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CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER
ELECTRICAL UTILITY BYLAW NO. 6502, 1998
(Adopted November 16, 1998)
This is a consolidation of the bylaws listed below. The amendment bylaws have been
combined with the original bylaw for convenience only. This consolidation is not a legal
document. Certified copies of the original bylaws should be consulted for all interpretations
and applications of the bylaws on this subject.
AMENDMENT BYLAW
ADOPTION DATE
EFFECTIVE DATE
6913
March 22, 2004
March 22, 2004
6987
January 10, 2005
January 10, 2005
7107
July 10, 2006
July 10, 2006
7141
January 22, 2007
February 1, 2007
7151
March 12, 2007
March 12, 2007
7224
April 7, 2008
April 7, 2008
7255
September 8, 2008
September 8, 2008
7305
April 6, 2009
April 6, 2009
7312
April 27, 2009
April 27, 2009
7379
March 29, 2010
April 1, 2010
7442
December 13, 2010
December 13, 2010
7462
May 3, 2011
May 3, 2011
7513
March 26, 2012
March 26, 2012
7589
March 25, 2013
March 25, 2013
7635
November 4, 2013
January 1, 2014
7668
March 31, 2014
April 1, 2014
7738
March 23, 2015
April 1, 2015
7816
March 14, 2016
April 1, 2016
7848
June 13, 2016
July 1, 2016
7901
March 6, 2017
April 1, 2017
7963
November 20, 2017
January 1, 2018
7998
April 9, 2018
April 9, 2018
8096
March 11, 2019
April 1, 2019
8167
December 9, 2019
January 1, 2020
8173
December 9, 2019
January 1, 2020
8197
May 4, 2020
May 4, 2020
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8248
November 30, 2020
January 1, 2021
8226
November 30, 2020
January 18, 2021
8295
November 15, 2021
January 1, 2022
8303
December 13, 2021
January 1, 2022
8368
October 3, 2022
January 1, 2023
8378
December 14, 2022
January 1, 2023
8432
November 6, 2023
January 1, 2024
8441
December 11, 2023
January 1, 2024
8476
October 7, 2024
January 1, 2025
8497
December 16, 2024
January 1, 2025
8546
September 29, 2025
January 1, 2026
8569
December 15, 2025
January 1, 2026
The bylaw numbers highlighted in this consolidation refer to the bylaws that amended the
principal Bylaw No. 6502, 1998. The number of any amending bylaw that has been repealed
is not referred to in this consolidation.
Obtainable from the Legislative Services Department
CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY
(December 18, 2025)
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THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER
BYLAW NO. 6502, 1998
A Bylaw to provide for the classification of users of electrical
energy and to prescribe the rates, terms and conditions of
supply and use to users, and to impose service connection
fees for electrical energy facilities and to fix the terms of
payment
THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL of the Corporation of the City of New Westminster
ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1.
This Bylaw may be cited as "Electrical Utility Bylaw No. 6502, 1998".
2.
"Electrical By-law, 5371, 1982" and all amendments thereto are hereby repealed.
3.
"Electrical Energy Rates By-law, 5613, 1986" and all amendments thereto are
hereby repealed.
DEFINITIONS
4.
In this Bylaw, the words and terms hereafter defined shall have the following
meanings:
"apartment building" means all residential buildings containing three or more individual suites;
"assessed demand" means the demand in kilowatts or kilovolt amperes used for billing
purposes when the maximum demand is not measured by a demand meter;
"billing demand" means the demand used to determine the charges in accordance with the
provisions of the Schedule of Rates attached hereto as Schedule "A";
"City" means Corporation of the City of New Westminster;
"customer" means any person, partnership, company or governmental agency served with
electricity by the City at any one premises;
"design potential" means the potential available from the City's distribution system in any
given area;
"dip service connection" means a service connection provided from the City's overhead
circuits that is underground where it crosses the customer's property line;
"drop service" means that portion of an overhead service connection extending not more than
30 meters onto the customer's property and not beyond any intermediate support on the
customer's property;
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"electrical equipment" means all physical materials and implements used in, or necessarily
incidental to, the transmission, distribution or use of electrical energy;
"electrical work" means the electrical work, installation, addition, reconstruction, renewal,
repair or alteration of any electrical equipment;
"electricity" means inclusively electric power and electric energy unless the context requires
otherwise;
"energy" means work done; electric energy is measured and expressed in kilowatt hours;
"extension" means an addition or upgrade to, the City's electrical distribution system;
"four months" means a period of from one hundred and sixteen to one hundred and twenty-
eight consecutive days;
"General Manager, Electric Utility" means the person from time to time duly appointed by the
Council as General Manager, Electric Utility of the City of New Westminster;
"general service" means electricity for all purposes, not otherwise specifically provided,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, service to:
(a) common use areas of rental apartment buildings;
(b) a single-family dwelling a portion of which is used to carry on a business if
the whole dwelling is supplied through one meter;
(c)
schools, churches, hospitals, halls and recreational establishments;
(d) nursing homes, boarding and rooming houses; and
(e) marinas and yacht clubs;
"horsepower" and "HP" mean an imperial unit of the rate of doing work, equal to 33,000 foot-
pounds per minute and equivalent to 746 watts;
"kilovolt-ampere" and "kV.A" mean the product of the effective volts across the terminals of a
circuit by the effective amperes through it, divided by 1000;
"kilowatt" and "kW" mean a unit of the rate of doing work equal to 1000 watts;
"kilowatt hour" and "kW.h" mean the amount of energy delivered in one hour, when delivery is
at a constant rate of one kilowatt;
"maximum demand" means the greatest amount of kilowatts or kilovolt amperes - averaged
over a time interval of not more than 32 consecutive minutes - registered during a
specified period by a demand meter;
"month" means a period of from twenty-seven to thirty-three consecutive days;
"multiple residential service" means electricity for use in single-family dwellings used only as
dwellings, where all such dwellings are served through the same meter, and:
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(a) for common use areas in the case of a building which contains only two
single-family units; and
(b) for farm use if the single-family dwellings are situated on a farm which would
otherwise qualify for residential service;
BYLAW NO. 7151, 2007
"newly constructed single family residential or duplex building" means: A new dwelling or
structure erected on a parcel of land where no dwelling or structure previously existed, or
where an existing dwelling or structure is proposed to be reconstructed that has been
damaged, destroyed or demolished beyond 75% of its value above its foundation";
"owner" means that person registered as owner of the premises in the Lower Mainland Land
Title Office;
"permanent service" means a service where electricity will be taken for an unlimited period of
time;
"persons" shall include any corporation, partnership, or party, and the heirs, executors,
administrators, or other legal representatives of such person to whom the context can
apply according to law;
"power" (electric) means the time rate of generating, transferring or using electric energy, and
is measured and expressed kilowatts or kilovolt amperes;
"power factor" means average lagging power factor; the ratio determined by the following formula and based on monthly
measurements of kW.h and lagging kVar.h or at the City's discretion by spot checks from time to time:
kW.h
Average Lagging Power =
√ kW.h2 + kVar.h2
"point of delivery" means the location where the City's wires or cables are connected to the meter, the customer's wiring, or the
customer's switch whichever comes first;
"primary potential" means a nominal potential of 750 volts or more measured phase to phase;
"principal residence" means the sole residence of the customer, or the residence most used
by the customer in a calendar year;
"residential service" means electricity for use:
(a) in separately metered single-family dwellings used only as dwellings;
(b) for lighting and equipment in a building which contains only two single-family
dwellings and space used in common by them, whether it is metered
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separately or as part of a separate residential service to either of such
dwellings, if such lighting and equipment is used only for the common
benefit of the said dwellings;
"residential service - common use" means electricity for use in common use areas of strata
corporations and owner-occupied multiple residential premises containing only single-
family dwellings, used only as dwellings;
"secondary potential" means a nominal potential of less than 750 volts measured phase to
phase;
"service connection" means that portion of the distribution facilities extending from the City's
circuits on a public highway to the point of delivery;
"single-family dwelling" means a dwelling consisting of living quarters for a single family,
having in one self-contained unit at least sleeping quarters, a kitchen and bathroom or
alternative facilities acceptable to the City;
"temporary service" means a service where electricity will be or, in the opinion of the City is
likely to be, taken for a limited period of time;
"three months" means a period from eighty-five to ninety-seven consecutive days;
"two months" means a period of from fifty-four to sixty-six consecutive days;
"underground service connection" means a service connection provided from the City's underground circuits.
