cooperative harmless from all claims for injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to property of Member, occurring on or about Member’s premises or at and from the Point of Interconnection or flow of electricity from Cooperative, occasioned by such electricity or said wires and equipment, except where said injury or damage is proved to have been caused solely by the negligence of the Cooperative. The Member will (a) pay the Cooperative for all damages to Cooperative’s equipment, facilities, or distribution system, and (b) save and hold Cooperative harmless from all claims, demands, and liabilities of every kind and nature for injury or damage to, or death of, persons and/or property of others, including costs and expenses of defending against the same, arising in any manner in connection with Member’s Generator or the operation thereof. The Member shall also indemnify, defend and hold the Cooperative, its employees, contractors, members and agents (“Indemnities”) harmless from and against all damages, losses, costs, expenses, and claims, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the Indemnities for injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to the property of the Cooperative, which arise or result, directly or indirectly from the Member’s ownership, operation and interconnection of the Member’s Generator and interconnection facilities.
L. Maintenance
Interconnection Consumer shall maintain their equipment in good working order. LREC reserves the right to inspect Interconnection Consumer’s facilities upon reasonable notice or without notice other than by a phone call or phone message whenever it appears that an Interconnection Consumer is operating in a manner hazardous to LREC system integrity
and/or Consumer safety. Functional testing of all circuit breakers, relays and transformers must be performed yearly at the Interconnection Consumer’s expense.
M. Net Metering
LREC shall allow the Interconnection Consumer’s retail electricity consumption to be offset by the electricity generated from a Small Generating facility meeting the following requirements:
A. A Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with residential class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is the lesser of 120% of the twelve (12) month historical usage at the meter location or ten (15) kW or less, or
B. A Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with commercial class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is the lesser of 120% of the twelve (12) month historical usage at the meter location or twenty-five (25) kW or less. Facilities must be installed in accordance with the Net Metering service as described in LREC’s Net Billing Regulations.
N. Qualifying Facilities
An Interconnection Consumer with a total nameplate generating capacity exceeding the Small Generating Facility - Net Metering limits may be eligible for connection under a different policy.
Section 6. Miscellaneous
A. Entire Document
This Policy, the Interconnection Agreement, and any Inter-connection Request forms, if applicable, together with all attachments hereto and thereto, constitute the entire and sole agreement with respect to the interconnection of Small Generating Facilities to LREC’s System. All prior negotiations, representations, understandings, or
agreements are not part of these Procedures, including attachments hereto, and shall have no force or effect. Any waiver of by LREC of any obligation under these Procedures, including attachments hereto, must be in writing.
No such waiver shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other provision or condition of this SGIP, nor a waiver of subsequent breach of the same provision or condition.
B. Severability
If any provision of these Procedures or the application of any such provision to any Person or circumstance shall be declared to be invalid, unenforceable, or void by a regulatory body or court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not have the effect of invalidating or voiding the remainder of these Procedures.
C. Governing Law
These Procedures shall be construed in accordance with, and shall be governed by, the laws of the United States and State of
Idaho, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on December 1, 2022.
/S/ _____________________
Randy R. Purser, President
Policy Bulletin No. 2-46
SUBJECT: Credit Card Payment
POLICY: Lost River Electric Cooperative Inc. accepts Visa or MasterCard debit and credit cards as forms of payment. Each credit card company has established policies and procedures that we as a Merchant (seller) must adhere to. There are responsibilities the "buyer" must adhere to which could include, but are not limited to, verification that you are in fact "the card holder" by means of reasonable identification. Credit card payments will be accepted in person or over the telephone. Only personal Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards will be accepted. Due to the fees imposed upon Lost River Electric, Corporate or Reward Cards will not be permitted.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 10, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-47
SUBJECT Property Owner Responsibilities With Delinquent
Accounts
Policy: All indebtedness to Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. for electrical power or service shall constitute a lien on the property with which the indebtedness originated until the indebtedness is paid in full.
If a member’s property, which is serviced by Lost River Electric, is conveyed to a new owner or is rented, the new owner or renter, may not become a member of Lost River Electric or obtain service until any outstanding non-irrigation balance(s) related to the property on the current or prior owner’s account has / have been paid in full.
If the new owner or renter is already a member of Lost River Electric, the property will not be transferred to the new owner or renter’s account and will not be serviced until any outstanding non-irrigation balance(s) related to the property on the prior owner’s account have been paid in full.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on December 4, 2015.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-48
SUBJECT: Deposits for Large Industrial Services
POLICY: Large Industrial Services will be required to pay a deposit as follows:
1.) Two times the highest monthly billing or the yearly minimum guarantee, whichever is greater.
2.) New services or expanded services with no consumption history will be estimated until a consumption history has been established.
Service shall be made available after the required consumer deposit has been paid.
All deposits are refundable upon request of notice of discontinuation of service, provided all amounts due the Cooperative have been paid. If there is a balance due, the consumer deposit shall be applied prior to making refund of the deposit.
Periodically the billing history will be reviewed to determine if the current deposit is adequate or requires adjustment.
At no time, as long as the service is active will the deposit be adjusted down.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 25, 2018.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-49
SUBJECT: Test Service for Non-Irrigation Installations
POLICY: In the event a test service is required to a non-irrigation installation, which previously received service, and the Agreement for Service has been terminated, the following conditions must be met.
The Cooperative shall make said service available only if all equipment is in place, for a period not to exceed two days during a non-peaking period at the Cooperative’s discretion.
The owner of the facility shall make a request for said service, shall pay all past due amounts owed to the Cooperative, shall prepay the Cooperative’s estimated costs of providing said service and then will be billed for any kWh consumed at the current Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. kWh rate.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 27, 2020.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-50
SUBJECT: Emergency Declaration
POLICY: Emergencies and critical incidents in the workplace can affect people physically and psychologically, and affect program continuity of Lost River Electric Cooperative Inc. The purpose of this policy is to ensure Lost River Electric Cooperative may effectively respond to emergency situations and critical incidents through the appropriate use of resources. The prevention and effective management of emergency situations and critical incidents can assist to minimize the negative impact of an unexpected event.
An emergency is an unplanned or imminent event that affects or threatens the health, safety or welfare of people, property and infrastructure, and which requires a significant and coordinated response. The defining characteristic of an emergency event or situation is that usual resources are overwhelmed or have the potential to be overwhelmed. That it may place the employees, Board of Directors, or members in danger.
Emergencies may be a specific event with a clear beginning, end and recovery process, or a situation that develops over time and where the implications are gradual rather than immediate. Emergency management is the coordination of an emergency response and management of recovery. The aim of emergency management is to minimize physical and psychological impacts on all parties and to minimize damage to assets, operations, and staff.
Upon any such incident, and upon the Board of Directors declaring a “State of Emergency for the Cooperative”;
The Manager/CEO shall have the authority to amend or alter any policy needed to respond to an emergency or the effects thereof in coordination with the President of the Board of Directors.
If said amendment or alteration needs to be done immediately the Manager/CEO shall make said decision and contact the President of the Board as soon as possible.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 27, 2020.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-51
SUBJECT: Consumer Fee for REC Credits (Green Power)
POLICY: Green power represents a sale of electricity generated from renewable energy resources by the Cooperative or by our power service provider. RECs represent the environmental benefits derived from renewable energy projects. They are sold as a commodity separately from the electricity. Green power/ RECs are sold in blocks of megawatt-hours (MWh).
REC purchases represent one of the easiest ways for a Consumer to help with carbon reduction. No contractual agreements are needed and no physical implementation is required.
If at any time a Consumer requests to purchase REC certificates from the Cooperative, the Consumer shall contact the Cooperative and will be notified whether those certificates are available. If available, the Consumer shall be charged a fee of $2.00 per MWh. Upon receipt of payment, the Cooperative will contact our power service provider and procure a REC certificate on the Consumer’s behalf.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 22, 2022.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-01
SUBJECT: Qualifications and Obligations of Members
POLICY: Article I, Section I of the Bylaws
RESPONSIBILITY: The member in question
PROCEDURE:
a. By: paying the Membership Fee as specified in the Bylaws and a Consumer Deposit as required by Board action.
b. Agreeing to purchase from the Cooperative electric energy or any other product or service offered for sale by the Cooperative as hereinafter specified in the Bylaws, Article I, Section 1.
c. Agreeing to comply with and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and any
Amendments thereto and such rules and regulations as may from time to time be adopted by the Board of Directors.
Amended by the Board of Directors on November 11, 1999.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-02
SUBJECT: Membership Fee
POLICY: The membership fee shall be $5.00, the payment of which
shall make the member eligible for one (1) service connection, providing all other requirements of the bylaws of the Cooperative have been met. No person, firm, corporation or body politic may own more than one (1) membership in the Cooperative. An individual and spouse may each become a member of the Cooperative if they so wish where they are receiving service through two or more connections. An individual and spouse may also hold one membership jointly, as provided for in said bylaws of the Cooperative.
In no case will service be made available until the membership fee has been paid. The membership is refundable upon request at termination of service, provided all amounts due the Cooperative have been paid. If there is an unpaid bill due the Cooperative the membership will be automatically applied on same.
The prospective member shall prepare and file an application for electric service and membership with the Cooperative. A representative of the Cooperative will collect the membership fee and issue receipt for same. The membership will be approved by the Board of Directors at the Regular Meeting following the date of application.
When service is terminated it is the responsibility of a representative of the Cooperative to see that all bills due the Cooperative from said member are paid before making refund of the membership.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on August 27, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-03
SUBJECT: Consumer Deposits
POLICY: In addition to the Membership Fee required by the Cooperative bylaws and Policy Bulletin No. 2-02, a consumer deposit shall be required. The amount of the consumer deposit will be determined as follows:
A consumer deposit of not less than one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) or in lieu of a deposit a letter of good standing from the most recent/past electrical power supplier, indicating a history of good credit, shall be required on each connection of the member.
If the applicant has or is receiving service from the Cooperative and has a payment history of a past due balance, a consumer deposit of not less than $150.00 shall be required for each new connection.
If the applicant has or is receiving service from the Cooperative or any other electrical utility provider and has previously been disconnected for non-payment, a consumer deposit shall be required; the amount of the consumer deposit, for any account except irrigation, will be determined by: (1) taking a monthly average of the KWH’s used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two (2), or $600.00, whichever is greater.
If a member has filed an action in bankruptcy and still requires electric service from the Cooperative, the member shall be required to make a consumer deposit determined by:
(1) taking a monthly average of the KWH’s used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two, or
(2) $600.00, whichever is greater.
If a member is an LLC, LLP, PLLC, Trust, Corporation or any other similar structured company or business entity, the amount of the consumer deposit, for any account except irrigation, will be determined by:
(1) taking a monthly average of the KWH’s used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two, or
(2) $600.00 for any service 25 KVA or less, $1,200.00 for any service between 26 KVA and 50 KVA transformer capacity, $2,500.00 for any service between 51 KVA and 100 KVA transformer capacity, $5,000 for any service between 101 and 499 KVA transformer capacity, $10,000 for any service 500 or greater KVA transformer capacity, whichever sum is greater.
If at any time, payment becomes delinquent, Lost River Electric Cooperative has the right to increase the deposit amount.
In no case shall service be made available until the required consumer deposit has been paid. At no time, as long as the service is active will the deposit be adjusted down.
All deposits are refundable upon request at termination of service, provided all amounts due the Cooperative have been paid. If there is an unpaid amount due the Cooperative, the consumer deposit shall be applied on same.
When a service is terminated it is the Cooperative’s responsibility to see that all bills due the Cooperative from said member are paid before making refund of the deposits.
