(a) Removal bills, special bills, bills for temporary service, bills rendered on vacation of premises, or bills rendered to persons discontinuing the service are due on presentation.

(b) Bills for connection or reconnection of service and payments for deposits or to reinstate deposits shall be paid before service is connected or reconnected.

§ 231.30 Discontinuance of service on failure to pay bills.

On failure of the consumer to pay his bill for electric service within 30 days after the end of the period in which the service was rendered, the project engineer shall discontinue the supply of energy and service to the same consumer will not be resumed at the same or at any other location until the consumer has paid all bills then due, plus a reconnection charge of $2, and in addition has made to the special disbursing agent the cash deposit of $10 required by § 231.5. § 231.31 Disputed bills.

(a) In case of a dispute between the consumer and project engineer as to the correct amount of any bill for electric service furnished the consumer, the consumer shall deposit the amount of the bill with the special disbursing agent and file a complete statement of his claim. The matter shall then be referred to the supervising engineer as provided in § 231.3.

(b) Service will not be discontinued because of nonpayment of bills if the amount of each bill, as it becomes due, is either paid to or deposited under protest with the special disbursing agent, as above within 30 days after the close of the month in which the electric service was rendered.

§ 231.32 Notice by consumer.

A consumer about to vacate premises supplied with service or who desires discontinuance of service, shall give written notice of his intended removal at least 2 days prior thereto, specifying the date he desires service to be discontinued. If such notice is not given he will be held responsible for all electric engery furnished to such premises until the service is discontinued.

§ 231.33 Tampering with equipment.

Tampering or in any way interfering with meters, transformers, poles, conductors, or any part of the property of

the United States is prohibited, and any violation of this provision shall be subject to prosecution pursuant to law. § 231.34 Fraud.

Service will be discontinued to any premises at any time when it is found necessary to protect against abuse, fraud, or theft.

§ 231.35 Compensation of employees.

All employees are strictly forbidden to demand or accept any personal compensation for services rendered to a consumer.

§ 231.36 Noncompliance with rules.

(a) Should a consumer be found to be violating the rules and regulations and should he not remedy the violation within a reasonable time after being notified in writing to do so, the project engineer may discontinue such service.

(b) Except in cases of emergency or as otherwise provided, the consumer will be given written notice of at least 5 days. The notice shall state the particular rule or regulation that has been violated and inform the consumer of the action to be taken. Advance notice need not be given in the event of the discovery of a dangerous condition on a consumer's premises, or in case a consumer is utilizing the service in such a manner as to make it dangerous to occupants of the premises.

§ 231.37 Definition of maximum demand.

The maximum demand for each month shall be defined as the average amount of power used by the consumer during that period of 15 consecutive minutes when such average is the greatest for that month as determined from time to time by the United States by suitable meters or otherwise. If power under a single contract is delivered at more than one point or is measured by different sets of meters, the maximum demand for the purpose of the contract will be determined by taking the sum of the maximum demands indicated by the separate meters.

§ 231.38 Interruptions to service.

The United States will furnish energy continuously so far as reasonable diligence will permit but the United States, its officers, agents, or employees shall not be liable for damages when, for any reason, suspensions of the operation of the power system of the United States, or any

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tension has been constructed to supply the customer.

§ 231.53 General rate; application of schedule.

This schedule is applicable to all classes of service and is available to customers whose load is not limited or who for some other reason do not desire to take energy on the combination rate. Rate per month:

(a) 6.0 cents per K. W. H. for first 25 K. W. H. per K. W. of maximum demand. (b) 2.0 cents per K. W. H. for next 100 K. W. H. per K. W. of maximum demand. (c) 1.5 cents per K. W. H. for all additional K. W. H.

(d) Minimum charge: $1 per month per K. W. of the customer's actual or agreed maximum demand, but not less than $5 per month.

§ 231.54 Demand discounts.

The following discounts will be applied in accordance with maximum billing demand. Discounts do not apply to minimum charge:

Any aggrieved party may file with the project engineer a written complaint regarding the application of the regulations. Within fifteen days after its receipt, the project engineer shall render a written decision thereon and serve a copy thereof on the aggrieved party. Within fifteen days from receipt of such decision, the aggrieved party may take an appeal to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs who shall render his decision within sixty days and his decision shall be final. Pending the determination of an appeal, electric service shall be continued, except in cases in which the question of the existence of dangerous conditions on the premises of the consumer is involved, provided the consumer pays the amount of each bill for electric service prior to the time when it becomes delinquent. If the question of the amount of a bill is involved in an appeal, the consumer shall be deemed to have paid the bill under protest and the payment shall be held in a special deposit account until the final decision has been made.

§ 232.4

Applications; contracts.

In order to contract for the delivery of power, a written application for service under existing regulations accompanied by the required cash deposit and guarantees of the required minimum revenues to the project, shall be filed with the project engineer. Upon acceptance by him, the application will become a contract. In general, such application will be accepted where service lines exist. When special terms and conditions are involved in contracting for service, the project engineer shall require the execution of a form of contract in which such terms and conditions are fully set

forth. Each contract involving the construction of a new extension shall be for a period of at least one year, but if the consumer vacates the premises, he shall be liable for the unpaid guaranteed revenue only to the extent that it is not liquidated by the succeeding occupant of the premises. The project engineer is authorized to reject applications which he deems to be adverse to the best interests of the project.

§ 232.5 Deposits.

