Section R14-2-507. Provision of Service

A.      Utility responsibility. Each utility shall be responsible for maintaining in safe operating condition all equipment and fix- tures used in providing utility service to the customer that are owned by and under the exclusive control of the utility.

B.       Customer responsibility

1.        Each customer shall be responsible for safeguarding all utility property installed in or on the customer’s premises for the purpose of supplying utility service to that cus- tomer.

2.        Each customer shall be responsible for maintaining in safe operating condition all customer provided equipment and fixtures.

3.        Each customer shall exercise all reasonable care to pre- vent loss or damage to utility property, excluding ordi- nary wear and tear. The customer shall be responsible for loss of or damage to utility property on the customer’s premises arising from neglect, theft, carelessness, or mis- use and shall reimburse the utility for the cost of neces- sary repairs or replacements.

4.        Each customer shall be responsible for payment for any equipment damage and/or use resulting from unautho- rized use, interfering or tampering of the utility’s equip- ment on the customer’s premises.

5.        Each customer shall notify the utility of any equipment failure identified in the utility’s equipment.

C.      Continuity of service. Each utility shall make reasonable efforts to supply a satisfactory and continuous level of service. However, no utility shall be responsible for any damage or claim of damage attributable to any interruption or discontinu- ation of service resulting from but not limited to:

1.        Any cause against which the utility could not have rea- sonably foreseen or made provision for, that is, force majeure.

2.        Intentional service interruptions to make repairs or per- form routine maintenance of services constituting excus- able negligence.

D.      Service interruptions

1.        Each utility shall make reasonable efforts to reestablish service within the shortest possible time when service interruptions occur.

2.        Each utility shall make reasonable provisions to meet emergencies resulting from failure of service, and each utility shall issue instructions to its employees covering procedures to be followed in the event of emergency in order to prevent or mitigate interruption or impairment of service.

3.        In the event of a national emergency or local disaster resulting in disruption of normal service, the utility may, in the public interest, interrupt service to other customers to provide necessary service to civil defense or other emergency service agencies on a temporary basis until normal service to these agencies can be restored.

4.        When a utility plans to interrupt service for more than four hours to perform necessary repairs or maintenance, the utility shall attempt to inform affected customers at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled date and esti- mated duration of the service interruption. Such repairs shall be completed in the shortest possible time to mini- mize the inconvenience to the customers of the utility.

5.        The Commission shall be notified of major interruptions in service affecting the entire system or any major divi- sion.

E.       Construction standards. Each utility shall construct all facili- ties in accordance with the provisions of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc., Pub. No. C2-2007, The National Electrical Safety Code (2007), which is incorporated by reference in R14-2-207(E)(3)(c).

Historical Note

Adopted effective March 2, 1982 (Supp. 82-2). Amended

effective August 16, 1996 (Supp. 96-3). Amended by

exempt rulemaking at 5 A.A.R. 2054, effective June 4, 1999 (Supp. 99-2). Amended to correct subsection num- bering (Supp. 99-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 15

A.A.R. 1933, effective December 27, 2009 (Supp. 09-4).