Approved by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July, 2019.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-04
SUBJECT: Meter Reading and Billing
POLICY: All meters on the System, with the exception of irrigation meters, shall be read by the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) system and downloaded to the Cooperative’s NISC program for processing and billing. Non-irrigation meter readings will be downloaded on or about the 20th of every month. An estimate may be used for meters that may for whatever cause fail to emit a signal, if the Cooperative repeatedly fails to receive a signal a Cooperative employee will manually read and true up the estimated meter at least once annually. Billings on these accounts shall be computed and statements mailed to the consumers as soon after the reading date as is practicable.
All irrigation meters on the System shall be read by the AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) system and downloaded to the Cooperative’s NISC program for processing and billing, during the last four working days of each month. If the Cooperative for whatever cause fails to receive a signal, a Cooperative employee will manually read the meter. Billings on these accounts shall be computed and statements mailed to the consumers as soon after the reading date as is practicable.
Billings on all meters on the System, with the exception of irrigation meters, shall be due and payable on or before the 20th day of the month following the date of the billing. Billings on irrigation meters shall be due and payable on or before the 25th day of the month following the date of the billing.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on January 1, 2024.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-05
SUBJECT: Late Payment Fee
POLICY: A late payment fee shall be charged on all delinquent accounts in accordance with the rate schedules in effect applying to the account. A 10% one-time fee or a 3% compounding fee for irrigation accounts will constitute a late payment fee. If a consumer has a balance due on his current energy bill due to misfiguring, a late payment fee will not be charged on this balance until after the consumer has been notified of such balance and given the opportunity to add it to his next month's energy bill. However, if the consumer fails to add this balance to his next month's bill, a late payment fee will be charged.
A late payment fee will not be charged on a balance of less than or equal to $10.00. When payment is not received at the main office, by the close of normal business hours on or before the 20th day of the month for all consumers except irrigation accounts or on or before the 25th day of the month for irrigation consumers, a late payment fee will be applied to the outstanding balance.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 12, 2015.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-06
SUBJECT: Connect and Disconnect Fees for Non-Irrigation Accounts
POLICY: Connection and disconnection fees will be as follows:
1. A $35.00 fee is charged to a consumer when he/she
requires an onsite visit to connect a previously disconnected service.
2. In the event that a membership is transferred to another service or a previously connected service is reconnected, and neither requires an onsite visit, by a utility employee, the fee is $15.00.
3. The connect or disconnect fee is to be paid on the consumer’s next billing cycle.
4. If the consumer disconnects service within six (6) months of the connection date, or if the consumer is being disconnected for failure to comply with a bylaw or policy, there will be a disconnect fee charged to their account. A $15.00 fee will be assessed, if the disconnection does not require an onsite visit, by a utility employee. If the visit requires an onsite visit by the employee, a fee of $35.00 is required.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 24, 2022.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-07
SUBJECT: Delinquent Accounts and Disconnection - (For Irrigation see Policy Bulletin No. 2-27)
POLICY: Payments not received at the main office by the close of normal business hours on or before the 20th day of the month for non-irrigation accounts will be considered past due and a late payment fee will be applied to the past due balance.
Lost River Electric will no longer use the payment envelope postmark date to prevent late payment fees. There will be no allowance made when the past due date falls on a weekend or holiday.
If payment is past due it is considered delinquent and is subject to disconnection.
If the account is paid in full, including an additional collection fee of $15.00, to a LREC employee or representative at the time he/she goes out to disconnect, the service will not be disconnected. In the event service is disconnected it will not be resumed until payment in full, including all past due, current and all KWH registered on the meter at the time of disconnection is paid. Acceptable arrangements for payment may be negotiable to allow for reinstatement of service. Each account will be subject to an additional $35.00 reconnect fee during regular work hours or additional labor costs if after normal business hours.
An additional deposit may also be required. (See Policy Bulletin No. 2-03)
Where a consumer has more than one meter, each service
shall be disconnected for non-payment.
Any unpaid bill for labor, and/or materials, and/or mileage shall have the same status as an unpaid electric energy bill and service may be disconnected for such non-payment.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 11, 2015.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-08
SUBJECT: Outages
POLICY: In the event of property damage or interruption of service as the result of actions of a consumer, his agent or contractor or the result of fault equipment belonging to the consumer, his agent or contractor, the Cooperative shall, at its discretion, charge the consumer for time and mileage to restore said property or service.
The employee responding to the damage or interruption of service call shall provide information relative to said damage or interruption and it shall be the responsibility of the Manager to determine the charges.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 11, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-09
SUBJECT: Minimum Bills
POLICY: The minimum bills shall comply with the rate schedules in effect at the time.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 9, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-10
SUBJECT: Retail Rates
POLICY: All members of the Cooperative shall purchase all of the electric energy used from the Cooperative in accordance with the rates in effect at the time and at the rate applicable to them.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 9, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-11
SUBJECT: Wiring
POLICY: Prior to the connection of the electric lines of the Cooperative to any new building either residential, commercial, business, or any type whatever, the building shall be properly tagged by either the owner or licensed electrician in compliance with the laws of the State of Idaho. The same shall apply on a building already receiving service from the Cooperative that would like service changed from 120 to 240 volt. Until such tag has been furnished, the lines of the Cooperative are not to be connected to said premises; provided that this rule shall not apply where temporary service is desired on a pole or temporary building during the construction of any permanent building and service is to be of a temporary nature only. In this case the consumer shall make application for a temporary tag at the Co-op office. Where any of the employees of the Cooperative or the State Inspector have notice or observe that the wiring in any building, to which electric energy is served by the Cooperative is in a condition so as to be dangerous to persons or property, such person shall immediately notify the Manager of the Cooperative of such dangerous condition. If the Manager, upon investigation determines that such dangerous condition exists, he shall at once have the service to the building where such condition exists discontinued and service shall not be restored to said premises until said building has been rewired and inspected and the certificate of the inspector showing that the wiring in said building complies with all the rules and regulations of the national Electric Code and the State of Idaho.
The wiring can be done by a licensed electrician, a member of the consumer's immediate family or the consumer himself so long as said wiring passes inspection of the State of Idaho inspector.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 9, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-12
SUBJECT: Easements for Cooperative Lines and Meter Accessibility
POLICY: The members of the Cooperative shall grant to it, an
easement over land owned by them for the transmission and distribution lines of the Cooperative without charge to the Cooperative. The members shall pay to the Cooperative a fee in the sum of $15.00 as remuneration for costs and services associated with the recording of said easement with the respective county assessor’s office
It is required of all members of Lost River Electric Cooperative that all meters are accessible for reading, maintaining, and/or replacing. Accessibility referred to for the purpose of this policy is;
1. Not inside an enclosure such as a residential dwelling, garage, shop, or any structure that requires entrance to access the meter.
2. Not in fenced areas that are locked unless a key to the lock is provided to Lost River Electric.
3. Not in areas that have vegetation around the meter in such a way that the meter is not easily accessible.
4. In general, anything that interferes with access to the meter.
If additions and/or renovations of any kind to any
structure, compromises the accessibility of the meter, it is the responsibility of the member to relocate, at their cost, the meter to a location that is accessible.
Electric service to any meter may be disconnected or terminated for noncompliance to this policy.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 28, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-13
SUBJECT: Line Extensions, Special Charges
POLICY: For construction of any extension of the Cooperative
lines where special charges will be necessary for this construction, the Cooperative will follow the procedure as recommended by the Board of Directors and the Rural Electrification Administration.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-14
SUBJECT: Applications for Electric Service
POLICY: The Cooperative shall receive an application for
electric service on the application form as follows:
Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Application for Electric Service
Full Legal Name(s):
First Middle Int. Last
Full Legal Name(s):
First Middle Int. Last
Social Security(s): Birthdate:
Social Security(s): Birthdate:
Mailing Address: Phone:
Service Address:
Email Address:
The undersigned hereby make application for Electric Service at the above address and agrees to pay for said service as measured by the Cooperative’s meter according to the rate applicable.
The applicant agrees to permit authorized agents of the Cooperative free access to the premises of the consumer for the purpose of inspection, reading, repairing, or removing property of the Cooperative.
The applicant agrees to pay the $5.00 membership and consumer deposit before service is made available, and further agrees to be put on the Ruralite magazine mailing list as a mode of communication between the Cooperative and the member.
The Cooperative shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to inspect any installation before electric service is introduced, or at any later time, and reserves the right to reject any wiring or appliances not in accordance with the Cooperative’s standards, but such inspection or failure to inspect or reject shall not be regarded as an insurance against defects in installation, wiring, or appliances and shall not render the Cooperative liable or responsible for any loss or damage, resulting from defects in the installation, wiring or appliances, or from violation of the Cooperative’s rules and regulations, or from accidents which may occur upon the customer’s premises.
The Seller shall use reasonable diligence to provide a constant and uninterrupted supply of electric power and energy, but if such supply shall fail because of (1) interruptions or reductions due to operation of devices installed for power system protection; (2) interruptions or reductions due to Acts of God, Government Authority, action of the elements, public enemy, vandalism, accident, strikes, labor trouble, and (3) temporary interruption or reductions which , in the opinion of the Seller, are necessary or desirable for the purposes of maintenance, repairs, replacements, installation of equipment or investigation or inspection; or for any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Seller, the Seller shall not be liable therefore, or for damages caused thereby.
The applicant agrees that this application is subject to the Cooperative’s Rules and Regulations, and that these rules and regulations are a part of the agreement.
Date: Signature:
Applicant
LOST RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
Signature:
LOST RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 28, 2020.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-15
SUBJECT: Meter Testing
POLICY: All new meters and meters in service shall be checked for accuracy when deemed necessary by the Cooperative. Any consumer's meter shall be tested upon request and payment of a deposit in an amount estimated to be the Cooperative's cost of testing said meter. After the test has been made and if the meter is found to be not more than two percent (2%) slow or two percent (2%) fast, the consumer shall forfeit the deposit as a service charge. If the meter is more than two percent (2%) slow or two percent (2%) fast, an adjustment shall be made in the consumer's energy billings for a period of sixty (60) days, a new meter shall be installed if necessary and the consumer's test deposit shall be refunded.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-16
SUBJECT: Inspection of Wiring
POLICY: The State of Idaho and Cooperative rules and
regulations shall be rigidly enforced with reference to inspection of electric wiring. (See Policy Bulletin No. 2-11.)
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-17
SUBJECT: Resale of Power by Consumers
POLICY: The Cooperative shall not permit the resale of
electricity by its members or consumers to other consumers.
Reviewed without change by the Board of Directors April 2, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-18
SUBJECT: Meter Installation After Regular Work Hours
POLICY: No meters shall be installed or reinstalled after
working hours, unless in the judgement of the Manager, there exists extenuating circumstances that will justify the additional expense.
In the event the Manager allows an installation or reinstallation of a meter at any time other than regular working hours, the consumer shall be billed for all overtime charged to the meter installation or reinstallation.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-19
SUBJECT: Checks (Non-Sufficient Fund)
POLICY: In the event the Cooperative receives a notice from the bank that the member check has been deemed uncollectible and returned to the Cooperative, thereby resulting in the member’s account being unpaid, the Cooperative will assess a Return Check Charge of $20.00 per occurrence.
Further, when a Non-Sufficient Fund check is received by Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc., inasmuch as paying monies by check is a privilege and not a right, a check not being legal tender, the Cooperative at their discretion shall have the privilege of demanding other forms of payment for monies due.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 11, 2015.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-20
SUBJECT: Temporary Service
POLICY: Connection Costs. Where it is necessary for the
Cooperative in order to supply service hereunder to extend lines, install transformers, install meter loops, make enlargements of any part of its system or do other work, the customer shall pay in advance the estimated cost of such work including installing and removing such facilities.
