(MPS Electric Service Rules and Regulations 507.1-507.25)

Availability
The Moorhead Public Service dual fuel rate is available to all residential and commercial dual fuel customers who comply with these regulations.

Application for Service
Residential and commercial customers applying for the dual fuel program must fill out a dual fuel application and sign the dual fuel agreement.

Heating System
The primary heating system for the home or business shall be permanently connected electric heat. The primary heating system must provide 100% of the heating needs for the home or business during the off-peak hours.

The secondary heating system must utilize thermal storage or be fueled by natural gas, fuel oil, or propane. The secondary heating system must be thermostatically controlled and capable of providing Applicant's total heating requirements during MPS control periods. The Applicant must submit a guaranty from their heating contractor stating that the secondary heating system is capable of meeting the home's entire heating needs.

Heat Pumps
Electric heat pumps and their supplemental electric heat components qualify as a primary heating source for the dual fuel program if the unit provides 100% of the heating needs of the home or business during off-peak hours. A qualified secondary heating system must be present if electric heat pumps are used.

Residential customers with heat pumps are required to also control the cooling component (air conditioning) of the heat pump. MPS will compensate the residential customers using heat pumps for air conditioning with the dual fuel rate.

Commercial customer with heat pumps will not be controlled or receive the dual fuel rate for the air conditioning component of the heat pump. Instead, MPS will place commercial customers on the Small General Service rate during the summer season (as defined by the rate schedule).

Radiant Floor Heat
Electric radiant floor heating, (electric boiler hydronic system or electric cable system), qualify as a primary heating source for the dual fuel program if the unit provides 100% of the heating needs of the home or business during off-peak hours.

Radiant floor heat storage may also be used as a qualified secondary heating system, however, the heating contractor must submit a guaranty to MPS stating the radiant floor storage is capable of meeting the home's entire heating needs.

Thermostat
The primary and secondary heating systems must be on a common thermostat. This results in temperature stability when MPS requires the secondary system to operate.

Customer Bypass Switch
The control scheme wiring installed by your electrician must include a test bypass switch. This switch will enable the customer to manually switch off the primary electric heating and turn on the secondary heating system for maintenance and testing.

Metering Requirements
Qualified customers are required to have an additional meter to measure the dual fuel electricity. Moorhead Public Service does not allow sub-metering or subtractive metering. The regular service meter, dual fuel meter, and the dual fuel control unit must be mounted on the outside of the customer's home or business.

Equipment Furnished by MPS
The dual fuel meter, in-line fuses, and dual fuel control unit will be furnished to the customer. MPS will own and operate these devices.

Equipment Furnished by the Customer
Customers shall provide all other equipment not furnished by MPS. This includes a primary and secondary heating system and all electrical wiring necessary to permit switching of controlled electric loads.

Equipment Installation
All equipment installed by the customer must conform to current MPS regulations, State of Minnesota Electrical Code, and National Electrical Code. All equipment shall be installed at the customer's expense.

Dual-Fuel Control Unit
The dual fuel control unit provided by MPS shall be mounted in an upright position adjacent to the dual fuel meter with the wiring connection made through approved conduit and "T" or bell box. The dual fuel control unit shall be easily accessible for maintenance and testing.

Control Wiring
All 120-volt/24-volt control transformers for heating and cooling must be fed from the same circuit as the fan in a forced air system, from the same circuit as the pump in a hot water system, or from the same circuit as the living room heat circuit of a baseboard system. Wiring to the receiver/controller must have a minimum insulation of 600-volt rating.

Affidavit
Customers applying for electric service must file an affidavit with MPS. This affidavit will require inspection by the State electrical inspector.

Inspection by MPS
MPS will inspect the installed equipment to assure that it conforms to regulations. MPS will also periodically inspect the operation of the dual fuel control unit and heating system.

Electric Storage Water Heaters
Qualified residential dual fuel customers may elect to add their electric storage water heater to the dual fuel rate. MPS offers two options of water heater control:

Short-Term Control. Water heaters will be controlled less than four hours at a time. Customers utilizing this option will receive a monthly billing credit, as approved in the rate schedule. Water heaters utilizing short-tem control must be wired to the main service panel and are not eligible for the dual fuel rate.

Long-Term Control. Water heaters will be controlled up to eight hours at a time. Water heaters utilizing long-term control must be wired to the dual fuel panel and will receive the dual fuel rate as approved in the MPS rate schedule.

Central Air Conditioners
Qualified residential dual fuel customers may elect to add their single-phase, 240-volt, central air conditioner to the dual fuel rate. The customer must provide a system that utilizes the common dual fuel relay contact in the dual fuel control unit. During control periods, the compressor of the air conditioner will be cycled in (approximately) 12-minute on/off cycles.

Other Qualifying Loads
Qualified residential dual fuel customers may elect to add permanently wired electric heating units for hot tubs and pool heaters to the dual fuel rate. Permanently wired, 240-volt, electric garage heat is also eligible for the dual fuel rate. Customers should be aware that no secondary heating system is required for these loads, and therefore the heat will be shutoff during MPS control periods.

Non-Qualifying Loads
Appliances including washers, dryers, ranges, and saunas are not eligible for the dual fuel rate.

Maintenance of Equipment
The customer shall maintain all equipment except the dual fuel control unit and any meters owned by MPS.

Tampering
If MPS discovers that any service has been tampered with so as to defeat the intent of these regulations, the customer will immediately be removed from the dual fuel rate. All electricity on the dual fuel meter used between the last inspection and discovery of the tampering will be billed at the highest rate in effect for the customer class.

Liability
MPS will be held harmless from any obligation or responsibility concerning the installation or operation of any system connected to the dual fuel meter. Maintenance of the system is completely the responsibility of the customer.

Multiple Dwelling Residences/Commercial Dual Fuel
If a central heating system is used for primary/secondary heat, the complementary primary/secondary heating system must also be a central unit for all multiple units. Likewise, if an individual unit has an independently metered primary heating service, the secondary heat must be an individual unit. The Dual Fuel program is available to multiple dwellings only if all units within are changed to dual-heat.

Customers Moving into a Home with Dual Fuel
Customers that purchase or move into a home that currently participates in the dual fuel program will automatically continue to receive the dual fuel rate, unless the customer notifies MPS. Moorhead Public Service will inform the customer on the program rules and regulations.

Ending Participation in the Program
Customers who no longer wish to participate or are removed from the Dual Fuel program must wait one full year from termination to re-apply in the program. Moorhead Public Service will schedule a time to remove the dual fuel control unit and meter. Customers no longer participating in the program must hire an electrician to move the heating/water heating/air conditioning from the dual fuel panel to the main service panel.