Electric Service Facilities Investment Guidelines

Guidelines Statement

SaskPower will invest in (i) construction costs for new Electric Service Facilities; (ii) alterations to existing Electric Service Facilities; and (iii) the repair of damage to Electric Service Facilities in accordance with these Guidelines.

Eligibility

These Guidelines are applicable to all SaskPower Customers.

Conditions/Prerequisites

N/A

SaskPower Investment in Electric Service Facilities

Notwithstanding anything in these Guidelines:
(i) SaskPower will only invest in Electric Service Facilities meeting Basic Design Standards;

(ii) SaskPower will not invest in the cost of any Customer Preferred Optional Extras unless otherwise indicated in these Guidelines;

(iii) an Electric Service Facility investment by SaskPower will at no time exceed the actual costs of the Electric Service Facility construction;

(iv) except in the case of Customer-owned streetlights, SaskPower will retain ownership of all Electric Service Facilities up to the Point of Delivery whether or not an investment in such Electric Service Facilities is provided by SaskPower; and

(v) all Customer-owned facilities must comply with the Canadian Electric Code and, unless otherwise agreed to by SaskPower, SaskPower’s Electric Service Requirements.

A. Residential Service

Subject to the conditions listed in this Section A, SaskPower will invest up to $1,300.00 per new Residential Premise towards the installation cost of permanent single-phase Electric Service Facilities meeting Basic Design Standards (“Residential Premises Investment”).

New Subdivision Developments
If SaskPower, in its sole discretion, believes a relatively high density of housing construction is unlikely to occur in a subdivision within the two construction seasons following the date of a Customer Service Application, SaskPower may elect to defer its investment, in whole or in part, until significant housing construction activities commence in the subdivision.
Established (but Unserviced) Communities
All costs in excess of the Residential Premise Investment required to extend Electrical Service to an established but un-serviced community will be borne by the Customer(s) requesting Electric Service. If 65% or more of the potential Customer(s) in the area have applied for Electric Service, the allocation of costs will be based on an assumption of full potential Customer Electric Service. If fewer than 65% of the potential Customer(s) have applied, the costs will be divided among the Customer(s) who have subscribed for Electric Service at that time (e.g. if 7 out of 10 potential Customer(s) apply, each of the 7 Customer(s) will only be responsible to pay one-tenth of the costs. If 6 out of 10 potential Customer(s) apply, each of the 6 Customer(s) will be responsible to pay for one-sixth of the costs).
Apartment Buildings
In addition to SaskPower’s Residential Premise Investment for each Customer in an apartment building, SaskPower will invest two years of anticipated House Meter revenue of the apartment building toward the cost of the extension of Electric Service Facilities to that apartment building.

B. General Service

Subject to the conditions listed in this Section B, SaskPower will provide the following Electric Service Facility investments for General Services:

Distribution Connected Electric Service not exceeding 2000 kVA
SaskPower will invest an amount not to exceed two years of anticipated revenue to be derived from that General Service toward the cost of a permanent distribution connected Electric Service not exceeding 2000 kVA (“General Services Investment”).
Distribution Connected Services Exceeding 2,000 kVA
SaskPower will invest an amount, as determined by an individual discounted cash flow analysis (i.e. the difference between the net present value of the incremental value derived from Electric Service less incremental costs of adding the Customer) towards the cost of all permanent Electric Service Facilities which meet Basic Design Standards to any General Service load in excess of 2000 kVA in size.
Large Irrigation Services in excess of 1000 kVA but not exceeding 2000 kVA
SaskPower will invest an amount not to exceed two years of anticipated revenue to be derived from that General Service toward the cost of all large irrigation services in excess of 1000 kVA but not exceeding 2000 kVA.

Subdivision Development - SaskPower will make no initial investment towards the cost of permanent Primary Distribution Facilities where no actual Electric Service connections are requested at the time of the developer’s Customer Service Application, but will defer any investment until service development occurs for individual Customers, at which time the subdivision developer may be eligible for a construction charge rebate in accordance with Section I.4 of these Guidelines.

C. Farm Service

Subject to the conditions listed in this Section C, SaskPower will provide the following Electric Service Facility investments for Farm Services:

D. Streetlight Service

SaskPower‑Owned Streetlights
SaskPower will invest an amount not to exceed two years of anticipated revenue for any SaskPower-owned streetlight. In addition, where a Customer requests lighting that has been in service for less than 20 years be removed the Customer will be assessed an amount equal to the undepreciated value of SaskPower’s original capital investment for such lighting (i.e. if a light being removed had been installed 12 years earlier, the Customer would be assessed a charge amounting to 8/20 x applicable investment). Where such installations are at seasonally operated summer resorts, the standard investment shall be reduced proportionally based on the seasonal usage.
Customer‑Owned Streetlights
Where the streetlight installation is privately owned, SaskPower will invest an amount in accordance with Section B of this Policy.