This policy was reviewed without change September 23, 2021.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-21
SUBJECT: Overpayment - Underpayment, Electric Energy Bills
POLICY: In the event a consumer overpays or underpays on his
monthly electric energy account in an amount not to exceed fifty cents ($.50), the bill shall be adjusted to agree with the payments. However, should it be noted that consumer underpays on his account consistently, he will be notified and ordered to pay exactly what the bill should have been.
This policy was review and abandoned August 8, 2013.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-22
SUBJECT: Service to Mobile Home
POLICY: For the purpose of this policy, a mobile home shall
mean a structure, built in one or more sections on a steel chassis, which is originally designed to allow for transporting on its own wheels to different sites, and is used with or without a permanent foundation.
When service is requested for a mobile home, at a site not presently being served under a current Agreement for Electric Service (contract), or when an existing service must be changed or upgraded in any manner, it shall be necessary for the consumer requesting such service to pay a $5.00 membership and $10.00 consumer deposit, all of which is refundable at termination of service, provided the consumer is in good standing with the Cooperative and has fulfilled the terms of the contract as required which is explained in this policy.
In addition to the foregoing requirements, it will be necessary that the consumer sign a contract with the Cooperative for not less than one (1) year and pay not less than one (1) year's minimum in advance. This is in addition to the membership and consumer deposit.
One twelfth (1/12) of the year's minimum paid in advance, will be credited monthly to the consumer's account. Should the consumer's service be terminated prior to the fulfillment of the contract, the balance of the advance payment will be applied on the account each month until the contract period has been completed.
In the event the consumer requires service at a location which necessitates more than the setting of a meter pole and the running of services to that pole, the term of the contract and the advance payment required will be increased to correspond with the additional investment involved.
The requirement of payment of not less than one (1) year's minimum in advance shall be waived upon presentation to the Cooperative of a copy of a duly recorded affidavit to the county assessor which places the mobile home on the county tax rolls as real property.
If the consumer's current energy bill is not paid by the 20th day of the month following the date it is due,
he is automatically subject to disconnect in accordance with Policy Bulletin No. 2-07 and no amounts will be refundable to him until all amounts due the Cooperative to fulfill the contract have been paid.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July 18, 1990.
This policy was reviewed and abandoned April 10, 2014.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-23
SUBJECT: Line Extension Policy / Yearly Guarantee
POLICY: Lost River Electric shall provide electric service to
all member-applicants under the following conditions:
When a member or potential member applies for electric service, the cost of providing that service will be estimated and the applicant shall sign an "Agreement for Service" which will require a yearly guarantee of 20% of the estimated cost of construction or a yearly guarantee based on the transformer capacity required, for the service, whichever is greater.
Beginning January 1, 2017, all non-irrigation accounts will be required to have on file at the Lost River Electric Cooperative’s main office, a signed Agreement for Service contract with a stipulated yearly guarantee.
This yearly guarantee shall be for the life of the contract and thereafter as long as service is required at that location. However, should facilities constructed for a specific yearly guarantee be later used in whole or in part to provide service to additional customers, the original cost of construction shall be pro-rated and the original guarantee reduced, but in no event shall the yearly guarantee be reduced to a figure less than minimums or guarantees required by the applicable rate for that particular type of service.
The yearly guarantee, if based on transformer capacity required, shall escalate with general rate adjustments.
In the event the applicant feels the required guarantee is greater than he can use on an annual basis at the present time or anytime in the future, he may, at his option, elect to make a contribution in aid of construction. The amount of the contribution would be deducted from the cost of construction and the yearly guarantee would be computed on the new balance.
In the event the applicant elects to not buy down the construction costs up front, the original buy down costs will be multiplied by 10%, thus resulting in a new buy down amount that may be paid down over time as per the following.
1. If the member does not meet the yearly guarantee in annual energy costs the balance that they are billed in excess of their transformer capacity is applied to the new buy down amount. This excess is applied annually. Over time, after the member has paid off the buy down amount plus the 10%, their yearly guarantee will be reduced to transformer capacity.
2. If the member should elect to buy down the yearly guarantee at a later date, the amount they have paid in excess of their annual energy costs, over time, will be deducted from the balance of the total buy down amount.
If the cost of construction will be, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, excessive, the applicant shall be required to make a contribution in aid of construction. Such contributions shall be set by the Board of Directors and shall reduce the yearly guarantee in the same manner as a voluntary contribution would.
All yearly guarantees specified in an "Agreement" may be met by:
1. the normal minimums
2. demand charges
3. energy charges specified in the "Agreement" and the applicable rate schedule
However, should these normal minimums, demand charges and energy charges be less than the yearly guarantee required by the "Agreement", the difference would be due and payable no later than January 10th each year.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on November 4, 2015.
This policy reviewed by the Board of Directors on June, 24, 2022. This policy only applies to any members who currently have or had a documented construction project completed or in process prior to June 27, 2022.
This policy amended by the Board of Directors on July 22, 2022 to reduce existing contracts based on cost of construction procedure Reduction Schedule Sheet/z:Forms.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-24
SUBJECT: Damage to Co-op Property
POLICY: The consumer is responsible and must pay for any Co-op
property such as meters, meter glasses, services, etc. that are broken or damaged by the consumer.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-25
SUBJECT: Irrigation Season / Related Charges
POLICY: The normal irrigation pumping season shall be from April 1 to October 20, inclusive. Should a consumer desire service from October 21 through October 31, a charge of $50.00 will be made for each installation left on. This charge will be made to defray the cost of disconnection after the regular route has been finished. In the event the consumer desires to use the ‘irrigation pump’ and /or pivot prior to April 1 or after October 31, it will be necessary to pay $5.00 per connected horsepower for each month service is provided. The current irrigation rate for each KWH used will also be charged. In the event the consumer desires to utilize the service for the purpose of anything other than operating an electric motor or motors to propel system(s) which provide water, see Policy 2-40.
When a new pump installation is completed after October 20, the monthly billing period for the new installation shall commence at the beginning of the next irrigation season. If prior to October 20, the year’s first Yearly Minimum Charge shall be prorated on the basis of the number of months service was made available.
This charge shall be prorated to the nearest dollar on a full month basis. A consumer to whom service is made available during any time in the month shall be considered as having received service for that full month in determining the yearly minimum charge for the initial irrigation season.
In the event service is required to move a ‘pivot only’ and no requirements to operate the irrigation pump, consumers may call the main office during normal business hours and schedule an appointment to have the power turned on. Power will be provided for 24 hours and a charge of $100.00 plus the current irrigation rate for each KWH used will be charged.
IMPORTANT
For clarification and understanding:
If an irrigation pump system is utilized for any period of time prior to April 1 or after October 31, said pump shall be billed as follows:
The irrigator will be charged $5.00 per connected horsepower for each pump plus KWH used, for each month energized during this time period. This charge will be billed regardless of the duration the pump was energized.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 27, 2019.
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Policy Bulletin No. 2-26
SUBJECT: Trouble Calls - Consumer's Side of Meter
POLICY: The Cooperative shall, when called upon, take care of
minor repairs and replacements on the Consumer's side of the meter.
There shall be a minimum charge of $30.00 plus material for this service. The minimum charge shall cover the first hour on the job and the consumer shall be billed at the rate of $30.00 per hour after the first hour. In the event the trouble call necessitates overtime, the rate of $45.00 per hour shall apply.
The above charges cover the service of one man. In the event the services of more than one man is required, the hourly rate shall apply to each man's time. In no event shall less than two men answer an overtime trouble call. In this case, the consumer will be billed for the time of all men involved.
Reviewed and abandoned by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 10, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-27
SUBJECT: Payment of Irrigation Pumping Accounts and Late Payment Fees
POLICY: Prior to the connection of any irrigation installation, the horsepower charge must be paid in full on that installation. All delinquent amounts on all of the consumer's accounts must also be paid in full before service is connected.
Installations not paid by the due date are subject to late payment fees.
Late payment fees will be computed as follows:
The delinquent account will be subject to a three percent (3%) late payment fee, compounding in each month until paid in full.
If, during the current irrigation season, an amount of $100.00 or more, due for energy and/or late payment fee(s) on any account, is not paid on or before the second due date following the date of the bill, that account shall be placed in an Advanced status. Five (5) business days prior to being placed in advanced status Lost River Electric shall call the property owner, account holder and or lessee(s) as final notice of pending advance status. An annual advance payment, based on the average energy billing for the last three years the pump was operated, shall be required for the next three (3) irrigation seasons. The advance payment shall be in the form of a letter of credit from a lending institution or in cash.
If a new owner acquires a delinquent irrigation account there is no obligation for prepayment for power. However, prior to connecting the irrigation pump all other accounts, as well as any arrears on the newly purchased installation, belonging to the new owner must be in good standing.
In the event an amount of $100.00 or more, due from energy and/or late payment fee(s) on any account not secured by an agreement for service to irrigation which constitutes
a valid lien or provides for the filing of a lien against the property on which the irrigation installation sits and the property on which the water is to be used, is not paid on or before the last day of the year in which it becomes due, in addition to the advance payment required, it shall be necessary for the owner of said installation to execute a new agreement which does constitute a valid lien or provides for the filing of such a lien. This new agreement shall be for a period of one year and thereafter from year to year until terminated by either party giving the other three months' notice in writing.
If a consumer is involved in a partnership in an irrigation pumping account, a delinquent amount on that account shall be considered as a joint and several obligation of each partner, with the total account considered as being due from each partner individually, regardless of what amounts have been paid by which partner and the total amount must be paid in full prior to the connection of service to any of the partner's, individual's or partnership's pumping installations.
In the event a consumer terminates an Agreement for Electric Service to Irrigation Pump, and a previous year's balance is due on the account that has been terminated, the consumer shall be asked to provide the Cooperative with a payment schedule which will clear the balance due prior to October 31 of the year of termination. In the event the consumer will not provide a payment schedule or does not adhere to the schedule which he does provide, the Cooperative shall proceed with legal action to collect all amounts due on the account, and service will not again be extended to those premises until said account or accounts are paid in full.
In the event an irrigation pumping account has become delinquent, the Cooperative may proceed with all legal remedies available to it for the collection of all amounts due on the account.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 24, 2019.
______________________
Randy R. Purser, President
Policy Bulletin No. 2-28
SUBJECT: Cutting, Trimming and Controlling Growth of Trees
POLICY: The members and other property owners have granted to the Cooperative the right to cut, trim and control the growth by chemical means, of all trees and shrubbery to the extent necessary to keep them clear of the electric system, and to cut all dead, weak, leaning or dangerous trees that are tall enough to strike the electric system in falling. However, in order to assure the continuing good will of the members and other property owners, the Cooperative shall refrain from cutting or trimming any ornamental tree near a residence without the expressed consent of the owner, and shall refrain from cutting any tree regardless of location, without the expressed consent of the owner, and shall perform the minimum amount of trimming necessary to keep the electric line and system clear. Trimming which will drastically alter the appearance of the tree or shrub shall be discussed with the owner and shall receive his consent.
In the event the required clearing of right-of-way cannot be performed because of the owner's refusal to have the required cutting, trimming or controlling performed, the property owner shall be asked to sign an agreement which will hold the Cooperative harmless and shall indemnify the Cooperative in any action resulting from our not performing the required clearing of right-of-way.
In the event the agreement cannot be executed by the property owner, a Conditions Needing Attention Report shall be prepared by the person assessing the right-of-way obstructions and said report shall be submitted to the Cooperative Manager who will obtain the agreement or will report the matter to the Board of Directors who will make final determination in the matter.
