Rules & Regulations – Supplying and Taking Electric Service

III. Supplying and Taking Electric Service

A. Customer Responsibilities

  1. Customers must timely pay for electric service, even when no bill is received.
  2. Customers must provide NLRED access to inspect, maintain or build facilities and equipment needed to serve any person or entity within NLRED’s service area.
  3. Customers are prohibited from increasing their use of electricity in such a manner as to jeopardize any component of the NLRED distribution system. Any Customer who anticipates the need for increased service capacity must provide written notice to NLRED Engineering, who will, as promptly as possible, determine what improvements, if any, must be made to provide Customer the needed service capacity and the estimated cost of the improvements to be paid by Customer, and the appropriate rate.
  4. Customers are responsible to ensure that electricity is only used for lawful purposes.
  5. Each Customer must furnish an approved ringless-type meter base and wired weatherhead in accordance with the NLRED Electric Service Standards.
  6. Customers are responsible to continuously maintain their homes, businesses and property in such a manner that will allow the safe delivery and reliable use of electricity. A Customer’s responsibility to maintain electric infrastructure begins at the Point of Delivery and continues through the point or points at which electricity is used. For assistance in determining the Point of Delivery, see NLRED Electric Service Standards.
  7. NLRED Customers are responsible for trimming trees that encroach upon or hang over the service line that extends from their house or business to a nearby NLRED pole. Customers can contact NLRED to have their service line disconnected or meter removed to improve work safety, or for other purposes. A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required to schedule the requested work.

Typical Residential Service

A diagram showing the typical setup for residential service, outlining the ownership of different portions of the meter loop. Includes elements like Service Line, Point of Attachment, Meter, Meter Can, Breaker Box, Ground Rod, Point of Attachment, and Separation Point.
Customer OwnedNLRED Owned
Point of AttachmentResidential Service
WeatherheadMeter & Meter Can Seal
Meter CanConnectors used at Separation Point
Breaker Box
Ground Rod

B. NLRED Responsibilities

  1. Reliable Service. NLRED provides infrastructure necessary to serve the needs of most customers without additional cost. Electric services are single or three phase 60 hertz alternating current. The type of service (number of wires, phase, and voltage)
    furnished by NLRED depends on two factors: (1) the voltage available near the service location and (2) the type of service which, in NLRED’s judgment, can best economically serve the Customer’s requirements. Customers will incur the cost of infrastructure necessary to provide any non-standard service. Standard and nonstandard service is described in greater detail in Section 5 of the NLRED Electric Service Standards.
  2. Response to Service Interruptions. When an outage occurs, NLRED will work quickly and safely to restore power. During restoration, NLRED prioritizes work that is necessary to protect public safety first. Then, NLRED works to restore power to equipment that feeds the largest number of customers first and continues until all customers have power. NLRED seeks to supply steady and continuous electric service, but does not guarantee against irregularities or interruptions. Electric service may be jeopardized by numerous conditions beyond the control of NLRED, such as: weather events, accidents, wildlife, or disruptions on the bulk electric transmission system. NLRED will not be liable to Customer for any damages occasioned by such irregularities or interruptions. Also, NLRED may suspend electric service to make repairs or improvement to the electric system without incurring liability to any customer. NLRED will attempt to notify affected customers in advance of service interruptions when reasonable.
  3. Lighting Services. NLRED provides street lighting according to nationally recognized standards in exchange for payments from the local government entities served. NLRED offers additional lighting service (Night-Watchers and Flood-Lights) to Customers in exchange for a recurring fee that is based upon the type, size, and number of lights installed.
  4. Trees and Vegetation. NLRED maintains trees and vegetation along utility easements in accordance with Resolution No. 8300. NLRED is prohibited from using public funds to maintain trees or vegetation on Customer service lines, or other areas outside of utility easements, unless: (i) the cost of trimming or removal is clearly outweighed by the risk of harm to public infrastructure; and (ii) the owner of the trees or vegetation consents to such trimming or removal.
  5. Easements. North Little Rock Electric maintains public easements as part of routine business operations on a continual basis. If a Customer notices that trees or vegetation are impeding or threatening a public easement, the Customer should contact NLRED
    Customer Service to report the potential hazard.