NBU NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2005
Contact: Gretchen Reuwer, NBU Communications Manager, (830) 629-8486

Access hindrance critical to timely outage response

NEW BRAUNFELS—Immediate access to utility meters and equipment behind fences and locked gates is critical in order for NBU employees to perform the repairs and maintenance that ensure system reliability for all customers. With a service area that extends over 169 square miles, return trips to remote locations can easily take 30 minutes one way and add significantly to costs associated with coordination of crews and equipment. More importantly, hindering a crew’s access interferes with their ability to respond promptly to police and fire emergencies, repair outages, or even perform routine maintenance and timely meter reads.

A homeowner’s property plat should show where easements exist on their property. An obligation exists by that property owner to provide access to utility equipment within those easements. Whether maintenance or emergency repairs need to be performed during the day or take place at night, NBU must have a way to get to meters and equipment, especially since outages and emergencies often affect more people than the immediate property owner. Failure by a customer to allow NBU employees access to equipment or to provide a key or combination to locks can result in that customers’ account being assessed an Access Hindrance Charge of $35 each instance, and even disconnection of service.

“We respect a customer’s right to use and improve their property, but we also hope that they understand that NBU has an obligation to maintain system reliability and to be able to address situations immediately,” says NBU Executive Director of Electric Services Al Kaufmann. “Through communication and cooperation, we believe we can strike a balance and avoid the need for applying the fee or interrupting service.”

If a property owner installs a fence or gate, they are required to provide a means of accessing utility equipment at any time. Since this access may be needed at times when the property owner is absent, it is also essential that NBU be aware of conditions such as aggressive dogs or locked gates. Failure to provide access to NBU crews or authorized contractors will lead to the $35 hindrance fee being applied to their account in order to recoup the costs associated with crews and equipment dedicated to those projects.

If you have utility meters or equipment behind a gate, in a building or in a secured area, make sure that NBU has the necessary key or security code to gain access. You can arrange this by calling the NBU Metering Division at (830) 608-8872.