Trimming or cutting of trees or shrubbery which does not pose a hazard to the electric system shall be prohibited.
All debris from any cutting or trimming shall be removed by the Cooperative unless prior arrangements have been agreed upon by the Cooperative and the owner.
Application of chemical for controlling growth of trees
and shrubs must receive prior approval of the owner.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-28 P.2
Any deviation from the above policy, except during an extreme emergency or outage, must receive prior approval of the Manager.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July 12, 2012.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-29
SUBJECT: Vandalism - Destruction of Co-op Property
POLICY: A $1,500.00 reward will be paid to or among the person
or persons who will cause to be apprehended and convicted, any person or persons who maliciously injures or destroys any real or personal property belonging to the Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-30
SUBJECT: Civil Rights, Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
POLICY: Pursuant to Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, as it is established policy that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status, be excluded from participation in, admission or excess to, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination by the Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
The Cooperative will comply fully with all requirements imposed by, or pursuant to, the acts mentioned above and the rules and regulations of the Rural Utilities Service.
The Cooperative is to be known as an equal opportunity employer.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on May 11, 2000.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-31
SUBJECT: Continuity of Service
POLICY: The Cooperative shall use reasonable diligence to
provide a constant and uninterrupted supply of electric power and energy, but if such supply shall fail because of (1) interruptions or reductions due to operation of devices installed for power system protections; (2) interruptions or reductions due to Acts of God, Governmental Authority, actions of the elements, public enemy, vandalism, accident, strikes, labor trouble; and (3) temporary interruption or reduction which, in the opinion of the Cooperative, are necessary or desirable for the purposes of maintenance, repairs, replacements, installation of equipment or investigation or inspection; or for any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Cooperative, the Cooperative shall not be liable therefor, or for damages caused thereby.
This policy applies to all consumers of the Cooperative without exception.
Reviewed by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 12, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32
SUBJECT: Curtailment of Electrical Consumption
POLICY: This policy establishes the steps that the Cooperative
will adopt and follow in the event of certain emergencies necessitating curtailment of delivery of electrical energy to some or all of the members of the Cooperative. The emergencies covered by this plan are those resulting from regional energy or capacity deficiencies, and those resulting from equipment failure or other casualties on the system of the Cooperative, beyond the reasonable control of the Cooperative, or on or affecting the system of any supplier of energy to the Cooperative.
I. DEFINITIONS. As used in this policy the following definitions apply:
1. "Major Use Member" is a member who used 10,000 KWH or more in any billing month within the base period, or who is estimated
to use 10,000 KWH (without curtailment) in any billing month during a curtailment period for purposes other than irrigation.
2. "Base Period" is a 12 month period preceding
a curtailment period, and shall be designated by the Cooperative for each curtailment period.
3. For each member, the "billing month" is based
on the billing period for which his respective billing is computed.
4. "Base Period Month Energy" is the KWH use
indicated or estimated in a given billing month in the base period for the purpose of this plan.
II. CURTAILMENTS REQUIRED BY REGIONAL DEFICIENCIES OF ENERGY OR CAPACITY.
1. To the extent permitted by the operating
characteristics of the Cooperative's system, curtailments will be effected in the sequence stated below, but the Cooperative in its sole judgment may vary from said sequence in order to protect system performance, integrity, reliability or stability.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.2
2. Any curtailment action by the Cooperative on
account of regional deficiencies will be in coordination with other utility systems in the region as far as possible.
3. Curtailment steps will normally begin with
voluntary curtailment, and if necessary, will be followed by non-voluntary curtailment.
VOLUNTARY CURTAILMENT
4. Upon declaration of an emergency and order
for curtailment issued by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, or upon receiving a notice or directive from the Bonneville Power Administrator, or from other authorized state or federal officials or agencies, or when the Cooperative's Board of Directors so determines, the Cooperative will take the following steps to initiate voluntary curtailment:
a. Initiate curtailment of all non-
essential uses of the Cooperative system itself.
b. Inform the public of the emergency
through the news media and request that all members voluntarily curtail all non-essential uses.
c. Request curtailment of non-essential
uses by governmental agencies and institutions at all levels.
d. Request voluntary curtailment of non-
essential use in all commercial buildings.
e. Direct specific requests to all major
use members for voluntary curtailment of non-essential use.
f. Encourage operation of any member-owned
generating equipment located in the Cooperative's service area and not then being operated, for operation in parallel with the Cooperative's system, subject to the availability of fuel.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.3
g. If additional voluntary curtailment is
required, intensify public appeals to members through media and direct contacts, with notice that non-voluntary curtailment is imminent and will be invoked if voluntary curtailment is not increased.
NON-VOLUNTARY CURTAILMENT
5. Upon declaration of an emergency and
order for non-voluntary curtailment by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission under the provisions of Idaho Code 61-531 et. seq., or if the Cooperative is ordered to curtail by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to notification of the Bonneville Power Administrator based on forecasted deficiencies in energy or capacity and the Pacific Northwest Power Pool Area, the Cooperative will implement non-voluntary curtailment procedures herein set forth.
6. Upon issuance of the curtailment order
by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the Board of Directors of the Cooperative will determine and announce the beginning date of such curtailment and the required curtailment percentage of the base period energy, together with specific methods of achieving the required curtailment among members.
7. The Cooperative shall give its members
advance notice of the curtailment, which notice shall contain the beginning date of non-voluntary curtailment and a summary of the methods of achieving the required curtailment percentage. Such notice shall be published in the newspaper or newspapers of general circulation within the Cooperative's service area for at least four consecutive weeks prior to the beginning date of non-voluntary curtailment, unless emergency circumstances necessitate shorter or different notice.
8. In addition to the foregoing, the
cooperative may give further consideration to operational procedures, including voltage reduction and interruption of service as
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.4
necessary to maintain integrity of service.
To the extent practicable, public notice will be given through the news media before any such operational procedures are implemented.
9. a. In all cases, the Cooperative will
determine each member's base period month energy or respective billing period based upon historical energy records of the member and similar members' usage, which shall be the primary source of such determination, and the Cooperative may also give consideration, among other matters, to any or all of the following: (i) installed increases in load; (ii) changes in the member's operations or, in the case of residential members, in the member's living arrangements; (iii) any involuntary or non-voluntary curtailment made during the base period; (iv) changes in the member's billing month; and (v) significant differences in weather conditions. The base period month energy thus determined by the cooperative shall be conclusively presumed to be accurate unless the member, prior to initiation of non-voluntary curtailment, documents to the cooperative in writing changes in the member's facilities or operations, or living arrangements, with a brief written description of each change. Representatives of the Cooperative shall have the right to inspect the member's facility and operating schedules and living arrangements to verify all such changes, and the Cooperative shall have the sole discretion to either accept or reject the proposed changes in the base period month energy.
b. New members who do not have an historical base period will have a base period month energy or respective billing period established after consideration of the above factors and of similar determination for comparable members.
c. If the Cooperative and the member cannot agree on the base period month energy for one or more billing periods, the member
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.5
shall have the right to request a hearing before the Board of Directors of the Cooperative. Such request shall be in writing and shall state the specific reasons why the member believes that the base period month energy determined by the Cooperative is in error. Pending said hearing, the determination of the disputed base period month energy or respective period by the Cooperative shall control. The decision reached by the Cooperative Board of Directors following such hearing shall be final.
d. Non-voluntary curtailment shall apply equally to all classes of the Cooperative's members, and regardless of
the size of each member's load; provided that unless the Board of Directors of
the Cooperative determines to the contrary, differing percentages of curtailment may apply to essential uses of energy, including but not limited to those uses deemed essential and listed on Exhibit "A" attached hereto.
10. Any member who considers that non-voluntary curtailment in accordance with this plan imposes an unusual, unique and excessive hardship upon him may apply to the Board of Directors of the Cooperative for a variance from the curtailment plan, stating in writing his reasons for application. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may grant a hearing on said application for variance, and the decision of the Board taken upon said application shall be final.
11. After the commencement of the non-
voluntary curtailment, the Cooperative may monitor the use of energy by each major use member. The Cooperative may also monitor the use of energy by members other than major use members, by conducting a random sample selection of member accounts.
12. If the Cooperative finds that a member has not complied with the required curtailment, it will give the member written notice of such non-compliance together with a notice of intention to disconnect pursuant to
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.6
the Cooperative policy and procedures then in effect for termination of a member's service. The member shall have such rights to a hearing before the Cooperative as are provided in the Cooperative policies and procedures for such termination.
13. Should voluntary curtailment of the
entire system reach a determinable level, the Cooperative may, if practicable, institute operational procedures within the system, such as reduction of system voltage if possible, to reach the desired curtailment level.
14. The Cooperative will make an appropriate
announcement when curtailment may be terminated.
III. CURTAILMENTS REQUIRED BY EQUIPMENT FAILURES
OR OTHER CASUALTIES ON THE SYSTEM OF THE COOPERATIVE OR ITS SUPPLIERS.
1. During the duration of an order for
curtailment by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, emergencies caused by equipment failures or other casualties on the Cooperative's own system, beyond the Cooperative's reasonable control, or on or affecting the system of any supplier of energy to the Cooperative, may require the Cooperative to implement a curtailment program on all its system, or in a designated portion thereof.
2. Whenever possible, the Cooperative's
Board of Directors will determine whether a system failure curtailment program is needed, the extent and amount of the necessary curtailment, beginning date thereof, and whether non-voluntary curtailment is necessary while such order to curtail is in effect.
3. Curtailments required by equipment
failures, system casualties, causes beyond control, or failure of supply will follow the procedures hereinabove set forth for voluntary or non-voluntary curtailment, provided that an order for curtailment from the Idaho Public
Policy Bulletin No. 2-32 P.7
Utilities Commission is outstanding and in effect.
IV. NON-LIABILITY. The Cooperative, its Board of
Directors, Manager, employees, representatives and agents shall not be liable to its consumers or members or any other person, association, partnership, or corporation for any interruption, suspension, curtailment, termination, denial, or fluctuation in service or for any injury, loss or damage caused by any action taken by the Cooperative, its Board of Directors, Manager, employees, representatives and agents as a result of (a) this curtailment plan or any amendments thereto filed with and approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission or the implementation or enforcement thereof, (b) actions taken pursuant to an order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission or by reason of curtailment of electric service pursuant to any order for curtailment or the curtailment
plan of the Cooperative on file with and approved by the Commission, or (c) inability of the Cooperative or any supplier or transferor of electric energy to the Cooperative to furnish adequate or sufficient supplies of electric power by reason of the emergency declared to exist by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Under Idaho Code 61-531 et.seq. or the inability to obtain an order from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission which allows adequate time to construct necessary generating and transmission facilities.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-33
SUBJECT: Use of Cooperative Personnel and Equipment for Activity
Unrelated to the Transmission or Distribution of Electric Energy
POLICY: The Cooperative shall, when called upon to do so and at
the discretion of the Manager, provide the personnel and equipment necessary to accomplish certain activities which are not related to its primary function of transmission and distribution of electric energy to its members.
Such use of Cooperative personnel and equipment is strictly prohibited without the expressed consent of the Manager.
The Manager or Operations Manager shall determine the number of persons assigned to perform said work.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 8, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-34
SUBJECT: Correction of Electrical Hazards Created by Customers or the General Public.
POLICY: The basic objective of the Lost River Electric
Cooperative, Inc. is to meet its responsibilities as a public utility in a manner which will prevent property damage and personal injury. The prevention of accidents is desirable and possible and is the responsibility of each person in the employ of the Cooperative.