A cash deposit in an amount equal to twice the estimated monthly bill, but in no case less than $5.00, will be required from each applicant except that when the premises to be serviced are owned by the applicant, no deposit shall be required until a delinquency in the payment of a bill has occurred. Any cash deposit, less the amount of any unpaid bills, shall be refunded after the termination of service. Before extensions are constructed each applicant must deposit an amount sufficient to cover his portion of the required minimum charges for a period of one year, or must otherwise establish his credit and satisfy the project engineer of his intention to take service and his ability to meet the guarantees.

§ 232.6 Extensions.

(a) The length of an extension constructed for each dollar of monthly revenue guaranteed to the project shall not exceed the following:

(b) The length of an extension shall include the horizontal length of both the primary and secondary circuits exclusive of the service drops. In so far as practicable, all extensions shall be constructed along established highways. The prospective consumer or consumers, shall furnish or procure satisfactory rights-of-way necessary for the lines and other facilities of the project incidental to the furnishing of service. The project engineer may decline to construct any extension which, in his opinion, will be excessive in cost, or detrimental to the best interest of the project, or for which funds are not available. All extensions when constructed shall be and remain the property of the United States.

§ 232.7 Extensions financed by con

sumer.

If funds, material, or labor are not otherwise available, or if an extension to a prospective consumer will require new construction beyond the distances, specified in § 232.6, the prospective consumer may, after executing an appropriate contract satisfactory to the project engineer, construct the needed extension. Such extensions shall be built in accordance with suitable plans and specifications approved by the project engineer. The contract may provide that part or all of the cost of the extension shall be refunded to the conusmer by allowing him a monthly credit equal to 20 percent of the bill for each month, during the life of the contract or until the specified amount be refunded in full, but no claim for credit shall extend beyond the life of the contract. No refund, however, shall be made if the amount specified in section 6 of the act of May 25, 1948 (Public Law 554, 80th Congress), will be exceeded. Unless the approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has been secured, no refund shall be made for that portion of an extension not located along a public highway. All extensions constructed under the provisions of this section shall be and remain the property of the United States.

§ 232.8 Temporary service.

Temporary service refers to service to circuses, bazaars, fairs. construction works, and other activities or businesses of such a nature that service to the premises occupied by them will probably be discontinued within five months. An applicant for temporary service shall be required to deposit with the project a sum of money equal to the estimated cost of installing and removing the necessary facilities and also an additional sum equal to the estimated bill for electric service: Provided, however, That such additional sum need not be greater than three times the estimated monthly bill. After termination of service, there shall be refunded any amount remaining on deposit in excess of the actual cost of installing and removing facilities, plus the unpaid amount of bills for electric power and energy, as determined by the project engineer.

§ 232.9 Type of service.

Service for lights and the usual domestic and other appliances, including motors of less than five horsepower shall

be single-phase, nominally 115- or 230volts, and two- or three-wire, except when special written approval for another type of service has been obtained from the project engineer. Three-phase service at suitable voltage may be furnished for motor installations of five horsepower and over, provided a threephase circuit of the required voltage and capacity is available where the service is desired. All service will be 60 cycle. § 232.10 Service connections.

On each new service the consumer shall provide and maintain a service entrance at a location convenient to the lines of the project, and all connections from the service entrance to the meter base and from the meter base to the main line circuit breaker or distribution center. The meter socket and meter will be furnished by the United States. The meter socket shall be installed, however, by the consumer and in a suitable location, preferably on the outside of the building, or service pole, where the meter will be accessible to the meter-reader at all times. The meter socket shall not be more than seven feet nor less than five feet above the ground or floor. The entire service installation must be satisfactory to the project engineer and must conform to the provisions then in force of the National Electrical Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for Electric Wiring and Apparatus. When alterations of a consumer's premises make it necessary to move an existing meter loop, the consumer may be required to install a meter socket in the new loop, located in conformity with the stipulations of this section. When an inspection is required by municipal ordinance, the project engineer shall require a certificate of inspection and approval by the municipal inspector before connecting a new service.

§ 232.11 Connection methods.

Service to a consumer's premises will ordinarily be supplied by means of overhead conductors. A consumer may at his own expense provide for an underground service. Such an underground service must be installed in accordance with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and shall be terminated on the pole at a location and in the manner directed by the project engineer. No connection from the circuits of the Electric Power System to a consumer's service entrance

shall be made except by the project or its agents.

§ 232.12 Multiple meter installations.

In the case of new installations in multiple-occupancy buildings such as apartment houses in connection with which more than one meter in a building is required, the meters shall be assembled at one central location. Each meter shall be clearly marked so as to make it possible to identify the consumer.

§ 232.13 Consumer responsibility.

The consumer shall furnish, install and maintain at his own risk and expense in good and safe condition all protective devices, electric wires, lines, machinery, apparatus, and appliances which may be required or used for receiving and consuming electric energy obtained from the project. The consumer shall be responsible for conforming to the regulations of the Fire Marshal of the State of Montana and of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.

§ 232.14 Change of equipment.

In the event that a consumer proposes to make any material change in the amount, size or character of the electrical equipment installed on his premises, he shall immediately give written notice of his intention to the project engineer. § 232.15 Apparatus detrimental to service.

The project engineer may refuse to supply loads of a character detrimental to the system, or to service to other consumers, and he may require the installation of suitable corrective devices. § 232.16 Motor starting equipment.

Motors having a rated capacity of three horsepower or more shall be provided with such starting and over-load equipment as may be required by the project engineer.

§ 232.17 Service discontinued.

The Project Engineer may discontinue electric service to any consumer who shall continue to use appliances or apparatus detrimental to the project after he has been notified to correct the condition and has failed to do so within a reasonable time.