Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a Intent: The
purpose of this Section is to temporarily prohibit disconnection of utility service
to a residential customer for at least 60 days in cases of certified medical
necessity; and to provide an opportunity for the customer to retire past due amounts
by periodic installments under an automatic medical payment arrangement commencing
after 30 days.
b Certifying Parties:
Certification may be made by either a licensed physician or a local board of
health.
c Method of Certification:
1 Initial certification by phone call is
allowed.
2 Written (may be mailed, faxed
or delivered electronically) certification must be provided within 7 days after an
initial certification by phone call.
d Certificate Content:
1 Name and contact information for the certifying
party;
2 Service address and name of
patient;
3 A statement that the patient
resides at the premises in question; and
4 A statement that the disconnection of utility
service will aggravate an existing medical emergency or create a medical emergency
for the patient.
e
Certificate Timing:
1 Certificate presentation
prior to disconnection entitles a customer to receive a medical payment arrangement
term, as described under subsection (i)(1).
2 The certificate may be presented up to 14 days
after disconnection, with utility discretion as to whether it shall accept a
certificate more than 14 days after disconnection have passed. Certification
presented after disconnection entitles a customer to receive a medical payment
arrangement term, as described under subsection (i)(2).
f Restoration:
1
When a valid medical certification is provided to the utility up to 14 days after
disconnection, service shall be restored within one day after the provision of
certification.
2 The utility shall not
treat the disconnected customer as an applicant for service for purposes of
restoration under a medical certificate.
g Duration of Certificate: The certificate shall
protect the account from disconnection for 60 days after the date of certification.
If the customer was disconnected prior to certification, the 60 day period shall not
begin until the utility restores the customer's service.
h Data Collection and Maintenance: The utility
shall collect the following data on a monthly basis and maintain the data for two
years following its collection. The utility shall make the data available to
Commission Staff within 30 days after a request from Staff:
1 The total number medical certificates requested
and, in instances in which a utility declines to issue a medical certificate, the
reason for denial;
2 The total number of
medical certificates issued by the utility;
3 The duration, including start and end dates, of
the medical certification period (whether the end date is based on payment by the
customer or expiration of the 60-day period).
i Medical Payment Arrangement:
1 If valid medical certification is received prior
to disconnection, the first bill statement that will be due after 30 days after the
certification date shall indicate:
A An amount to
pay that is equal to
1/12th
of the total amount owing for utility services by the customer;
B The remaining balance owing for utility
services;
C That the customer is on a
medical payment arrangement; and
D 11
remaining installments of equal amounts to be paid on future bills.
2 If valid medical certification is
received after disconnection, the first bill statement that will be due after 30
days after the certification date shall indicate:
A An amount to pay that is equal to
1/4th of the total amount owing for utility services by
the customer;
B The remaining balance
owing for utility services;
C That the
customer is on a medical payment arrangement; and
D Nine remaining installments of equal amounts to
be paid on future bills.
3
Valid medical certification shall entitle a customer to an MPA, regardless of the
success or failure of previous payment plans of any sort.
j New Certification of Previously Certified
Accounts: Accounts that received a prior valid medical certificate shall be eligible
for new certification any time after either:
1 The
total account balance has been brought current; or
2 12 months from the beginning date of the prior
certification has passed.
