North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 04 - COMMERCE › Chapter 11 - UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 12 › Section 11 R12-09 - UNIFORM BILLING PROCEDURE

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a)
				Declaration of Policy. - No 'penalties,' 'discounts' or 'net-and-gross' rate
				differentials shall be imposed upon North Carolina consumers for regulated
				services offered by public utilities subject to the jurisdiction of this
				Commission, for the reason that those rate differentials are confusing and
				misleading, and the monthly rates of 5% or 10% heretofore charged are arbitrary
				and unreasonable. This Commission recognizes, however, that there are interest,
				finance, or service costs directly attributable to customers who excessively
				delay payment of utility bills, and considers that it is appropriate for a
				utility to attempt to recoup a portion of those costs by applying such
				interest, finance or service charges as may be reasonable and lawful.
(b) Billing Date. -- All bills for utility
				services are due and payable as of the billing date, or if not received by said
				billing date, upon receipt. The billing date shall be printed on the bill and
				the bill shall be placed, postage prepaid, in the U.S. Mail (or if the mail is
				not used, delivered to the customer) prior to or no later than the billing
				date.
(c) Past Due or Delinquent
				Bills. -- The past due or delinquent date is the first date upon which the
				utility may initiate disconnect proceeding under N.C.U.C. Rule R12-8. The past
				due or delinquent date shall be disclosed on the bill and shall be not less
				than fifteen (15) days after the billing date. In the event the utility fails
				to place the bill in the mail (or deliver it as in paragraph (b) above) prior
				to or on said billing date, the consumer shall have the right to require that
				the utility adjust the billing date by the number of days by which the postmark
				(or delivery as in paragraph (b) above) exceeds the original billing
				date.
(d) Finance charges. -- No
				interest, finance, or service charge for the extension of credit shall be
				imposed upon the consumer or creditor if the account is paid within twenty-five
				(25) days from the billing date. No utility shall apply a late payment,
				interest, or finance charge to the balance in arrears at the rate of more than
				1% per month. The bill shall clearly state the interest rate or the amount that
				would be due if not paid within the allowed amount of time, including the
				interest, finance or service charge. All utilities which are required to file
				tariffs and which apply an interest, finance, or service charge must file
				tariff provisions to that effect. All utilities must apply the appropriate
				interest, finance, or service charge on a uniform basis.
(e) Acceleration of Past Due or Delinquent
				Date in Rare Cases and with Good Cause -- If a utility with good cause
				determines that the credit rating of a customer has been jeopardized by
				unusually extensive use of a metered or toll service, such as long distance
				telephone service, or by other factors which indicate the likelihood that the
				customer cannot pay his outstanding bill, and for which the customer's deposit,
				if there be one, does not furnish adequate security, the utility may accelerate
				the past due or delinquent date and proceed with disconnect or toll denial
				procedures under N.C.U.C. Rule R12-8 and R12-17; provided, however, that it
				must state to the customer in writing its cause for so doing and file a copy of
				said statement with the Commission.
NCUC Docket No. M-100,
				  Sub 39, 11/24/72; NCUC Docket No. M-100, Sub 39, 10/19/73; NCUC Docket No.
				  P-100, Sub 72, 5/23/96; P-100, Sub 140, 4/3/00; 4/5/00; NCUC Docket No. P-100,
				  Sub 72b, 01/02/04; P-100, Sub 140a, 08/16/07.