City of
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Telephone
218-748-7540 Fax 218-748-7544
Website www.vpuc.com Email general1@vpuc.com
Business Office
Hours: Monday - Friday
Customer Information & Utility Rate Schedule
This brochure is
intended to provide a current rate schedule along with some general information
for customers on the utilities provided by this Department: electricity, water,
natural gas, and steam.
Other fees and assessments
may be in effect and a complete schedule of the current Customer Service
Policies are available by contacting the Department.
Should you
desire any further information regarding these rate schedules and how they
apply to your utility service, please contact the Department’s business office.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Request for utility service
must be made in person at the Department’s business office before utility
services will be turned on
DEPOSIT FOR SERVICE
A deposit in an
amount approximately equal to two times the highest month’s bill based on the previous year’s consumption for a year when premises was
occupied, shall be required prior to an account being put into a
customer’s name, connection to the
utility system, and /or receiving service. The deposit requirement for utility
service may be waived provided the service account is in the name of the
property owner and the property owner can provide an acceptable credit
reference from another utility or lending institution acceptable to the utility
for credit verification. A property owner who has been granted a waiver for the
required deposit may be required to post a deposit if their account appears on
the disconnect list more than two times in any twelve-month period. All
deposits shall bear interest at the rate established by the Utility until
service is terminated. At the time of termination, the deposit may be applied
to the customer’s
account for subsequent billing or the deposit will be refunded
once all obligations to the utility have been discharged. Deposits are
non-transferable from one customer to another and are refundable only to the
original applicant or applicant’s designee providing proper
identification.
DELINQUENCY AND
RECONNECTION CHARGES
Any bill unpaid after the due date shall be
considered delinquent and service subject to disconnection in accordance with
Department policies. Copies of the current disconnection policy are available
at the Utility office. Under certain conditions, payment plans may be
established in order to avoid disconnection. Once disconnection for nonpayment
occurs, reconnection fees become applicable in accordance with the fees and
services schedule in effect. All reconnection fees are payable prior to
reconnection of services.
OTHER FEES AND
ASSESSMENTS
Other fees and
assessments exist for services provided. A full list of other fees and
assessments can be obtained at the Utility business office.
Services
provided that have a fee or assessment charge will be explained to the customer
prior to that service being performed.
SALES TAX
All applicable sales taxes
apply.
Should you require any further
information regarding these rates and how they apply to your utility service,
please contact our business office.
PROMPT PAYMENT
Utility Bills are due and
payable on or before the due date as indicated on each bill. See reverse side
of billing for other pertinent billing information.
DELINQUENCY AND DISCONNECTION
OF SERVICE
If any bill is unpaid after the
due date, the customer shall be considered delinquent and service subject to
interruption for nonpayment. Current fees will be charged for any check
returned for insufficient funds. The bill will then be considered delinquent
and subject to disconnection.
Copies of the Department’s current
disconnection policy are available at the business office. Under certain
conditions payment plans may be established in order to avoid interruption in
service for nonpayment.
Reconnection fees may apply for
service disconnected for nonpayment and are payable prior to reconnection of
service. A current fee schedule can be obtained at the Department’s business office.
RESALE
Service taken under the rate
schedules shall not be resold or used for standby electric service.
INTERFERENCE
Use of electric services that
cause disturbances of the electric distribution system and interference with
service to other customers is not allowed.
ADHERENCE TO CODES AND RULES
Wiring, electrical
installation, equipment, and plumbing service must be in accordance with
applicable codes and the rules of the Virginia Department of Public Utilities
and the State of
The Utility is not responsible
for inspection on compliance with the various codes and assumes no
responsibility for injuries or damage caused by code violations.
Steam, water, gas, and
underground electric services are protected by easements. Any obstruction,
landscaping, fences, etc., is to be removed and replaced by the customer if
repairs are necessary on these services. Details are available by contacting
the Department’s
business office.
METER ACCESS
Access must be provided to read
and service meters.
SERVICE
POLICY STANDARD
Please
contact the Department for additional information on customer service policies.
STEAM
The
Utility shall maintain the incoming line from the main up to and including the
main valve. The Utility shall also maintain the high pressure reducing valve
and meter. All other maintenance and/or repair of steam systems, such as
replacement of low pressure or motorized valves, shall be the responsibility of
the property owner.
ELECTRICAL
The
utility shall maintain and repair all electrical facilities up to the consumer’s weather
head or in case of underground service, it shall be maintained up to the
service entrance.
