Electric Rules & Regulations

1. APPLICATION FOR SERVICE - Each prospective Customer desiring electric, cable, internet or any other service will enter into a contract for service with Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES), post a deposit or acceptable guarantor’s agreement and pay the service connection charge. Two proofs of identity are required, and BTES may make a credit investigation. Service will not be supplied by BTES to any applicant: (a) who is then indebted to BTES or (b) who, at the time of application, is a member of the household of a former Customer who is indebted to BTES or (c) who was a member of the household of a former Customer when said indebtedness was incurred, except upon payment of such indebtedness.

2. DEPOSITS - A deposit equal to approximately twice the highest estimated monthly bill or suitable guarantor’s agreement may be required of any Customer. Interest at the rate paid for passbook savings accounts by savings and loan institutions within Bristol, Tennessee, shall accrue on all deposits and be paid annually on request or at the time the deposit is refunded. BTES shall have the right of recoupment and/or to off-set deposits against any account of the customer. BTES may obtain a credit report from an approved Credit Bureau. A residential deposit may be refunded after twelve (12) consecutive months in which all payments were made on or before the due date, no checks were returned for insufficient funds, and a satisfactory credit rating is maintained.

3. POINT OF DELIVERY - The point of delivery is the point, as designated by BTES, on Customer’s premises where services are to be delivered. All wiring and equipment beyond this point of delivery shall be provided and maintained by Customer at no expense to BTES. Point of delivery is further defined as that point where obligation ends for BTES to furnish and install conductor, and where obligation begins for Customer to furnish and install conductor.

4. CUSTOMER’S WIRING - STANDARDS - All electrical wiring of Customer must comply to standards set forth by the National Electrical Code, the State of Tennessee Division of Fire Prevention, or by local city or county codes. The National Code is superceded by the state or local codes if it is not as stringent, but in all cases is the minimum acceptable standard.
All meter locations, for both underground and overheard services, must be approved by a representative of BTES.
BTES shall not be obligated to provide protective equipment for the Customer’s lines, facilities, or equipment, and the Customers shall provide such protective equipment as necessary for the protection of its own property and operations.

5. INSPECTIONS - BTES will install electrical services only after a satisfactory inspection has been performed by an authorized representative of the Division of Fire Prevention, Department of Insurance, State of Tennessee. Applications for such inspections may be made at 2470 Volunteer Parkway but only for locations with approved contracts for BTES service.  However, such inspections or failure to inspect or reject shall not render BTES liable or responsible for any loss incurred or from property damages resulting from defects in the installation, wiring, or appliances, or from violation of BTES rules, or from accidents which may occur upon Customer’s premises. 

6. UNDERGROUND SERVICE LINES - Customer desiring underground service lines from BTES must bear the excess cost incident thereto. Specifications and terms for such construction will be furnished by BTES on request.
There will be a $2.00 per month routine maintenance charge in addition to energy and Customer charges in accordance with Schedule of Rates and Charges for all BTES owned and maintained mobile home pedestals.

7. CUSTOMER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR BTES PROPERTY - All meters, service connections, and other equipment furnished by BTES shall be, and remain, the property of BTES. As part of the consideration for service, each Customer shall be BTES’s bailee of such facilities and shall accordingly desist from interfering with, impairing the operation of or causing damage to such facilities.  Customer shall control existing trees and shrubbery and refrain from new planting so as to prevent interference with utility lines and other property of BTES.   In the event such facilities are interfered with, impaired in their operation or damaged by the Customer, or by any other person when the Customer’s reasonable care and surveillance could have prevented such, the Customer shall indemnify BTES or any other person against death, injury, loss or damage resulting therefrom, including but not limited to BTES cost of repairing, replacing or relocating any such facilities. In the event such facilities are entered into, or tampered with in such a manner as to allow any service to be illegally consumed or the measurement of that usage to be impaired, a $300.00 charge will be assessed to the Customer of record and/or the occupant of the property where such tampering occurred, and in addition, such Customer of record and/or occupant shall indemnify BTES for its estimated loss of revenue, if any, resulting therefrom.

8. RIGHT OF ACCESS - BTES identified employees shall have access to Customer’s premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of reading meters, testing, repairing, removing, or exchanging any or all equipment belonging to BTES.  BTES may, at its discretion, utilize or upgrade existing facilities on customer’s property for the additional purpose of serving other properties.

9. BILLING - Bills will be rendered monthly and shall be paid within fifteen (15) days from the date the bill is mailed by BTES. Bills paid after the due date stated on said bill shall be subject to an additional charge of 5%, as provided in the Schedule of Rates and Charges. Failure to receive bill will not release Customer from payment obligation. Should payment not be received accordingly, BTES may, upon six (6) days from the mailing of written notice to Customer, discontinue any or all services.

10. DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE BY BTES - BTES may discontinue any service for the violation of any of the Schedule of Rules and Regulations or of the Schedule of Rates and Charges. BTES may discontinue any service to the Customer for the theft of services or the appearance of theft devices on the Customer’s premises. Any and/or all services will be discontinued to Customers with past due accounts. (Payment in full will be required and an additional deposit may be required before service will be restored.) The discontinuance of service by BTES for any causes stated in this rule does not release the Customer from his obligation to BTES for the payment of minimum bills as specified in contracts or any other amounts due BTES.

