Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 20 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INSURANCE › Division 4240 - Public Service Commission › Chapter 13 - Service and Billing Practices for Residential Customers of Electric, Gas, Sewer, and Water Utilities › Section 20 CSR 4240-13.055 - Cold Weather Maintenance of Service: Provision of Residential Heat-Related Utility Service During Cold Weather

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule protects the health and safety of
				  residential customers receiving heat-related utility service by placing
				  restrictions on discontinuing and refusing to provide heat-related utility
				  service from November 1 through March 31 due to delinquent accounts of those
				  customers. Reporting requirements regarding heat-related utility service are
				  found at 4
				  CSR 240-3.175 for electric utilities and at
				  4 CSR
				  240-3.250 for gas utilities.
(1) The following definitions shall apply in
				this rule:
(A) Energy Crisis Intervention
				Program (ECIP) means the federal ECIP administered by the Missouri Division of
				Family Services under section
				660.100,
				RSMo;
(B) Heat-related utility
				service means any gas or electric service that is necessary to the proper
				function and operation of a customer's heating equipment;
(C) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
				(LIHEAP) means the federal LIHEAP administered by the Missouri Family Support
				Division under section
				660.110,
				RSMo;
(D) Registered elderly or
				disabled customer means a customer's household where at least one (1) member of
				the household has filed with the utility a form approved by the utility
				attesting to the fact that s/he:
1. Is
				sixty-five (65) years old or older;
2. Is disabled to the extent that s/he has
				filed with their utility a medical form submitted by a medical physician
				attesting that such customer's household must have natural gas or electric
				utility service provided in the home to maintain life or health; or
3. Has a formal award letter issued from the
				federal government of disability benefits. In order to retain his/her status as
				a registered elderly or disabled customer, each such customer must renew
				his/her registration with the utility annually. Such registration should take
				place by October 1 of each year following his/her initial registration;
				and
(E) Low income
				registered elderly or disabled customer means a customer registered under the
				provisions of subsection (1)(C) of this rule whose household income is less
				than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the federal poverty guidelines, and
				who has a signed affidavit attesting to that fact on file with the utility. The
				utility may periodically audit the incomes of low income registered elderly or
				disabled customers. If, as a result of an audit, a registered low income
				elderly or disabled customer is found to have materially misrepresented his/her
				income at the time the affidavit was signed, that customer's service may be
				discontinued per the provisions of this rule that apply to customers who are
				not registered low income elderly or disabled customers and payment of all
				amounts due, as well as, a deposit may be required before service is
				reconnected.