STE. ANNE NATURAL GAS CO-OP LTD.
RULES
& REGULATIONS
STE.
ANNE NATURAL GAS CO-OP LTD. IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD
OF DIRECTORS WHO MEET TYPICALLY MONTHLY AND ARE ELECTED FOR
A THREE YEAR TERM BY THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP AT THE CO-OP’S
ANNUAL MEETING, HELD WITHIN 120 DAYS OF THE END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR (APR 30)
REGULATIONS GOVERNING AND FORMING PART OF ALL NATURAL GAS
APPLICATIONS AND CONTRACTS
1.
DEFINITIONS: “Consumer property” or “property” shall
mean the property at the address or location specified in
the Customer Contract.
2.
LIMITATIONS OF USE: Consumers shall not use or
permit the use of the gas supplies in any place other than
as specified in the agreement, or provided for in this
contract without the consent of the Co-op
3.
NATURAL GAS delivered to the Member shall be suitable for domestic use. Unless
specifically agreed to by both the Member and the Co-op, the
gas shall be delivered to the Member at a pressure not
greater than 1.74kPa at 15.55 degrees celsius. If the
Member requires extra pressure, it shall be provided at
additional cost to him.
4.
NATURAL GAS SERVICE CONTRACT: The Service Contract is to be considered as an
application for service only, until such time as the
application is accepted and approved by the Co-op. The
Contract is not assignable by the consumer. No agent,
representative or employee of the Co-op is authorized to
make any promise, agreement or representation not
incorporated therein, and any such promise, agreement or
representation not so incorporated shall not be binding on
the Co-op.
5.
MEASUREMENT: For measuring the gas used by the
Consumer, the Co-op shall install on the Consumer’s property
at a point to be selected by the Co-op the necessary meter(s)
and regulator(s) which shall be and remain the property of
the Co-op
6.
MAINTENANCE OF METERS AND REGULATORS: The Co-op
shall maintain meters and regulators at no additional cost
to the Consumer provided that the Consumer shall protect the
same and shall be liable for all damage thereto except
damage caused by the negligence of the Co-op, and by
ordinary wear and tear.
7.
ACCESS TO PROPERTY: The Co-op shall have free access
at all reasonable times to property as necessary, for the
purpose of reading meters, turning gas on or off, stopping
leaks, examining pipes, connections and fittings, and the
use made of gas by the Consumer, and to test, repair, or
remove said meters or regulators.
8.
READING OF METER BY CONSUMER:
The Consumer is to read his own meter monthly, and report
such readings to the Co-op. A
meter reading penalty will be levied if no meter reading is
submitted by due date.
9.
BILLING: The Consumer shall pay rendered accounts by
due date as shown on the bill. Overdue accounts are charged
interest on unpaid balances.
10.
ESTIMATED READINGS: The Co-op shall have the right,
in the event of inability for any cause to read meters, to
estimate the consumption and to render bills based upon such
estimated consumption.
11.
GAS BILLS: Payable at the Co-op office and most
financial intuitions.
12.
MOVING METERS: The Co-op may make a reasonable
charge for moving meters from one location to another at the
request of the Consumer.
13.
CUTTING OFF OF SUPPLY: The Co-op reserves the right
to discontinue the supply of gas and remove its equipment
from the Consumer’s property for any of the following
reasons: (a) For necessary repairs at any point on its
system. (b) On account of failure, temporary or permanent,
of the available supply of gas. (c) For non-payment of any
indebtedness when due or for failure on the part of the
Consumer to pay any guarantee deposit or increase thereof,
forthwith on demand. (d) The use by the Consumer of
defective pipe, appliances, or gas fittings, or the demand
by the Consumer to supply gas in such manner as in the
Co-op’s opinion is likely to lead to a dangerous situation.
(e) Failure to comply with the terms of these rules and
regulations, or any special contract made with the
Consumer. (f) Misrepresentation by the Consumer of the
amount of gas consumed or to be consumed. (g) Inability of
the Co-op to gain admittance to read meter(s) for a period
of two consecutive months. (h) Termination in any manner of
this contract. (i) Failure to make proper application for
gas service.
14.
RECONNECT CHARGE: If the Co-op for reason of
nonpayment or abuse, cuts off the supply of gas, the
Consumer agrees to pay the Co-op a reconnect charge for each
occasion on which the supply is turned off. Until such
sums, together with any other indebtedness of the Consumer
to the Co-op are paid in full, the Co-op may at its
discretion, refuse to reconnect the service or supply gas.
15.
LOCK-OFF TRIP: In the event it becomes necessary for
a serviceman to proceed to a member’s meter site for the
purpose of disconnecting service for reason of nonpayment or
abuse, a lock-off trip charge will be made whether or not
the lock-off is completed.
16.
FAILURE OF SUPPLY: The Co-op shall not be liable for
any loss or damage suffered by Consumers due to interruption
or failure of supply or defect in service rising from causes
beyond the reasonable control of the Co-op, nor due to Acts
of God, the enemies of Canada, strikes, riots, shortage or
failure of supply of materials, nor any loss or damage
suffered by Consumers due to cutting off of supply as
outlined in paragraph 13 above.
17.
DELIVERY POINT: The outlet of the meter shall be the
place of delivery of all gas and all expense, risk and
liability arising out of or in connection with utilization
of the gas after delivery at the place of delivery shall be
assumed and borne exclusively by the Consumer.
18.
RURAL UTILITIES ACT TO PREVAIL: The provision of the
Rural Utilities Act as amended from time to time are
declared to be incorporated in and to form part of these
rules and regulations. In the event of contradiction,
inconsistency or ambiguity, the provision of the said
statute shall prevail.
