860-021-0335 Refusal of Utility Service (1) Except as provided in section (2) of this rule and OAR 860-021-0330, an energy utility may refuse to provide service to a customer or applicant until the utility receives full payment of any overdue amount of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to an Oregon prior account. (2) Except for a residential customer or applicant who was disconnected for theft of service, an energy utility shall provide service to a residential customer or applicant upon receiving payment equal to at least one-half, but no more than $200 for an income qualified or medical certificate customer, of any overdue amount of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to a prior account, except deposits which must be paid in full, provided the customer or applicant has made reasonable partial payment on the account during the time service has been discontinued. An energy utility may not require a deposit to be paid by an income-qualified residential customer. The customer shall pay the balance of the amount owed to the energy utility within six subsequent billing cycles of the date service is initiated. Upon failure to pay, the energy utility may disconnect service after providing notice to the customer consistent with OAR 860-021-0405. The notice shall contain the information set forth in OAR 860-021-0405(2)(a), (b), (c), (d)(A) and (D) and shall be served as required by 860-021-0405(5). If a customer or applicant whose service was terminated applies for service within 20 days of the termination, the provisions of this rule apply. (3) If electric or gas service is disconnected for a residential customer’s failure to comply with the payment terms in section (2) of this rule, the utility may refuse to restore service until the utility receives full payment of any overdue obligation of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to a prior account, including any reconnection fee, late payment fee, and past due bill. (4) Refusal of service by a large telecommunications utility: (a) A large telecommunications utility may refuse to provide service to a customer or applicant until the utility receives full payment of any overdue amount of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to a prior account except for telecommunications service applicants who are eligible for OTAP. (b) A large telecommunications utility may refuse to provide service to a residential customer or applicant who is eligible for OTAP until the utility receives full payment of any overdue amount relating to a prior account for tariffed local exchange and price-listed services, excluding any toll charges. (5) Except as provided in OAR 860-021-0330, an energy or large telecommunications utility may refuse to provide service until the utility receives payment when all the following circumstances exist: (a) An overdue balance has been incurred by a residential customer at a service address; (b) A residential applicant for service resided at the service address described in subsection (5)(a) of this rule during the time the overdue balance was incurred; and (c) The residential customer described in subsection (5)(a) of this rule will reside at the location to be served under the new application. (6) Any energy or large telecommunications utility shall refuse to provide service if a customer or applicant has not complied with state and city codes and regulations governing service and with the utility’s rules and regulations. (7) An energy or large telecommunications utility shall reject an application for service or materially change service to a customer or applicant if, in the best judgment of the utility, the utility lacks adequate facilities to render the service applied for or if the desired service is likely to unfavorably affect service to other customers. (8) An energy or large telecommunications utility shall refuse to serve a customer or applicant, if, in the best judgment of the utility, the facilities of the customer or applicant cannot provide safe and satisfactory service. (9) When an energy or large telecommunications utility refuses to provide service, the utility shall notify the customer or applicant of the reasons for refusal and of the Commission’s complaint process. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, ORS 756, ORS 757, ORS 759 & OL 1987, Ch. 290 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 756.040, ORS 757.035, ORS 757.225 & OL 1987, Ch. 290 History: PUC 4-2025, amend filed 12/30/2025, effective 12/30/2025 PUC 10-2022, amend filed 09/30/2022, effective 09/30/2022 PUC 7-2005, f. & cert. ef. 11-30-05 PUC 164, f. 4-18-74, ef. 5-11-74 (Order No. 74-307); PUC 6-1979, f. & ef. 10-6-79 (Order No. 79-680); PUC 5-1983, f. 5-31-83, ef. 6-1-83 (Order No. 83-284); Renumbered from 860-021-0060 and 860-021-0100; PUC 12-1983, f. & ef. 10-7-83 (Order No. 83-623); PUC 16-1990, f. 9-28-90, cert. ef. 10-1-90 (Order No. 90-1105); PUC 13-1997, f. & cert. ef. 11-12-97; PUC 17-1997(Temp), f. 12-11-97, cert. ef. 1-1-98 thru 6-29-98; PUC 5-1998, f. & cert. ef. 3-13-98; PUC 16-2001, f. & cert. ef. 6-21-01; PUC 22-2002, f. & cert.ef. 12-9-02