Wisconsin Administrative Code › Public Service Commission › Chapter PSC 185 - Standards For Water Public Utility Service › Subchapter III - Service and Billing › Section PSC 185.30 - Application for residential and multifamily service

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) For purposes of
				this section, "written" or "in writing" means legibly printed on paper or, with
				the intended recipient's permission, legibly printed in an electronic form that
				the recipient can electronically store and retrieve for future
				reference.
(2)
(a) If a utility requires an application, a
				residential or multifamily user of water service shall apply for
				service.
(b) A utility may require
				a verbal or written application for residential service. The utility shall
				establish a written policy for when a written application is required. A
				utility may accept an application for service from a person other than the user
				or potential user of service.
(c)
1. Except as provided in par. (d) and sub.
				(3), a utility may only require that an applicant provide the following
				information in an application:
a. Legal name
				and birthdate of the user of service and the person responsible for bill
				payment, if different than the user.
b. If the user of service has telephone
				service, the telephone number of the user of service. If the person responsible
				for bill payment is different than the user and the person responsible for bill
				payment has telephone service, the utility may also require the telephone
				number of the person responsible for bill payment. Lack of telephone service is
				not grounds for service refusal.
c.
				Address where service is to be provided.
d. Mailing address if different from service
				address.
e. Date requested for
				service to begin.
f. The most
				recent previous address of the person responsible for bill payment.
g. Initial identification data under subd.
				2.
2. A utility shall
				accept any of the following items as adequate initial identification data,
				although it may accept other forms of identification:
a. Driver's license number.
b. State identification card
				number.
c. Passport
				number.
d. Social security number
				or the last 4 digits of the social security number.
3. If a utility requests the initial
				identification data under subd. 2., it shall inform the applicant of all
				acceptable forms of initial identification data and allow the applicant to
				choose which the applicant wishes to provide.
(d) If a utility determines that an
				applicant's response under par. (c) 1. a. to f. indicates that additional
				information is necessary to further evaluate the applicant's credit history or
				identity, the utility may require the applicant's addresses for the past 6
				years as part of its application for service. Each utility shall establish a
				written policy for requesting the application information under this paragraph.
Note:
Also see s.
				  PSC
				  185.36, which allows a request for a deposit if an
				  applicant has an outstanding account balance that accrued within the last 6
				  years.
(e) A utility may
				request information other than that listed in pars. (c) and (d), but before
				requesting it the utility shall inform the applicant that providing that
				information is optional.
(f) A
				utility may refuse or disconnect service for failure to provide any information
				specified in par. (c) 1. a., c., e., and f. or par. (d).
Note:
See sub. (3) (a) about what can be
				  required if an applicant refuses to provide the initial identification data
				  under s. PSC 185.30(2) (c) 1. g.