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OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER, ELECTRIC UTILITY
5.
The General Manger, Electric Utility has sole authority to:
(1) Designate and determine the position of all overhead, underground and
surface-mounted electrical distribution structures and the relative distance to
other objects; and
(2) Regulate all additions or alterations to the City's electrical system and the
points at which electrical services may enter any building.
6.
(1) The General Manager, Electric Utility may at all reasonable times enter on
any property to ascertain whether the provisions of this Bylaw have been
and are being complied with. A person employed from time to time by the
City may be designated to act in the place of the General Manager, Electric
Utility for the purposes of this subsection.
(2) No person shall interfere with or obstruct the entry to any property by the
General Manager, Electric Utility or the designate, while either person is
performing the duties described in subsection 6(1).
(3) Where the General Manager, Electric Utility is of the opinion that any
electrical work or equipment located on any premises is of immediate
danger to any person or property, he may without notice to anyone,
disconnect or cause to be disconnected such electrical equipment from any
source of electrical energy, provided that he shall, upon doing so, give
notice in writing to the owner of the premises upon which the electrical
equipment is located, within a reasonable time thereafter. The B.C.
Electrical Safety Branch will be notified and reconnection will take place only
after approval has been received from the Provincial Electrical Inspector.
7.
No person shall make any attachment whatever to any public utility pole or
electrical lines attached thereto located on the City streets or elsewhere without
the express written permission of the General Manager, Electric Utility.
CITY EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
8.
(1) All meters and other facilities furnished by the City shall be and remain the
City's property and the right to remove, replace, or repair the same is
expressly reserved.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any persons to in any manner injure, mutilate,
destroy, remove, disconnect or in any way interfere or tamper with any of
the machinery, poles, wires, meters or other equipment belonging to or in
any manner included in the light and power plant of the City.
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(3) Notwithstanding the provisions set out in sub-clause (2) hereof, the General
Manager, Electric Utility may give special permission to any person to do
work deemed necessary and proper in the circumstances.
GENERAL RULES
9.
(1) No person, other than the General Manager, Electric Utility or any employee
of the City duly authorized by him, shall make any electrical connection
between the City's electrical distribution system and any electrical works.
(2) Before commencing any electrical work, an electrical permit holder shall
ascertain from the General Manager, Electric Utility the location and current
characteristics (ie: voltage, number of phases etc.) of all service lines and
meters to be connected to the electrical work covered by the permit.
(3) As a condition precedent to a connection of a customer to the City
distribution lines, the municipal description of the premises to be connected
in the form of permanent street and suite number(s) assigned by the
Assessor shall have been erected on the premises.
(4) Where emergency generators using gasoline, diesel, natural gas, propane
or any other flammable fuel are required the generators must be located in a
room separate to the Electrical Room.
(5) Meters must be grouped in an approved location in a meter room, switch
room or cabinet.
(6) Meters shall be arranged in order of sequence as approved on plans for
suite numbering.
BYLAW NO. 7151, 2007
10.
(1) All Multi-family, Commercial and Mixed use, and newly constructed Single
Family and Duplex building shall be designed to provide for underground
services including electrical, telephone and cable-television".
BYLAW NO. 7151, 2007
Single family residential or duplex buildings that are completing
upgrades/renovations where the electrical service will be impacted may
continue to stay overhead or at the customer's request switch to
underground than being charge a flat rate fee as per amended Schedule
"B".
(2) Subdivisions and developments regulated by the Subdivision and
Development Control Bylaw require underground wiring including electrical,
telephone and cable-television.
(3) All buildings with an estimated actual demand load of 100 kW or more shall
be designed for a primary vault.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
11.
Application for Service
(1) Applicants for residential or non-residential service shall make application
for service on the form provided by the City, and when signed by the
customer and accepted by the City, the form becomes the agreement under
which electricity is delivered to the customer.
(2) The customer shall not substantially increase his connected load without the
approval of the City.
(3) The customer shall not use electricity for any other purpose than that for
which the application is made.
12.
Extension
If an application for service requires an extension, the City may, at its
sole discretion, either refuse to provide the extension or provide the
extension subject to the following conditions:
a) the applicant shall be responsible for 100% of the costs incurred by the
City in providing the extension; and
(b) the applicant shall pay the City its estimated costs of providing the
extension, as determined by the City, prior to the City commencing work
on the extension.
13.
Supply of Electricity
The terms and conditions for the supply of electricity set out in this Bylaw apply to
all customers served by the City, and the breach of any terms and conditions
may result in a discontinuance of electricity supply to a customer.
14.
Resale of Electricity
No customer shall sell to any other person metered quantities of any electricity
supplied by the City without the written consent of the City or otherwise than in
accordance with the conditions which the City requires the customer to agree to
before the City's consent is given. The required conditions will include the
provision that the price charged for electricity sold by the customer to any other
person shall not exceed the price which would be charged by the City for
electricity sold to such a person as a customer of the City. All metering
installations are governed by the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and
Regulations, administered by Measurement Canada.
15.
Service Connections
(1) General
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(a) The City reserves the right to determine the potential and number of the
phases of the service connection.
(b) For the majority of customers the service connection will be at the
secondary potential available from the City's secondary distribution
system on public property which depends on the design of the City's
system in any given area and is:
(i) 120/240 volts single phase, 3 wire
(ii) 120/208 volts three phase, 4 wire
(c) The service potential is the potential at the point of delivery and is:
(i) secondary, if the service connection is secondary;
(ii) primary, if the customer's switch is at a primary
potential
(d) The service connection will be at the primary potential if the estimated
actual demand load is 100 kW or more or the distance from the City's
distribution on public property, or both, is such that in the opinion of the
City a service connection at the secondary potential is not practical.
(e) The City will normally serve each building or premises, or each group of
buildings or premises if in the same ownership and on the same or
contiguous parcels of land, through one service connection at a primary
potential, or at the available design potential or potentials. A second
service connection to such buildings or premises may be provided by
the City, in it's discretion, and subject to the approval of the appropriate
inspection authority, if the customer agrees to pay the costs, as
estimated by the City, that the City will incur to provide the second
service connection.
(f) Connections to or disconnections from the City's system shall be made
only by the City's employees or agents authorized to do work or such
other persons as the City may specifically permit to do the work.
(g) Each customer, or where a premises is in multiple occupancy, any one
or more of the owners of such premises and each customer therein,
shall furnish, own and maintain all wiring and equipment beyond the
point of delivery.
(2) Supply of Transformation
If the service is at a primary potential the customer will supply, own and
maintain the transformers.
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(3) Service Connections on Private Property
(a) Installation:
(i) Overhead Service:
An overhead service connection will be constructed at the expense
of the customer with the exception of the drop service and the
material cost of any transformers supplied by the City.
(ii)
Underground and Dip Service Connection - Primary
Potential and Service Through One Meter
Where the customer is to take service at a primary potential, the
premises will be served by an underground or dip service
connection. The City will establish the most suitable location for the
service connection and at the customer's expense, extend or alter
the electrical distribution system on public property to the point of
delivery. The customer, at his cost, will provide and install all
equipment for the service connection including cable, conduit, duct
work, pole riser and cable terminations. The customer will supply
and install all primary and secondary switchgear and power
transformers, in spaces satisfactory to the City. The City will
provide a standard meter cabinet for the installation of the City's
meter and test block. The City will supply metering instrument
transformers to the customer for the customer to install in the
switchgear.