In the event any employee perceives a condition that will, in their opinion, present a safety hazard to the general public or to the employees of the Cooperative, it shall be that employee's responsibility to prepare a "CONDITIONS NEEDING ATTENTION REPORT" and present that "Report" to the Operations Superintendent, the Office Manager or the Manager of the Cooperative as soon as possible. The hazard should be discussed with the person to whom the report is given.
As soon as possible after a "Report" is made, the person or persons responsible for creating the hazard shall be contacted by telephone or in person for the purpose of discussing the matter with them. A solution and a time schedule for clearing the hazard shall be agreed on at that time and that solution and time schedule shall be noted on the "Report" and presented to the Manager. The Manager shall prepare and mail a letter to the customer which will confirm the agreement and the schedule.
In the event the customer shall not agree to a solution or a time schedule or shall not adhere to the solution and schedule agreed on, the matter shall be presented to the Board of Directors, accompanied by recommendations from the staff on what steps by the Cooperative are needed to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. The Board shall assess the matter, the recommendations and the resulting conclusion and, if appropriate, shall direct the staff to proceed with the action and render billings for the associated costs to the customer.
The customer shall be advised in writing by certified mail of the Board action and shall be given a specific date to remove the hazard or arrange with the Cooperative to have the hazard removed. The customer shall be advised that if he does not agree with the action of the Board, he should, within ten (10) days, indicate his desire to meet with the Board at its next scheduled meeting to present his position on the matter.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-34 P.2
If this is not done and if, after the date specified in the letter, the hazard still exists, the Cooperative shall take the appropriate action as specified in the letter and the customer shall be billed for the associated costs. Unpaid charges shall
subject all of the customer's accounts to disconnection under Policy Bulletin No. 2-07.
In the case of an extreme emergency when time does not allow for the foregoing procedure because of critically hazardous conditions, the Manager or the Operations Superintendent may authorize the removal of the hazard at once, or de-energize, or terminate the service. Should this become necessary, the Board of Directors shall review the action of the Manager or Operations Superintendent and shall determine the appropriate action at that time.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on February 11, 1993.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-35
SUBJECT: Weatherization Program
POLICY: Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. shall participate
in the Bonneville Power Administration Long Term Energy Conservation Program and shall provide energy audits to all customers with electric heat installed in permanent housing who receive electric service from the Cooperative. Mobile homes do not qualify as permanent housing under this policy.
The Cooperative shall perform an energy audit on those residences that qualify after the necessary applications and agreements have been made by and with the customers and shall bill the customer $200.00 for the audit. This bill will be rendered on the 20th day of the month after the audit is completed and an additional charge will be added to the cost of the audit at the rate of 1% of the amount unpaid on the last day of the second month following the date of the bill and a like charge of 1% of the amount unpaid shall be added to the cost of the audit on the last day of each subsequent month.
Reimbursement for the cost of the audit and any interest charged will be made when recommended measures are installed as specified and the Cooperative has received reimbursement from Bonneville Power Administration. A decision not to install any measures will void any reimbursement for the audit.
In the event the customer's actions or inactions preclude reimbursement for the audit by Bonneville Power Administration, the amount due for the cost of the audit plus accrued interest, shall become due and payable on thirty days' notice. Non-payment of these costs shall subject the customer to disconnection of their electric service under Policy Bulletin No. 2-07.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-36
SUBJECT: Bankruptcy
POLICY: Upon receipt of a notice of a bankruptcy petition, a meter reading must be obtained at once. Using that reading and the previous readings on the account, either estimated or actual, a meter reading is determined for the date of filing and the account is billed to that date. Any membership deposit, consumer deposit or separate connect deposits on file with the Cooperative, in the name of the petitioner, and any prepayments on the account are then applied against the final billing and the final billing and any offsets are listed on the Proof of Claim and submitted to the Cooperative Attorney, for submission to the Bankruptcy Court.
In the event the petitioner requires electric service after the date of filing, a new account must be set up for the customer, a completely new account number assigned and a new membership deposit and a consumer deposit billed. The amount of the consumer deposit, for all accounts except irrigation, is determined by taking a monthly average of the KWH's used during the preceding twelve month period, applying the current rate to the average and multiplying the sum by two. These deposits are billed to the customer by a letter sent by certified mail as soon after the notice of filing has been received as is practicable. The letter shall allow ten days for the payment of the deposits or the receipt of adequate assurance the deposits shall be paid. In the event said payment or adequate assurance is not received, service shall be disconnected on the eleventh day or the first working day thereafter, following the date of the letter.
In the event there is a prepayment on the account which is in excess of the amount needed to clear the amount owing on the account, the balance of said prepayment shall be placed on the new account and shall be used in the same manner as was originally intended for said prepayment.
In the event the petitioner requires electric service to an irrigation installation or a large power installation, after the date of filing, the Cooperative shall require, in addition to the normal yearly guarantee of horsepower charge, a new deposit in the amount of the existing deposit and a letter of credit
Policy Bulletin No. 2-36 P.2
from a financing institution or a prepayment in an amount equal to the average energy billing for the last three years the installation was operated. This letter of credit or prepayment is requested until such time as the proceedings in bankruptcy are completed.
The new account shall be dealt with in strict compliance with Policy Bulletin No. 2-07 – Delinquent Accounts and Disconnection.
Revised by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 14, 2001.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-37
SUBJECT: Inspection of Cooperative Records
POLICY: The Board of Directors of Lost River Electric
Cooperative, Inc. recognizes the right of each member of the Cooperative to obtain information relative to the operation of the Cooperative.
Idaho Code 30-319 (Non Profit Corporation Act) provides that "All books and records of a corporation may be inspected by any member, or his agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time".
Idaho Code 30-1-52 (Business Corporation Act) provides that "Any person who shall have been a holder of record of shares...at least six (6) months immediately preceding his demand...upon written demand stating the purpose thereof, shall have the right to examine, in person, or by agent or attorney, at any reasonable time or times, for any proper purpose its relevant books and records".
To facilitate the Cooperative's compliance with these provisions of the law the member making the request or his agent shall be asked to attend a regular meeting of the Board of Directors and identify in writing, on a Board approved form provided for that purpose, those records he wishes to examine and the purpose for which the examination is requested.
After a review of the request, the Board of Directors shall determine whether the request is for a proper purpose as provided for by relevant law and, if it is, shall instruct the Cooperative staff to provide the records requested at a time mutually agreed upon by the member and the Board. Such time shall be during regular business hours of the Cooperative. A Cooperative employee or representative shall be present during such inspection and the member requesting the inspection shall be responsible for the actual expenses of the employee to be present during the same. If copies are requested, the Cooperative shall make the copies and shall charge the member the usual fee for such service. Any cost, expense or time spent by the Cooperative for the research of the Cooperative records for a member, will be charged at the actual cost to the Cooperative. The member will be informed as to the hourly rates, etc., that the Cooperative shall charge for the services requested. All costs must be paid at the time of the inspection.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on November 10, 1988.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-38
SUBJECT: Alternative Method for Determining Horsepower Rating of Irrigation Installations.
POLICY: Rate Schedule I requires the horsepower rating of an
irrigation installation be determined by the nameplate of the motor or motors of the installation.
Because a motor may be undersized or oversized, an optional method for determining horsepower shall be available to anyone wishing to choose the alternative. Initially, the horsepower charge, based on the nameplate rating of the unit, and any other amounts due the Cooperative at the time of connection must be paid. The meter will be read by the Cooperative on a monthly basis and after the final reading of the season, the maximum demand used at any time during the season shall be used to determine the maximum horsepower that the unit used. The horsepower charge for the season will then be recomputed, using that maximum horsepower and the consumer shall be credited or billed for any difference in the original horsepower charge. The computed horsepower shall also be used to compute initial horsepower charge for the next irrigation season.
The selection of the alternate method of computation of horsepower shall be binding and, once selected, will be the only computation of horsepower allowed on that installation.
In the event the installation is not used for a season after the alternate method of computation is chosen, the yearly minimum required by the "Agreement for Service to Irrigation" or the horsepower charge required by Schedule I, based on the maximum demand from the last year of operation, whichever is greater, shall be due and payable prior to the last due date following October 20 of that irrigation season.
An application for the alternate method of determination must be signed by the consumer at least three (3) days prior to the date service is required and shall be irrevocable for the life of the irrigation installation.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 10, 2003.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-39
SUBJECT: Test Service for Irrigation Installations
POLICY: In the event service is required to an irrigation
installation which was previously served with electricity and the Agreement for Service has been terminated, for the purpose of testing only, the Cooperative shall make said service available for a period not to exceed two hours during a non-peaking period at the Cooperative's discretion.
The owner of the facility shall make a written request for said service, shall pay all past due amounts owed to the Cooperative, shall prepay the Cooperative's estimated costs of providing said service, plus a charge of $1.00 per horsepower based on the nameplate of the motors which will be energized and shall pay for any KWH consumed at the current Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. KWH rate under Schedule I.
Should service be required for longer than a two hour period, the procedure for line extensions under Policy Bulletin No. 2-23 shall be applicable.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. February 26, 1990.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-40
SUBJECT: Alternative Use of an Irrigation Service Installation – Utilization of the irrigation service for the purpose of anything other than operating an electric motor or motors to propel system(s) which provide water.
POLICY: Electric energy delivered by Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. to a member under the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement for Electric Service - Irrigation shall be used solely for the purpose of operating an electric motor or motors to propel systems which provide water for irrigation.
Use of the electric energy for any other purpose cannot be delivered under the Cooperative's Rate Schedule I - Irrigation Service, but shall be delivered under Rate Schedule C-1 – Rural Farm Service, if the service(s) require 50 KW or less and under the Rate Schedule LP- Large Power Service, if the service requires 51 KW or more.
Any member wishing to utilize a unit, contracted for as an irrigation installation, for any other purpose, shall give the Cooperative at least three days notice in writing of their intentions. The Cooperative shall read the meter on the next working day following the receipt of the written notice and shall transfer the installation from an irrigation service to a Schedule C-1 – Rural Farm Service, if the service(s) require 50 KW or less and under the Rate Schedule LP- Large Power Service, if the service requires 51 KW or more.
This change of designation shall remain in effect until the member advises the Cooperative in writing the alternative use has been discontinued and another meter reading has been obtained or until the beginning of a new annual irrigation season. A charge of $15.00 shall be made for this transfer.
In the event written notice has not been received by the Cooperative and it is determined an installation is being used for any purpose other than irrigation,
Policy Bulletin No. 2-40 P.2
the installation shall be transferred from an irrigation service to a Schedule C-1 – Rural Farm Service, if the service(s) require 50 KW or less and under the Rate Schedule LP- Large Power Service, if the service requires 51 KW or more, effective the date of the last meter reading taken by the Cooperative. A notice shall be mailed to the member advising them of the action taken. This change of designation shall remain in effect until the member advises the Cooperative in writing the alternative use has been discontinued and another meter reading has been obtained or until the beginning of a new annual irrigation season. A charge of $15.00 shall be made for this transfer.
The KWH and the KW of Demand used under the Rural Farm or Large Power designation shall be billed under Rate Schedule LP and shall not qualify for the irrigation discount but shall be considered when determining annual minimums required by contract.
In the event the installation is not metered with a demand meter, the horsepower rating of the equipment used for the alternate purpose shall be substituted for a registered KW of demand for each billing period.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on September 27, 2019.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-41
SUBJECT: Level Payment Plan – Irrigation
POLICY: The normal irrigation season begins on April 1st and ends on the 20th of October each year. Yearly minimums or horsepower charges are required to be paid in full prior to service being made available at the beginning of the season.
