rooms, rest rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, or over stoves, sinks, tubs, doors, windows, or in any location where the visits of the meter reader or tester will cause annoyance to the customer.

(c) The proper height for all meters is about 6 feet above the floor or ground and no meter will be installed more than 8 feet nor less than 6 feet above the floor or working level. Meters must not be located above stairways, porch steps, basement entrances, or in any place where a short step ladder or chair cannot be safely placed for reaching the meter.

(d) Meter boards must be furnished by the consumer where meters are to be set on lath and plaster, concrete, brick, stone, metal, or uneven surfaces, or in other places where the meter cannot be conveniently supported directly on the wall. Meter boards must be not less than three-quarters of an inch thick, of sound wood, surfaced on all sides and of ample dimensions for the meters. They must be mounted in a substantial manner with their faces set truly vertical.

(e) A working space of not less than 24 inches must be provided and maintained in front of every meter and meter box.

(f) Where current and potential transformers are required for use with meters, ample provision shall be made by the consumer for their mounting and a ground wire shall be provided.

(g) Where two or more meters are to be placed in one building it is preferred that they be grouped at one common place.

(h) No load wires of any description shall be carried within the same conduit as the supply wires except in cases of pole metering for rural customers. Tampering or in any way interfering with a meter or its connections is prohibited.

§ 231.24 Consumer

equipment.

responsible for

The consumer shall, at his own risk and expense, furnish, install, and keep in good and safe condition all electric wires, line, machinery, and apparatus which may be required for receiving electric energy from the United States, and for applying and utilizing such energy, including all necessary protective appliances therefor.

(a) The project engineer may refuse to supply loads of a character that may seriously impair service to other consumers. He may require the consumer to provide suitable equipment to limit reasonably the fluctuations.

(b) All motors shall be provided with suitable starting devices or apparatus to limit their starting current.

(c) The project engineer may discontinue electric service to any consumer who shall continue to use appliances or apparatus detrimental to the service after he has been notified to correct the condition and has failed to do so within a reasonable time.

(a) The project engineer may require all wiring and apparatus on consumers' premises to be installed in accordance with and to conform to the regulations of the State of Arizona and of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.

(b) The United States reserves the right to make all service connections. No service will be connected, where an inspection is required by municipal ordinance, until the installation has been inspected and approved by the municipal inspector.

§ 231.28 Meter reading.

Meters will be read and bills for electric service will be rendered at regular intervals. Should the seal of the meter be broken by other than the proper representative of the United States, or in case the meter fails to register correctly, the consumer shall pay an amount estimated from the records of his previous use and other available and proper information. Bills are delinquent after the 15th day of the month succeeding that in which the service is rendered. Payments shall be made at the designated office of the Indian Irrigation Service or to a properly authorized employee of the Service.

§ 231.29 Bills.

(a) Removal bills, special bills, bills for temporary service, bills rendered on vacation of premises, or bills rendered to persons discontinuing the service are due on presentation.

(b) Bills for connection or reconnection of service and payments for deposits or to reinstate deposits shall be paid before service is connected or reconnected.

§ 231.30 Discontinuance of service on failure to pay bills.

On failure of the consumer to pay his bill for electric service within 30 days after the end of the period in which the service was rendered, the project engineer shall discontinue the supply of energy and service to the same consumer will not be resumed at the same or at any other location until the consumer has paid all bills then due, plus a reconnection charge of $2, and in addition has made to the special disbursing agent the cash deposit of $10 required by § 231.5. § 231.31 Disputed bills.

(a) In case of a dispute between the consumer and project engineer as to the correct amount of any bill for electric service furnished the consumer, the consumer shall deposit the amount of the bill with the special disbursing agent and file a complete statement of his claim. The matter shall then be referred to the supervising engineer as provided in § 231.3.

(b) Service will not be discontinued because of nonpayment of bills if the amount of each bill, as it becomes due, is either paid to or deposited under protest with the special disbursing agent, as above within 30 days after the close of the month in which the electric service was rendered.

the United States is prohibited, and any violation of this provision shall be subject to prosecution pursuant to law. § 231.34 Fraud.

Service will be discontinued to any premises at any time when it is found necessary to protect against abuse, fraud, or theft.

§ 231.35 Compensation of employees.

All employees are strictly forbidden to demand or accept any personal compensation for services rendered to a con

sumer.

§ 231.36 Noncompliance with rules.

(a) Should a consumer be found to be violating the rules and regulations and should he not remedy the violation within a reasonable time after being notified in writing to do so, the project engineer may discontinue such service.

(b) Except in cases of emergency or as otherwise provided, the consumer will be given written notice of at least 5 days. The notice shall state the particular rule or regulation that has been violated and inform the consumer of the action to be taken. Advance notice need not be given in the event of the discovery of a dangerous condition on a consumer's premises, or in case a consumer is utilizing the service in such a manner as to make it dangerous to occupants of the premises.

§ 231.37 Definition of maximum demand.

The maximum demand for each month shall be defined as the average amount of power used by the consumer during that period of 15 consecutive minutes when such average is the greatest for that month as determined from time to time by the United States by suitable meters or otherwise. If power under a single contract is delivered at more than one point or is measured by different sets of meters, the maximum demand for the purpose of the contract will be determined by taking the sum of the maximum demands indicated by the separate meters.

§ 231.38 Interruptions to service.

The United States will furnish energy continuously so far as reasonable diligence will permit but the United States, its officers, agents, or employees shall not be liable for damages when, for any reason, suspensions of the operation of the power system of the United States, or any

The consumer may make written claim, within thirty days after receiving monthly bill, for reduction on account of any suspension or suspensions alleged to have occurred and not considered in such bill. If written claim is not made within 30 days claim shall be deemed to have been waived. If any dispute arises as to the existence of any such suspension or whether any suspension is due to causes arising on the power system of the United States, the matter shall be referred to the supervising engineer as provided in § 231.3.

