Applicant/Member,
If you are not already a Member of Hamilton County Electric Cooperative, (HCEC, Cooperative), we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our service area. As a Member-owned electric distribution cooperative, we strive to provide excellent service and quality Member relations. This letter is intended to inform you of our policies and procedures for providing electric service.
HCEC charges a one-time fee of $10 to become a Member of the Cooperative. This fee will be included on your first bill and will be refunded or credited to your final bill should you cease membership with the Cooperative. A security deposit may also be requested of new applicants. If you are already a Member in good standing with the Cooperative, this will not apply. New applicants who have been previous Members in good standing with the Cooperative may have this deposit waived. New applicants may also choose to have the Cooperative perform an Online Utility Exchange credit check to determine whether a deposit is required. Otherwise, all new accounts will require a $400 deposit.
Applicants will be asked to apply for service with the understanding that they are required to comply with HCEC’s Line Extension Policy 305. You must provide a description of the structure or installation for which you are requesting electric service. Based on the information provided, HCEC will decide the service classification under which the service will be provided according to Line Extension Policy 305.3 Service Classification. HCEC’s determination of the service classification is final.
Once the service classification has been determined AND requirements have been met, if applicable, you will need to schedule to meet with HCEC’s staking technicians at the location where power lines are to be constructed. During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and furnish information you consider important in determining the power line route. Please understand that several factors are involved in the engineering of power lines and often the designated route is not the shortest route. The staking technicians will make the final determination of the most feasible route for the power line. HCEC will not construct power lines through trees or brush. A 30 (thirty) foot ROW must be cleared prior to staking and construction.
The task of obtaining easements begins once the power line route has been determined and the power line has been staked for construction. Often power lines are present on the property and the Cooperative already has a recorded easement on file. In those situations, a new easement will likely not be required. If a new easement is required, you will need to execute it and return it to the Cooperative along with a copy of your warranty deed.
If power lines are not present on the property, it will be necessary to obtain easement(s) from adjoining property owner(s). During the initial meeting with the Cooperative’s staking technicians, you will receive information on the preferred power line route and the process involved in contacting adjoining landowner(s) to get approval to stake the power line. The Cooperative will not access any property unless verbal consent has been given prior to staking. Once the power line has been staked, the adjoining landowner(s) will be able to inspect the route and give approval or request changes. Should the adjoining landowner(s) have any questions, they should call the Cooperative, and we will be available to discuss any issues with them.
Once the final power line route has been determined and staked, easement form(s) will be mailed to you along with the Construction Contract and invoice. If you are not already a Member, an Application for Membership and Agreement for Electric Service will also be included.
After all required documents have been executed and returned along with the invoice payment, the job will be scheduled for construction. Monthly electric usage billings will begin once the meter is installed and energized. Meters WILL NOT be installed in the meter base and the transformer WILL NOT be energized until you call the Cooperative and confirm that you have installed a MAIN TRIPPABLE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND IT HAS BEEN WIRED INTO the meter base.
We will do our best to make this process as simple as possible. If you should have any questions, please contact Colt Harris at (254) 386-3123. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.
YOU WILL NEED TO CALL THIS OFFICE AND SCHEDULE THE STAKING APPOINTMENT.
Sincerely,
Colt Harris
New Accounts Supervisor
Hamilton County Electric Cooperative