(ii)
Underground and Dip Service Connection - Primary
Potential With Multiple Secondary Metering
The requirements for a primary underground or dip service with
multiple secondary metering are the same as for preceding Section
14(3) (a) (ii) except that the City will provide meters and metering
current transformers as necessary.
(ii)
Underground and Dip Service Connection - Secondary
Potential with Single or Multiple Meters
The requirements for a secondary underground or dip service are
the same as for preceding Section 14(3) (a) (ii) except that the City
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will provide pole mounted transformers, meters and metering
current transformers as necessary.
(b) Operation and Maintenance
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Bylaw:
(i) A new overhead service connection on private property which has
been built by the City at the customer's expense shall be owned,
operated and maintained by the City to the point of delivery.
(ii) An underground or dip service installed by the customer at the
customer's expense shall be owned and maintained by the
customer to the point of delivery.
(4) Metering
Notwithstanding the service potential at the point of delivery, normally the
supply of electricity will be metered at a secondary potential but the City
reserves the right to determine the potential at which the supply of electricity
will be metered.
16.
Alternative Service Connection
(1) Where the nature of the operations for which electricity is used by a
customer is such that any interruption of service thereto would probably
result in grave and unavoidable danger to persons or property or in serious
and unavoidable economic loss, the City, in its discretion, may provide a
complete or partial alternative service to the premises of the customer.
(2) In considering whether it will provide such alternative service the City may
take into account any factors it considers relevant, including but not limited
to:
(a) the nature of the customer's operations;
(b) the size of the customer's requirements;
(c) the location of the premises at which such alternative service is
required;
(d) the cost to the City of providing such alternative service and normal
service; and
(e) the extent to which such alternative service would fit in with system
development plans.
(3) The City may, as a condition of providing such alternative service require:
(a) the customer to bear all or part of the cost thereof;
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(b) the customer to enter into a contract of sufficient duration to cover out
of estimated revenue to the City such proportion of the cost of providing
alternative service as the City considers reasonable; or
(c) both of the above;
(4) The provision of or failure to provide such alternative service shall not in any
manner make the City liable for any loss or damage due to interruption,
failure or defect in, or curtailment or suspension of service.
17.
Temporary Service
(1) Temporary service will be charged at the applicable rate.
(2) A customer who is to take a temporary service shall pay to the City in
advance of construction the costs which the City estimates it will incur in
installing and removing the facilities necessary to supply electricity. Such
facilities shall include the extension, drop service and transformers of the
City. Such costs shall include charges for labour, materials, transformer
rental and administration as determined by the City from time to time.
18.
Stand-By, Emergency or Maintenance Service
Stand-by, emergency or maintenance service is not available under the Schedule
of Rates attached hereto as Schedule "A" and will be supplied by the City only by
special agreement specifying the rates, terms and conditions governing such
service.
19.
Metering
(1) In order to determine for billing purposes the quantity of electricity
consumed by the customer, one consumption meter and, where required,
one associated demand meter will be installed by the City on the customer's
premises at a location most convenient to the City for each separate Rate
under which the customer takes service. At the request of a customer
receiving multiple residential or general service the City may agree to install
for billing purposes on the customer's premises more than one consumption
meter and, where required, more than one associated demand meter for
each separate Rate under which the customer takes service and in such
cases the customer will be billed separately for the consumption and, where
appropriate, associated demand registered on each such meter. The
customer shall provide wiring and fittings, satisfactory to the City and in
accordance with any applicable electrical code or City bylaw, for the
installation of each such meter. The City may install on the customer's
premises any meter or apparatus which it may need for its use and
convenience.
(2) The customer shall take reasonable care of and protect all meters and
apparatus belonging to the City on the customer's premises, and shall pay
to the City the cost of any such meters or apparatus broken, missing or
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damaged except to the degree that the customer can show that the meter or
apparatus was broken, missing or damaged due to a defect therein or to
any act or omission of the City's servants or agents.
(3) All meters, wires or other apparatus furnished by the City remain the
property of the City and must not be moved or removed from the premises
without the City's prior written permission.
20.
Meter Reading
(1) The interval between consecutive meter readings shall be at the sole
discretion of the City.
(2) Where the Rate under which a customer takes service does not require
measurement of the customer's demand, the meter will normally be read at
intervals of two months. Where the Rate under which a customer takes
service requires measurement of the customer's demand, the meter or
meters will normally be read at intervals of one month.
21.
Billing
(1) Bills will be rendered on the basis of the consumption and, where
applicable, the demand, registered by a meter or meters, in accordance with
the Schedules of Rates attached hereto as Schedule "A" and in particular,
the Rate under which the customer takes service, except:
(a) if the service is not metered,
(b) if a Rate is changed and the effective date of the change falls between
the dates of two successive meter readings, in which case the City will
render a bill which will be determined upon a prorated basis in
accordance with the following procedure:
(i) the City will calculate an amount hereinafter called "Amount A",
which would be payable for the consumption and, where applicable,
the demand, for the period between the two successive meter
readings, in accordance with the Rate under which the customer
was taking service immediately prior to the effective date of the
change in the Rate;
(ii) the City also will calculate an amount, hereinafter called "Amount
B", which would be payable for the consumption and, where
applicable, the demand, for the period between the two successive
meter readings, in accordance with the Rate under which the
customer is taking service immediately after the effective date of
the change in the Rate;
(iii) the bill rendered will be the sum of:
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(A) Amount A, multiplied by the number of days between the date
of the earlier meter reading and the effective date of the
change in the Rate, divided by the number of days between
the successive meter readings; and
(B) Amount B, multiplied by the number of days between the
effective date of the change in Rate, and the date of the later
meter reading, divided by the number of days between the
successive meter readings.
(2) If meter readings cannot be obtained for any reason, the demand or
consumption or both may be estimated by the City and used for billing
purposes, and the next bill, which is based on actual meter readings, will be
adjusted for the difference between estimated and actual use over the
interval between meter readings.
(3) If any meter fails to register or registers incorrectly, the consumption or
demand or both may be estimated by the City and used for billing purposes.
(4) If meters are read at longer or shorter intervals than the period set out in the
applicable Rate, the minimum charge, the service charge, the number of
kilowatt hours in each step and, if applicable, the demand charge set out in
such Rate shall be adjusted by a prorate factor before the bill is calculated;
and
(a) if the period between meter readings is one, two, three or four months
as defined in this Bylaw the prorate factor shall be:
(i) one, two three or four respectively if the rate in the applicable Rate
is for a period of one month, or
(ii) one-half, one, one and a half or two respectively if the rate in the
applicable Rate is for a period of two months.
(b) if the period between meter readings is not one, two, three or four
months as defined in this Bylaw the prorate factor shall be:
(i) the number of days between meter readings divided by 30 if the
rate in the applicable Rate is for a period of one month, or
(ii) the number of days between meter readings divided by 60 if the
rate in the applicable Rate is for a period of two months.
(5) Bills will be rendered as often as deemed necessary by the City and are due
and payable upon presentation.
(6) Where a customer takes service under a Rate in which the rate is for a
period of two months, the City may, at its sole discretion, and to enable a
customer to make monthly payments, issue a statement of an interim
amount which, if paid, will be credited against the customer's next bill.
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Page 16
22.
Billing of Fractional Demands
(1) A billing demand which would include a fraction shall be deemed to be the
nearest whole unit of demand below the fraction.
(2) The minimum billing demand shall, except where the context otherwise
requires, be deemed to be 1 kW or 1 kV.A whichever is applicable.
23.
Termination of Supply on Breach of Agreement
(1) The City may refuse to provide or may discontinue without notice all service
to any customer who has failed to pay for service at any or all premises or is
otherwise in breach of the terms and conditions upon which service is
provided by the City. For the purpose of this paragraph the term "customer"
shall have its ordinary meaning and shall not be restricted by its definition in
Section 4 hereof and the term "service" shall mean electric service wherever
such service is provided by the City to the customer.
(2) The City shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage suffered by any
customer by reason of the discontinuation of or refusal to provide service in
accordance with Section 23 hereof.