The Cooperative shall provide an option which would allow a monthly payment beginning in January of each year, based on the highest billing year on the unit in the previous five year period. In the event there is not a five-year history on the unit, the monthly payment would be computed using an estimated billing for the unit based on the following formula: HP times .746 KWH per hour times 24 hours per day times three months (90 days), which would equal the total estimated KWH usage. That total year’s billing or the estimated annual billing shall be divided by 12 and 1/12th would be due and payable each month beginning with January. The billing would be subject to the standard three percent (3%) penalty if not paid on or before the 15th day of the following month.
Application for the levelized payment plan on any unit must be received in writing by the Cooperative prior to December 31st of the previous year for which levelized billings is desired. It shall be the responsibility of the irrigator to make timely application for each and every unit for which the levelized payment plan is desired. Late application shall be accommodated through March 31st by the payment, by the irrigator, of the amounts due for the current year’s calendar months which have elapsed prior to the late application.
In no event shall service be made available on or after April 1 of any year unless money equal to the yearly minimum or horsepower charge has been paid.
This plan shall not be available on any irrigation account on which there is a past-due balance or on which a prepayment is required for any reason.
In the event a levelized payment has not been paid by the 20th day of the month following the due date of
Policy Bulletin No. 2-41 P. 2
such payment, the levelized payment option shall be terminated and the normal payment requirements shall apply from that date through the end of the current irrigation season.
Once an application is made for the levelized payment plan, it cannot be altered before the end of the calendar year specified in the application.
In the event the size of the unit is changed anytime during the calendar year, the payment required for the remaining months in that calendar year shall be recomputed using the estimate billing formula stated above.
At the time the unit is disconnected for the season, the final billing shall be computed and the actual amount due shall be divided by the remaining months in the calendar year and the subsequent monthly billings will be adjusted to clear the account in full by December 31st of that year.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. December 9. 2010.
This policy has been abandoned as of the board meeting held February 13, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-42
SUBJECT: Emergency Service for Terminated Irrigation Installations
POLICY: In the event the State of Idaho declares one or all of the counties served by the Cooperative as an emergency disaster drought relief area, and service is requested to an irrigation installation which was previously served with electricity, and where the Agreement for Service has been terminated, the Cooperative shall make said service available for the current irrigation season, under the following terms:
The Consumer shall make a written request for said service, provide proof of Order Authorizing Temporary Change of Water Right executed by the State of Idaho, Department of Water Resources, and shall prepay the Cooperative’s estimated installation and removal costs associated with providing service, which will defray the costs of the temporary service. In addition to the Cooperative’s estimated costs of providing service to the pump installation, the Consumer will also be required to pay the computed horsepower charge before a meter is installed.
Reviewed by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on August 14, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-43
SUBJECT: Stopped Meter or Meter Registering Incorrectly for Residential or Commercial
POLICY: This policy establishes the steps that the Cooperative will adopt and follow in the event that a consumers meter does not register properly.
I. For meters that are not registering or are registering incorrectly:
1. The Member will be contacted immediately to notify them of the situation regarding their meter.
2. At this time the Cooperative will gather information from the Member to establish a usage pattern and go over the historical usage on the meter.
3. The old meter will be removed and may be tested for accuracy and replaced with a new meter.
4. The Cooperative will then take check reads off of the new meter for a period of time to establish an average daily KWH usage by the Member.
5. Once the Cooperative has an average daily use we will then establish a time frame that the meter was not registering.
6. The time frame is then divided up into monthly billing cycles using the previous dates that the meter was read.
7. The number of days in the billing cycle is then multiplied by the average daily KWH usage, to obtain a monthly average KWH usage.
8. The monthly KWH usages are then add together to come up with a total KWH usage by the Member.
9. The total KWH that the Member has already been billed for in that time frame is then subtracted from the total average KWH usage.
10. The balance of the average KWH usage is then multiplied by the rate at which the Member would have been billed at in that time frame.
11. The yearly guarantee for that service will then be taken into consideration if the Member has not been meeting the yearly guarantee.
12. The Cooperative will then establish an estimated billing based on the information obtained by us as well as the information that the Member has provided.
13. The Member is then contacted a final time to go over all the information that was used to determine the estimated billing. The Member and the Cooperative can then come to an agreement on an amount that is considered fair to both the Cooperative and the Member.
II. For stopped meters or meters registering incorrectly for more than a year the Cooperative will retro bill 80% of the total estimate.
III. This policy, at the discretion of the Cooperative, may or may not apply to situations of power theft and/or damage to a meter whether intentional or unintentional.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on October 28, 2010.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-44
Subject: Harmonic Distortion
Purpose: It is the goal of Lost River Electric Cooperative to provide good, quality and reliable electric service. In an effort to improve and maintain good voltage regulation and power quality, Lost River Electric is implementing this harmonics policy. This policy will protect Lost River Electric’s equipment and protect member owned equipment from the damage that harmonic distortion can cause on an electric distribution system.
Modern day electronic equipment is the cause for most harmonics. This equipment, if not designed or filtered properly can cause other sensitive equipment to malfunction, shutdown or fail. The effects of harmonics are often undetected until an actual failure occurs. Harmonics can overheat transformers, shorten the life or damage the utility’s equipment, interfere with metering, and cause problems for Lost River’s members. These damaging effects cause interruptions, expensive downtime and loss of revenue.
Harmonic distortion is often generated by customer owned equipment, such as the installation of variable speed motor drives, arc furnaces and other high frequency equipment. This type of member owned equipment can cause harmonics on Lost River’s system, if poorly designed or not filtered. Industrial, commercial and irrigation electrical systems often have large amounts of electronic equipment, therefore are more likely to induce significant amount of harmonic voltage and current on to Lost River’s system.
Policy: It shall be the policy of the cooperative to require that all member owned equipment comply with the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard #519. Lost River Electric shall monitor harmonic distortion at the members’ service point, using the thresholds set forth in the above IEEE standard and require as a condition of service that any harmonic distortion be filtered.
1. All variable frequency drives that are currently installed on irrigation or commercial services will be required to meet the IEEE 519 harmonic standard or provide a filter for the installation by June 1, 2014.
2. All new installations of variable frequency drives on irrigation or commercial services will be required to meet the IEEE standard for harmonics before the service is connected.
3. All other electrical services will be monitored by the Cooperative, and members will be notified if equipment producing harmonic distortion, above the acceptable standard, is detected.
4. All maintenance and replacement costs for this equipment will be the responsibility of the member.
5. Lost River Electric will retain a copy of the IEEE standard at our office and cooperative personnel will determine the applicable percentage thresholds for each specific service using the IEEE standard #519.
This policy supersedes any existing policy which may be in conflict with the provisions of this policy.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 8, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-45
SUBJECT: – Net Billing
POLICY: Net-Metering service is available to members of Lost River Electric Cooperative (LREC) who own and operate power generation equipment subject to the following conditions:
· Generates electricity fueled by solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydro, or fuel cell.
· Located on Member’s premises and interconnected and operating in parallel with LREC’s existing transmission and distribution system.
· Available on a first-come, first-serve basis until the cumulative level of net-billing and other generation equals 15% of the total measured peak load or design capacity of the circuit (as most recently measured at the substation).
· Intended to primarily offset part or all of the Member’s own electrical requirements.
Small Generation Interconnection Requirements
The following Small Generation Interconnection Requirements (“SGIR”) shall apply to all Small Generating Facilities connecting with LREC system as an eligible renewable energy resources and a “Qualifying Facility” as defined in Section 201 of the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (“PURPA”), applying for connection to LREC’s System. These procedures are intended to comply with the applicable requirements applied to LREC by: the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Inspector’s Office (to the extent applicable), USDA Rural Utilities Service (to the extent applicable), the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (to the extent applicable), LREC’s Power Purchase Agreements, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
LREC may interconnect with the following Small Generating Facilities if the following conditions are met:
1. A Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with residential class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is fifteen (15) kW or less for a residential service, or a commercial class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is twenty-five (25) kW or less pursuant to the Level 1 (25 kW Inverter Process).
Eligibility for Net Metering is described in Section 5 (“Net Metering”).
LREC has both the right and obligation under the regulations implementing PURPA to purchase energy and capacity from Qualifying Facilities, as defined in Section 201 of PURPA. The amount of energy and capacity purchased by LREC is subject to the capability of LREC’s electric system to accept and deliver such energy and capacity, as determined solely by LREC. In order for LREC to ensure compliance with its Power Purchase Agreements and or purchase of energy through this policy, only the capacity from a Qualifying Facility with a connected nameplate generating capacity of no greater than fifteen (15) kW for a residential service and no greater than twenty-five (25) kW for a commercial service shall be approved.
Section 1. Application
A. Applicability
1. LREC permits interconnection of any Small Generating Facility that meets the requirements set forth herein and LREC’s Small Generation Interconnection Guidelines, including all standards concerning protective equipment, inspection, maintenance, insurance, metering, and liability. LREC shall evaluate each Interconnection Request on a case-by-case-basis.
LREC’s processes for evaluating Interconnection Requests are as follows:
A. Level 1 Process (See Attachment) – An Interconnection
Request to connect a Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility no larger than fifteen (15) kW for residential or twenty-five (25) kW for commercial shall be evaluated by LREC under its simplified interconnection procedures outlined in the Level 1 Process.
2. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified in the Glossary of Terms. (See Attachment 1)
3. As a condition of interconnection with LREC’s System, each Interconnection Consumer shall comply with requirements to ensure infrastructure security, operational security, including physical, operational, and cyber-security, as determined by LREC or required by applicable law. The Interconnection Consumer shall provide all security measures required by LREC.
B. Pre-Application
1. LREC, through its Operations Department, will provide basic information on the application process and LREC’s system upon request from the Interconnection Consumer presenting a proposed project for a specific site.
2. In responding to any other informal request from an Interconnection Consumer, LREC may provide information regarding specific locations, feeders, or small areas of LREC’s System. Such information may include relevant system studies, interconnection studies, and Operating Requirements and other information useful in understanding a particular point of interconnection on LREC’s System.
3. LREC shall not be required to provide information to the
Interconnection Consumer that would violate confidentiality provisions of prior agreements or critical infrastructure requirements. LREC shall comply with reasonable requests for such information unless such information is proprietary or confidential and cannot be provided pursuant to a confidentiality agreement.
4. An interconnection consumer may submit a formal written request for a pre-application report on a proposed interconnection at a specific site using a Pre-application Interconnection Form supplied by LREC unless such information is confidential and cannot be provided pursuant to a confidentiality agreement. LREC shall respond to pre-application report requests within twenty (20) Business Days
C. Interconnection Request
1. The Interconnection Consumer shall submit a Pre-Application Interconnection Request (See Attachment) to LREC as required in this procedure, together with the processing fee or deposit specified in the Interconnection Request. The Interconnection Request shall be date- and time-stamped upon receipt. The original date-and time-stamp applied to the Interconnection Request at the time of its original submission shall be accepted as the qualifying date- and time-stamp for the purposes of any timetable in this procedure.
2. LREC shall notify the Interconnection Consumer within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of the interconnection Request as to whether the Interconnection Request is deemed, in the sole discretion of LREC, to be complete or incomplete.
a. If the Interconnection Request is incomplete, LREC shall provide notice that the Interconnection Request is incomplete and will provide a written list detailing all information that must be provided to complete the Interconnection Request. The Interconnection Consumer will have ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the notice to submit the listed information or request a
time extension to provide such information. If the
Interconnection Consumer does not provide the required
information or a request for an extension of time within the deadline, the Interconnection Request will be deemed
withdrawn.
b. An Interconnection Request will be deemed complete upon submission of the required information to LREC as reasonably determined by LREC on or before the applicable deadline, at which time a meeting will be scheduled between the Interconnection Consumer and the Operations Manager.
