Pennsylvania Code › Title 52 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part I - Public Utility Commission › Subpart C - Fixed Service Utilities › Chapter 56 - STANDARDS AND BILLING PRACTICES FOR RESIDENTIAL PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICE › Subchapter N - CREDIT AND DEPOSITS STANDARDS POLICY › PROCEDURES FOR APPLICANTS › Section 56.286 - Written procedures

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
A public utility shall establish written procedures for
						  determining the credit status of an applicant. A public utility employee
						  processing applications or determining the credit status of applicants shall be
						  supplied with or have ready access to a copy of the written procedures of the
						  public utility. The written procedures must specify that there are separate
						  procedures and standards for victims with a protection from abuse order or a
						  court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this Commonwealth
						  which provides clear evidence of domestic violence. The procedures must also
						  specify that any applicant that is, based upon household income, confirmed to
						  be eligible for a customer assistance program is not required to pay a deposit.
						  A copy of these procedures shall be maintained on file in each of the business
						  offices of the public utility and made available, upon request, for inspection
						  by members of the public and the Commission and be included on the public
						  utility's web site.
(1)
Reasons for denial of credit
. If credit is denied, the public
						utility shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial
						within 3 business days of the denial. This information may be provided
						electronically to the applicant with the applicant's consent. If the public
						utility is requiring payment of an unpaid balance in accordance with §
												56.285 (relating to payment of
						outstanding balance), the public utility shall specify in writing the amount of
						the unpaid balance, the dates during which the balance accrued, and the
						location and customer name at which the balance accrued. The statement must
						inform the applicant of the right to furnish a third-party guarantor in
						accordance with §
												56.283 (relating to cash deposits;
						third-party guarantors) and the right to contact the Commission. The statement
						must include information informing victims of domestic violence with a
						protection from abuse order or a court order issued by a court of competent
						jurisdiction in this Commonwealth which provides clear evidence of domestic
						violence that more lenient credit and liability standards may be available. The
						statement must also inform the applicant that if he or she is, based upon
						household income, confirmed to be eligible for a customer assistance program, a
						deposit is not required. The public utility shall inform the applicant or
						customer of the procedures and documentation necessary to qualify for an
						exemption from a security deposit requirement.
(2)
Informing applicants of
						procedures
. Public utility personnel shall fully explain the credit
						and deposit procedures of the public utility to each customer or applicant for
						service.
(3)
Third-party
						requests for service
. Requests from third parties to establish public
						utility service on behalf of an applicant will not be honored until the public
						utility has verified the legitimacy of the request. Verification may be
						accomplished by any means appropriate to confirm that the applicant consents to
						service being established or that the third-party is authorized to act on the
						applicant's behalf.
The provisions of this §
														56.286 amended under the Public
							 Utility Code,
							 66 Pa.C.S. §
															§
															501,
							 1301,
							 1401-1419,
							 1501 and
							 1509.