24.
Security Deposit
(1) Any customer served on a Rate available for general service, may at any
time be required by the City to deposit and to maintain with the City a
security deposit in cash, certified cheque, money order or irrevocable letter
of credit. The amount of such security deposit will be the greater of $50.00
or three times the customer's maximum monthly bill, as estimated by the
City. If the security deposit held by the City is not equal to three times the
customer's maximum monthly bill, the customer shall be required to pay an
additional security deposit.
(2) In the event that a customer's bill is not paid when due, the City may
appropriate the customer's security deposit and earned interest, if any, or
any part of it toward payment of such bill, and thereupon the customer's
property in such deposit, and earned interest, or any part so appropriated,
as the case may be, shall forthwith cease, but nothing in this clause shall
restrict the City's right to discontinue service on the failure of a customer to
pay for service.
(3) A security deposit may be refunded when, in the opinion of the City, it is no
longer necessary for the customer to maintain such deposit.
(4) A security deposit, or that part of it which has not been appropriated, will be
refunded after payment of the final bill of the customer by whom the deposit
was made.
(5) The City will pay simple interest on security deposits held by it in cash at the
rate of interest set by the City monthly, such rate to be based on the
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monthly average Treasury Account Rate provided by the City's banking
service provider.
(6) Payment of interest on a cash security deposit held by the City will be made
in the form of a credit to the customer's account on 31 December of each
subsequent year, or at the time of the customer's final bill, or added to the
amount of the cash security deposit when a refund is made as provided in
subsection (3) hereof.
(7) The City will not pay interest on security deposits held by it in a form other
than cash.
(8) No interest shall accrue on any security deposit after the date of the final bill
for the account secured by the deposit.
25.
Account Charge
When a change of customer occurs, a charge, hereinafter called an "Account
Charge" in the amount specified in Schedule "B" hereto shall be paid by the new
customer with respect to each account in that customer's name for which a
separate bill is rendered by the City, except in the following cases:
(1) If the new customer is, or was, the spouse of the former customer; or
(2) If the new customer is the owner or operator of multi-tenant premises, only
one charge shall be paid with respect to all accounts for single family
dwellings for which he will be the customer in such premises.
26.
Connection and Reconnection Charges
(1) In addition to all other charges provided for in this Bylaw, charges in the
amounts specified in Schedule "B" hereto shall be paid by a customer to
obtain service and for a connection or reconnection of his premises or
property to the lines of the City when:
(a) a service connection is energized for the first time;
(b) an additional meter is installed except as provided in subsection (3)
hereof; or
(c) service is restored to premises which were disconnected:
(i) because the customer had failed to pay his account;
(ii) because a new customer had failed to apply for service, in which
case an Account Charge shall also be paid;
(iii) because the City was ordered to do so by an electrical inspector or
other duly authorized official;
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(iv) to test a meter pursuant to the Electricity Act (Canada) at the
request of a customer, if such meter is found to be accurate within
the limits permitted by the statute; or
(v) to permit the customer to make alterations upon or to the premises.
(2) If permanent service to premises is terminated at the request of a customer,
whether or not the service is disconnected by the City, and if the same
customer or spouse, servant, agent or partner of the customer requests
restoration or reconnection of the service to the premises within twelve
months on the same Rate under which the customer was receiving service
immediately before his service was disconnected, the City shall require the
customer or spouse, servant, agent or partner of the customer to pay the
greater of:
(a) the expenses the City incurred in making the restoration or reconnection
of the service; or
(b) the sum of the minimum charges which would have been paid by the
customer between the time of termination and time of restoration or
reconnection of service on the applicable rate.
(3) The minimum charge may, in any of the cases described in this Section, be
increased to an amount sufficient to cover the expenses incurred by the City
if the connection or reconnection:
(a) can be made only at costs higher than those specified in Schedule "B";
(b) is requested by the customer to be made, and is made by the City,
outside the regular working hours of the City.
(4) In no case shall a customer be charged for a connection or reconnection an
amount less than is elsewhere provided in this Bylaw.
27.
Termination of Service
(1) The customer must give the City at the City Hall at least 24 hours notice
before vacating the premises after termination of the agreement covering
the service. In the absence of such notice the customer will be held
responsible for all electricity used on the premises and all damage to and
loss of wires, meters or other apparatus of the City between the date of the
customer's vacating the premises and the date of receipt by the City of
notice of such vacation, and for a further period of 24 hours after receipt of
such notice.
(2) The City reserves the right to suspend or terminate service at any time to
prevent fraudulent use of electricity, to protect its property, or to protect its
service to other customers, or if the customer fails to comply with the terms
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of his service agreement or this Bylaw, or if the City is ordered by a
competent governmental authority to suspend or terminate such service.
28.
Liability of City
(1) The City will endeavor to provide a regular and uninterrupted supply of
electricity but it does not guarantee a constant supply of electricity or the
maintenance of unvaried frequency or voltage and shall not be liable for any
loss, injury, damage or expense caused by or resulting from any
interruption, termination, failure or defect in the supply of electricity, whether
caused by negligence of the City, its servants or agents, or otherwise.
(2) Electric service may be temporarily suspended to make repairs or
improvements to the City's system or in the event of fire, flood or other
sudden emergency. The City will, whenever practicable, give notice of such
suspension to the customer and will restore service as soon as possible.
Such notice may be given by newspaper, radio or television announcement,
or any combination thereof. The City shall not be liable for any loss, injury
or damage caused by or arising out of any such suspension of service.
29.
Liability of Other Utilities
Service under this Bylaw is sometimes provided by the City by the use of the
property and service provided by or shared with other utilities, telephone and
electric. It is a condition of service that any loss or damages, direct or indirect,
which the customer may suffer by reason of any defect in the service to be
provided under this Bylaw or any interruption in or failure to provide service,
whether or not caused by negligence, shall not be recoverable from the City or
any other utility and that the customer may not take proceedings of any kind
against any of the City or other utilities by reason of any defect in the service
provided under this Bylaw or any interruption in or failure to provide service to the
customer.
30.
Access to Premises
The City's agents and employees shall have, at all reasonable times, free access
to the equipment supplied with electricity and to the City's meters and apparatus
and the wires leading therefrom on the customer's premises to ascertain the
quantity or method of use of service.
31.
Curtailment of Service
(1) At any time in the event of a breakdown or failure of transmitting or
distributing plant, lines or equipment, or to comply with the requirements of
any law, the City shall have the right to require any customer or customers,
until notice of termination of the requirement is given or between specified
hours, to discontinue the use of electricity for any purpose or to reduce in
any specified degree or quantity his or their consumption of electricity.
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(2) Any such requirement may be communicated to any customer or customers
or to all customers by either or both of the following means, that is to say,
public notices in the press or announcements over radio or television, and
may be communicated to any individual customer by either or both of the
following means, that is to say, notice in writing (either sent through the mail
or left at the premises where electric service is received, or served
personally) or oral (which may be by telephone) communication. Any notice
of the termination of any requirement may be communicated similarly.
(3) If in the opinion of the City any customer of the City has failed to comply
with any requirement of the City communicated pursuant to this Section, the
City shall be at liberty, after notice to the customer communicated as
aforesaid, to discontinue electric service to such customer.
(4) The City shall not be liable for any loss, injury, damage or expense
occasioned to or suffered by any customer for or by reason of the making of
any such requirement or the discontinuance of electric service to him
pursuant to this Section.
32.
Power Factor
(1) Lighting
All new installations or connections of neon, mercury vapour, sodium
vapour, fluorescent, or other types of lamps, lighting devices, or display
facilities, supplied with electricity by the City, shall be equipped at the
customer's expense with high power factor ballasts, or auxiliaries designed
and installed to the satisfaction of the City, to ensure that a lagging power
factor of not less than 90% is maintained.
(2) General Service
The average lagging power factor shall not be less than 90%. The City, in
its discretion, may make continuous tests of power factor or may test the
customer's power factor from time to time. If the customer's power factor is
lower than 90%, the City may require the customer, at his expense, to install
power factor corrective equipment to ensure that a lagging power factor of
not less than 90% is maintained.
