The location where the service is to be furnished, the company's knowledge of a particular customer's activities, the information furnished by the customer, may all be considered in determining whether an account should be classified as speculative. Each applicant for service may be required to pay to the Company in advance or otherwise, as the Company may elect, the net cost of installing and removing any facilities necessary in connection with furnishing of the service by the Company. Each applicant for service may be required to deposit with the Company, before service will be furnished, a sum of money which the Company considers necessary to obtain adequate protection from loss of revenue, or to otherwise secure, in a manner satisfactory to the Company the payment of any bills which may accrue by reason of such service so furnished or supplied. P.U.C. Oregon No. 25, 4.6.A.2. The company states that this practice has been long standing.
Staff believes the practice is based on a recent reinterpretation of the tariff.
For a number of reasons, this tariff should be interpreted narrowly. First, USWC is a regulated monopoly imposing its policies on its captured customers. Second, USWC drafted the tariff, which is a contract. Contracts, generally, are interpreted against the drafter. Strictly interpreting the tariff is important because USWC's practice seriously disadvantages customers.