2023 Oregon Revised Statutes › Volume : 03 - Landlord-Tenant, Domestic Relations, Probate › Chapter 091 - Tenancy › Section 91.255 - Transfer of claim; prohibition; limitations.

(1) As used in this section, "municipal utility" means any city, county or district that provides or delivers electricity, natural gas, domestic water, sewer service or garbage or refuse service. A "municipal utility" does not include a people’s utility district.
(2) A utility company shall not transfer a claim against a tenant to the owner of the real property without the written consent of the owner.
(3) A municipal utility shall not transfer a claim against a tenant to the owner of the real property unless the municipal utility provided notice of the delinquent status to the tenant and mailed a copy of the notice of delinquency by first class mail to the last address of the owner or owner’s agent that is on file with the utility, within 30 days from the time the payment is due on the account.
(4) A municipal utility shall not deny or shut off its service to any subsequent tenant based on any lien for an unpaid claim for services furnished to a previous tenant who has vacated the premises unless the utility notified the owner or the owner’s agent of any delinquency by mailing a copy of the notice of delinquency by first class mail to the last address of the owner or owner’s agent that is on file with the utility, at the time the notice was sent to the previous tenant.
(5) A municipal utility may not provide service to a tenant if the tenant has a previous unpaid bill with the municipal utility unless that municipal utility and tenant agree to a plan for repayment of unpaid utility bills.
(6) A municipal utility shall have the same policy regarding the disconnection of services for nonpayment of an outstanding amount for a single family residence occupied by a tenant and for a single family residence occupied by the owner.
(7) A municipal utility shall provide information to the owner or owner’s agent regarding the status of a tenant’s account upon request, within a reasonable amount of time. If a request is made verbally, the municipal utility shall provide the information verbally. If a municipal utility discloses information under this subsection, the municipal utility shall not be held responsible for the disclosure of information to a person who is not an owner or owner’s agent.
(8) Subsections (5) and (6) of this section apply only if a municipal utility intends to file a lien for unpaid utility services or intends to deny service to a subsequent tenant based on a claim for unpaid services to a previous tenant.
(9) Subsection (7) of this section applies only if a municipal utility intends to file a lien for unpaid utility services or intends to deny service to a subsequent tenant based on a claim for unpaid services to a previous tenant.
(10) Nothing in this section creates, expands or abridges any authority of a municipal utility to transfer a claim, based upon any contract, ordinance or lien.
(11) Nothing in this section shall abridge any procedural due process protections such as notice and hearing that a tenant or subsequent tenant is entitled to under a contract, utility policy, rule, statute or the state and federal Constitutions, prior to the denial or shutoff of service. [1987 c.611 §1; 1993 c.786 §1]
Note:
91.255 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 91 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.