(3) Failure to Comply with Power Factor Requirements
If the customer neglects or refuses to install the power factor corrective
equipment or auxiliaries as required by subsections (1) or (2) above
forthwith upon a request so to do, the City may at its sole option:
(a) disconnect service; or
(b) require a payment (in addition to the regular payment) of fifty cents
(50¢) per month per 100 watts or fraction thereof of the connected load;
or
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(c) increase the customer's bill for electricity by a surcharge in accordance
with the following table; the amount of the surcharge so determined
shall be added to the minimum bill or the calculation of the bill under the
Schedule of Rates, whichever is the greater.
Lagging Power Factor as
Determined by the City
Lagging Power
Factor
Surcharge
Less than 100% but 90 % or more
Less than 90% but 88% or more
Less than 88% but 85% or more
Less than 85% but 80% or more
Less than 80% but 75% or more
Less than 75% but 70% or more
Less than 70% but 65% or more
Less than 65% but 60% or more
Less than 60% but 55% or more
Less than 55% but 50% or more
Less than 50%
Nil
2%
4%
9%
16%
24%
34%
44%
57%
72%
80%
(4) No credit will be allowed for leading power factor.
33.
Disturbing Use
(1) All equipment for which electricity is supplied shall be subject to the
reasonable approval of the City and the customer shall take and use the
electricity so as not to endanger the City's apparatus or cause any undue or
abnormal fluctuations of the City's line voltage or introduce disturbing
elements into the City's system; and for three phase, four wire service the
system design of the premises served must not be such that any condition
of unbalanced load between phases is more than 10% of the phase carrying
the least load.
(2) The City may require the customer, at his own expense, to provide
equipment which will reasonably limit such fluctuations or disturbances and
may refuse to supply electricity or suspend the supply thereof until such
equipment is provided.
34.
Meter Testing
Any customer who doubts the accuracy of the meter measuring electricity used
by him may have the meter tested by Measurement Canada. Applications for
such tests should be made direct to the Finance Department, City Hall. Should
the meter on such test be found to register with an error greater than that
permitted under the Electricity & Gas Inspection Act of Canada, Measurement
Canada will refund the fee to the applicant and charge the cost of the test to the
City.
35.
Taxes
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The rates and charges set out in this Bylaw do not include Social Services Tax or
any other tax which the City may be lawfully authorized or required to add to its
normal rates and charges.
36.
Waiver of Minimum Charges
(1) If the City in any case requires the owner of a motel or trailer court to apply
for residential service in his own name for any separately metered unit of
accommodation upon his premises and if no electricity is consumed in such
a unit during an interval between meter readings, the minimum charge for
such interval shall be waived.
(2) In apartment buildings where separate meters for the suites are installed
during construction of the building, minimum charges will be made only after
the suite for which a particular meter is installed is first occupied.
37.
Premises in Multiple Occupancy
(1) Multiple Residential Occupancy
If a premises contains more than two single-family dwellings and no
commercial units the owner or operator may, by agreement of the City:
(a) provide for the premises to be served through one meter in which case
the applicable all purpose multi-residential rate will apply, or
(b) provide for each single-family dwelling to be served through a separate
single meter, in which case the applicable residential Rate will apply
and the City may, at its sole option at any time and from time to time,
either:
(i) deal directly with each tenant as a residential customer of the City,
or
(ii) deal directly with the owner or operator of the development as a
customer of the City in respect of any or all of such single-family
dwellings,
and provide for electricity used in areas common to all tenants to be
metered through a separate meter to which the applicable residential or
general Rates will apply, or
(c) provide for all single-family dwellings to be served through one meter, in
which case the applicable multiple residential Rate will apply to
consumption registered on such meter, and provide for electricity used
in areas common to all tenants to be metered through a separate meter
to which the applicable residential or general Rates will apply.
Note:
General Rates are not available as an alternative to an all purpose
multi-residential Rate or a multiple residential Rate.
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(2) Multiple Non Residential Occupancy
If a premises containing no single-family dwelling is in multiple occupancy,
the owner or operator will provide for each occupant to be served
individually and the City will deal with each occupant as a customer of the
City, except:
(a) where, in the opinion of the City, it is impracticable for the City to do so;
Examples of situations where the City considers it impracticable to deal
with each occupant as a customer are:
(i) where the type of occupancy is transient in nature;
(ii) where the design of a building renders it impracticable to meter the
electricity used by individual occupants;
(iii) where a building such as a hotel contains one major occupant with
a large load and a small number of tenants whose total electric load
is so small both in kilowatts and in relation to the major load that the
City considers it impractical to deal with each aforesaid tenant;
(b) that, if the point of delivery is at a primary potential, the owner or
operator of the premises may elect to provide for the premises to be
served through one meter. An owner or operator choosing this option is
not permitted to resell electricity other than in accordance with the
provisions of this Bylaw.
(3) Multiple Residential and Non Residential Occupancy
(a) If a premises contains both single-family dwellings and commercial units
the owner or operator may elect any of the options set out above under
the heading "Multiple Residential Occupancy" to provide for the supply
of electricity to the single-family dwellings and areas used in common
only by such dwellings.
(b) The owner or operator must provide for each non residential occupant
to be served individually and for separate metering for areas and uses,
used in common by such non residential occupants.
38.
Rates
(1) The rates to be charged by and paid to the City for electric service shall be
the Rates set out in the Schedule of Rates hereto from time to time in effect,
which may be inspected during business hours at the City Hall, New
Westminster, B.C.
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(2) The City will endeavor to provide the customer with information and advise
with respect to all rates available to the customer from time to time, but in
every case the selection of the Rate used shall be the sole responsibility of
the customer.
(3) The customer may apply at any time in writing to be billed on another Rate
in the Schedule of Rates from that under which he is being served. The City
may, in the City's sole discretion, reject, defer or approve such application.
In general, approval will not be granted:
(a) if the Rate which the customer applies for was used by the customer
during the preceding twelve months; or
(b) if the initial contract period has been completed; or
(c) if the Rate applied for is, in the opinion of the City, not available to the
customer.
39.
Conflicting Terms and Conditions
Whenever anything in these Terms and Conditions is in conflict with any special
terms or conditions provided in the Schedule of Rates hereto, the terms and
conditions provided in the Schedule of Rates shall prevail and whenever anything
in these Terms and Conditions or in any Schedule of Rates is in conflict with the
terms of any special contract the terms of such special contract shall prevail.
40.
Offences and Penalties
(1) Wherever in any of the provisions of this Bylaw, permission is granted to do
any act or thing according to certain regulations, or in a certain manner or
mode prescribed herein, any person failing, neglecting or refusing to do or
perform any act or thing in accordance with the permission thereby granted
commits an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to the penalties
hereby imposed.
(2) Every person who violates any of the provisions of this Bylaw or who suffers
or permits any act or thing to be done in contravention or in violation of any
of the provisions of this Bylaw, or who neglects to do or refrains from doing
anything required to be done by any of the provisions of this Bylaw, or who
does any act or thing which contravenes any of the provisions of this Bylaw,
commits an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to the penalties
hereby imposed.
(3) Every person who is convicted of an offence against this Bylaw is liable to a
fine of not more than $2,000.00 or to imprisonment for not more than 6
months, or both.
41.
Miscellaneous
(1) The Schedules which are attached to and which are hereby incorporated
with and made part of this Bylaw are:
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(a) Schedule "A", being The Schedule of Rates;
(b) Schedule "B", being The Standard Charges.
(2) If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Bylaw is for
any reason held to be invalid by the decision of any Court of competent
jurisdiction, the invalid portion shall be severed and the decision that it is
invalid shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the Bylaw.
