Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 39 - UTILITIES › Part 2

Current through June 25, 2024
Mississippi Ratepayers' Bill of Rights
The following Rights are available to all residential
			 utility customers in the State of Mississippi under the provisions of the
			 Mississippi Public Service Commission's Rules and Regulations Governing Public
			 Utility Service or the Commission's Rules of Practice and
			 Procedure.
RIGHT 1
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 service for nonpayment on any Saturday or Sunday or any holiday observed by the
			 utility, unless the utility is open to accept payment and restore service on
			 those days.(See Service Rule 8.100(2) )
RIGHT 2
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 service for a period of sixty (60) days for nonpayment when the utility
			 receives written notice from a medical doctor licensed to practice in the State
			 of Mississippi, or any adjoining state, certifying that discontinuance of
			 service would create a life threatening situation for the customer or other
			 permanent resident of the customer's household. (See Service Rule 8.125(1)
			 )
RIGHT 3
Ratepayers shall have the right to be given a written notice from
			 the utility company of pending discontinuation of service at least five (5)
			 days prior to disconnection of service. This notice shall include a date on or
			 after which discontinuance may occur. (See Service Rule 8.100(1) )
RIGHT 4
Ratepayers shall have the right to negotiate with any electric or
			 natural gas company a delayed payment plan to avoid discontinuation of service
			 for a delinquent account in accordance with the utility's terms and conditions.
			 (See Service Rule 8.105(1) )
RIGHT 5
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 service for failure to pay for merchandise purchased from the utility. (See
			 Service Rule 7.125(2) and 8.125(2) )
RIGHT 6
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 service or refusal of service because a former occupant, not of the same
			 household, failed to pay prior bill. (See Service Rule 7.125(1) )
RIGHT 7
Ratepayers shall have the right to designate another person to
			 receive all information regarding their services including notices regarding
			 past due bills and disconnection of service. (See Service Rule 6)
RIGHT 8
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid disconnection of their
			 electric or gas service between December 1 and April 1 if they are
			 participating in the "mid-winter rule" as described in the Rules and
			 Regulations Governing Public Utility Service. (See Service Rule 8.120 )
RIGHT 9
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 service of electric or natural gas service for nonpayment, if the ratepayer has
			 been approved for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits
			 in an amount equal to the delinquent balance, payable within thirty (30) days,
			 and the notice of the approval has been given to the utility provider. (See
			 Service Rule 8.105(2) )
RIGHT 10
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 service for failure to pay a portion of any bill that is in dispute, provided
			 that a deposit is made by the ratepayer for amounts in dispute. (See Service
			 Rule 10.105 )
RIGHT 11
Ratepayers shall have the right to negotiate monthly installments
			 for initial service deposits in excess of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)
			 provided that the entire amount of the deposit is paid within 60 days. (See
			 Service Rule 9.100(3) )
RIGHT 12
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 electric or natural gas service for nonpayment of bills if, as of 8:00 a.m. on
			 the scheduled disconnection day, a freeze warning has been issued by the
			 National Weather Service for the county of the scheduled disconnection. (See
			 Service Rule 8.125(3) )
RIGHT 13
Ratepayers shall have the right to avoid discontinuation of
			 electric service for nonpayment of bills if, as of 8:00 a.m. on the scheduled
			 disconnection day, an Excessive Heat Warning has been issued by the National
			 Weather Service for the county of the scheduled disconnection. (See Service
			 Rule 8.125(3) )
RIGHT 14
Ratepayers who have had their service discontinued for
			 non-payment, shall have the right to have their service restored in a prompt
			 and efficient manner on the first business day after the balance due is paid,
			 except under extreme circumstances where ongoing restoration efforts prevent
			 reconnection from occurring within that time period. (See Service Rule 8.100(3)
			 )
RIGHT 15
Ratepayers shall have the right to request a written explanation
			 if the utility company refuses to initially serve a consumer. When the
			 ratepayer has provided the utility company with a valid mailing address, the
			 explanation shall be mailed to the ratepayer within seven (7) business days and
			 shall include the reason service is being refused and what actions the consumer
			 must take in order to receive service. (See Service Rule 7)
RIGHT 16
Ratepayers shall be given accurate and understandable information
			 concerning the price and terms of service. (See Service Rule 10.100 )
RIGHT 17
Ratepayers shall have access through the Mississippi Public
			 Service Commission to an independent administrative process that provides a
			 simple, quick, and effective means of resolving complaints about service and
			 bills from all electric, gas, water, and telecommunications service providers
			 over which the Commission has appropriate jurisdiction. Ratepayers are
			 encouraged to attempt to resolve the dispute directly with the utility company.
			 (See Procedural Rule 11)
RIGHT 18
Ratepayers shall have the right to intervene in any case before
			 the Mississippi Public Service Commission affecting their rates or their
			 utility service. (See Procedural Rule 6.121 )
RIGHT 19
Ratepayers shall have the right to register their residential
			 telephone number on the Mississippi No Call Registry at no charge. (See
			 Procedural Rule 28)
RIGHT 20
Ratepayers shall have the right to file a complaint against
			 telemarketers who violate the Mississippi No Call Law. (See Procedural Rule
			 28)
RIGHT 21
Ratepayers shall have the right to view or listen to Mississippi
			 Public Service Commission hearings and docket calls that are held in the
			 Commission's Courtroom via the Internet. (See Procedural Rule
			 15)