Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-110 - Water companies › Part II - COMMON RULES › Section 480-110-355 - Discontinuing of service

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Service may be disconnected either by customer direction or by company
				action:
(a)
Customer-directed.
Customers wanting to discontinue service must
				notify the water company. The company must disconnect the service as requested
				by the customer. If the customer fails to request disconnection of service the
				customer will be responsible to continue paying for water service at the
				company's tariff rate until the company becomes aware that the customer vacated
				the property.
(b)
Company-directed: Notice requirements -
After properly notifying
				the customer, as explained in subsection (3) of this section, the water company
				may discontinue service to its customers for:
(i) Unpaid bills, as provided for in WAC
				480-110-375 (Form of
				bills);
(ii) Water use for purposes
				or properties other than those specified in the customer's application for
				service;
(iii) Willful waste of
				water through improper or defective piping, equipment, or otherwise;
(iv) Piping or equipment that does not meet
				the company's standards or fails to comply with other applicable codes and
				regulations;
(v) Tampering with the
				company's property;
(vi) Vacating
				the premises;
(vii) Nonpayment of
				any proper charges, including deposit, as provided in the company's
				tariff;
(viii) Refusing to allow
				access as required in WAC
				480-110-305 (Access to
				premises);
(ix) Violating rules,
				service agreements, or effective tariffs, including violation of outdoor
				watering instructions given to customers in order to curtail water use during
				time of shortage;
(x) Use of
				equipment that detrimentally affects the company's service to its other
				customers.
(c)
Service obtained by fraud: No notice required before termination -
A water company may terminate service without notice when it discovers
				that a customer has obtained service fraudulently. Examples of fraud include:
				When service is connected without the company's knowledge, when service is
				obtained by fraudulent means or representations, or when service is used to
				provide service to other persons who are required to obtain their own service.
(i)
First offense:
The company
				may disconnect service immediately and without prior notice when it discovers
				fraud, unless the customer immediately pays:
(A) The tariff rate for service that the
				company estimates was taken fraudulently; plus
(B) All company costs resulting from the
				fraudulent use and all applicable fees; plus
(C) Any applicable required
				deposit.
(ii)
Second offense:
The company may disconnect service immediately and
				without prior notice when it discovers further fraud. The company may refuse to
				reconnect service to a customer who has been disconnected for further
				fraud.
(iii)
Commission
				review:
A customer may ask the commission to review any company
				determination of fraud through an informal or formal complaint. The company has
				the burden of proving that fraud occurred. However, this rule does not relieve
				any person who has committed fraud from civil or criminal
				responsibility.