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SCHEDULE "A"
SCHEDULE OF RATES - Effective January 1, 2026
RATES 101, 102 and 103
Rate 101
Residential Service, Single Family Dwelling for a period of two months:
Basic Charge per period
$16.16
All kW.h per period
0.1344 per kW.h
Minimum Charge
Basic Charge per period
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Rate 102
Residential Service - Common Use Areas of strata corporations and owner occupied multiple
residential premises for a period of two months:
Basic Charge per period
$16.16
All kW.h per period
0.1344 per kW.h
Minimum Charge
Basic Charge per period
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Rate 103
Residential Service, Multiple Occupancy in Single Family Dwelling for a period of two months:
Basic Charge per single family dwelling unit per period
$16.16
All kW.h per single family dwelling unit per period
0.1344 per kW.h
Minimum charge per single family dwelling unit
Basic Charge per
period
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
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Special Condition:
The maximum capacity of all heating elements energized at any one time in any water
heater served under these rates shall not exceed 45 watts per liter (200 watts per imperial
gallon) of tank capacity, except with the prior written permission of the City.
RATES 131 and 133
ALL PURPOSE MULTI-RESIDENTIAL SERVICE
Availability:
For residential use on a single parcel of land, or in a building or buildings thereon, containing
more than two single family dwellings, and for ancillary uses, if all electricity for the aforesaid
residential and ancillary uses is purchased through one meter. This rate is not available for
service to non- residential occupants (e.g. stores, offices, restaurants) nor for service to space
or equipment used in common by such non-residential occupants, whether or not such space
or equipment is also used by residential occupants. Supply is 60 hertz single or three phase
at the potential available.
Rate 131
For a period of two months:
Basic Charge per single family dwelling per period
$16.16
First 400 kW.h per single family dwelling per period
0.1344 per kW.h
Next 200 kW.h per single family dwelling per period
0.1510 per kW.h
All additional kW.h per period
0.1344 per kW.h
Minimum charge - The basic charge per single family dwelling per period
Note: The number of single family dwellings shall not be reduced because of vacancies.
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Rate 133 - Discount for Ownership of Transformers:
A customer may elect to supply the transformation from the primary potential to his utilization
potential. If so he will be billed on the rate set out above subject to a discount of $.50 per kW
of maximum demand. The minimum charge set out above will apply. The City will install a
demand meter in addition to a kW.h meter. The City will install its meters at the secondary
potential unless the customer owns more than one transformer bank.
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RATES 134 and 135
ALL PURPOSE MULTI-RESIDENTIAL SERVICE
(100% Rental Buildings only)
Availability:
For residential use on a single parcel of land, or in a building or buildings thereon, containing
more than two single family dwellings, and for ancillary uses, if all electricity for the aforesaid
residential and ancillary uses is purchased through one meter. The owner of the building
must provide sub- metering to each individual unit so the customer can still manage their
energy efficiencies through their own individual meter. Supply is 60 hertz single or three
phase at the potential available.
Rate 134
For a period of two months:
Basic Charge per period/per meter
$16.16
All kWH per period
0.1344 per kW.h
Minimum charge - The basic charge per period/per meter
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Rate 135 - Discount for Ownership of Transformers:
A customer may elect to supply the transformation from the primary potential to his
utilization potential. If so he will be billed on the rate set out above subject to a discount of
$.50 per kW of maximum demand. The minimum charge set out above will apply. The City
will install a demand meter in addition to a kWh meter. The City will install its meters at the
secondary potential unless the customer owns more than one transformer bank.
RATES 201, 202, and 203
GENERAL SERVICE (Under 35 kW)
Availability:
For all purposes where a demand meter is not installed because the customer's demand as
estimated by the City is less than 35 kW. Supply is 60 hertz single or three phase at a
secondary potential.
Rate 201 - Applies to general commercial service.
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Rate 202 - Applies to service to common use areas of rental apartment buildings and
mixed use buildings owned by strata corporations.
Rate 203 - Applies to temporary service.
Rate:
For a period of two months:
Basic Charge per period
$19.32
All kW.h per period
0.1510 per kW.h
Minimum charge for a period of two months
Basic Charge per period
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Special Conditions for unmetered service:
1. The City may permit unmetered service under these Rates if it can estimate to its
satisfaction the energy used in kilowatt-hours over a period of two months based on
the connected load and the hours of use.
2. The customer if required by the City shall provide and maintain such controls,
including timing devices, as the City considers may be necessary, and facilities
satisfactory to the City for the maintenance of the aforesaid controls.
3. The hours of use per period shall be either:
(a) those specified by the customer, or
(b) those estimated by the
City. whichever is the
greater.
4. The customer shall supply, install and maintain all wiring, fixtures, control
devices and equipment including the controls and devices described in Condition
2 at the expense of the customer.
GENERAL SERVICE (Under 35 kW) (Cont'd)
5. All wiring, fixtures, control devices and equipment and the method of installing,
operating and maintaining the same are subject to the approval of the City which
approval may be withdrawn by the City, at any time, at the City's sole discretion.
6. The customer shall notify the City immediately of any proposed or actual change
in load, or load characteristics, or hours of use.
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7. The City may at any time in its sole discretion install a meter or meters, and
thereafter bill the customer at the appropriate Rate as a metered account.
8. For display signs and signboard lighting, where hours of use are controlled
by timing devices, the following turn-on times shall apply, unless the City shall
otherwise agree in writing:
Period
Turn on Time
1 January
-
15 January
4:00 p.m.
16 January
-
28 February
4:30 p.m.
1 March
-
30 April
6:30 p.m.
1 May
-
15 August
8:30 p.m.
16 August
- 10 September
6:30 p.m.
1 October
- 15 November
4:30 p.m.
16 November
-
31 December
4:00 p.m.
9. In all cases, where hours of use of display signs or signboard lighting commence
at dusk and are controlled either by timing devices or by photo-electric cells, the
following hours of use for a period of two months shall be deemed for billing
purposes.
Dusk to 10:00 p.m. - 216 hours
Dusk to 11:00 p.m. - 270 hours
Dusk to 12:00 p.m. - 330 hours
Dusk to 1:00 a.m. - 380 hours
Dusk to Dawn
- 666 hours
(All times are Pacific Standard Time)
10. Cable television amplifier equipment units, bus shelters and phone booths which
are individually energized from and at the City's secondary potential shall be
assessed from the date on the nameplate rating. The assessed kW demand of each
individual piece of equipment shall be deemed to be the greater of either:
(1) 100% of the kW nameplate rating, or
(2) 80% of the kV.A nameplate rating.
Hours of use for a period of two months shall be deemed to be 1460 and power factor
surcharge shall not be applied.
RATES 210, 211, 212, 213, 220, 230 and 240
GENERAL SERVICE (35 kW and over)
Availability
For all purposes. Supply is 60 hertz single or three phase at secondary or primary potential.
The City reserves the right to determine the potential of the service connection.
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Rate 210
- applies to general commercial service if a customer's supply of electricity is
metered at a secondary potential and the City supplies transformation from a primary
potential to a secondary potential (No discount).
Rate 211 - applies to service to common use areas of rental apartment buildings if a
customer's supply of electricity is metered at a secondary potential and the City supplies
transformation from a primary potential to a secondary potential (No discount).
Rate 212 -
applies to service to common use areas of mixed use buildings owned
by strata corporations if a customer's supply of electricity is metered at a secondary
potential and the City supplies transformation from a primary potential to a secondary
potential (No discount).
Rate 213 -
applies to a temporary service if a customer's supply of electricity is
metered at a secondary potential and the City supplies transformation from a primary
potential to a secondary potential (No discount).
Rate 220 -
applies if a customer's supply of electricity is metered at a primary potential
and the City supplies transformation from a primary potential to a secondary potential
(Discount 1½%).
Rate 230 -
applies if a customer's supply of electricity is metered at a secondary
potential and the customer supplies transformation from a primary potential to a secondary
potential (Discount $.25 per kW of billing demand).
Rate 240 -
applies if a customer's supply of electricity is metered at a primary potential
and the customer supplies transformation from a primary potential to a secondary potential
(Discount 1½% of total bill and then discount $.25 per kW of billing demand).
