HomeMy WebLinkAbout31-2101-0001_Pending_Rules.docIDAPA 31
TITLE 21
Chapter 01
31.21.01 - CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULES FOR GAS, ELECTRIC AND WATER PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATED BY THE IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
(THE UTILITY CUSTOMER RELATIONS RULES)
107. RETURN OF DEPOSIT (RULE 107).
01. Former Customers. Upon termination of service, the deposit, with accrued interest, shall be credited to the final bill. The balance of the deposit remaining, if any, shall be returned promptly to the customer. (7-1-93)
02. Existing Customers. Unless the customer has requested that the deposit be credited to future bills, tThe deposit, with accrued interest, will must either be credited to the customer’s current account or be refunded promptly by the utility when: (7-1-93)( )
a. The residential customer establishes and maintains good credit; or (7-1-93)
b. The small commercial customer maintains good credit and is not delinquent more than once in the previous twelve (12) months. (7-1-93)
03. Retention During Dispute. The utility may retain the deposit pending the resolution of a dispute over termination of service. If the deposit is later returned to the customer, the utility shall pay interest at the annual rates established in Rule 106 for the entire period over which the deposit was held. (7-1-93)
04. Early Return of Deposit. A utility may refund a deposit plus accrued interest in whole or in part at any time before the time prescribed in this rule. (7-1-93)
(BREAK IN CONTINUITY OF SECTIONS)
201. ISSUANCE OF BILLS--CONTENTS OF BILLS (RULE 201).
Bills shall be issued on a regular basis. Bills must contain the following information:
(7-1-93)
01. The Billing Date. (7-1-93)
02. The Time Period Covered by the Bill. (7-1-93)
03. Metered Service Billing. If metered service is the basis for billing, the beginning and ending meter readings, where the bill is based on actual readings, or a clearly marked statement that the bill is estimated, if the meter was not actually read, and the quantity of service provided, when applicable. (7-1-93)
04. Billing Comparisons. Comparisons of current and previous consumptions, when required by IDAPA 31.22.01.103. (7-1-93)
05. The Due Date of the Bill. (7-1-93)
06. Itemization of All Charges. An itemization of all charges, both recurring and nonrecurring. (7-1-93)
07. Any Amount Transferred from Another Account. (7-1-93)
08. Any Amounts Past Due. (7-1-93)
09. Payments or Credits. Any payments or credits applied to the customer's account since the last bill. (7-1-93)
10. The Total Amount Due. (7-1-93)
11. Billing Records Office Location Address and Telephone Number. The mailing address and toll-free telephone number(s) of the utility's nearest office maintaining billing records for the available to customers in the service territory for answering billing inquiries.
(7-1-93)( )
(BREAK IN CONTINUITY OF SECTIONS)
207. BILLING PROHIBITED (Rule 207).
No utility shall bill for non-utility service(s) or merchandise not ordered or otherwise authorized by the customer of record. Any charges for these services that appear on a customer’s bill shall be removed from the customer’s bill no later than two (2) billing cycles following notice by the customer to the utility. A utility that unknowingly submits a bill containing charges for non-utility service(s) or merchandise not ordered or otherwise authorized by the customer of record shall not be considered in violation of this Rule if the disputed amounts are removed from the customer’s bill. ( )
(BREAK IN CONTINUITY OF SECTIONS)
313. PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS (RULE 313).
01. Arrangements Allowed. When a customer cannot pay a bill in full, the utility shall continue to serve the customer if the customer and the utility agree on a reasonable portion of the outstanding bill to be paid immediately, and the manner in which the balance of the outstanding bill shall be paid. For customers who are unable to come to the utility's local office to make payment arrangements, a gas or electric utility must, upon request by the customer, make payment arrangements over the telephone, by mail or at the customer's home. (7-1-93)
02. Reasonableness. In deciding on the reasonableness of a particular agreement, the utility will take into account the customer's ability to pay, the size of the unpaid balance, the customer's payment history, and the amount of time and reasons why the debt is outstanding.
(7-1-93)
03. Application of Payment. Unless the customer designates otherwise, Ppayments are to be first applied to the oldest undisputed balance owed on by the customer's bill, except in the case of a disputed bill. If the customer disputes a bill, the customer's payments are to be applied to the oldest undisputed amount for utility services, which balance includes associated installation charges, taxes, franchise fees and surcharges. (7-1-93)( )
04. Second Arrangement. If a customer fails to make the payment agreed upon by the date that it is due, the utility may, but is not obligated to, enter into a second such agreement.
(7-1-93)
05. When Arrangement Not Binding. No payment arrangement shall be binding upon a customer if it requires the customer to forego any right provided for in these rules. (7-1-93)
06. Level Pay Plans Acceptable Payment Arrangement. Payment arrangements may be in the form of a Level Pay Plan that will equalize monthly payments of all arrears, if any, and anticipated future bill amounts over a period of not less than one (1) year. No customer agreeing to a reasonable payment arrangement is required to choose this plan. (7-1-93)
07. First Payment Due. The first payment under the arrangement will be due one (1) business day after the arrangement, unless the utility grants an extension. If the initial payment is not made, or if any check not honored by the bank is offered as initial payment, the utility may terminate service upon twenty-four (24) hour notice to the customer unless the customer has been provided with a twenty-four (24) hour notice in the past seven (7) days, in which case a twenty-four (24) hour notice is not required. (7-1-93)
087. Third-Party Contact. If a utility has been unable to contact a customer concerning termination, but has contacted the customer's third-party designated under Rule 307 and has failed to receive a response from the customer within seven (7) days after the third-party was contacted, the utility may treat the customer as one who has been contacted and has declined to enter into a reasonable payment arrangement. (7-1-93)( )