E. System Improvement Investment For Distribution Connected Electric Services

In addition to the above noted investment(s), SaskPower will invest a System Improvement Investment toward distribution connected Electric Services as follows:

a) to cover the cost of any upgrades to Electric Service Facilities to serve a new or increased Electric Service Load that would not be required if the Customer making the application was the only Electric Service Load on that SaskPower line;

b) to cover the cost of a SaskPower capital system upgrade approved prior to the Customer Service Application;

c) to cover the cost of an Electric Service Facilities upgrade approved prior to the Customer Service Application, less the cost of advancing such upgrade from a future year to a current year;

d) to cover the cost of any SaskPower preferred routing, design or construction methods that exceed minimum Customer needs and/or SaskPower’s Basic Design Standards.

F. Transmission Connected Domestic Load Electric Services

The Customer charge for transmission connected domestic Load Electric Service is based on the cost to interconnect to the closest SaskPower transmission facility capable of serving the proposed Customer Load based on pre-established Load limits for each transmission voltage. If SaskPower elects to serve the Customer Load from any other transmission facility, SaskPower will invest the additional cost.

G. Customer Contribution Determination

Customers will be required to contribute any amount by which the total estimated Electric Service Facility costs (as communicated by SaskPower to the Customer) exceed SaskPower’s investment under these Guidelines, unless otherwise outlined in these Guidelines.

H. Customer Deposits

Unless otherwise agreed to by SaskPower, Customers will be required to make a cash deposit for construction charges as determined in accordance with SaskPower Customer deposit guidelines.

I. Construction Charge Rebates

J. Capacity Increase

Residential Service
Where additional Load added to an existing Residential Premise(s) requires an increase in the capacity of Electric Service Facilities with no change in such facilities’ Electrical Characteristics, SaskPower will absorb the cost of such capacity increase.
General Service
Where additional Load added to an existing General Service installation requires an increase in the capacity of Electric Service Facilities with no change in the Electrical Characteristics of the Electric Service Facilities or main panel size, SaskPower will absorb the cost of such capacity increase.
Farm
Where additional Load added to an existing Farm Service installation requires an increase in capacity not involving a change in Electrical Characteristics of the Electric Service Facilities, SaskPower will absorb the cost of such capacity increase. Should the location of the additional Load dramatically alter the location of the Farm Yard Load centre, thus requiring a relocation of the SaskPower supply transformer, the cost of such relocation (excluding alterations to Customer‑owned distribution, which shall be the responsibility of the Customer) shall be shared equally by SaskPower and the Customer. Additional Load that (i) involves a change in the Electrical Characteristics; or (ii) is located beyond the practical electrical limits of a single Point of Delivery, will be considered a new Customer Service Application.

K. Alterations to Electric Service Facilities

SaskPower will invest in alterations to Electric Service Facilities as follows:

Road Construction

1.1 Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure

Where alterations are required to Electric Service Facilities due to Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure Road Projects, SaskPower will invest in alteration costs to Electric Service Facilities in accordance with SaskPower’s formal cost sharing agreement with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.

1.2 Rural Municipalities (overhead lines)

For the purposes of this subsection K.1.2 only, transmission lines shall be defined as circuits of 72kV or greater connecting SaskPower Stations. All other power lines shall be considered distribution circuits. Where alterations are required to power lines due to Road Projects and:

a) the power line carries transmission circuits or distribution circuits 72 kV and higher on double pole structures and:

(i) the poles are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest 50% of the labour cost and all material cost (except pole bandages) to complete the alterations.

(ii) the poles are (or were originally) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

b) the power line carries distribution circuits 72 kV and higher on single pole structures, has been in place 10 years or less and:

(i) the poles are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest 50% of the labour cost and all material cost (except pole bandages) to complete the alterations.

(ii) the poles are (or were originally) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

c) the power line carries distribution circuits 72 kV and higher on single pole structures, has been in place more than 10 years and:

(i) the poles are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest the entire cost of the alterations.

(ii) the poles are (or were originally) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

d) the power line carries circuits 34.5 kV and lower, and has been in place 5 years or less and:

(i) the poles are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest the total cost of alterations to oilfield service facilities.

(ii) the poles are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest 50% of the labour cost and all material cost of alterations to facilities other than oilfield service facilities.