GAS
The
Utility shall furnish and maintain the metering device and regulator. The
incoming gas line is owned and shall remain the property and responsibility of
the property owner. However, in the interest of safety, the Utility will
maintain the gas service line at the owner’s expense.
WATER
The
Utility shall furnish and maintain the metering device. The service line and
valve from the main into the building shall remain the property and
responsibility of the property owner.
SERVICES
The Utility shall in all cases
maintain and repair its own facilities and it has the responsibility to see
that the product is available at the consumer’s location at normal level or pressure.
New appliances and furnaces
should be installed and serviced by the seller. Installed or existing
appliances and furnaces should be repaired and/or maintained by a private
contractor. A serviceman will shut off services at the request of the customer
during normal working hours. After normal hours, cost of this service will be
borne by the person requesting the service.
ELECTRIC
RESIDENTIAL SERVICE
Residential Rate
|
Monthly service charge |
$ 7.00 month |
|
First 700 kWh per month |
$ .0672 per kWh |
|
Next 1,000 kWh per month |
$ .0536 per kWh |
|
All over 1,700 kWh per month |
$ .0480 per kWh |
Plus applicable Energy
Acquisition Adjustment – see below.
COMMERCIAL SERVICE
Available to any customer at one location for general power and
lighting purpose as 60 hertz single and/or three- phase service through one
meter at the secondary voltage available at the customer’s location
Commercial (General Service) Rate
|
Monthly Service Charge |
$ 8.00 per month |
|
First 1000 kWh per month |
$ .0840 per kWh |
|
Next 1600 kWh per month |
$ .0720 per kWh |
|
All over |
$ .0540 per kWh |
Plus $4.00 per kW of demand over 10 kW demand
Plus applicable Energy Acquisition
Adjustment - see below.
Commercial 3 Phase (Secondary) Rate
|
Monthly Service Charge |
$8.00 per month |
|
First 1000 kWh |
$ .0840 per kWh |
|
Next 1600 kWh |
$ .0720 per kWh |
|
All over |
$ .0540 per kWh |
Plus the greater of $4.00 per kW of demand or $10 per month
Plus applicable Energy
Acquisition Adjustment – see below.
Commercial 3 Phase (Primary) Rate
|
Monthly Service Charge |
$8.00 per month |
|
First 1000 kWh |
$ .084 per kWh |
|
Next 1600 kWh |
$ .0720 per kWh |
|
All over |
$ .0540 per kWh |
Plus the greater of $4.00 per kW of demand or $40 per
month
Plus applicable Energy
Acquisition Adjustment – see below.
SECURITY LIGHT RATES
|
100 W-HPS |
$ 9.00 month |
|
175 W-MV |
$ 10.00 month |
|
250 W-MV/HPS |
$ 14.00 month |
|
400 W-MV/HPS |
$ 16.00 month |
|
500 W-MV |
$ 17.50 month |
|
1000 W MH |
$ 27.50 month |
INDUSTRIAL RATE
|
Service Charge |
$15.00 month |
|
Energy Charge |
$ .04 per kWh |
|
Demand Charge |
$ 6.50 per kW |
Plus applicable Energy
Acquisition Adjustment – see below.
TRANSPORTATION RATE
|
Service Charge |
$25.00 month |
|
Energy Charge |
$ .023 per kWh |
|
Demand Charge |
$ 4.00 per kW |
Plus applicable Energy
Acquisition Adjustment – see below.
Energy Acquisition Adjustment connected with all above
electric rates: The applicable
electric rate shall be adjusted monthly for the difference between a base rate
of $.0233 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and the cost of fuel and purchased power for
the previous month divided by total electric sales during the previous month.
The cost of fuel consists of the total cost of coal, gas, and unloading labor
incurred by the Electric Department, less the amount transferred to the Steam
Heat Department.
ELECTRIC DEMAND
Demand is defined as the maximum average load during any fifteen (15)
consecutive minutes during the month, adjusted for power factor as follows:
When a customer’s
average monthly power factor is less than 85% lagging, the
maximum 15-minute demand measured during the month will be adjusted by
multiplying the measured demand by 85% and dividing by the average monthly
power factor in percent. Average monthly power factor is the monthly kWh usage
divided by the square root of the sum of the squares of the kWh usage and the
lagging reactive KVAH supplied during the month. Demand meters to determine the
15-minute interval maximum average load will be installed at the option of the
department.
