Lodi Municipal Code Art. I Generally

The furnishing of electric utility services to all users in the city shall be subject to official rules and regulations, as established by the electric utility director, and approved by resolution of the city council. A current copy of such rules and regulations shall be retained at City Hall by the electric utility department, and shall be available for public inspection upon request. Such rules and regulations may be modified from time to time, as necessary, in the manner prescribed herein.

(Ord. 1447 § 1, 1989)

A. Purpose. The city council finds and determines that there is and has been a rise in utility theft in the city of Lodi whereby electricity services are being obtained without payment, including but not limited to, shutoff costs, meter tampering, damage to or removal of meter locking devices, energy diversion or theft of electric service, resulting in substantial monetary losses to the city's ratepayers in the form of, including but not limited to, loss of revenue, replacement of damaged meters, meter testing fee and other related equipment replacement or repair costs, personnel time in investigating and remedying theft matters, investigative costs, and attorney's fees. The purpose of this section is to establish clear guidelines for the processing and recovery of revenues related to theft as well as costs, fees, and expenditures incurred by the city as a result of utilities theft as described herein.

B. Adoption of Fees. The city council shall from time to time establish by resolution fees to be charged to utility account holders where the city incurs costs as a result of nonpayment, meter tampering, or actual or attempted theft of energy. Costs shall not exceed actual cost. Fees shall be limited to the following:

1. Theft Inspection Fee. Shall be charged upon an inspection that shows that the meter has been tampered with or that the meter has been bypassed.

2. Field Services Field Trip Fee. Shall be charged on accounts that are sealed for nonpayment.

3. Service Cut-At-Pole Fee. Shall be charged on accounts that cannot be turned off at meter box when sealed for nonpayment or on accounts that the meter has been bypassed or tampered with.

4. Meter Set Fee. Shall be charged when a meter must be replaced when the meter has been tampered with or bypassed.

5. Damaged Meter Test Fee. Shall be charged when a meter must be tested after the meter was tampered with or bypassed.

6. Meter Ring Fee. Shall be charged when meter ring must be replaced after the meter was tampered with or bypassed.

7. Padlock Fee. Shall be charged when padlock must be installed or replaced after the meter was tampered with or bypassed.

8. Meter Cover Fee. Shall be charged when meter cover must be replaced after the meter was tampered with or bypassed.

9. Damaged Meter Replacement Fee. Shall be charged when meter is unrepairable and must be replaced after meter was tampered with or bypassed (separate fees for single-phase and/or poly-phase).

10. Nighthawk Collar/Nighthawk Meter Replacement Fee. Shall be charged when Nighthawk Collar and/or Nighthawk meter must be replaced after the meter was tampered with or bypassed.

(Ord. No. 1855, § 1, 12-21-2011)