D. Modification of the Interconnection Request
Any modification of the project data or equipment configuration, project design, or to the interconnection site of the Small Generating Facility not otherwise agreed to in writing by LREC and the Interconnection Consumer may be deemed a withdrawal of the Interconnection Request.
E. Site control
1. In addition to the information required to be submitted to LREC in an Interconnection Request, an Interconnection Consumer shall submit site control documentation with the Interconnection Request. Site control may be demonstrated through:
a. ownership of, a leasehold interest in, or a right to develop the site for the purpose of constructing the Small Generating Facility;
b. an option to purchase or acquire a leasehold site for such purpose; or
c. an exclusivity or other business relationship between the Interconnection Consumer and the entity having the right to sell, lease, or grant the Interconnection Consumer the right to possess or occupy a site for such purpose.
F. Queue Position
1. LREC shall place each Interconnection Request in a first-come, first-serve basis per feeder and per substation.
2. The order of each Interconnection Request will be used by LREC to determine the cost responsibility of the Interconnection Consumer for any System upgrades that LREC determines are necessary to accommodate the interconnection. Except for Upgrades to LREC’s transmission System, the Interconnection Consumer(s) whose interconnection causes the need for upgrades to the Interconnection Facilities and Upgrades shall be responsible for 100% of such costs. For interconnections to LREC’s transmission System, the Interconnection Consumer(s) whose interconnection causes the need for upgrades to the Interconnection Facilities and Upgrades shall be responsible for 100% of such costs, subject to LREC requiring later contribution toward any transmission Upgrades related to costs by Interconnection Consumers that interconnect after completion of the System Upgrades and that LREC determines benefit from such Upgrades. LREC shall allocate such costs in a manner it deems to be consistent with applicable law and LREC’s rules and regulations.
3. Interconnection Requests may be studied serially or in clusters for the purpose of the system impact study.
G. Assignment/Transfer of Ownership of the Facility
Interconnection Agreements shall survive transfer of ownership of the Small Generating Facility to a new owner when the new owner agrees in writing to comply with the terms of the agreement and so notifies LREC.
Section 2. Level 1 Process (25kW Inverter Process)
A. Applicability
The Level 1 Process for a Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with residential class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is fifteen (15) kW or less for a residential service or a commercial class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is twenty-five (25) kW or less pursuant to the Level 1.
Process utilizes an all-in-one document that includes a Short Form Interconnection Request, simplified procedures, and an abbreviated set of terms and conditions (see Attachment).
For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1 and 5 of these Procedures shall apply to the Level 1 Process, with the exception of Section 5.H (“Interconnection Agreement”).
Eligibility for Net Metering is described in Section 5.M (“Net Metering”).
B. Processing Fee
To initiate the Level 1 Process, an Interconnection Consumer shall submit a Short Form Interconnection Request and a non-refundable processing fee of One Hundred and Ninety-Five Dollars ($195) to LREC (see Attachment).
C. Initial Review
Within fifteen (15) Business Days after LREC notifies the Interconnection Consumer it has received a complete Interconnection Request in accordance with Section 1.C, LREC shall: (1) perform an initial review using
the Screens set forth below, (2) shall notify the Interconnection Consumer of the results, and (3) include with the notification copies of the analysis and
data underlying LREC’s determinations under the following Screens.
1. Screens:
a. The proposed Small Generating Facility Point of Interconnection must be on a portion of LREC’s System. Proposed interconnection resources on highly seasonal circuits shall also be subject to the supplemental review
b. For interconnection of a proposed Small Generating Facility to a radial distribution circuit, the aggregated generation, including the proposed generating facility, shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the line section’s annual peak load as most recently measured at the substation or calculated for the line section. A line section is that portion of LREC’s electric system
connected to a Consumer bounded by automatic sectionalizing
devices or the end of the distribution line. A fuse is not an automatic sectionalizing device. Energy storage system capacity for purposes of this screen shall be based on only the capacity that is designed to inject electricity to LREC’s distribution system (other than inadvertent exports and fault contribution).
c. The proposed Small Generating Facility, in aggregate with other generation on the distribution circuit, shall not contribute more than ten percent (10%) to the distribution circuit’s maximum fault current at the point on the high voltage (primary) level nearest the proposed Point of Interconnection.
d. The proposed Small Generating Facility, in aggregate with other generation on the distribution circuit, shall not cause any distribution protective devices and equipment (including, but not limited to, substation breakers, fused cutouts, and line re-closers), or the Interconnection Consumer equipment on the system to exceed 87.5% of its short circuit interrupting capability; nor shall the interconnection be proposed for a circuit that already exceeds 87.5% of the short circuit interrupting
capability.
e. The proposed Small Generating Facility shall meet the rapid voltage change and flicker requirements of IEEE Standard 1453 (2015) and IEEE Standard 1547-2018,or until such time new DERs applying for interconnection will comply with IEEE 1547-2018 based on the appropriate test.
f. The type of interconnection to a primary distribution line shall be determined based on the table below, including a review of the type of electrical service rating
Consumer, including line configuration and the transformer
connection to limit the potential for creating over-voltages on LREC’s electric power system due to a loss of ground during the operating time of any anti-islanding function.
Primary Distribution Line Type of Interconnection to
Primary Distribution Line Result/Criteria
Three-phase, three wire 3-phase or single phase,
phase-to-phase Pass Screen Three-phase, four wire Effectively-grounded 3 phase or Single-phase, line-to-neutral Pass Screen
g. If the proposed Small Generating Facility is to be
interconnected on single-phase shared secondary, the
aggregate generation capacity on the shared secondary,
including the proposed Small Generating Facility, shall not
exceed twenty-five (25) kW. Energy storage system(s) capacity for purposes of this screen shall be based on only the capacity that is designed to inject electricity to LREC’s distribution system (other than inadvertent exports and fault contribution).
h. If the proposed Small Generating Facility is single-phase and is to be interconnected on a center tap neutral of a two-hundred forty (240) volt service, its addition shall not create an imbalance between the two sides of the two-hundred forty (240) volt service of more than twenty percent (20%) of the nameplate rating of the service transformer.
i. No construction of facilities by LREC on its system shall be required to accommodate the Small Generating Facility
j. For interconnection of a proposed Small Generating Facility to the load side of spot network protectors serving more than a single Consumer, the proposed Small Generating Facility must utilize an inverter-based equipment package and, together with the aggregated other inverter-based generation, shall not exceed the smaller of five percent (5%) of a spot network’s maximum load or three hundred (300) kW. For spot networks serving a single Consumer, the Small Generating Facility must use inverter-based equipment package and either meet the requirements above or shall use a protection scheme or operate the generator so as not to exceed on-site load or otherwise prevent nuisance operation of the spot network
protectors.
k. For interconnection of a proposed Small Generating Facility to the load side of area network protectors, the proposed Small Generating Facility must utilize an inverter-based equipment package and, together with the aggregated other inverter- based generation, shall not exceed the smaller of ten percent (10%) of an area network’s minimum load or five hundred (500)kW.
l. The nameplate capacity of a proposed Small Generating
Facility, in combination with the nameplate capacity of any
previously interconnected Small Generating Facility, shall not exceed the capacity of the Consumer’s existing electrical service unless there is a simultaneous request for an upgrade to the Consumer’s electrical service, regardless of exporting or non-exporting designations for any of the interconnection resources.
2. If LREC determines that the proposed interconnection passes the Screens, the Interconnection Request shall be approved and LREC will provide to the Interconnection Consumer an executable Interconnection Agreement within five (5) Business Days after the determination.
3. If the proposed interconnection fails the Screens, and LREC determines from the initial review that the Small Generating Facility may nevertheless be interconnected consistently with safety, reliability and power quality standards if the Interconnection Consumer is willing
to consider minor modifications or further study as determined in LREC’s sole discretion, LREC will provide the Interconnection Consumer with an opportunity to attend a Consumer Options Meeting(as defined below) to discuss such proposed changes.
D. Consumer Options Meeting
1. If the proposed interconnection fails the Screens as determined by LREC, and LREC determines the Interconnection Request cannot be approved without (1) minor modifications at minimal cost; (2) a supplemental study or other additional studies or actions; or (3) at significant cost to address safety, reliability, or other power quality problems, within the five (5) Business Day period after the determination, LREC shall notify the Interconnection Consumer and provide copies of the data and analyses underlying its conclusion.
Within ten (10) Business Days of the determination, LREC shall offer to convene a consumer options meeting for review if requested by Interconnection Consumer.
Section 5. Provisions that Apply to All Interconnection Requests
A. Reasonable Efforts
LREC will make reasonable efforts to meet all time frames provided in these procedures unless LREC and the Interconnection Consumer agree to a different schedule. If LREC cannot meet a deadline provided herein, it shall notify the Interconnection Consumer, explain the reason for failure to meet the deadline, and provide an estimated time by which it will complete the applicable interconnection procedure.
B. Disputes
1. The Parties agree to attempt to resolve all disputes arising out of the interconnection provisions of these Procedures.
2. In the event of a dispute, either Party shall provide the other Party with a written notice of dispute. Such notice shall describe in detail the nature of the dispute
C. Interconnection Metering
All metering necessitated by the use of the Small Generating Facility shall be installed at the Interconnection Consumer’s expense and in accordance with LREC’s rules and regulations.
D. Commissioning Tests
1. Commissioning testing of the Interconnection Consumer’s installed equipment shall be performed pursuant to applicable codes and standards, including, but not limited to, the latest version thereof.
IEEE Standard Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment
Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems” that is in effect. LREC must be given at least five (5) Business Days written notice of the tests and one or more LREC representatives may be present to witness the commissioning tests.
2. If the commissioning tests are not satisfactory in the sole judgment of LREC, LREC shall have the right to disconnect the Small Generating Facility if LREC provides written notice to the Interconnection Consumer within three (3) Business Days after the commissioning tests have been completed. Such notice may be provided via electronic mail.
3. If LREC waives its right to witness the commissioning tests, or if the commissioning tests are successfully completed in the sole judgment of LREC, LREC shall provide the Interconnection Consumer an operational approval letter within three (3) Business Days after notification that the commissioning test has been successfully completed. This letter may be provided via electronic mail.
E. Confidentiality
1. Confidential information means any confidential and/or proprietary information provided by one Party to the other Party that is clearly marked or otherwise designated “Confidential”. All design, operating specifications and metering data provided by the Interconnection Consumer shall be deemed confidential information regardless of whether it is clearly marked or otherwise designated as such.
2. Confidential information does not include information previously in the public domain, required to be publicly submitted or divulged by governmental authorities (after notice to the other Party and after exhausting any opportunity to oppose such publication or release), or necessary to be divulged in an action to enforce an agreement between the Parties. Each Party receiving confidential information shall hold such information in confidence and shall not disclose it to
any third party nor to the public without the prior written authorization from the Party providing that information, except to fulfill obligations under agreements between the parties, or to fulfill legal or regulatory requirements.
a. Each Party shall employ at least the same standard of care to
protect confidential information obtained from the other Party
as it employs to protect its own confidential information.
b. Each Party is entitled to equitable relief, by injunction or
otherwise, to enforce its rights under this provision to prevent the release of confidential information without bond or proof of
damages, and may seek other remedies available at law or in
equity for breach of this provision.
3. Notwithstanding anything in Section 5 to the contrary, if the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Inspector’s Office, during the course of an investigation or otherwise, requests information from one of the Parties that is otherwise required to be maintained in confidence, the Party shall provide the requested information to the Idaho Division of Building Safety Electrical Inspector’ Office, within the time provided for in the request for information.
