Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 860 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION › Division 34 - SMALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITIES AND COOPERATIVES › Section 860-034-0150 - Payment Arrangements for Deposit and Installation Charges for Residential Utility Service

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) Time
			 payments for deposits and nonrecurring charges shall be limited to charges for
			 residential utility service and intraLATA toll. When a small telecommunications
			 utility requires deposits and/or nonrecurring charges to establish or
			 reestablish utility service from an applicant, the applicant shall pay the
			 deposit and/or nonrecurring charges in four installments. The first installment
			 is due immediately; the remaining shall be paid in three installments which
			 shall be due 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively, after the date the payment
			 agreement is executed. Except for last payment, installments shall be the
			 greater of $20 or one-fourth of the deposit and/or nonrecurring charges. In
			 communicating with an applicant to establish utility service or to require a
			 deposit and/or nonrecurring charges, the small telecommunications utility shall
			 inform the applicant of the availability of Link-Up America and Oregon
			 Telephone Assistance Program benefits and inform the customer or applicant that
			 details are available from the Commission.
(2) When a customer makes an installment
			 payment or a deposit with a payment for utility service, the small
			 telecommunications utility shall first apply the amount paid toward the amount
			 due for deposit and/or nonrecurring charges.
(3) A customer who is required to pay an
			 additional deposit shall pay one-fourth of the total deposit or $20, whichever
			 is greater, within five days to the small telecommunications utility. The
			 remainder of the deposit is due under the terms of section (1) of this rule. If
			 the customer has an existing deposit installment agreement, the remaining
			 installment payments will be adjusted to include the additional deposit;
			 however, two installment payments cannot be required within the same 30-day
			 period.
(4) When a customer enters
			 into an installment agreement for payment of a deposit and/or nonrecurring
			 charges under section (1) of this rule, the small telecommunications utility
			 shall provide written notice explaining its deposit and nonrecurring charges
			 requirements. The notice shall specify the date each installment payment shall
			 be due and shall include a statement printed in bold-face type informing the
			 customer that utility service will be disconnected if the small
			 telecommunications utility does not receive the payment when due.
(5) If a customer fails to abide by the terms
			 of an installment agreement, the small telecommunications utility may
			 disconnect local exchange service after providing a written five-day notice.
			 The notice shall contain the information set forth in OAR 860-034-0260(3)(a)
			 through (e)  and shall be served as required by OAR 860-034-0260(4) and (5). In
			 lieu of permanent disconnection, the small telecommunications utility may
			 curtail service pursuant to OAR 860-034-0260(7).
(6) When good cause exists, the small
			 telecommunications utility may provide or the Commission may require, more
			 liberal arrangements for payment of deposits and/or nonrecurring charges than
			 those set forth in this rule. The small telecommunications utility shall keep a
			 written record of the reasons for such action.
(7) If disconnection for nonpayment of a
			 deposit and/or nonrecurring charges occurs, the customer disconnected shall pay
			 the full amount of the deposit and/or nonrecurring charges, any applicable
			 reconnection fee, late-payment fee, and past due amount before service is
			 restored. A customer may continue with an existing medical certificate
			 time-payment agreement by paying all past-due installments.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 183, 756, 759 & Ch. 290, OL 1987
Stats. Implemented: ORS
				  759.045 & Ch. 290, OL
				  1987