(iii) the poles are (or were originally) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

e) the power line carries circuits 34.5 kV and lower, has been in place more than 5 years and:

(i) the poles are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest the total cost of the alterations.

(ii) the poles are (or were originally) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

1.3 Rural Municipalities (underground Electric Service Facilities)

Where alterations to underground Electric Service Facilities are required to permit rural municipal road widening or reconstruction and the Electric Service Facilities are:

a) located on and crossing the road allowance, SaskPower will invest the entire cost of the alterations, including that portion of the crossing located on private property on either side of the right‑of‑way.

b) located on and paralleling the road allowance, SaskPower will invest the entire alteration costs.

c) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the cost of Electric Service Facility alterations (unless the Electric Service Facilities are part of a road crossing alteration as outlined in K.1.3(a) above).

1.4 Urban Municipalities

Where alterations are required due to:

a) all Road Projects excluding street diversions and:
(i) the Electric Service Facilities are (and were originally) located on a public right‑of‑way, SaskPower will invest 50% of the labour cost and all material cost (except pole bandages) to complete the alterations.

(ii) the Electric Service Facilities are (or were originally) located on private property, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

b) street diversions, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

Joint Use of Electric Service Facilities
Where alterations are required to Electric Service Facilities to allow for the joint use of Electric Service Facilities with communication/cable companies, SaskPower will invest costs as specified in the applicable joint use agreement.

Power Line Clearance Correction

3.1 Buildings, Work Areas and Irrigation Equipment

Where alterations to Electric Service Facilities are required to eliminate power line clearance encroachments resulting from existing or proposed buildings, work areas and/or irrigation equipment (as defined in the SaskPower clearance standards), SaskPower will invest in alteration costs as follows:If the power line clearance encroachment was caused by:

a) the location of a temporary or portable structure, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

b) the location of a permanent structure, SaskPower will invest all costs associated with the alteration of Electric Service Facilities, except as follows:
(i) Single Phase Power Lines in Electrified Farm Yards - the Customer will be responsible for 25% of the first $8,000.00 of the cost to eliminate the power line clearance encroachment;

(ii) Multi-Phase Power Lines of 34.5 kV or Less in an Electrified Farm Yard in which the Customer is the Recipient of a Three Phase Service - the Customer will be responsible for 25% of the first $8,000.00 of the cost to eliminate the power line clearance encroachment

(iii) Multi-Phase Power Lines of 34.5 kV or Less in an Electrified Farm Yard in which the Customer is the Recipient of a Single Phase Service - the Customer will be responsible for 25% of the first $8,000.00 of the cost to eliminate an equivalent single phase power line clearance encroachment;

(iv) Single Phase Power Lines in an Unelectrified Farm Yard or Outside an Electrified Farm Yard - the Customer will be responsible for 50% of the cost to eliminate the power line clearance encroachment;

(v) Multi-Phase Power Lines of 34.5 kV or Less in an Un-Electrified Farm Yard or Outside an Electrified Farm Yard - the Customer will be responsible for 50% of the cost to eliminate an equivalent single phase power line clearance encroachment.

c) the original construction of Electric Service Facilities, or any new power line clearance standard that is required to be applied retroactively and the existing power line clearances meet the standard applicable at the time of construction, SaskPower will invest the entire alteration cost.

Customer contributions required in accordance with subsection K.3.1(b) will be calculated based on SaskPower’s lowest cost alteration option.

SaskPower must address a power line clearance encroachment upon becoming aware of the power line clearance encroachment by whatever means is deemed most appropriate by SaskPower in each situation.

3.2 Aerodromes

SaskPower shall notify Aerodrome operators in writing of any situation(s) SaskPower is aware of where Electric Service Facilities are potentially hazardous to the Aerodrome users.

Upon request of an Aerodrome operator, SaskPower shall install aerial warning markers or relocate Electric Service Facilities. In the event of such installation or relocation, SaskPower shall:

a) invest all costs in excess of 50% of the alteration costs involving a single phase power line; and

b) invest all costs in excess of 50% of the alteration cost of an equivalent single phase power line when it involves a multi-phase power line.

3.3 Flight Paths (Other than Aerodromes)

Upon request of a third party, SaskPower shall install aerial markers or relocate Electric Service Facilities in the vicinity of flight paths. The third party is responsible for all costs associated with such installation or relocation.