WATER
RESIDENTIAL SERVICE
|
Service
Charge |
$12.50
month |
|
All
water used |
$
1.98 per 100 cu. ft. |
COMMERCIAL SERVICE
|
Service
Charge |
$17.50
month |
|
All
water used |
$
1.98 per 100 cu. ft. |
WATER FLAT RATE
|
Service
Charge |
$12.50
month |
|
For
water used |
$19.80
month |
NATURAL GAS
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL RATE
|
Service
Charge |
$6.00
month |
|
For
gas used |
$
.79 per 100 cf. |
Plus applicable purchased gas adjustment –
see below.
TRANSPORTATION RATE
|
Service
Charge |
$25.00
month |
|
Energy
Charge |
$
.01 per 100 cf. |
|
Demand
Charge |
$
.28 per 100 cf. / Day (1) |
(1) Rates per 100 cf. of daily
capacity reservation. Reservations are nominated once each year.
Purchased Natural Gas
Adjustment:
The gas rate shall be adjusted monthly by $1.08 per 100 cf. for each $1.00 per
100 cf. difference, or portion thereof, between the base rate of $0.580 per 100
cf. and the actual average cost of gas
purchased during the previous month. The average cost of purchased gas shall be
equal to the total cost of gas supply and transportation cost, including
capacity, demand, and reservation charges, divided by the volume of gas
purchased. The cost of gas used in this calculation shall not include gas
purchased for the generation of steam heat or electricity.
STEAM
RESIDENTIAL STEAM RATE
|
Service Charge |
$39.00 mo. |
|
(Includes $25.00 Steam Commodity Charge per meter) |
|
|
For
steam used |
$
1.04 per unit |
Usage Rates (1 unit = 100 lb. of steam used)
Plus applicable steam heat fuel adjustment
COMMERCIAL STEAM RATE
|
Service Charge |
$43.00 mo. |
|
(Includes $25.00 Steam Commodity Charge per meter) |
|
|
For steam used |
$ 1.04 per unit |
Usage Rates (1 unit = 100 lb. of steam used)
Plus applicable steam heat fuel adjustment
Steam Heat Fuel Adjustment: The steam heat rate shall be adjusted monthly by
$0.003 per 100 pounds of steam for each $0.010 per million Btu (MMBtu) difference, or portion thereof, between the base
rate of $1.979 per MMBtu and the actual cost per MMBtu of fuel during the previous month. Fuel costs per MMBtu shall equal the cost of coal, gas, and fuel handling
divided by MMBtu of fuel input to the boilers.
Usage Adjustment: The Commission reserves the right to adjust steam readings up or down,
using historical data and degree days to establish a
consumption per degree day. This method is necessary because of the
inherent unreliability of drum-type condensate meters. The Utility shall, upon
request, give a more specific breakdown on the application and method outlined
here.
CITY SERVICE RATES
The following rates for services are set by the City Council of the
City of Virginia and are listed here as a service for customers. Please contact
the Virginia City Clerk’s
office regarding the following services.
SEWAGE CONDENSATE
Amount charged is
based on total steam units of consumption at $ .047 per unit of steam used
SEWER
|
Per unit of water used |
$ 2.95 per unit |
NOTE: The amount charged for sewer service during the months of May, June,
July, August, and September of each year is based on the lesser of the actual
water used or the average amount of water used in the months of January,
February, and March of that year.
GARBAGE
|
Residential |
City |
$ 7.80 mo. |
|
|
County |
$ 4.83 mo. |
Commercial
City and County garbage charges are determined by the City of Virginia
Department of Public Works on a per customer basis. Contact the City Department
Director located in the
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
|
|
618 |
218-748-7540 |
|
For electric, steam, water,
or natural gas issues |
|
Phone answered 24 hours a
day / 7 days a week |
|
|
|
|
|
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT |
c/o |
218-748-7515 |
|
For garbage and sewage
services |
|
Office Hours: Monday
through Friday |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
218-748-7500 |
|
For garbage and sewage
services |
|
Office Hours: Monday
through Friday |
|
|
|
|
|
PUBLIC WORKS EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM |
|
218-748-6600 |
|
For garbage, sewage, street
issues after normal working hours |
|
24 hours a day / 7 days a
week |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FIRE EMERGENCY |
|
Fire non-emergency 218-748-7520 |
|
|
|
24 hours a day / 7 days a
week |
|
|
|
|
|
POLICE EMERGENCY |
|
Police non-emergency 218-748-7510 |
|
|
|
24 hours a day / 7 days a
week |