Terms and Conditions of Application for Membership
1. Applicant has the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts and must be at least 18 years old. The Applicant agrees to comply with and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation, the bylaws and the rules and regulations as may from time to time be adopted by the board of directors and any amendments to them.
2. Upon completion of this form and payment of associated fees, the Application for Membership shall constitute a contract between the parties upon acceptance by the Cooperative and shall remain in force until terminated under the policies of the Cooperative. A member is entitled to only one membership regardless of how many services. Any member desiring more than one service will be required to pay additional fees required by the Cooperative. The type of membership you select is important. Applicant should choose the form of Cooperative membership that best applies. Be aware that the form of membership you select may impact capital credit distribution options. For example, joint membership provides that upon the death of one joint member, the survivor becomes the sole member and retains all accrued capital credits of the deceased.
3. The Applicant will, when electric service becomes available, make all electric energy purchases, on the premises described herein, from the Cooperative and will pay monthly therefore at rates to be determined from time to time in accordance with the Cooperative’s policies and rate schedules; provided, however, that the Cooperative may limit the amount of electric energy to be furnished to any one member. Billing will begin when service has been constructed and is available.
4. A deposit, credit check, or credit reference from a previous utility, shall be required from all residential and/or business customers that have not established good credit with the Cooperative. The Cooperative may require a deposit at any time a member establishes an unsatisfactory credit rating with the Cooperative.
5. The Applicant will cause his/her premises to be wired in accordance with wiring specifications approved by the Cooperative, and agrees to maintain all wiring, motors and electrical apparatus so that it will be safe to use, and will not interfere with service to other consumers on the systems and further agrees that the use of this electric service will be in compliance with all applicable building and zoning ordinances and/or codes; and that the Cooperative may ask that proper evidence of compliance with permit provisions of such codes or ordinances be furnished prior to the time electric service is connected.
6. The Cooperative will endeavor to provide continuous service but does not guarantee an uninterrupted and undisturbed supply of electric service. The Cooperative will not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the interruption or disturbance of service for any cause other than gross negligence of the Cooperative. The Cooperative will not be liable for any loss of profits or other consequential damages resulting from the use of service or any interruption or disturbance of service.
7. If the Applicant defaults on said member’s account and the Cooperative commences collection proceedings, the Applicant must pay late payment fees and costs of collection, including reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the Cooperative in collecting all amounts owed. Be it further agreed that the Cooperative may apply any fees, deposits, or capital credit balances, when payable through retirement to such outstanding balances owing the Cooperative. Amounts applied on past due balances will be applied against oldest outstanding balances first.
8. The Applicant further agrees to execute right-of-way easement(s) for location of an electric line(s) and grants to the Cooperative the right of access to Applicant’s property for purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining Cooperative’s electric facilities and for clearing, trimming, and spraying trees in power line right-of-way. Applicants for an existing electric service are hereby notified that the Cooperative possess right-of-way easement for the aforementioned purposes.
9. The Cooperative will not, except by legal subpoena, share with third parties any of the information provided in this application or any of the information accumulated as a member of the Cooperative. Upon request by the member, credit references will be provided to other utilities.
10. The Applicant agrees that he/she will not knowingly perform an act which will endanger the installed electrical system; and that he/she will not place buildings, grain bins, haystacks or other structures within the clearance distance as required by the National Electric Safety Code; or dig, excavate or grade in areas where underground facilities are installed without contacting Gopher State One Call.
11. The Applicant assumes no personal liability or responsibility for any such debts or liabilities of the Cooperative, and it is expressly understood that under the law, their private property is exempt from execution of any such debts or liabilities.
12. A $1.00 subscription to the Cooperative’s newsletter, the Rural Delight, is deducted from your annual capital credit allocation.