19.
VERIFICATION AND TESTING OF METERS: If the Consumer requests that his meter be tested
for accuracy, he shall deposit with the Co-op a meter test
fee to cover the cost of removal of the said meter for the
purpose of making the test. If, upon test, the meter is
found to be in error in excess of two percent, the Co-op
shall refund the fee, replace the meter, and adjust the
Consumer’s account accordingly. If the meter is found to be
in error by 2% or less, the Consumer requesting the test
shall forfeit the meter test fee.
20.
PIPELINE ON CONSUMER’S PROPERTY: (a) The owner
and/or renter of the property on which Co-op pipelines
and/or equipment is situated, grants the Co-op full power,
right and liberty to enter the lands referred to in the
Natural Gas Customer Contract, to break the surface and make
necessary excavations for the purposes of locating,
installing, repairing, replacing, maintaining and inspecting
all pipe and/or equipment on the said lands; the Co-op to do
as little damage and cause as little inconvenience as
possible in doing such work. (b) The time of installation
of each pipeline will be determined by the Co-op. When
frost is in the ground or when by reason of conditions
beyond the control of the Co-op, it is deemed inadvisable to
construct the pipeline herein applied for, the acceptance of
this Natural Gas Customer Contract may be deferred or
withheld by the Co-op at it’s option.
21.
WASTE AND LEAKAGE OF NATURAL GAS: The Consumer shall use due
care and caution to prevent any waste of gas and in the case
of failure or deficiency of supply, or leakage of gas, will
immediately notify the Co-op by messenger or telephone and
will take all steps necessary to prevent explosion or fire.
IN NO CASE SHALL THE CONSUMER ATTEMPT TO LOCATE LEAKS BY THE
USE OF AN OPEN FLAME.
22.
FIXED CHARGE: As part of our gas rate, we charge a
monthly fixed charge for all members, whether burning gas or
not and irrespective of whether or not a gas meter has been
installed. Almost all utility companies use this charge,
appearing or not appearing on their bills. It helps to
defray costs associated with line insurance, inspection,
maintenance and repair of pipelines, meters and regulators,
and locating lines for Members or contractors at no charge
to them. Without this fixed charge, utility rates would be
much higher.
23.
RELIGHT SERVICE: In the event of gas service
interruption, the Co-op will relight appliances, where
necessary, at no charge, providing that our servicemen can
gain access. If Members wish to leave a key to their
premises with the Co-op, appliances can be re-lit even when
a Member is not available. Members should advise the Co-op
how access may be gained in an emergency.
24.
NATURAL GAS SERVICE TO RENTERS: In order for a Member to transfer responsibility
for gas bills to a renter, a Natural Gas Service Rental
Agreement must be completed and signed by both the owner(s)
and the renter(s) as well as a transfer fee and member
information consent form. A rental deposit is required,
which is returned to the renter at time of canceling the
Rental Agreement, providing the account has been paid in
full. Interest is paid on these deposits as per the
Landlord and Tenants Act.
25.
SURETY DEPOSIT: A Deposit must be paid on a new
member's account when a Letter of Credit is not available.
This deposit is applied to the Owner's account after one
year providing their account is in good standings. Interest
is paid on these accounts as per Landlord and Tenants Act.
26.
SERVICE INSTALLATION: Installation charges include
all costs for labour and materials to the outlet of each low
pressure meter. Higher pressure metering is at additional
cost to the Consumer. Costs associated with connecting
appliances from the meter outlet, is the Consumer’s
responsibility. NATURAL GAS METERS CANNOT BE INSTALLED UNTIL THE CO-OP IS IN RECEIPT OF NATURAL
GAS PERMITS.
27.
EMERGENCY REPORTING: Please telephone 780-967-2246 or
1-800-290-5491 (24 hours) in the event of line breaks,
leaks, or any time a natural gas odor is detected. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO LOCATE LEAKS WITH AN OPEN FLAME. In the event of
gas leaks within the home, leave the premises and call our
serviceman.
28.
FEDERATION LEVY: The Federation of Alberta Gas
Co-ops Ltd. of which Ste. Anne Natural Gas Co-op Ltd. is a
member, provides centralized administration for all co-op’s
insurance, employee benefits and pension plans, and also
acts as a liaison between co-ops and provincial and federal
governments. The Federation assesses a yearly levy per
co-op member.
29.
EQUALIZATION BILLING: To assist Co-op Members in
budgeting and eliminate the problems associated with having
high natural gas bills during the winter months and low
during summer, an equalization billing plan is available
starting June 1st any year. Using this plan a
Member would pay an equal amount each month, accruing a
credit balance on their account during summer months, which
would be used to pay for increased consumption during
winter. Please contact our office if you wish to take
advantage of this plan.
30.
HIGH VOLUME CUSTOMERS: Members who expect to use in
excess of 1.055 gigajoules per hour (1 million BTU/hour)
shall report to the Co-op this requirement within a minimum
of 90 days prior to the requirement. Installations for high
volume service shall be charged an additional installation
fee.
31.
GRATUITIES: Employees of the Co-op are expressly
forbidden to accept or solicit gratuities.
32.
The Natural Gas Customer Contract and these
regulations are subject to all rules and regulations of any
governmental body having jurisdiction.
33.
AMENDMENTS TO RULES AND REGULATIONS: THESE RULES AND
REGULATIONS MAY BE ADDED TO, ALTERED OR AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM TIME TO
TIME AND SHALL BECOME
BINDING UPON THE CONSUMER.
