Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 660 - CONSUMER PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR WATER UTILITIES › Section 407-660-2 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The following terms have the following meanings, unless the
				  context clearly indicates a different meaning:
A.
Account Balance
. "Account
				balance" means the total amount owed by a customer that has been properly
				billed by a utility in accordance with this Rule.
B.
Amount Overdue
. "Amount
				overdue" means the amount that a utility has properly billed to a customer that
				has not been paid in full by the due date of the bill.
C.
Applicant
. "Applicant" means
				any person or business that applies for utility service and who has not been a
				customer of the utility within the past 30 calendar days.
D.
Basic Service
. "Basic
				service" means utility service where the Commission regulates the rate or
				charge for the service and the rate or charge for the service is contained in
				the utility's rate schedules. For utilities authorized to disconnect water
				service for the non-payment of sewer charges pursuant to
				35-A
				M.R.S.A. Section 6111-C, sewer charges
				constitute as "basic" service for the purpose of this Rule.
E.
Bill
. "Bill" means a
				statement, either in written or electronic form, from a utility to a customer
				that states the amount owed by the customer for the current billing period, the
				amount overdue, the account balance, late fees and any other charges lawfully
				owed by the customer.
F.
Commission
. "Commission" means the Maine Public Utilities
				Commission.
G.
Complaint
. "Complaint" is a dispute between an applicant or
				customer and a utility which the CAD has decided to resolve pursuant to this
				Rule.
H.
Consumer Assistance
				Division
. "Consumer Assistance Division" or "CAD" is a division of the
				Commission assigned with the responsibility of dealing with consumer issues
				under this Rule.
I.
Corporation
. "Corporation" is a body created and authorized by law
				to act and be treated as a single legal entity with an identity distinct from
				that of its individual members. This definition includes private companies, and
				municipal and quasi-municipal corporations.
J.
Customer
. "Customer" means
				any person or business that has applied for or been accepted to receive, or is
				either receiving utility service or has agreed to be billed for utility
				service. This term also includes a person or business that was a customer of
				the same utility within the past 30 days and who requests service at the same
				or a different location.
K.
Deposit
. "Deposit" means any payment, however designated, that is
				held as security for future payment or performance.
L.
Dispute
. "Dispute" means a
				grievance of a customer or applicant about a utility's application of any
				provision of this Rule. Disputes include, but are not limited to:
1. deposit requirements;
2. the accuracy of meter readings or bill
				amounts;
3. the proper person to be
				charged;
4. the terms of a payment
				arrangement;
5. the terms to avoid
				a pending disconnection;
6. the
				terms to obtain a reconnection; and 7. the transfer of an account balance
				incurred in one customer's name into another customer's account.
If a customer or applicant has a grievance and then indicates
				  that the response from the utility's employee was satisfactory, the contact
				  between the customer or applicant and the utility will not be considered a
				  dispute.