Service may be disconnected or refused for any
of the following reasons:
A.
Failure to pay a delinquent account or failure to
comply with the terms of a deferred payment agreement.
B.
Violation of the Utility's rules and regulations pertaining
to the use of service in a manner which interferes with the service
of others or to the operation of nonstandard equipment, if the customer
has first been notified and provided with reasonable opportunity to
remedy the situation.
C.
Failure to comply with deposit or guarantee arrangements
as provided for in these rules and regulations.
D.
Diversion of service around the meter.
A.
A bill for service is delinquent if unpaid after the
due date shown on the bill. The Utility may disconnect service for
a delinquent bill by giving the customer, at least eight calendar
days prior to disconnection, a written disconnect notice which may
be included with the bill for service. For purposes of this rule,
the due date shall not be less than 20 days after issuance.
B.
The Utility may disconnect without notice where a
dangerous condition exists for as long as the condition exists. Service
may be denied to any customer for failure to comply with the applicable
requirements of the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission
or of these rules and regulations or if a dangerous or unsafe condition
exists on the customer's premises.
C.
The Utility shall notify the appropriate County Department
of Health and Social Services at least five calendar days prior to
any scheduled disconnection of residential service, if the customer
or responsible person has made a written request for this procedure.
The Utility shall apprise customers of this right upon application
for service. If service to a residential customer which has been disconnected
has not been restored within 24 hours after disconnection, the Utility
shall notify the appropriate Sheriff's Department of the billing name
and service address and that a threat to health and life might exist
to persons occupying the premises.
A.
The Utility shall offer deferred payment agreements
to residential customers. The deferred payment agreement shall provide
that service will not be discontinued for the outstanding bill if
the customer pays a stated reasonable amount of the outstanding bill
and agrees to pay a stated reasonable portion of the remaining outstanding
balance in installments until the bill is paid. In determining what
amounts are reasonable, the parties shall consider the:
B.
In the deferred payment agreement, it shall state
immediately preceding the space provided for the customer's signature
and in boldface print at least two sizes larger than any other used
thereon the following: "If you are not satisfied with this agreement,
do not sign. If you do sign this agreement you give up your right
to dispute the amount due under the agreement except for the Utility's
failure or refusal to follow the terms of this agreement."
C.
A deferred payment agreement shall not include a finance
charge.
D.
If an applicant for service has not fulfilled the
terms of a deferred payment agreement, the Utility shall have the
right to disconnect service or refuse service in accordance with these
rules, and under such circumstances it shall not be required to offer
subsequent negotiation of a deferred payment agreement prior to disconnection.
E.
Any payments made by the customer in compliance with
a deferred payment agreement, or otherwise, shall be first considered
made in payment of the previous account balance, with any remainder
credited to the current bill.
A.
Whenever the customer advises the Utility's designated
office prior to the disconnection of service that all or part of any
billing as rendered is in dispute, or that any matter related to the
disconnection is in dispute, the Utility shall investigate the dispute
promptly and completely, advise the customer of the results of the
investigation, attempt to resolve the dispute, and provide the opportunity
for the customer to enter into a deferred payment agreement, when
applicable, in order to settle the dispute.
B.
After the customer has pursued the available remedies
with the Utility, he may request that the Public Service Commission's
staff informally review the disputed issue and recommend terms of
settlement.
C.
Any party to the dispute, after informal review, may
make a written request for a formal review by the Commission. If the
Commission decides to conduct a formal hearing on the dispute, the
customer must pay 50% of the bill in dispute or post a bond for that
amount on or before the hearing date. Failure to pay the amount or
post the bond will constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing.
Service shall not be disconnected because of any disputed matter while
the disputed matter is being pursued under the dispute procedure.
In no way does this relieve the customer from the obligation of paying
charges which are not disputed.[1]
D.
In the event that the Utility is not able to collect
any bill for water service, even though deposit and guarantee rules
are on file, the bill may be put upon the tax roll as provided in
§ 66.0809, Wis. Stats.
