North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 04 - COMMERCE › Chapter 11 - UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 7 › Section 11 R07-20 - UTILITY'S DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a) Violation
				of Rules. - Neglect or refusal on the part of a customer to comply with these
				rules or the utility's rules properly filed with the Commission shall be deemed
				to be sufficient cause for discontinuance of service on the part of the
				utility.
(b) Access to Property. -
				The utility shall at all reasonable times have access to meters, service
				connections, and other property owned by it on customer's premises for purposes
				of maintenance and operation. Neglect or refusal on the part of the customer to
				provide reasonable access to their premises for the above purposes shall be
				deemed to be sufficient cause for discontinuance of service on the part of the
				utility.
(c) Notice of
				Discontinuance. - No utility shall discontinue service to any customer for
				violation of its rules or regulations without first having diligently tried to
				induce the customer to comply with its rules and regulations. After such effort
				on the part of the utility, service may be discontinued only after written
				notice of such intention, and that five (5) days, excluding Sundays and
				holidays, shall have been given the customer by the utility; provided, however,
				that where an emergency exists, or where fraudulent use of water is detected,
				or where a dangerous condition is found to exist on the customer's premises,
				the water may be shut off without such notice.
(d) Disputed Bills. - In the event of a
				dispute between the customer and the utility respecting any bill, the utility
				shall make forthwith such investigation as shall be required by the particular
				case, and report the result thereof to the customer. In the event that the
				matter in dispute cannot be compromised or settled by the parties, either party
				may submit the fact to the Commission for its opinion, and pending such
				opinion, service shall not be discontinued.
(e) Nonpayment. - Repealed by NCUC Docket No.
				M-100, Sub 28, 5/6/70, effective July 1, 1970.
(f) Reconnection Charge. - Whenever the
				supply of water is turned off for the violation of rules and regulations,
				nonpayment of bill, or fraudulent use of water, the utility may make a
				reconnection charge, approved by the Commission, payable in advance, for
				restoring the service. The fee shall be no more than fifteen dollars ($15.00);
				except, if the utility proves that its actual and reasonable cost for restoring
				the service is greater than fifteen dollars ($15.00), the fee may be set at no
				more than the proven cost.
(g) When
				Water Turned Off at Customer's Request. - When for any valid reason the supply
				of water has been turned off at the customer's request, the utility shall
				charge for restoring service the fee approved by the Commission. The fee shall
				be no more than fifteen dollars ($15.00); except, if the utility proves that
				its actual and reasonable cost for restoring the service is greater than
				fifteen dollars ($15.00), the fee may be set at no more than the proven
				cost.
(h) Turning Water On or Off,
				Disconnecting Meter, etc., Without Authority. - No plumber, owner, or other
				unauthorized person shall turn the water on or off except in case of emergency
				at any corporation stop or curb stop, or disconnect or remove the meter without
				the consent of the utility.
NCUC Docket No. W-100,
				  Sub 2, 8/21/69; NCUC Docket No. M-100, Sub 28, 5/6/70; NCUC Docket No. W-100,
				  Sub 6, 4/18/88.