New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 16 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE › Chapter V - WATERWORKS CORPORATIONS › Subchapter A - SERVICE › Part 503 - Service Standards › Section 503.3 - Interruptions of service

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a)
				  Interruptions of service. Each water corporation shall make reasonable efforts
				  to prevent interruptions of service. When interruption occurs, the water
				  corporation shall reestablish service within the shortest possible time period
				  consistent with the general safety and public welfare. Whenever service is to
				  be interrupted for the purpose of scheduled maintenance, this work shall be
				  done at a time which will cause the least inconvenience to customers provided
				  that the schedule is compatible with local ordinances and does not result in
				  substantial additional costs.
(b)
				  Monitoring requirements. A record shall be kept by each water corporation of
				  all interruptions to service having a duration of one hour or more, from any
				  cause whatsoever, except those resulting from violation of the company's filed
				  tariff regulations or customer-requested disconnections. Such records shall
				  describe the nature, location, time, cause, extent and duration of the
				  interruption. A record of that information shall be open for public as well as
				  department inspection during the water corporation's normal business hours.
				  Each water corporation shall immediately notify the fire department of each
				  municipality affected, and upon written request of the municipality concerned
				  the police department as well, of existing and/or proposed interruptions to
				  service which may affect the continuity of service to fire flows for a period
				  of one hour or longer. Where planned interruptions in water service, which are
				  likely to exceed one hour in duration are anticipated, all customers who will
				  be affected thereby shall be notified at least four hours in advance to permit
				  them to prepare for the interruption in water service. As used in this section,
				  a planned interruption is any interruption of which the company has prior
				  knowledge and which has an anticipated time and duration. This would normally
				  include all interruptions which are not of an emergency nature. Immediate
				  notice by telephone or telefacsimile shall be given to the department by each
				  water corporation of all interruptions to, or major impairments of, service of
				  a duration of four hours or more which affect the continuity of service to five
				  or more customers or one percent of the total number of customers served,
				  whichever is larger, or which affect available fire flows. Notice shall also be
				  given of any accident or damage to portions of the plant which might lead to
				  such interruptions of service. If such interruption occurs after 4:45 p.m. and
				  before 8:30 a.m., and notice is to be transmitted by telephone, such notice
				  shall be given promptly on the next business day following the interruption. A
				  written report of all such interruptions shall be filed with the department
				  within five business days following that in which the interruption occurred.
[FN*] Applies to all water corporations regardless of
					 size.