The furnishing of gas to customers by the City through its gas system, shall be governed by the regulations set out in this article.

The city does not guarantee the delivery of gas through any of its mains and connecting services at any time except when its mains, regulators, and connections are in good working order, and the supply of gas is sufficient for the usual demand of its consumers.

Before any connection is made to the City’s gas system an application must be made in writing to the utility clerk by the owner of the premises, or his or her authorized representative, for a permit to make such connection.

(a)   Any person desiring a connection with the Municipal gas system shall apply in writing to the utility clerk, on a form furnished by the City for that purpose, for a permit to make the connection.

(b)   The application shall:

(1)   Contain an exact description including street address of the property to be served;

(2)   State the size of tap required;

(3)   State the size and kind of service pipe to be used;

(4)   State the full name of the owner of the premises to be served;

(5)   State the purpose for which the gas is to be used;

(6)   State any other pertinent information required by the utility clerk;

(7)   Be signed by the owner or occupant of the premises to be served, or his or her authorized agent.

(c)   Each application for a connection permit shall be accompanied by payment of fees and/or costs specified in Section 15-508.

No gas lines will be installed and no connections will be permitted between the gas system of the City and any property outside of the corporate limits of the City without prior Governing Body approval.

(a)   Property owners will pay the cost of installing any gas lines or connections which are made between the gas system of the City and any new additions or newly plotted districts inside the City limits. The city may at its discretion reimburse the property owner for the lines laid as the area is developed.

(b)   All construction of gas lines shall meet federal, state, and city specifications before the plot is developed and be approved by the City Governing Body. Gas connections and taps will be performed by the City at the cost of the property owner.

All taps shall be given, street excavations made, main valves installed, pipes installed from main to customer’s property and the stop cock installed at the meter to which the service pipe is to be connected by city employees only.

The fees for connection to the system shall be as follows:

(a)   For connecting gas main with 3/4, 1 or 1-1/4 inch service line and in 250 CFH or smaller meter - $110 plus tax;

(b)   For connecting gas main with larger than a 1-1/4 inch tap, service line or meter cost of material and tax.

(c)   The above connection fees shall entitle the customer to materials, labor, and installation which shall include tapping of the main, service line (not to exceed 75 feet), riser, stop cock, service regulator, and meter.

(d)   Cost for any portion of a service line greater than 75 feet in length and for street crossings which require boring which cannot be pushed with city-owned equipment will be paid by the requesting customer. Riser and piping from outlet of the meter is the customer’s responsibility, however, the type of materials, cover depth and proper pressure tests must comply with federal, state and city specifications.

There shall be a stop cock in every service line attached to the City main, the same to be placed at the meter.

Except for emergency situations it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, other than duly authorized city officials or employees to turn gas on or off at the gas meter in any manner, without first obtaining written permission from the public works director, mayor, or the City Council.

(a)   All meters shall be property of the City.

(b)   All gas furnished to customers shall be metered.

(c)   Meters shall be located near the house where the service stub exits the house. Placement shall be determined by the Public Works Director.

(d)   The city’s responsibility stops at the outlet to the meter.

Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly. If a test is requested by the customer and the meter is found to be accurate within two percent, the meter will be deemed correct and a service charge will be made to the customer.

It shall be unlawful for any person except authorized employees of the utility department to break the seal of any meter, to alter the register or mechanism of any meter, or to make any outlet or connection in any manner so that gas supplied by the City may be used or wasted without being metered. Except as authorized under section 15-510, it shall be unlawful for any person to turn any gas cock on or off.

No allowances shall be made for gas used or lost through leaks, carelessness, neglect, or otherwise after the same has passed through the meter, except every customer shall have the right to appeal to the Governing Body of the City.

(a)   The Governing Body may establish, by ordinance, gas service disconnection, and reconnection charges.

(b)   Should the City turn off and disconnect gas from a delinquent customer, there shall be a charge of $15 for turning the gas off at the meter. In the event the customer shall pay a delinquent gas billing after the meter has been turned off by the City, the customer shall pay a charge of $15 to have the meter turned back on. In the event it is necessary to disconnect both gas and water, the City shall charge only one fee for disconnection or reconnecting both.

(c) The connect fee to turn on a gas meter for service to a customer shall be $50. The charge to turn off a gas meter to terminate services shall be $50.

At the time of making application for gas service, the customer shall make a cash deposit in the amount and manner specified in section 15-108 to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service.

The city reserves the right to interrupt gas service for the purpose of making repairs or extensions to gas lines or equipment.

It shall be a violation of this article for any unauthorized person to:

(a)   Perform any work upon the pipes or appurtenances of the City’s gas system beyond the meter outlet unless such person is employed by the City;

(b)   Make any connections with any extension of the supply pipes of any customer without written permission to do so having been first obtained from the public works director, mayor, or the City Council;

(c)   Remove, handle, or otherwise molest or disturb any meter, meter cut-off, or any other appurtenances to the gas system of the City.