Customer/Third Part Requests

4.1 Line Alterations

Where alterations to Electric Service Facilities are required to accommodate a request by a Customer and/or third party respecting such party’s private land use decisions not involving SaskPower’s Farm Yard Line Relocation Program or a power line clearance encroachment, and the Electric Service Facilities are:

a) located on public right-of-way or on private property by right of registered easement or Service Contract, SaskPower will invest none of the alteration costs.

b) located on reserve land by means of a Band Council Resolution or on private property by right of statutory easement legislation, SaskPower will invest in the alterations as follows:

(i) Single Phase Power Lines - all costs in excess of 50% of the alteration costs;

(ii) Multi-Phase Power lines of 34.5 kV or Less in a Farm Yard in which the Customer is the Recipient of a Three Phase Service - all costs in excess of 50% of the alteration costs;

(iii) Multi-Phase Power lines of 34.5 kV or Less in which the Customer is the Recipient of a Single Phase Service or in an Unelectrified Farm Yard or Outside of an Electrified Farm Yard - all costs in excess of 50% of the single phase equivalent alteration costs. Where the applicant's actions will result in a line clearance encroachment SaskPower’s investment will be as outlined in Section K.3.

4.2 Farm Yard Line Relocation Program

Where a request is received from a Customer to bury a power line, not involving a power line clearance encroachment, in an electrified Farm Yard and any immediately adjacent work areas, SaskPower will invest as follows:

a) Single Phase Power Lines - the Customer will be responsible for 25% of the first $8,000.00 of the cost to bury the single phase power line;

b) Multi-Phase Power Lines of 34.5 kV or Less in a Farm Yard in which the Customer is the Recipient of a Single Phase Service - the Customer will be responsible for 25% of the first $8,000.00 of the cost to bury an equivalent single phase power line;

c) Multi-Phase Power Lines of 34.5 kV or Less in a Farm Yard in which the Customer is the Recipient of a Three Phase Service - the Customer will be responsible for 25% of the first $8,000.00 of the cost to bury the three phase power line.

Customer contributions required in accordance with subsection K.4.2 will be calculated based on SaskPower’s lowest cost alteration option.

Structure Damage

5.1 Farm Incidents

Where Electric Service Facilities located on or adjacent to Farm Land are damaged during normal farming operations (including aerial crop spraying) by unlicensed vehicles or machinery, SaskPower will invest the entire cost of repairs to SaskPower Facilities, except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by a party other than SaskPower.

For the purposes of the subsection K.5 of these Guidelines, gross negligence will include more than one occurrence of a similar incident.

Where damaged Electric Service Facilities are located in a Farm Yard or where the damage was caused by a licensed vehicle, SaskPower will invest none of the repair costs.

5.2 Non-Farm Related Incidents or Willful Damage

Where damage occurs to Electric Service Facilities resulting from nonfarm related incidents, gross negligence or willful damage, SaskPower will invest none of the associated repair costs.

Customer Contribution Determination

In all circumstances requiring alterations to Electric Service Facilities, all costs in excess of the SaskPower investments indicated in section K shall be borne by those responsible for SaskPower’s undertaking action.

Customer contributions shall be calculated on the following basis:

7.1 Damage to Electric Service Facilities

Customers will be responsible for the actual cost to repair the damaged Electric Service Facilities.

7.2 Alteration to Electric Service Facilities

Customer contributions will be based on estimated costs, except for situations where, in the sole opinion of SaskPower, timing, scheduling and/or total extent of alterations is difficult to predetermine, in which case actual costs will be assessed.

Definitions

For the purposes of the Electric Service Facilities Investment Guidelines, the terms below shall have the following meanings:

Aerodrome – means any area of land, water (including frozen surface thereof) or other supporting surface used or designed, prepared, equipped or set apart for use either in whole or in part for arrival and departure, movement or servicing of aircraft and includes any building, installations and equipment in connection therewith.

Basic Design Standards – means the basic design of Electric Service Facilities SaskPower requires to provide Electric Service to a Customer.

Band Council Resolution – means a written resolution of the band council adopted at a duly convened meeting of the band council.

Customer Preferred Optional Extras – means Electric Service Facilities which, in the opinion of SaskPower, are not reasonably required to provide Electric Service to a Customer.

Customer – means a person, persons, partnership, company or agent who is receiving, intends to receive, or has received electrical energy or Electric Service from SaskPower. If such Customer receives Electric Service at more than one Premise, or for more than one business, such Customer shall be considered a separate Customer at each separate Premise and business.

Customer Service Application – means a request made by a Customer to SaskPower to receive Electric Service from SaskPower.

Electrical Characteristics –means the voltage and phase of an Electric Service.

Electric Service – means the delivery of electrical energy, and the service associated with such electrical energy delivery, by SaskPower to its Customers.

