Section R14-2-303. Establishment of service

A.      Information from new applicants

1.        A utility may obtain the following minimum information from each new applicant for service:

a.         Name or names of applicant(s).

b.        Service address or location and telephone number.

c.         Billing address or location and telephone number, if different than service address.

d.        Address where service was provided previously.

e.         Date applicant will be ready for service.

f.         Indication of whether premises have been supplied with utility service previously.

g.        Purpose for which service is to be used.

Corporation Commission – Fixed Utilities

h.        Indication of whether applicant is owner or tenant of or agent for the premises.

i.         Information concerning the gas usage and demand requirements of the customers.

j.         Type and kind  of life-support equipment, if any, used by the customer.

2.        Each utility may require a new applicant for service to appear at the utility’s designated place of business to pro- duce proof of identity and sign the utility’s application form.

3.        Where service is requested by two or more individuals the utility shall have the right to collect the full amount owed to the utility from any one of the applicants.

B.       Deposits

1.        A utility shall not require a deposit from a new applicant for residential service if the applicant is able to meet any of the following requirements:

a.         The applicant has had service of a comparable nature with the utility at another service location within the past two years and was not delinquent in payment more than twice during the last 12 consecu- tive months or disconnected for nonpayment.

b.        The applicant can produce a letter regarding credit or verification from a gas utility where service of a comparable nature was last received which states that the applicant has had service of a comparable nature with the utility at another service location within the past two years and was not delinquent in payment more than twice during the last 12 consecu- tive months or disconnected for nonpayment.

c.         In lieu of a deposit, a new applicant may provide a Letter of Guarantee from an existing customer with service who is acceptable to the utility or a surety bond as security for the utility.

2.        The utility shall issue a nonnegotiable receipt to the appli- cant for the deposit. The inability of the customer to pro- duce such a receipt shall in no way impair his right to receive a refund of the deposit which is reflected on the utility’s records.

3.        Deposits shall be interest bearing; the interest rate and method of calculation shall be filed with and approved by the Commission in a tariff proceeding.

4.        Each utility shall file a deposit refund procedure with the Commission, subject to Commission review and approval during a tariff proceeding. However, each utility’s refund policy shall include provisions for residential deposits and accrued interest to be refunded or Letter of Guarantee or surety bond to expire after 12 months of service if the customer has not been delinquent more than twice in the payment of utility bills.

5.        A utility may require a residential customer to establish or reestablish a deposit if the customer becomes delin- quent in the payment of three or more bills within a 12- consecutive-month period or has been disconnected for service during the last 12 months.

6.        The amount of a deposit required by the utility shall be determined according to the following terms:

a.         Residential customer deposits shall not exceed two times that customer’s estimated average  monthly bill.

b.        Nonresidential customer deposits shall not exceed 2 1/2 times that customer’s estimated maximum monthly bill.

7.        The utility may review the customer’s usage after service has been connected and adjust the deposit amount based upon the customer’s actual usage.

8.        A separate deposit may be required for each meter installed.

C.      Grounds for refusal of service. A utility may refuse to estab- lish service if any of the following conditions exist:

1.        The applicant has an outstanding amount due for the same class of utility service with the utility and the appli- cant is unwilling to make arrangements with the utility for payment.

2.        A condition exists which in the utility’s judgment is unsafe or hazardous to the applicant, the general popula- tion, or the utility’s personnel or facilities.

3.        Refusal by the applicant to provide the utility with a deposit when the customer has failed to meet the credit criteria for waiver of deposit requirements.

4.        Customer is known to be in violation of the utility’s tar- iffs filed with the Commission.

5.        Failure of the customer to furnish such funds, service, equipment, and/or rights-of-way necessary to serve the customer and which have been specified by the utility as a condition for providing service.

6.        Applicant falsifies his or her identity for the purpose of obtaining service.

D.      Service   establishments,   reestablishment   or   reconnection charge

1.        A utility may make a charge as approved by the Commis- sion for the establishment, reestablishment, or reconnec- tion of utility services.

2.        Should service be established during a period other than regular working hours at the customer’s request, the cus- tomer may be required to pay an after-hour charge for the service connection. Where the utility scheduling will not permit service establishment on the same day requested, the customer can elect to pay the after-hour charge for establishment that day or his service will be established on the next available normal working day.

3.        For the purpose of this rule, the definition of service establishments are where the customer’s facilities are ready and acceptable to the utility and the utility needs only to install a meter, read a meter, or turn the service on.

E.       Temporary service

1.        Applicants for temporary service may be required to pay the utility, in advance of service establishment, the esti- mated cost of installing and removing the facilities neces- sary for furnishing the desired service.

2.        Where the duration of service is to be  less  than one month, the applicant may also be required to advance a sum of money equal to the estimated bill for service.

3.        Where the duration of service is to exceed one month, the applicant may also be required to meet the deposit requirements of the utility.

4.        If at any time during the term of the agreement for service the character of a temporary customer’s operations changes so that in the opinion of the utility the customer is classified as permanent, the terms of the utility’s main extension rules shall apply.

Historical Note

Adopted effective March 2, 1982 (Supp. 82-2). Amended to correct subsection numbering (Supp. 99-4).