Section R14-2-201. Definitions

In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply. In addition, the definitions contained in Article 16, Retail Electric Competition, shall apply in this Article unless the context otherwise requires.

1.        “Advance in aid of construction.” Funds provided to the utility by the applicant under the terms of a line extension agreement the value of which may be refundable.

2.        “Applicant.” A person requesting the utility to supply electric service.

3.        “Application.” A request to the utility for electric service, as distinguished from an inquiry as to the availability or charges for such service.

4.        “Arizona Corporation Commission.” The regulatory authority of the state of Arizona having jurisdiction over public service corporations operating in Arizona.

5.        “Billing month.” The period between any two regular readings of the utility’s meters at approximately 30 day intervals.

6.        “Billing period.” The time interval between two consecu- tive meter readings that are taken for billing purposes.

7.        “Contributions in aid of construction.” Funds provided to the utility by the applicant under the terms of a line exten- sion agreement or service connection tariff the value of which is not refundable.

8.        “Curtailment priority.” The order in which electric ser- vice is to be curtailed to various classifications of custom- ers, as set forth in the utility’s filed tariffs.

9.        “Customer.” The person or entity in whose name service is rendered, as evidenced by the signature on the applica- tion or contract for that service, or by the receipt and/or payment of bills regularly issued in his name regardless of the identity of the actual user of the service.

10.     “Customer charge.” The amount the customers must pay the utility for the availability of electric service, exclud- ing any electricity used, as specified in the utility’s tariffs.

11.     “Day.” Calendar day.

12.     “Demand.” The rate at which power is delivered during any specified period of time. Demand may be expressed in kilowatts, kilovolt-amperes, or other suitable units.

13.     “Distribution lines.” The utility lines operated at distribu- tion voltage which are constructed along public roadways or other bona fide rights-of-way, including easements on customer’s property.

14.     “Elderly.” A person who is 62 years of age or older.

15.     “Energy.” Electric energy, expressed in kilowatt-hours.

16.     “Handicapped.” A person with a physical or mental con- dition which substantially contributes to the person’s inability to manage his or her own resources, carry out activities of daily living, or protect oneself from neglect or hazardous situations without assistance from others.

17.     “Illness.” A medical ailment or sickness for which a resi- dential customer obtains a verified document from a licensed medical physician stating the nature of the ill- ness and that discontinuance of service would be espe- cially dangerous to the customer’s health.

18.     “Inability to pay.” Circumstances where a residential cus- tomer:

a.         Is not gainfully employed and unable to pay, or

b.        Qualifies for government welfare assistance, but has not begun to receive assistance on the date that he receives his bill and can obtain verification of that fact from the government welfare assistance agency.

c.         Has an annual income below the published federal poverty level and can produce evidence of this, and

d.        Signs a declaration verifying that the customer meets one of the above criteria and is either elderly, handicapped, or suffers from illness.

19.     “Interruptible electric service.” Electric service that is subject to interruption as specified in the utility’s tariff.

20.     “Kilowatt (kw).” A unit of power equal to 1,000 watts.

21.     “Kilowatt-hour (kwh).” Electric energy equivalent to the amount of electric energy delivered in one hour when delivery is at a constant rate of 1 kilowatt.

22.     “Line extension.” The lines and equipment necessary to extend the electric distribution system of the utility to provide service to additional customers.

23.     “Master meter.” A meter for measuring or recording the flow of electricity that has passed through it at a single location where said electricity is distributed to tenants or occupants for their individual usage.

24.     “Megawatt (Mw).” A unit of power equal to 1,000,000 watts.

25.     “Meter.” The instrument for measuring and indicating or recording the flow of electricity that has passed through it.

26.     “Meter tampering.” A situation where a meter has been illegally altered. Common examples are meter bypassing, use of magnets to slow the meter recording, and broken meter seals.

27.     “Minimum charge.” The amount the customer must pay for the availability of electric service, including an amount of usage, as specified in the utility’s tariffs.

28.     “Permanent customer.” A customer who is a tenant or owner of a service location who applies for and receives permanent electric service.

29.     “Permanent service.” Service which, in the opinion of the utility, is of a permanent and established character. The use of electricity may be continuous, intermittent, or sea- sonal in nature.

30.     “Person.” Any individual, partnership, corporation, gov- ernmental agency, or other organization operating as a single entity.

31.     “Point of delivery.” The point where facilities owned, leased, or under license by a customer connects to the utility’s facilities.

32.     “Power.” The rate of generating, transferring, or using electric energy, usually expressed in kilowatts.

33.     “Premises.” All of the real property and apparatus employed in a single enterprise on an integral parcel of land undivided by public streets, alleys or railways.

34.     “Residential subdivision development.” Any tract of land which has been divided into four or more contiguous lots with an average size of one acre or less for use for the construction of residential buildings or permanent mobile homes for either single or multiple occupancy.

35.     “Residential use.” Service to customers using electricity for domestic purposes such as space heating, air condi- tioning, water heating, cooking, clothes drying, and other residential uses and includes use in apartment buildings, mobile home parks, and other multiunit residential build- ings.

36.     “Service area.” The territory in which the utility has been granted a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity and is authorized by the Commission to provide electric service.

37.     “Service establishment charge.” The charge as specified in the utility’s tariffs which covers the cost of establishing a new account.

38.     “Service line.” The line extending from a distribution line or transformer to the customer’s premises or point of delivery.

Corporation Commission – Fixed Utilities

39.     “Service reconnect charge.” The charge as specified in the utility’s tariffs which must be paid by the customer prior to reestablishment of electric service each time the electricity is disconnected for nonpayment or whenever service is discontinued for failure otherwise to comply with the utility’s tariffs.

40.     “Service reestablishment charge.” A charge as specified in the utility’s tariffs for service at the same location where the same customer had ordered a service discon- nection within the preceding 12-month period.

41.     “Single family dwelling.” A house, an apartment, a mobile home permanently affixed to a lot, or any other permanent residential unit which is used as a permanent home.

42.     “Tariffs.” The documents filed with the Commission which list the services and products offered by the utility and which set forth the terms and conditions and a sched- ule of the rates and charges, for those services and prod- ucts.

43.     “Temporary service.” Service to premises or enterprises which are temporary in character, or where it is known in advance that the service will be of limited duration. Ser- vice which, in the opinion of the utility, is for operations of a speculative character is also considered temporary service.

44.     “Third-party notification.” A notice sent to an individual or a public entity willing to receive notification of the pending discontinuance of service of a customer of record in order to make arrangements on behalf of said customer satisfactory to the utility.

45.     “Utility.” The public service corporation providing elec- tric service to the public in compliance with state law, except in those instances set forth in R14-2-1612(A) and (B).

46.     “Weather especially dangerous to health.” That period of time commencing with the scheduled termination date when the local weather forecast, as predicted by the National Oceanographic and Administration Service, indicates that the temperature will not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit for the next day’s forecast. The Commission may determine that other weather conditions are espe- cially dangerous to health as the need arises.

Historical Note

Adopted effective March 2, 1982 (Supp. 82-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 5 A.A.R. 3933, effective Sep- tember 24, 1999 (Supp. 99-3). Amended by exempt

rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 4180, effective October 13, 2000

(Supp. 00-4).

Note

Editor’s Note: The following Section was amended under an exemption from the Attorney General approval provisions of the Arizona Administrative Procedure Act (State ex. rel. Corbin v. Arizona Corporation Commission, 174 Ariz. 216 848 P.2d 301 (App. 1992)), as determined by the Corporation Commission. This exemption means that the rules as amended were not approved by the Attorney General.