Electric Service Facilities – means SaskPower owned physical facilities required for the purpose of delivering Electric Service to a Customer, including without limitation, transmission and distribution lines, power lines, wires, transformers, meters, meter reading devices and other electrical apparatus.

Farm – means a rural land holding, located outside the corporate limits of a city, town, village or within the boundaries of an area legally zoned for agricultural use, where the use and development of the land holding is exclusively for purposes of agricultural production.

The use or uses of the land holding described by the owner or occupant shall be exclusively for the purposes of agricultural production when (a) one or more of the following types of agricultural production are now being produced; and (b) the type or types of agricultural production described by, and in which the owner or occupant is presently engaged, is considered capable of yielding an income sufficient to constitute the chief, or anticipated chief source of the owner or occupant's income.

Types of agricultural production are - grain, fruit, vegetables, greenhouses and/or nursery products, forage products, livestock (includes beef and dairy cattle), sheep, hogs, horses, poultry for eggs or meat, animals for fur protection, and keeping of bees for honey.

Community pasture headquarters, houses, barns, sheds, water pumps, etc. operated by or under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, P.F.R.A., Provincial Department of Agriculture or Lands Branch or a Co-operative headquarters shall also be deemed a farm.

Farm Land – means cultivated land, pasture land, unusable land, and treed or heavy bush areas.

Farm Power Centre – means a specific type of SaskPower supplied meter box complete with a splitter compartment.

Farm Power Centre With Standby – means a Farm Power Centre complete with a transfer switch for the disconnection of Customer Load from SaskPower’s transmission grid to enable connections of a Customer’s generator.

Farm Service – means Electric Service to any farmstead, large Farm, greenhouse, feedlot or other qualified farm operation, including those located on Indian reserves, livestock watering facilities or seasonally operated irrigation systems of 1000 kVA or less in size used exclusively for agricultural purposes.

Farm Yard – means non-Farm Land around or enclosed by farm buildings.

General Service – means Electric Service to any distribution or transmission connected Premises used primarily for non‑residential or non‑agricultural purposes on a permanent or seasonal basis, oilfield production, processing and "in‑field" pumping facilities, seasonally operated non‑agricultural irrigation systems up to 1000 kVA in size and large irrigation in excess of 1000 kVA.

House Meter – means the meter that measures the electrical energy used by all occupants of a multiple occupancy facility (i.e. parking lot lighting, sign service, corridor and walkway lighting, etc.).

Load – means the amount of electrical power or energy consumed by a particular Customer or group of Customers or by the devices connected at an electric system or delivered at a given point and expressed in kW, HP or kilovolt-amperes.

Point of Delivery – means, unless otherwise provided for by agreement, the point(s) at which electrical energy passes from Electric Service Facilities to a Customer’s facilities.

Premises – means a dwelling, building or piece of machinery located on land.

Primary Distribution Facilities – means SaskPower distribution facilities operating at voltages greater than, or equal to, 4,160V.

Residential Service – means Electric Service to any residential Premises or residential subdivision that will be used primarily for domestic purposes on a permanent or seasonal basis, including domestic outbuildings, but not including commercially operated self‑contained rental units in resort areas.

Residential Premise – means a dwelling that is for domestic or household purposes, including seasonal occupancy and domestic out-buildings, but not including the Farm site residences of Farm Customers.

Road Projects – means road construction undertaken by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure or an urban or rural municipality including, but not limited to, widening, diversions, grade build up, paving and sidewalk construction

SaskPower Stations – means Electric Service Facilities used to tie together two or more electric circuits through switches.

SaskPower’s Electric Service Requirements – means “SaskPower’s Electric Service Requirements” document as amended from time to time.

Service Contract – means an implied contract between SaskPower and a Customer that owns land. Service contracts cover secondary Electric Service which is dedicated solely for and located on a single property to serve a premise/building/load on that property. The Service Contract is implied since the Customer would have requested that SaskPower provide Electric Service to such Customer’s premise/building/load on that Customer’s property, and thus the reason Electric Service Facilities exist on that property is only to serve that Customer.

Streetlight Service – means Electric Service for the illumination of streets, highways and pedestrian walkways and to any outdoor lighting application such as parks, parking lots, school yards, etc., provided that the area to be lit has adequate accessibility and that SaskPower stock coded and inventoried material is used in the supply of this lighting.

System Improvement Investment – means an investment toward a modification to an existing distribution system that is made for purposes of improving system operating characteristics such as safety, reliability or power quality or for relieving system capacity constraints resulting, for example, from general load growth.

Temporary Service – means Electric Service where energy will only be required for less than 2 years.

Electric Service Facilities Investment Guidelines

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