Individual Electric Meters—When Required

PURPOSE: This rule prescribes individual metering for new multiple occupancy buildings and new mobile home parks for all electric corporations under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. This rule is aimed at compliance with Sections 113(b) (1) and 115(d) of Title I of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), PL 95-617, 16 USC 2601. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The secretary of state has determined that the publication of the entire text of the material which is incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. Therefore, the material which is so incorporated is on file with the agency who filed this rule, and with the Office of the Secretary of State. Any interested person may view this material at either agency’s headquarters or the same will be made available at the Office of the Secretary of State at a cost not to exceed actual cost of copy reproduction. The entire text of the rule is printed here. This note refers only to the incorporated by reference material. (1) For the purposes of this rule— (A) A building is defined as a single structure, roofed and enclosed within exterior walls, built for permanent use, erected, framed of component structural parts and unified in its entirety both physically and in operation for residential or commercial occupancy; (B) Commercial adjacent buildings are defined as buildings on a contiguous plot of land owned by one (1) person, which buildings are occupied and used by one (1) person for single type of commercial operation. A person for the purpose of this definition includes any type of business entity; (C) A commercial unit is defined as that portion of a building or premises which by appearance, design or arrangement is AND INSURANCE normally used for commercial purposes, whether or not actually so used; (D) Construction begins when the footings are poured; (E) A mobile home park is defined as a contiguous parcel of land which is used for the accommodation of occupied mobile homes; (F) A multiple-occupancy building is defined as a building or premises which is designed to house more than one (1) residential or commercial unit; and (G) A residential unit is defined as one (1) or more rooms for the use of one (1) or more persons as a housekeeping unit with space for eating, living and sleeping, and permanent provisions for cooking and sanitation. (2) Each residential and commercial unit in a multiple-occupancy building construction of which has begun after June 1, 1981 shall have installed a separate electric meter for each residential or commercial unit. (3) Each mobile home unit in a mobile home park, construction of which has begun after June 1, 1981 shall have installed a separate electric meter for each mobile home unit. (4) For the purposes of carrying out the provisions of sections (2) and (3), the following exceptions apply and separate metering will not be required: (A) For transient multiple-occupancy buildings and transient mobile home parks—for example, hotels, motels, dormitories, rooming houses, hospitals, nursing homes, fraternities, sororities, campgrounds and mobile home parks which set aside, on a permanent basis, at least eighty percent (80%) of their mobile home pads or comparable space for use by travel trailers; (B) Where commercial unit space is subject to alteration with change in tenants as evidenced by temporary versus permanent type of wall construction separating the commercial unit space—for example, space at a trade fair; (C) For commercial adjacent buildings; (D) For that portion of electricity used in central space heating, central hot water heating, central ventilating and central air-conditioning systems; (E) For buildings or mobile home parks where alternative renewable energy resources are utilized in connection with central space heating, central hot water heating, central ventilating and central air-conditioning systems; or (F) For all portions of electricity in commercial units in buildings with central space heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems. (5) Any person or entity affected by this rule may file an application with the commission seeking a variance from all or parts of this rule (4 CSR 240-20.050) and for good cause shown, variances may be granted as follows: (A) The variance request shall be filed in writing and directed to the secretary of the commission; (B) If the commission deems it in the public interest, a hearing may be held by the commission as in complaint hearings before the commission; and (C) A variance committee consisting of two (2) members of the commission’s utility division staff and a member of the commission’s general counsel’s office shall be established by the commission within thirty (30) days from September 28, 1981. The public counsel shall be an ex officio member of this committee. 1. The variance committee shall consider all variance applications filed by utilities and shall make a written recommendation of its findings to the commission for its approval. 2. Each applicant for a variance shall have ten (10) days from the date of the variance committee’s findings to either accede or request a formal hearing before the commission. 3. If applicant accedes, the commission may adopt the variance committee’s findings or set the matter for formal hearing upon the application of any interested person or upon the commission’s own motion. (6) The commission, in its discretion, may approve tariffs filed by an electric corporation which are more restrictive of master metering than the provisions of this rule. AUTHORITY: section 386.250, RSMo Supp. 1991.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 240-20.050. Original rule filed March 13, 1980, effective Dec. 15, 1980. Emergency amendment filed May 13, 1981, effective May 31, 1981, expired Sept. 28, 1981. Amended: Filed May 13, 1981, effective Sept. 28, 1981. Moved to 20 CSR 4240-20.050, effective Aug. 28, 2019. *Original authority: 386.250, RSMo 1939, amended 1963, 1967, 1977, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1991.