Chapter 12.04 ELECTRICITY
Section 12.04.080 Franchise fee.
During the term of this franchise, there is hereby imposed
upon Grantee, and by its acceptance
of this franchise it agrees to pay the City a fee equal to two percent (2%) of the revenue from
sales (defined as gross revenues less uncollectible accounts) derived from the sale of electrical
energy made by Grantee to city consumers. There is also imposed upon Grantee, and by its
acceptance of this franchise it agrees to pay the City a fee equal to two percent of the total cost,
if
known, of acquisition, transmission and distribution (wherever incurred) of electrical energy sold
to city consumers by suppliers other than Grantee and transmitted through Grantee's distribution
system, or if the total cost is unknown, then upon the value of the electrical energy as determined
by presuming the consumer's cost of electrical energy is the same as if sold by Grantee under the
terms of its effective tariff. The franchise fee is imposed to compensate the City for the
Grantee's use of the streets, alleys and public ways for its poles, overhead wires, underground
conduits and other Electric Utilities. The City may, by ordinance exempt certain types of sales
or
adjust the fee imposed upon Grantee from time to time, but in no event shall the fee exceed two
percent (2%) of the revenue from sales derived from the sale of electrical energy and Electric
Utilities made to city consumers during the term of this franchise. The Grantee shall certify
to
the City, in a form acceptable to the City, records establishing such revenues from sales for each
month and shall pay the franchise fee to the City within thirty (30) days following the last day of
the preceding month. In conjunction with the annual independent audit of Grantee's financial
statements, Grantee's auditor shall provide a letter to City that indicates that nothing came to the
attention of the independent auditor that would indicate that Grantee was not in compliance with
this Section 8 of the Franchise Agreement.
The obligation to pay the fee imposed by this section is modified if:
1. The City permits any other person to sell electrical energy
to City consumers and pay a
franchise fee or its lawful equivalent at a lesser rate than provided in this section, in which case
Grantee shall pay at the lesser rate; or
2. If the City adds additional territory by annexation or
consolidation and is unable to lawfully
impose the franchise fee upon any person selling electrical energy to consumers within the
additional territory, in which case the franchise fee on the revenue from sales by the Grantee in
the additional territory shall be equal to that of the lowest fee being paid by any other person
selling electrical energy within the additional area.
The further provisions of this section to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Grantee shall be
relieved of its obligation to pay to the City the franchise fee, effective as of the date specified
below, with no liability therefore under each or any of the following conditions:
1. The collection or payment of a franchise fee is ruled
to be unlawful by the Supreme Court
of Iowa, effective as of the date specified by the Court.
2. The Iowa General Assembly enacts legislation which makes
the collection or payment of a
franchise fee unlawful, effective as of the date lawfully specified by the General Assembly.
3. The Iowa Utilities Board, or its successor agency, denies
the Grantee the right to collect a
franchise fee from its customers provided such denial is affirmed by the Supreme Court of Iowa,
effective as of the date of the agency order from which the appeal is taken. (Ord. 92/U-611; S-32788,
1977).