PUBLISH

(March 4, 2023)

PUC Resolution No. 2023-02

Commissioner Fingland offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:

Whereas, following duly published notice of the same as required by Section 2.51 of the City Code of the City of New Ulm, the Public Utilities Commission of the City of New Ulm (“Commission”) conducted a public hearing on the recodification of its Code of Utilities Regulations on February 28, 2023; and

Whereas, The Commission finds it in the public interest to recodify its Code of Utilities Regulations and make certain amendments and updates to its regulations reflected in Appendix A hereto.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the New Ulm Public Utilities Commission (Commission), that:

1. The Code of Public Utilities Regulations of the City of New Ulm, as originally adopted by the Commission on September 26, 1995, and thereafter amended from time to time, is hereby repealed in its entirety.

2. The Code of Public Utilities Regulations of the City of New Ulm, as originally adopted by the Commission on September 26, 1995, and repealed in Section 1 above, is hereby replaced by the enactment of an updated Code of Public Utilities Regulations of the City New Ulm to read as provided in Appendix A to this resolution, which is available for inspection during regular office hours at the office of the Finance Director, 100 North Broadway, New Ulm, Minnesota.

3. Consistent with Section 70 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Ulm, the Utilities Director shall cause a summary of the recodified Code of Public Utilities Regulations of the City New Ulm to be published the City of New Ulm’s official newspaper, which summary shall include a notification that a printed copy of the complete regulations is available for inspection during regular office hours at the office of the Finance Director.

The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Commissioner Schanus, and the roll being called, the following vote was recorded:

Voting Aye: Commissioners Fingland, Hillesheim, Schanus, Williams and President Visser.

Voting Nay: None.

Not Voting: Commissioner Hillesheim, absent. .

Whereupon said resolution was declared to have been duly adopted this 28th day of February, 2023.

Seth Visser

President of the Public Utilities Commission

Attest:

Nicole, Jorgensen, Finance Director

The majority of the changes are re-numbering, format, grammar related or small in nature. Identified below are changes approved through an amendment and are more substantial in nature:

Regulation 111 – Billing and Collection of Accounts

Allows the Finance Director to use some discretion when setting utility billing and cycles.

Removed the specific reference to three cycle billing.

Removed payment received from dropbox from “7:30 am” to “in the morning”.

Removes the requirement that debit or credit card payments that are made online need to be made for the entire amount which restricts partial payments.

Allows for the City to charge a convenience fee for the service.

The $1000 maximum limit for a debit or credit card payment is removed.

Regulation 115 – Delinquency and Certification of Water, Sanitary Sewer and Wastewater

Allows the Finance Director to certify water, sanitary sewer and wastewater charges to the County Auditor for collection as allowed by the M.S. 444.075.

Regulation 116 – Finance Director Authority

Gives the Finance Director the authority to collect delinquent charges through multiple means including through the Minnesota Revenue Recapture Act.

Regulation 203 – Electric Charges and Fees for Service

Establishes charges for upgrading electrical service as set forth in the PUC’s current fee schedule.

Regulation 300 – 340 – Water Service

Multiple changes to establish location, material and standards to follow.

Addresses procedural requirements when making repairs to water services.

Establishes the water service from the curb stop to the home is the responsibility of the homeowner.

Regulation 510 – Suspected Natural Gas Leak on Customer’s Side of Meter

Simplifies language regarding notification of natural gas leak.

Removes the grading of natural gas leaks and remedial action requirements.

Allows for the PUC to specify a reasonable time for repairs to be completed and requires the property owner to notify the PUC when a leak has been repaired for service connection.

Regulation 600 – Wastewater Service

Defines best management practices, cooling water, industrial waste, NU Wastewater Treatment System and stormwater in the glossary.

Identifies requirements to connect to the public sewer system.

Identifies procedure when connection to public sewer system from private sewer system is required.

Allows for a temporary waiver to be approved by the Public Utilities Commission is applicable.

Defines the responsibility of the sewer service from the house/building to the sewer main to be the responsibility of the homeowner.

General

Removes the Schedule of Utility Fees from the Regulations as they are under separate resolution and approval by the PUC.

Updated the Excerpted Section of the Home Rule Charter relating to the Utilities as revised in 2018.