11a. SERVICE CONNECTION CHARGES - All connections for new service, transfers of service or reconnections of terminated services will require a payment of $25.00 in addition, all delinquent amounts, trip charges and deposits must also be paid. If at the Customer’s request, the connection is made after regular work hours or is guaranteed to be completed on the same day that service application is made, the charge will be $50.00.

11b. TRIP CHARGES - If a trip is made to collect and/or terminate a delinquent account, there will be a $25.00 charge for each such trip.  If a customer requests that we re-read their meter, on verifying the previous reading to be correct, the customer will be charged $25.00.  In the event a customer causes BTES to make an unnecessary service call at the customer’s premises, BTES reserves the right to charge customer with all reasonable costs associated with the trip.

11c. RETURNED CHECK CHARGES - There will be a $25.00 charge for all checks returned to BTES.

12. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT BY CUSTOMER - Customers who have fulfilled their contract terms and wish to discontinue service must give at least three (3) days’ written notice to that effect, unless contract specifies otherwise. Notice to discontinue service prior to expiration of contract term will not relieve Customer from any minimum or guaranteed payment under any contract or rate.

13. CONSTRUCTION PEDESTAL - BTES will furnish and install a construction pedestal for Customers who request electrical service on a temporary basis. An initial installation fee of $30.00 will be collected plus a $15.00 per month rental charge in addition to energy and Customer charges in accordance with Schedule of Rates and Charges. In the event of loss of or damage to the construction pedestal, the Customer will be liable for the costs of necessary repairs or replacements.  Other construction charges may apply.

14. INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE - BTES will use reasonable diligence in supplying electric power but shall not be liable for breach of contract in the event of, or for loss, injury, or damage to persons or property resulting from interruptions in service, excessive or inadequate voltage, single-phasing or otherwise unsatisfactory service, whether or not caused by negligence.

15. VOLTAGE FLUCTUATIONS CAUSED BY CUSTOMER - Electric service must not be used in such a manner as to cause unusual fluctuations or disturbances to BTES. BTES may require Customer, at his own expense, to install suitable apparatus which will reasonably limit such fluctuations.

16. ADDITIONAL LOAD - The service connection, transformers, meters, and equipment supplied by BTES for each Customer have definite capacity, and no additions to the equipment or load connected thereto will be allowed except by consent of BTES. Failure to give notice of additions or changes in load, and to obtain BTES consent for same, shall render customer liable for any damage to any of BTES lines or equipment caused by the additional or changed installation.

17. STANDBY AND RESALE SERVICE - All purchased services (other than emergency or standby service) used on the premises of Customer shall be supplied exclusively by BTES, and Customer shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, sublet, assign, or otherwise dispose of the services or any part thereof.

18. NOTICE OF TROUBLE - Customer shall notify BTES immediately should the service be unsatisfactory for any reason, or should there be any defects, trouble, or accidents affecting the supply of service. Such notices, if verbal, should be confirmed in writing.

19. NON-STANDARD OR MODIFIED SERVICE - The Customer shall pay for any special installations necessary to meet his particular requirements for other than BTES standard or planned voltage or standard voltage regulation. This includes making Customer requested changes in existing installations.

20. METER TESTS - BTES will, at is own expense, make periodic tests and inspections of its meters to maintain a high standard of accuracy. BTES will make additional tests or inspections of its meters at the request of Customer for a fee of $40.00. If tests made at Customer’s request show that the meter is accurate within two percent (2%) slow or fast, no adjustment will be made in Customer’s bill. In case the test shows meter to be in excess of two percent (2%) fast or slow, an adjustment shall be made in Customer’s bill over a period not to exceed sixty (60) days prior to date of such test, and cost of making test shall be bourne by BTES.

21. OUTDOOR LIGHTING FACILITIES - BTES will supply, install, and maintain the Light Fixture, all the equipment pertaining to the Fixture, and furnish electrical energy to the Customer. BTES shall, at the request of Customer, relocate or change existing BTES-owned equipment. Customer shall reimburse BTES for such changes at actual cost including appropriate overheads.

22. BILLING ADJUSTED TO STANDARD PERIODS - The Customer charges and the energy charges set forth in the Schedule of Rates and Charges are based on billing periods of approximately one month. In the case of the first billing of new accounts (temporary service and other seasonal Customers excepted) and final billing of all accounts (temporary service excepted) where the period covered by the billing involves fractions of a month, the Customer charges and the energy charge will be adjusted to a basis proportionate with the period of time during which service is extended.

23. LOAD MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - BTES operates load control equipment placed on the premises or equipment of Customers. At any time, either party, Customer or BTES, at their option, may cancel by written notice their participation in the Load Management Program, after which the load management equipment will be removed from their premises or equipment. Damages shall be limited to the repair and/or replacement of equipment under warranty. The program is subject to the policy of the Load Management Program.

24. SCOPE - The schedule of Rules and Regulations is a part of all contracts for receiving electric service from BTES and applies to all service received from BTES, whether the service is based upon contract, agreement, signed application, or otherwise. A copy of this Schedule, together with a copy of BTES Schedule of Rates and Charges, shall be kept open to inspection at the offices of BTES.

25. REVISIONS - These Rules and Regulations may be revised, amended, supplemented, or otherwise changed from time to time, without notice. Such changes, when effective, shall have the same force as the present Rules and Regulations.