The city reserves the right to restrict or prohibit the use of gas and to specify the purposes for which it may be used whenever the Governing Body determines the public exigency so requires.

Whenever the Governing Body determines that gas use must be restricted or prohibited, it shall forthwith issue a proclamation of emergency through the news media and use other appropriate methods of making public the proclamation (time permitting).

In the event a proclamation of emergency is issued, gas usage will be restricted or prohibited first for uses in the following priority:

(a)   Industrial uses of gas, including but not limited to car wash operations and packing plant operations;

(b)   Business use; schools, churches, fraternal, and other public facilities;

(c)   Residential uses other than those set forth above.

Authorized employees of the City may enter upon any premises at reasonable hours for the purpose of reading the meter or servicing or inspecting meters or gas lines.

(a)   Non-Ratcheting Rate for Louisburg School District No. 416. Upon determination that the District remains as an exclusive natural gas customer of the City of Louisburg, the ratcheting rate index shall be modified to allow each unit of gas to be sold at the high volume discount rate established for high volume customers utilizing 4,000 or more therms per month. Locations for each District facility shall be eligible for the non-ratcheting rate. The rate modification shall go into effect no later than the January, 2015 billing cycle.

(b)   The charge for gas furnished by the City shall be computed and billed monthly upon the following rate schedule:

(Ord 974; Ord. 986; Ord. 998; Ord. 1037; Code 2020; Ord. 1147; Ord. 1183)

All gas accounts shall be due and payable on the 1st day of each month for the preceding month. If the account is not paid on or before the 10th of the month, there shall be added a late payment charge of 4 percent.

Gas service shall be terminated for non-payment of service fees or charges as provided in Section 15-515.

All gas yard lines shall be installed, repaired, or replaced in accordance with the standards and specifications herein and in accordance with the rules and regulations as set forth in the Kansas Pipeline Safety Regulations, City Gas Ordinances, the Installation Standard for Protected Coated Pipe, IAPMO I.S. 13-84, and Installation Standard for PE Gas Yard Lines as amended. If any conflict exists between the U.P.C. and IAPMO Standards, the Kansas Pipeline Safety Regulations and City Standards shall be followed.

Whenever any existing yard line requires repair or replacement, the line shall be brought into compliance with the Kansas Pipeline Safety Regulations and these standards.

All yard line installations, replacements, and repairs shall be done by a qualified plumber. A permit shall be required for all installations, replacements, or repairs. Before a permit shall be issued, the plumber shall provide proof of participation in a drug testing program which meets the federal drug testing regulations required by the Kansas Office of Pipeline Safety and Department of Transportation. Such certification shall be provided for all plumbing employees who will be working on said installation, repair, or replacement and shall be permanently maintained on file in the City offices along with a copy of the permit. If unable to provide certification, no permit shall be issued and plumber shall not be allowed to work on any yard line, service lines, or mains on the City’s gas distribution system. A property owner doing his own work with no other assistance, is not required to provide certification of a drug testing program.

Until amended by further action of the Office of Pipeline Safety, new installation of a yard line where no previous service has been provided, shall not require certification of drug testing.

All persons who plan to excavate or dig within the City limits, or in or near the City’s utility easements in the county, are required to contact the City offices.

Gas yard lines shall be constructed of approved protected coated steel as defined in IAPMO Installation Standards, or approved Polyethylene PE as defined herein. PVC will not be allowed.

All meters shall be installed by the City or its contractor. Multi-family dwellings shall be required to have a separate meter for each individual unit.

Yard lines shall be no less than 1” inside diameter. Customers requiring a larger line shall have the line sized according to B.T.U.’s.

All gas lines shall be brought above grade before entering the building to be served.

A gas cock (shutoff valve) shall be installed above grade at the outside building wall. It shall be a good quality, iron body, brass plug service valve with screwed connections.

Gas piping supplying more than one (1) building on any one premises shall be equipped with separate & shutoff valves to each building so arranged that the gas supply can be turned on or off to any individual or separate building. Such shutoff valve shall be accessible at all times.

No person shall extend yard lines from one property or street number to another.

All yard line installations and repairs shall be inspected by a city gas representative. No line shall be covered until the inspection is completed.

Inspections shall include an air, CO2, or nitrogen pressure test of not less than one hundred (100) pounds per square inch gauge pressure. Test pressures shall be held for a length of time satisfactory to the City gas representative, but in no case for less than fifteen (15) minutes, with no perceptible drop in pressure. This test shall be made using air, CO2, or nitrogen pressure only and shall be made in the presence of the City gas representative. All necessary apparatus for conducting tests shall be furnished by the permit holder.

If upon inspection, the material or installation does not comply with the standards and specifications for yard lines, the persons responsible for the installation or repair shall be required to make such changes as deemed necessary. No gas service shall be provided until installation or repair is brought into compliance. When gas service has been abandoned to any premises for a period of three (3) months or more, the customer shall be required to pressure test the yard line as provided for in the standards and specifications before service shall be resumed.

