Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission › Chapter 10 - Consumer Protection › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Rules and Regulations Governing the Termination of Residential Electric, Gas and Water Service (810-RICR-10-00-1) › Section 810-RICR-10-00-1.5 - Notice

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Service shall not be terminated for
				 nonpayment unless the customer has been sent written notice of the public
				 utility's intention to disconnect, mailed so as to be received, under reasonable
				 circumstances, at least ten (10) days in advance of the date of the proposed
				 disconnection. Notice shall be mailed by the public utility to the address where
				 bills or charges are usually sent. If service is provided at an address other
				 than the billing address or to occupants at the billing address who do not live
				 in the same residential unit as the customer, the public utility shall make
				 reasonable effort to notify such users of the pending termination of service at
				 least ten (10) days prior to termination. In addition to or in lieu of mailing
				 notice to such occupants, the public utility shall attempt to notify such
				 occupants by posting a notice of shutoff on the premises in a conspicuous place
				 or by delivering notices of shutoff. During any notice period, the customer shall
				 either pay the unpaid balance, make a reasonable effort to reach a mutually
				 satisfactory settlement with the public utility, enroll in a residential payment
				 plan or, if agreed to by the Public Utility and customer, institute another
				 payment arrangement. Where disconnection is necessary for reasons of health,
				 safety, or state or national emergencies, the public utility shall attempt to
				 provide as much advance notice of the utility's intention to disconnect service
				 as is reasonably possible under the circumstances.
B. Where service is provided to a residence and
				 the account is in the name of one who does not reside in the residence, the
				 public utility, prior to disconnecting service for nonpayment of a bill, shall
				 afford the person or persons receiving service notice a reasonable opportunity to
				 negotiate directly with the public utility and to purchase service in their own
				 names.
C. The notice sent to the
				 customer shall contain a direct and specific explanation, in easily legible,
				 conspicuous print, of the following:
1. The
				 particular ground upon which the proposed disconnection is based;
2. The public utility's intention to
				 discontinue service unless the customer either pays the bill, reaches a mutually
				 satisfactory settlement with the public utility or seeks review of the bill
				 pursuant to these regulations;
3. The
				 date on, or within a reasonable time after which, service will be disconnected if
				 the customer does not take appropriate action;
4. The name and telephone number of the public
				 utility's office or employee to whom the customer may address any inquiry or
				 complaint;
5. The customer's right to
				 submit the matter to: Reviewing Officer, Division of Public Utilities and
				 Carriers, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI 02888 Telephone - 780-9700, and a
				 statement that service will not be disconnected pending proceedings before a
				 reviewing officer appointed by the Administrator of the Division of Public
				 Utilities and Carriers;
6. A
				 statement that the customer should not submit the matter to the Division of
				 Public Utilities and Carriers until he or she has first discussed the case with a
				 representative of the public utility;
7. A statement that if there is a seriously ill
				 resident in the home, disconnection will be postponed upon presentation of the
				 doctor's certificate and subject to the conditions described in §
											1.4(B)     of this
				 Part, above;
8. A statement that if
				 any resident in the home is handicapped, and/or all residents of the home are
				 elderly, disconnection may be averted in accordance with the safeguards and
				 protections contained in §
											1.4(K)     of this
				 Part upon the conditions described therein;
9. A statement that if any resident in the home
				 is under two (2) years and the customer's service has not been previously shut
				 off for nonpayment before the birth of the child, and there is a financial
				 hardship, disconnection may be averted in accordance with the safeguards and
				 protections described in §
											1.4(L)     of this
				 Part, above.
10. A statement which
				 informs the customer that he or she may be protected from disconnection during
				 the period between 12:01 a.m. on November 1st and 11:59 p.m. on April 15th in
				 accordance with §
											1.4(F)     of this
				 Part and §
											1.4(G)     of this
				 Part; and
11. A statement which
				 informs the customer of his or her right to enroll in a residential payment plan
				 as described in §
											1.9     of this Part.
12. A statement that the State of Rhode Island,
				 through the Low Income Heating and Assistance Program, provides eligible
				 customers with public energy assistance aid. Customers who believe they may
				 qualify for such assistance should contact their local Community Action
				 Program.