Michigan Administrative Code
Department - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Public Service Commission
Consumer Standards And Billing Practices For Electric And Gas Residential Service
Part 10 - DISPUTES, HEARINGS AND SETTLEMENTS
Section R. 460.158 - Settlement agreement procedures for residential and small nonresidential customers
Current through Vol. 24-04, March 15, 2024
Rule 58.
(1) If the utility and the residential or small nonresidential customer arrive at a mutually satisfactory settlement of a matter in dispute, then the utility may offer the residential or small nonresidential customer the opportunity to enter into a settlement agreement, and the customer shall provide written documentation of approval.
(2) The utility shall confirm the terms of the settlement agreement with the residential or small nonresidential customer and shall provide documentation of the settlement to the customer or the customer's authorized representative. The utility shall retain documentation of the original settlement agreement for the term of the settlement agreement or 2 years, whichever is longer. In case of a dispute over the terms of a settlement agreement, the utility shall have the burden of proving that the residential or small nonresidential customer understood and accepted the terms of the settlement agreement.
(3) Services shall not be shut off if the residential or small nonresidential customer follows the terms of the settlement agreement.
(4) A settlement agreement that is offered by a utility shall state, immediately preceding the space provided for the residential or small nonresidential customer's signature and in bold print that is not less than 2 sizes larger than any other print that is used on the form: "IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT SIGN. YOU MAY FILE A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND HAVE A HEARING BEFORE A HEARING OFFICER BEFORE YOUR SERVICE MAY BE SHUT OFF. IF YOU SIGN THIS AGREEMENT, YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO A CUSTOMER HEARING BEFORE A HEARING OFFICER ON ANY MATTER INVOLVED IN THIS DISPUTE, EXCEPT THE UTILITY'S FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO FOLLOW THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT."