Pipe and fitting shall conform to the appropriate standards in Table A of the Standards for PE, IAPMO I.S. 12-85 in the U.P.C.

One-inch pipe shall be SDR 11 or better.

PE yard lines shall have a minimum cover of 24 inches below finished grade.

Anodeless Risers shall be used on all PE yard line installations. The riser shall extend approximately twelve (12) inches above the finished ground elevation at the meter location. The riser shall be an approved make constructed of epoxy or plastic-coated steel which is not subject to electrolytic corrosion and requires no anode. The Anodeless risers shall connect to the PE pipe by heat-fused connection only. Compression fittings below ground will not be allowed. All service riser pipes shall be installed with 90 degree long bends, tube-turn type, where riser pipes turn upward. Must be at least a minimum of one (1) inch outlet size.

Two types of mechanical joints will be allowed. (1) Perfection Permasert, (2) Lyco-fit. Both fittings shall be installed according to manufacturer recommendations. Joining may also be by heat fusion performed as recommended by the manufacturer. Joining shall be done by a person qualified to perform such fusion techniques. Plumber shall provide satisfactory verification of qualifications to the City gas representative. PE shall not be threaded. Joints made with adhesives and solvent cement are prohibited. No compression fittings shall be permitted.

Pipe shall be marked at intervals of not more than two (2) feet (600 mm) with at least the following:

(a)   Manufacturer’s name or trademark

(b)   ASTM D-2513

(c)   Pipe size

(d)   PE 3306, PE 3406, PE 2306 or PE 3408

(e)   SDR number

(f)   Gas

(g)   Quality control identification markings

(h)   Pipe listed by IAPMO that is covered by this standard shall be labeled with the designated IAPMO certification mark to show conformance with this standard.

Fittings shall be marked with at least the following:

(a)   Manufacturer’s name and trademark

(b)   Size

(c)   Material designation

(d)   Fittings listed by IAPMO that are covered by this standard shall be labeled with the designated IAPMO certification mark to show compliance with this standard.

Unprotected pipe should not be stored in direct sunlight. The pipe shall be stored in a way to protect it from mechanical damage (slitting, puncturing, etc.). Exposure to sunlight during normal construction periods is not harmful.

A number twelve (12) gauge copper, plastic coated, solid, single strand wire shall be installed with and attached above grade to non-metallic gas piping. Tracer wire shall terminate above grade at each end. Tracer wire shall be buried at eighteen (18) inches with six (6) inches of fill over pipe. Tracer wire shall not be taped to any portion of the underground PE yard line.

The pipe shall be “snaked” in the trench bottom with enough slack to provide for thermal expansion and contraction before stabilizing. The normal slack created by residual coiling is generally sufficient for this purpose. If, however, the pipe has been allowed to straighten before it is placed in the trench, six (6) inches (152 mm) per one hundred (100) feet (30.48 M) of pipe length shall be allowed for this purpose. Pipe temperature shall be stabilized by one of the following methods:

(a)   Shale backfill. Leave all joints exposed so that they can be examined during the pressure test.

(b)   Allow to stand overnight.

Trenching bottoms shall be smooth and regular of either undisturbed soil or a layer of compacted backfill so that minimum settlement will take place. Pipe shall not be wedged or blocked. Voids shall be filled and compacted to level of trench bottom. The minimum cover shall be twenty-four (24) inches below finish grade. Sand & fill, gravel, or rock will not be permitted as backfill on a PE yard line installation.

Pipe shall be stabilized before testing and backfilling.

PE pipe shall be installed only outside the foundation of any building or structure or parts thereof. It shall be buried with a minimum ground cover of twenty-four (24) inches. It shall not be installed within or under any building or structure or mobile home or commercial coach or parts thereof.

Installation and material shall comply with this standard and the installation standard for Protected Coated Pipe IAPMO I.S. 13-84 of the U.P.C.

Each length of pipe and every other component shall be visually inspected at the site of installation to ensure that it has not sustained any visually determinable damage that could impair its serviceability. Each coated length of pipe shall be instrumentally checked for defects in the coating prior to lowering into the ditch. Each imperfection or damage that impairs the serviceability of a length of steel pipe must be repaired or removed. Coated steel gas piping installed underground in exterior locations shall be protected from corrosion by approved coatings or wrapping materials.

All horizontal coated steel piping shall have at least eighteen (18) inches of earth cover or other equivalent protection.

All steel yard lines shall be cathodically protected by no less than a nine (9) pound anode. If a larger anode is needed due to size of line or soil resistivity, the City gas representative shall make the determination as to what size will be required. Anode shall be installed in the middle of the yard line. Yard lines shall be electrically isolated from the rest of the gas system with listed isolation fittings installed a minimum of six (6) inches above grade and shall be located at the outside building wall.