GENERAL SERVICE (35 kW and over) (Cont'd)
Rate:
Basic Charge
$9.66 per month
Demand Charge
First 35 kW of billing demand per month
NIL
Next 115 kW of billing demand per month
$7.75 per kW All
additional kW of billing demand per month
$14.87 per kW
Plus
Energy Charge
First 14,800 kW.h per month
$0.1510 per kW.h
All additional kW.h per month
$0.0728 per kW.h
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Discounts
1. A discount of 1½% shall be applied to the above Rates if a customer's
supply of electricity is metered at a primary potential.
2. A discount of $.25 per kW of billing demand shall be applied to the above
Rate if a customer supplies transformation from a primary potential to a
secondary potential.
3. If a customer is entitled to both of the above discounts the discount for metering
at a primary potential shall be applied first.
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Special Conditions:
A demand meter will normally be installed; prior to the installation of such a meter, or if such
a meter is not installed the demand for billing purposes shall be the demand estimated by
the City.
RATE 241 (Pilot Program)
GENERAL SERVICE (35 kW and over) MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTAL BUILDING
THERMAL HEATED (RENTAL BUIDINGS ONLY)
Availability
For all purposes. Supply is 60 hertz single or three phase at secondary or primary potential.
The City reserves the right to determine the potential of the service connection.
Rate 241 -
applies to a Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) Thermally
Heated (Rental Building only)
-
applies if a customer's supply of electricity is metered at a primary potential
and the customer supplies transformation from a primary potential to a
secondary potential (Discount 1½% of total bill and then discount $.25 per
kW of billing demand).
Rate:
Basic Charge
$10.48 per month
Demand Charge
All kW of billing demand per month
$6.67 per KW
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PLUS
Energy Charge
All kW.h per month
$0.1196 per kW.h
Discounts
1. A discount of 1½% shall be applied to the above Rates if a customer's supply of
electricity is metered at a primary potential.
2. A discount of $.25 per kW of billing demand shall be applied to the above
Rate if a customer supplies transformation from a primary potential to a
secondary potential.
3. If a customer is entitled to both of the above discounts the discount for metering
at primary potential shall be applied first.
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Special Conditions:
A demand meter will normally be installed; prior to the installation of such a meter, or if such
a meter is not installed the demand for billing purposes shall be the demand estimated by
the City.
RATE 302
STREET LIGHTING - CUSTOMER OWNED
Availability;
For lighting of public highways, streets and lanes in those cases where the customer owns,
installs and maintains the standards, fixtures, conductors and controls.
Rate:
For each fixture:
$0.0447 per watt per month
The number of watts per fixture includes the wattage of the lamp and where applicable, the
ballast.
A rate rider equal to 2.50% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
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Special Terms and Conditions:
1. Service Connections:
Where necessary the City will provide at the expense of the customer a drop, dip
or underground service for a maximum distance of 45 metres. No service
connection shall be made to add any ornamental street lighting system which
does not provide for 8 or more street lighting fixtures except that, if the potential
is 120/240 volts then, at the City's discretion, a service connection may be made
for a system of less than 8.
2. Extension Policy:
The customer shall contribute to the cost of any extension required by paying to
the City at the time when the application for the extension or extensions is made
an amount equal to the estimated cost thereof (including cost of removing
overhead fixtures and the original value, less depreciation, of the fixtures
removed) less the anticipated revenue for the first four years from the lamps,
including ballasts, in the system at the time when the service connection is made.
A customer which is a municipality may for the purposes of calculating the cost
payable by it add together the estimated costs of all extensions ordered by it for
installation at the same time and deduct from the total sum so determined, the
total anticipated revenue calculated as aforesaid from the lamps including
ballasts in all the said extensions.
3. Power Factor
All installations of mercury vapour, sodium vapour or fluorescent lamps shall be
equipped with the necessary auxiliaries to assure that a power factor of not less
than 90% lagging, shall be maintained.
4. Contract Period
The term of the initial contract shall be not more than five years; renewal periods
shall be for five years.
RATE 303
STREET LIGHTING SERVICE
Availability:
For lighting of public highways, street and lanes in those cases where the customer owns,
installs and maintains the fixtures, conductors and controls on City poles.
Rate:
The rate shall consist of two components:
(a) an energy charge of $0.0447 per watt per month
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PLUS
(b) a contact charge of $1.3530 per contact per month
With respect to the Energy Charge - the number of watts per fixture includes the wattage of
the lamp and where applicable the ballast.
With respect to the Contact Charge - this is a charge per fixture for the use of pole space.
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
Special Terms and Conditions:
1. Extension Policy:
No extensions will be made to serve street lighting under this Rate.
2. Power Factor:
All installations of mercury or fluorescent lamps shall be equipped with the
necessary auxiliaries to assure that a power factor of not less than 90% lagging
shall be maintained.
3. Contract Period:
The term of the initial contract shall be not more than five years; renewal
periods shall be five years.
RATE 304
TRAFFIC SIGNALS, TRAFFIC SIGNS and TRAFFIC WARNING DEVICES
Availability:
For traffic signals, traffic signs and traffic warning devices on public highways where the
customer installs, owns and maintains the standards, fixtures, wiring controls and
associated equipment.
Rate:
$0.1344 per kW.h
1. Service Connections:
Where necessary the City will provide, at the expense of the customer, a drop,
dip or underground service connection for a maximum distance of 45 metres.
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2. Unmetered Service:
(a) The City may permit unmetered service under this Rate if it can
estimate to its satisfaction the energy used in kilowatt hours
over a period of one month based on the connected load and
hours of use. Hours of use shall be deemed to be continuous.
The customer shall notify the City immediately of any proposed
or actual change in load, or load characteristics or hours of use.
(b) The City, in its discretion, may at any time install a meter or
meters and thereafter bill the customer on the consumption
registered.
3. Contract Period:
The term of the initial contract shall be not more than five years, renewal periods
shall be for five years.
A rate rider equal to 2.5% of the billed amount shall apply.
A climate action levy equal to 3.5% of the billed amount shall apply
NEW RATE 500 - NET METERING SERVICE
DEFINITION:
Customer-Generator - An electric Service Customer of the New Westminster Electric Utility
that also utilizes the output of a Net Metered System.
Multi-Unit Residential Building - is a classification of housing where multiple separate
housing units for residential inhabitants are contained within one building or several
buildings within one complex. A common form is an apartment building.
Net Consumption - Occurs at any point in time where the electricity required to serve the
Customer-Generator's load exceeds that being generated by the Customer-Generator's Net
Metered System.
Net Generation - Occurs at any point in time where electricity supplied by New
Westminster Electric Utility to the Customer-Generator is less than that being generated by
the Customer- Generator's Net Metering System.
Net Excess Generation - Results when over a billing period, Net Generation exceeds Net
Consumption.
Net Metering - A metering and billing practice that allows for the flow of electricity both to
and from the customer through a single, bi-directional meter. With Net Metering,
consumers with small, privately-owned generators can efficiently offset part or all of their
own electrical requirements by utilizing their own generation.
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Net Metered System - A facility for the production of electric energy that:
(a) uses as its fuel, a source defined as a clean and renewable resource in the BC
Energy Plan;
(b) has a design capacity of not more than 50 kW;
(c) is located on the Customer-Generator's Premises;
(d) operates in parallel with the New Westminster Electric Utility's transmission or
distribution facilities; and
(e) is intended to offset part or all of the Customer-Generator's requirements for
electricity.
APPLICABLE:
To New Westminster Electric Utility Customers receiving service under
Rate 101, 102, 103, 131, 133, 201, 202, 203, 210, 211, 212, 213, 220, 230 and 240 of the
Schedule of Rates attached to the Electric Utility Bylaw No.6502, 1998 as Schedule "A" as
amended from time to time.
ELEGIBILITY:
To be eligible to participate in the Net Metering Program, customers must
generate a portion or all of their own retail electricity requirements using a renewable energy
source. The generation equipment must be located on the customer's premises, service only
the customer's premises and must be intended to offset a portion or all of the customer's
requirements for electricity.