F. Comparability
LREC shall receive, process, and analyze all Interconnection Requests in a timely manner as set forth in this procedure. LREC shall use the same reasonable efforts in processing and analyzing Interconnection Requests from all Interconnection Consumers, whether the Small Generating Facility is
owned or operated by LREC, its subsidiaries or affiliates, or others.
G. Record Retention
LREC shall maintain records for three (3) years, subject to audit, of all Interconnection Requests received under this procedure, the time frames required to complete Interconnection Request approvals and disapprovals, and justification for the actions taken on each Interconnection Request.
H. Interconnection Agreement
1. Prior to the Interconnection Consumer’s operation of a Small
Generating Facility under the Level 2 Process or the Level 3 Process, an Interconnection Consumer must enter into an Interconnection Agreement with LREC.
2. After receiving an Interconnection Agreement from LREC, the Interconnection Consumer shall have thirty (30) Business Days to sign and return the Interconnection Agreement, or request that LREC file an unexecuted agreement with BPA.
3. If the Interconnection Consumer does not sign the Interconnection Agreement or ask that it be filed unexecuted within thirty (30) Business Days, the Interconnection Request shall be deemed withdrawn.
4. After the Interconnection Agreement is signed by Interconnection Consumer and LREC, the interconnection of the Small Generating Facility shall proceed under the provisions of the Interconnection Agreement.
5. In case of any conflict between the specific terms of the
Interconnection Agreement and this procedure and/or guidelines, the terms of the Interconnection Agreement shall govern.
I. Coordination with Affected Systems
LREC shall coordinate the conduct of any studies required to determine the impact of the Interconnection Request on Affected Systems with Affected System operators and, if possible, include those results in its applicable interconnection study (e.g., feasibility study, system impact study, or facilities study) within the time frame specified in these procedures. LREC will include such Affected System Operators in all meetings held with the Interconnection Consumer as required by these procedures. The Interconnection Consumer will cooperate with LREC in all matters related to the conduct of studies and the determination of modifications to Affected Systems.
J. Capacity of the Small Generating Facility
1. If the Interconnection Request is for an increase in capacity for an existing Small Generating Facility, the Interconnection Request shall be evaluated on the basis of the new total capacity of the Small Generating Facility.
2. If the Interconnection Request is for a Small Generating Facility that includes multiple energy production devices at a site for which the Interconnection Consumer seeks a single Point of Interconnection, the Interconnection Request shall be evaluated on the basis of the aggregate capacity of the multiple devices.
3. The Interconnection Request shall be evaluated using the maximum rated capacity of the Small Generating Facility.
K. Insurance
The Member, at their own expense, shall secure and maintain in effect while interconnected to the Cooperative’s distribution system liability insurance insuring Member’s indemnification obligations under Section 11 above, with a combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage of not less than $500,000 for each occurrence. A Certificate of Insurance evidencing the requisite coverage shall be provided to the Cooperative prior to interconnecting to the Cooperative’s distribution system. Cooperative shall be permitted to periodically obtain proof of current insurance coverage. The Member will not be allowed to commence or continue interconnected operations unless evidence is provided that satisfactory insurance coverage is in effect
5. Certificates of Insurance evidencing the requisite coverage and provision(s) shall be furnished to LREC prior to the date of
interconnection of the Small Generating Facility. LREC shall be
permitted to periodically obtain proof of current insurance coverage from the Interconnection Consumer in order to verify proper liability insurance coverage. Interconnection Consumer will not be allowed to commence or continue interconnected operations unless evidence is provided that satisfactory insurance coverage is in effect at all times.
A. Hold Harmless- The Member assumes all responsibility for the electric service upon Member’s premises at and from the Point of Interconnection and for the wires and equipment used in connection therewith; and Member will protect and save Cooperative harmless from all claims for injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to property of Member, occurring on or about Member’s premises or at and from the Point of Interconnection or flow of electricity from Cooperative, occasioned by such electricity or said wires and equipment, except where said injury or damage is proved to have been caused solely by the negligence of the Cooperative. The Member will (a) pay the Cooperative for all damages to Cooperative’s equipment, facilities, or distribution system, and (b) save and hold Cooperative harmless from all claims, demands, and liabilities of every kind and nature for injury or damage to, or death of, persons and/or property of others, including costs and expenses of defending against the same, arising in any manner in connection with Member’s Generator or the operation thereof. The Member shall also indemnify, defend and hold the Cooperative, its employees, contractors, members and agents (“Indemnities”) harmless from and against all damages, losses, costs, expenses, and claims, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the Indemnities for injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to the property of the Cooperative, which arise or result, directly or indirectly from the Member’s ownership, operation and interconnection of the Member’s Generator and interconnection facilities.
L. Maintenance
Interconnection Consumer shall maintain their equipment in good working order. LREC reserves the right to inspect Interconnection Consumer’s facilities upon reasonable notice or without notice other than by a phone call or phone message whenever it appears that an Interconnection Consumer is operating in a manner hazardous to LREC system integrity
and/or Consumer safety. Functional testing of all circuit breakers, relays and transformers must be performed yearly at the Interconnection Consumer’s expense.
M. Net Metering
LREC shall allow the Interconnection Consumer’s retail electricity consumption to be offset by the electricity generated from a Small Generating facility meeting the following requirements:
A. A Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with residential class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is the lesser of 120% of the twelve (12) month historical usage at the meter location or ten (15) kW or less, or
B. A Certified inverter-based Small Generating Facility with commercial class service where the total nameplate generating capacity connected at one meter location is the lesser of 120% of the twelve (12) month historical usage at the meter location or twenty-five (25) kW or less. Facilities must be installed in accordance with the Net Metering service as described in LREC’s Net Billing Regulations.
N. Qualifying Facilities
An Interconnection Consumer with a total nameplate generating capacity exceeding the Small Generating Facility - Net Metering limits may be eligible for connection under a different policy.
Section 6. Miscellaneous
A. Entire Document
This Policy, the Interconnection Agreement, and any Inter-connection Request forms, if applicable, together with all attachments hereto and thereto, constitute the entire and sole agreement with respect to the interconnection of Small Generating Facilities to LREC’s System. All prior negotiations, representations, understandings, or
agreements are not part of these Procedures, including attachments hereto, and shall have no force or effect. Any waiver of by LREC of any obligation under these Procedures, including attachments hereto, must be in writing.
No such waiver shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other provision or condition of this SGIP, nor a waiver of subsequent breach of the same provision or condition.
B. Severability
If any provision of these Procedures or the application of any such provision to any Person or circumstance shall be declared to be invalid, unenforceable, or void by a regulatory body or court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not have the effect of invalidating or voiding the remainder of these Procedures.
C. Governing Law
These Procedures shall be construed in accordance with, and shall be governed by, the laws of the United States and State of
Idaho, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof.
Amended by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on December 1, 2022.
/S/ _____________________
Randy R. Purser, President
Policy Bulletin No. 2-46
SUBJECT: Credit Card Payment
POLICY: Lost River Electric Cooperative Inc. accepts Visa or MasterCard debit and credit cards as forms of payment. Each credit card company has established policies and procedures that we as a Merchant (seller) must adhere to. There are responsibilities the "buyer" must adhere to which could include, but are not limited to, verification that you are in fact "the card holder" by means of reasonable identification. Credit card payments will be accepted in person or over the telephone. Only personal Visa or MasterCard credit or debit cards will be accepted. Due to the fees imposed upon Lost River Electric, Corporate or Reward Cards will not be permitted.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 10, 2014.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-47
SUBJECT Property Owner Responsibilities With Delinquent
Accounts
Policy: All indebtedness to Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. for electrical power or service shall constitute a lien on the property with which the indebtedness originated until the indebtedness is paid in full.
If a member’s property, which is serviced by Lost River Electric, is conveyed to a new owner or is rented, the new owner or renter, may not become a member of Lost River Electric or obtain service until any outstanding non-irrigation balance(s) related to the property on the current or prior owner’s account has / have been paid in full.
If the new owner or renter is already a member of Lost River Electric, the property will not be transferred to the new owner or renter’s account and will not be serviced until any outstanding non-irrigation balance(s) related to the property on the prior owner’s account have been paid in full.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on December 4, 2015.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-48
SUBJECT: Deposits for Large Industrial Services
POLICY: Large Industrial Services will be required to pay a deposit as follows:
1.) Two times the highest monthly billing or the yearly minimum guarantee, whichever is greater.
2.) New services or expanded services with no consumption history will be estimated until a consumption history has been established.
Service shall be made available after the required consumer deposit has been paid.
All deposits are refundable upon request of notice of discontinuation of service, provided all amounts due the Cooperative have been paid. If there is a balance due, the consumer deposit shall be applied prior to making refund of the deposit.
Periodically the billing history will be reviewed to determine if the current deposit is adequate or requires adjustment.
At no time, as long as the service is active will the deposit be adjusted down.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on June 25, 2018.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-49
SUBJECT: Test Service for Non-Irrigation Installations
POLICY: In the event a test service is required to a non-irrigation installation, which previously received service, and the Agreement for Service has been terminated, the following conditions must be met.
The Cooperative shall make said service available only if all equipment is in place, for a period not to exceed two days during a non-peaking period at the Cooperative’s discretion.
The owner of the facility shall make a request for said service, shall pay all past due amounts owed to the Cooperative, shall prepay the Cooperative’s estimated costs of providing said service and then will be billed for any kWh consumed at the current Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. kWh rate.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 27, 2020.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-50
SUBJECT: Emergency Declaration
POLICY: Emergencies and critical incidents in the workplace can affect people physically and psychologically, and affect program continuity of Lost River Electric Cooperative Inc. The purpose of this policy is to ensure Lost River Electric Cooperative may effectively respond to emergency situations and critical incidents through the appropriate use of resources. The prevention and effective management of emergency situations and critical incidents can assist to minimize the negative impact of an unexpected event.
An emergency is an unplanned or imminent event that affects or threatens the health, safety or welfare of people, property and infrastructure, and which requires a significant and coordinated response. The defining characteristic of an emergency event or situation is that usual resources are overwhelmed or have the potential to be overwhelmed. That it may place the employees, Board of Directors, or members in danger.
Emergencies may be a specific event with a clear beginning, end and recovery process, or a situation that develops over time and where the implications are gradual rather than immediate. Emergency management is the coordination of an emergency response and management of recovery. The aim of emergency management is to minimize physical and psychological impacts on all parties and to minimize damage to assets, operations, and staff.
Upon any such incident, and upon the Board of Directors declaring a “State of Emergency for the Cooperative”;
The Manager/CEO shall have the authority to amend or alter any policy needed to respond to an emergency or the effects thereof in coordination with the President of the Board of Directors.
If said amendment or alteration needs to be done immediately the Manager/CEO shall make said decision and contact the President of the Board as soon as possible.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on March 27, 2020.
Policy Bulletin No. 2-51
SUBJECT: Consumer Fee for REC Credits (Green Power)
POLICY: Green power represents a sale of electricity generated from renewable energy resources by the Cooperative or by our power service provider. RECs represent the environmental benefits derived from renewable energy projects. They are sold as a commodity separately from the electricity. Green power/ RECs are sold in blocks of megawatt-hours (MWh).
REC purchases represent one of the easiest ways for a Consumer to help with carbon reduction. No contractual agreements are needed and no physical implementation is required.
If at any time a Consumer requests to purchase REC certificates from the Cooperative, the Consumer shall contact the Cooperative and will be notified whether those certificates are available. If available, the Consumer shall be charged a fee of $2.00 per MWh. Upon receipt of payment, the Cooperative will contact our power service provider and procure a REC certificate on the Consumer’s behalf.
Adopted by the Board of Directors of Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc. on April 22, 2022.
