Columbia Special outdoor lighting ordinance (§ 27-121.1)
Chapter 27: Utilities · Article III. Water and Light System
In short: Temporary or seasonal uses like sports field lights, carnivals, circuses and holiday displays can get special outdoor lighting electric service at $57.22 a month plus 13.64 per kWh, with a $56.10 minimum bill, plus sales tax and a 7.5268 percent in-lieu-of-taxes charge. Customers who own their equipment and take service at 13,800 volts or higher get a 5 percent discount if metered at primary voltage, or 3 percent if metered at secondary voltage.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) Availability. The special outdoor lighting schedule is available for electrical service to sport field lighting, carnival, circus or holiday decorative lighting or similar temporary or seasonal use.
(b) Type of service. The type of service shall be single- or three-phase, sixty-hertz, at one of the department's standard service voltages.
(c) Monthly rate charge. The monthly rate per kilowatt hour shall be as follows, subject to power cost adjustment as provided in section 27-118:
Customer charge .....$57.22
Cost, per Kwh .....13.64
(d) Minimum monthly bill. The minimum bill for single- or three-phase service shall be fifty-six dollars and ten cents ($56.10) per month.
(e) Payment in lieu of taxes and sales tax. In addition to the charge based on monthly rates as computed above, the total monthly charge for service shall include applicable sales taxes and in lieu of gross receipts tax payment equal to 7.5268 percent of the monthly rate charge. Sales taxes shall be applied to the total of the monthly rate charge and be in lieu of gross receipts tax payment.
(f) Primary service. When the customer owns and maintains all equipment, except metering equipment, necessary to take service at thirteen thousand eight hundred (13,800) volts or higher:
(1) A five (5) percent reduction in total rate charges shall be made if service is metered at primary voltage.
(2) A three (3) percent reduction in total rate charges shall be made if service is metered at secondary voltage.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 27-121.1
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.