Clean or renewable resources include sources of energy that are constantly renewed by
natural processes, such as water power, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy,
wood residue energy, and energy from organic municipal waste, and shall have a maximum
installed generating capacity of no greater than 50 kW.
RATE:
A customer enrolled in the Net Metering Program will be billed as set
forth in the rate schedule under which the customer receives electric service from the
New Westminster Electric Utility and as specified in the New Metering Billing Calculation
section in this schedule.
BILLING CALCULATION:
1. Net metering shall be, for billing purposes, the net consumption at New
Westminster Electric Utility's service meter(s).
2. If the eligible Customer-Generator is a net consumer of energy in any billing period,
the eligible Customer-Generator will be billed in accordance with the Customer-
Generator's applicable rate schedule.
3. If in any billing period, the eligible Customer-Generator is a net generator of
energy, the Net Excess Generation shall be valued at the rates specified in the
applicable Rate Schedule and credited to the customer's account.
4. In the event that the operation of a renewable energy generating system results in a
credit balance on the Customer-Generator's account at the end of a calendar year,
the credit will be purchased by the New Westminster Electric Utility. If such amounts
are not large, they will be carried forward and included in the billing calculation for
the next period at the discretion of the utility.
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SPECIAL CONDITIONS:
1. Prior to the interconnection of a Net Metering System, the Customer-Generator
must submit a Net Metering Application for review and execute a written Net
Metering Interconnection Agreement with the New Westminster Electric Utility.
2. The Net Metered System and all wiring, equipment and devices forming part of it,
shall conform to New Westminster Electric Utility's "GUIDELINES FOR
OPERATING, METERING AND PROTECTIVE RELAYING FOR NEW
METERING SYSTEMS UP TO 50 kW AND VOLTAGE BELOW 750 VOLTS" and
shall be installed, maintained and operated in accordance with those
requirements.
3. Unless otherwise approved by the New Westminster Electric Utility, the Customer-
Generator's service shall be metered with a single, bi-directional meter.
4. The contract period for service under this schedule shall be one (1) year and
thereafter shall be renewed for successive one-year periods. After the initial period,
the customer may terminate service under this Rate by giving at least sixty (60)
days previous notice of such termination in writing to New Westminster Electric
Utility.
5. If the Customer-Generator voluntarily terminates the net-metering service, the
service may not be renewed for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of
termination.
6. The utility maintains the right to inspect the facilities with reasonable prior
notice and at a reasonable time of day.
7. The utility maintains the right to disconnect, without liability, the Customer-
Generator for issues relating to safety and reliability.
8. Inflow of electricity from the New Westminster Electric Utility system to the
Customer-Generator, and outflows of electricity from the Customer-Generators Net
Metering system to the New Westminster Electric Utility system, will normally be
determined by means of a single meter capable of measuring flows of electricity in
both directions.
9. Alternatively, if New Westminster Electric Utility determines that flows of electricity
in both directions cannot be reliably determined by a single meter, or that dual
metering will be more cost-effective, New Westminster Electric Utility may require
that, at the customers cost, separate meter bases be installed to measure inflows
and outflows of electricity.
10. Except as specifically set forth herein, service supplied under this Rate is subject to
the terms and conditions set forth in the New Westminster Electric Utility's Electric
By-Law 6502, 1998
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11. A Net Metered System used by a Customer-Generator shall meet all application
safety and performance standards established as set forth in the New Westminster
Electric Utility's Rules and Regulations.
12. A Customer-Generator shall, at its expense, provide lockable switching equipment
capable of isolating the Net Metered System from the New Westminster Electric
Utility system. Such equipment shall be approved by the utility and shall be
accessible to the utility at all times.
13. The Customer-Generator is responsible for all costs associated with the Net
Metered System and is also responsible for all costs related to any modifications to
the Net Metered System that may be required by the utility including but not limited
to safety and reliability.
14. The customer shall indemnify and hold New Westminster Electric Utility or its agents
harmless for any damages resulting to New Westminster Electric Utility or its agents
as a result of the customer's use, ownership, or operation of the customer's facilities
other than damage resulting to the utility or its agents directly as a result of New
Westminster Electric Utility or its agents own negligence or willful misconduct,
including, but not limited to, any consequential damages suffered by the utility or its
agents. The customer is solely responsible for ensuring that the customer's facilities
operate and function properly in parallel with New Westminster Electric Utility's
system and shall release New Westminster Electric Utility's or its agents from any
liability resulting to the customer from the parallel operation of the customer's
facilities with New Westminster Electric Utility's system other than damages resulting
to the customer from the parallel operation of the customer's facilities with New
Westminster Electric Utility's system directly as a result of New Westminster Electric
Utility or its agents own negligence or willful misconduct.
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SCHEDULE "B" to Bylaw No. 6502, 1998
STANDARD CHARGES
1. Account Charge
Account Charge
$22.30
2. Underground Service Extensions
New Underground Service for Single Family and Duplex Buildings,
(Extension cost only)
- Effective January 1, 2026
$7,129.00
3. New Service Connections
New underground service connection, including one meter:
- 200/300/400Amp
$2,476.00
4. Overhead Services Work at Customer's Request (Residential
Only)
(1) Alterations and Relocations - work involving increasing conductor
capacity, moving conductor, changing the length of the conductor
and/or changing the location of an existing service conductor, or
disconnection/reconnection of the service at the weather head
and any associated meter work.
Main switch size - 100/200 Amps or less
$956.00
Main switch size - 400 Amps or less
At Cost
5. Disconnections and Reconnections
Where a service is de-energized for wiring changes,
maintenance, breach of contract or "trouble call" initiated by the
customer, the following standard charges will apply:
A. Between 0800 & 1600 hours on regular working days:
Disconnect
$312.00
Reconnect
$312.00
B. Between 1600 & 2400 hours on regular working days
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Disconnect
$446.00
Reconnect
$446.00
C. Any other time
At Cost
NOTE: when more than one meter is disconnected or
reconnected at the same time, add
$50.00/meter
6. Temporary Service Connections
(1) When the temporary service can be connected to an existing
distribution system the standard charges are:
- Overhead
$984.00
- Underground
$1,065.00
(2) When the City's distribution system must be altered to provide a
temporary service, the City's total cost of the alteration and its
total costs to return the system to its original state after the
removal of the temporary service will be borne by the customer. A
deposit to cover the total estimated costs for the alterations and
restoration work will be required before any work is recommended
The above charges include the meter charge.
7. Miscellaneous Service Connections
The Standard charge for each service connection such as cable
amplifiers, bus shelters, phone booths, etc., is:
$956.00
8. Meters
-Exchange of disputed meter (if meter passes)
No Charge
-Exchange of disputed meter (if meter fails)
$201.00
-Request an additional meter during initial installation
$50.00
-Request an additional meter subsequent to
initial installation
$201.00
-Request a meter removal
$201.00
-Meters checked and resealed after disconnection
$201.00
-Current Transformer (CT) & Potential Transformer (PT)
At Cost
-Damaged meters
At Cost
-AMI Radio-off setup fee
$85.00
-AMI Radio-off exit fee
$95.00
-AMI Radio-off read fee (per read)
$55.00
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9. EV Charging Fees For All City Owned Stations/Locations
Level 2 Chargers - Charged per hour
- Dedicated Circuit: $2/Hr
- Shared Circuits: $1/Hr
Level 3 Fast Chargers - Charged per minute
- Dedicated Circuit: $12.60/Hr equivalent ($0.21/minute)
NOTE: The Electric Utility will review the fees annually. Adjustments at
specific EV charger locations will be made at that time based on EV
charger utilization, operating cost and maintenance and existing parking
rates. Adjusted fees by location presented in the following table.
Station
Name
No. of
Chargers
Original Fee
Adjusted
Fee
Reason for
adjustment
Anvil Centre
8
Level 2 Charger -
Dedicated Circuit:
$2/hr
$1/hr
Low utilization