Service Issues

Non-Standard Service. Customer may be required to pay a Facility Charge for any special installation necessary to meet Customer's requirements for service at other than standard service provided by the Distributor in accordance with existing rate schedule.  In general, MPS provides the first service past the metering point at no charge to the customer.  Subsequent services past the meter may require a monthly investment charge. 

Three Phase Load Limitations.Customer agrees to obtain approval from MPS prior to the installation of all electric furnaces of 200 kW and larger, and for three phase electric motors of 150 HP and larger for across the line starting. 

Power Factor:  Customers with loads under 5000 kW must maintain a minimum power factor of 0.85 to avoid a penalty.  The penalty is the difference when 85% of the measured kVA exceeds the measured kW, billed as a kW penalty.  MPS assists customers in identifying corrective action to mitigate or eliminate the penalty. 

Allowable Fixed Capacitors for Power Factor Correction.  Customers are allowed to install fixed, unswitched, capacitors on the secondary side of Commission’s transformers for correction of power factor at a kVAR rating not to exceed ten (10) percent of the installed transformer bank capacity in kVA. 

Power Quality

Voltage Fluctuations Caused by Customer.  Customer must operate their facilities as not to cause unusual fluctuations or disturbances on the MPS system.  Customers with harmonic rich loads must conform to IEEE-519 Recommended Practices and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electrical Power Systems. 

Voltage Sags Affecting Customers.  Relaying equipment on the distribution system operates to protect MPS and customer equipment from faults created by lightning, wind and other intrusion.  As result, voltage sags will occur from time to time.  Customers with processes using sensitive electronic equipment, such as PLC’s, computers and variable speed drives should design selective distribution circuits and drive equipment with ride-through protection.   A common voltage sag would be from 4-5 cycles sagging to 0.70 per unit voltage.  Contact MPS engineering personnel for more information. 

Power Quality Indices.  MPS tracks sustained outages and maintains national power quality indices, such as SAIDI and CAIFI for interruption duration and frequency.   MPS also tracks momentary operations of substation breakers and voltage sags at industrial substations.  MPS maintains above average standards through distribution design,  preventative maintenance on equipment and aggressive tree trimming.

Financial

Customer Deposits:   MPS requires a cash deposit or suitable guarantee equal to approximately two times the average monthly bill.  However, Commercial and Industrial Customers may elect to substitute either a Bank Financial Letter of Credit or a Surety Bond.  Through TVA, MPS also makes available a security deposit program to qualifying customers to relieve them from any cash deposit or substantially equivalent security.  Contact our Customer Service Manager for details. 

Billing:   Industrial meters are read and billed at the end of each month.  Customers may receive itemized billing statements. 

Contract Demand:   The contract demand is normally set equal to the installed transformer capacity.  Therefore, the minimum billed kW will be 30% of the contract demand.  To avoid penalty situations, it is important the Customer or its representative carefully choose the correct service size during initial engineering design.