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p <br /> Elk River <br /> Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br /> TO: FROM: <br /> Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Tom Sagstetter—Conservation and Key Accounts <br /> John Dietz—Chair Manager <br /> Al Nadeau—Vice Chair <br /> Daryl Thompson—Trustee <br /> MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br /> September 9, 2014 2.5 <br /> SUBJECT: <br /> Extended Customer Payment Arrangement <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> A residential customer's meter was not reading correctly and was replaced. The customer was <br /> concerned about the substantial increase in energy use in the month following the meter <br /> replacement. The meter was inspected and tested in the field and was within acceptable <br /> standards. <br /> The ERMU standard process is to bill customers for unbilled energy use for the previous 12 <br /> months from the date of discovery. The customer's energy consumption was estimated based on <br /> the average residential customer use per month. The energy that was already billed to the <br /> customer was subtracted from the average use calculation. The customer was presented with a <br /> total under billed amount of$1,004.00. The customer stated that a 6 month payment plan, in <br /> addition to a higher monthly utility bill based on accurate reads, would cause a hardship on the <br /> family. The customer attended the "Open Microphone"portion of the August 12th meeting to <br /> discuss options. <br /> DISCUSSION: <br /> Based on state statutes and Minnesota Administrative Rules 7820.3800 Subpart 4, the utility is <br /> able to bill for an undercharge for one year prior to discovery. <br /> The customer expressed concern that ERMU field staff entered their property to replace the <br /> meter without their notification. ERMU and the customer exchanged phone messages after the <br /> meter change out in an attempt to inform the customer. Unfortunately ERMU staff and the <br /> customer were not able to speak prior to the meter being changed. <br /> As part of the standard policies and the National Electric Code, ERMU shall have access at all <br /> reasonable hours to meters, service connections and other property owned by it which may be <br /> located on customer's property. Access shall be provided for purposes of installation, <br /> maintenance, reading, checking or removal if necessary. Failure to provide access shall result in <br /> MN IP-OWEIIED BY <br /> Page 1 of 2 NATURE <br /> Reliable Public <br /> Power Provider POWERED TO SERVE <br /> 26 <br />