Columbia Loan committee ordinance (§ 27-168)
Chapter 27: Utilities · Article III. Water and Light System
In short: Applicants for the city's energy-saving loan program must pass a credit check and provide adequate security. Loans go where they can cut electric use most, based on the applicant's total consumption and an energy audit. No one may be refused because of sex, race, religion, national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, handicap, political affiliation or ancestry.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) The city manager is hereby authorized to appoint representatives of the water and light and finance departments to administer the program. All loans shall be made based upon the following principles:
(1) The program shall be conducted at all times based upon sound business principles and shall in no way be deemed a welfare or social service program of the city. No loan shall be made without having first ascertained the credit worthiness of the loan applicant and without having obtained adequate security for any loan.
(2) After having established the credit worthiness of the applicant, the committee shall make its loans in such a manner to reduce, by the greatest amount possible, the consumption of electric energy within the city. This goal shall be attained by consideration of:
a. The total energy consumption of the applicant; and
b. The results of an energy audit made to determine the potential impact of a loan under the program, along with the ability of that loan to reduce the electric consumption of the applicant.
(b) No applicant shall be refused a loan because of sex, race, religion, place of national origin, marital status, age, sexual orientation, handicap, political affiliation or ancestry.
(c) The director of water and light is hereby authorized to develop application forms for use in the program.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 27-168
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.