§ 231.40 Contingent upon appropria

tions.

All contracts are subject to appropriations being made by Congress from year to year of moneys sufficient to do the work provided for therein, and to there being sufficient moneys available to permit allotments to be made for the performance of said work. No liability shall accrue against the United States by reason of such moneys not being appropriated, nor on account of there not being sufficient moneys to permit sufficient allotments.

§ 231.51 Combination rate, application of schedule.

This schedule is applicable to residences, stores, and other customers whose load is limited to 5 kilovolt amperes; all energy being measured through one meter.

Net monthly rate:

(a) A minimum charge of $3 per month, which $3 entitles the customer to the use of 60 K. W. H.

(b, 2.5 cents per K. W. H. for the next 250 K. W. H.

(c) 2.0 cents per K. W. H. for all additional K. W. H.

§ 231.52 Minimum contract period.

The minimum contract period is one year. The contract, however, may be terminated if the customer vacates the premises, except in cases where an ex

tension has been constructed to supply the customer.

§ 231.53 General rate; application of schedule.

This schedule is applicable to all classes of service and is available to customers whose load is not limited or who for some other reason do not desire to take energy on the combination rate. Rate per month:

(a) 6.0 cents per K. W. H. for first 25 K. W. H. per K. W. of maximum demand. (b) 2.0 cents per K. W. H. for next 100 K. W. H. per K. W. of maximum demand. (c) 1.5 cents per K. W. H. for all additional K. W. H.

(d) Minimum charge: $1 per month per K. W. of the customer's actual or agreed maximum demand, but not less than $5 per month.

§ 231.54 Demand discounts.

The following discounts will be applied in accordance with maximum billing demand. Discounts do not apply to minimum charge:

Any aggrieved party may file with the project engineer a written complaint regarding the application of the regulations. Within fifteen days after its receipt, the project engineer shall render a written decision thereon and serve a copy thereof on the aggrieved party. Within fifteen days from receipt of such decision, the aggrieved party may take an appeal to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs who shall render his decision within sixty days and his decision shall be final. Pending the determination of an appeal, electric service shall be continued, except in cases in which the question of the existence of dangerous conditions on the premises of the consumer is involved, provided the consumer pays the amount of each bill for electric service prior to the time when it becomes delinquent. If the question of the amount of a bill is involved in an appeal, the consumer shall be deemed to have paid the bill under protest and the payment shall be held in a special deposit account until the final decision has been made.

§ 232.4 Applications; contracts.

In order to contract for the delivery of power, a written application for service under existing regulations accompanied by the required cash deposit and guarantees of the required minimum revenues to the project, shall be filed with the project engineer. Upon acceptance by him, the application will become a contract. In general, such application will be accepted where service lines exist. When special terms and conditions are involved in contracting for service, the project engineer shall require the execution of a form of contract in which such terms and conditions are fully set

A cash deposit in an amount equal to twice the estimated monthly bill, but in no case less than $5.00, will be required from each applicant except that when the premises to be serviced are owned by the applicant, no deposit shall be required until a delinquency in the payment of a bill has occurred. Any cash deposit, less the amount of any unpaid bills, shall be refunded after the termination of service. Before extensions are constructed each applicant must deposit an amount sufficient to cover his portion of the required minimum charges for a period of one year, or must otherwise establish his credit and satisfy the project engineer of his intention to take service and his ability to meet the guarantees.

§ 232.6 Extensions.

(a) The length of an extension constructed for each dollar of monthly revenue guaranteed to the project shall not exceed the following:

(b) The length of an extension shall include the horizontal length of both the primary and secondary circuits exclusive of the service drops. In so far as practicable, all extensions shall be constructed along established highways. The prospective consumer or consumers, shall furnish or procure satisfactory rights-of-way necessary for the lines and other facilities of the project incidental to the furnishing of service. The project engineer may decline to construct any extension which, in his opinion, will be excessive in cost, or detrimental to the best interest of the project, or for which funds are not available. All extensions when constructed shall be and remain the property of the United States.

§ 232.7 Extensions financed by con

sumer.

If funds, material, or labor are not otherwise available, or if an extension to a prospective consumer will require new construction beyond the distances, specified in § 232.6, the prospective consumer may, after executing an appropriate contract satisfactory to the project engineer, construct the needed extension. Such extensions shall be built in accordance with suitable plans and specifications approved by the project engineer. The contract may provide that part or all of the cost of the extension shall be refunded to the conusmer by allowing him a monthly credit equal to 20 percent of the bill for each month, during the life of the contract or until the specified amount be refunded in full, but no claim for credit shall extend beyond the life of the contract. No refund, however, shall be made if the amount specified in section 6 of the act of May 25, 1948 (Public Law 554, 80th Congress), will be exceeded. Unless the approval of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has been secured, no refund shall be made for that portion of an extension not located along a public highway. All extensions constructed under the provisions of this section shall be and remain the property of the United States.

§ 232.8 Temporary service.

Temporary service refers to service to circuses, bazaars, fairs. construction works, and other activities or businesses of such a nature that service to the premises occupied by them will probably be discontinued within five months. An applicant for temporary service shall be required to deposit with the project a sum of money equal to the estimated cost of installing and removing the necessary facilities and also an additional sum equal to the estimated bill for electric service: Provided, however, That such additional sum need not be greater than three times the estimated monthly bill. After termination of service, there shall be refunded any amount remaining on deposit in excess of the actual cost of installing and removing facilities, plus the unpaid amount of bills for electric power and energy, as determined by the project engineer.

§ 232.9 Type of service.

Service for lights and the usual domestic and other appliances, including motors of less than five horsepower shall