Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-100 - Electric companies › Part II - CONSUMER RULES › Section 480-100-148 - Service responsibility

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Customer responsibility.
The customer must notify the electric
				utility, in writing, prior to all changes to the customer's equipment or usage
				that will materially affect the service to be rendered. The customer must give
				such notice within a reasonable time so the utility can provide the necessary
				facilities and acquire additional power supply, if needed. The charge for such
				necessary facilities, if any, must be in accordance with the utility's filed
				tariff.
(2)
Electric utility
				responsibility.
Each electric utility:
(a) Must install and maintain monitoring
				equipment at appropriate locations within its system in order to determine the
				operating characteristics of the system. The commission may require the utility
				to provide additional equipment in connection with performing special
				investigations, if economically feasible;
(b) Must promptly notify all affected
				customers of any substantial change to the service that would affect the
				efficiency of operation or the adjustment of the customer's equipment. If an
				adjustment to the customer's equipment is necessary, the cost may be recovered
				in accordance with the utility's tariff, except that, when the customer has
				been notified of a change in service prior to receiving service or when such
				change is required by law, the customer must bear all costs in connection with
				making changes to the customer's own equipment.
(c) Must maintain its plant in such a
				condition that will enable it to furnish safe, adequate, and efficient
				service.
(d) Must make those
				efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to avoid interruptions of
				service and, when such interruptions occur, to reestablish service with a
				minimum of delay. Interruptions as used in this subsection do not refer to the
				discontinuance of service to those customers receiving service under an
				interruptible service schedule.
When it is necessary for an electric utility to make repairs
				  to or to change its facilities, the utility may, without incurring any
				  liability, suspend service for such periods as may be reasonably necessary and
				  in such a manner as to minimize the inconvenience to customers. When
				  practicable, such interruption will be during the working hours regularly
				  maintained by the utility. The utility must individually notify police and fire
				  departments affected by such a suspension. All customers affected by a
				  scheduled interruption associated with facilities other than meters, will be
				  given notification through newspapers, radio announcements, or other means at
				  least one day in advance.
(e) Must keep a record of all interruptions
				of service affecting a substantial number of customers, including in such
				record the location, the date and time, the duration, and, as accurately as
				possible, the cause of each interruption. Utilities must submit copies of such
				records to the commission upon request.