Michigan Administrative Code
Department - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Public Service Commission
Consumer Standards And Billing Practices For Electric And Gas Residential Service
Section R. 460.102a - Definitions; G to P
Current through Vol. 24-04, March 15, 2024
Rule 2a. As used in these rules:
(a) "Gas cost recovery" means the adjustment in rates to recognize the cost of purchased natural gas.
(b) "Hearing officer" means a notary public who is qualified to administer oaths to conduct customer hearings against the utility company and who is on a list filed with the commission.
(c) "Heating season" means the period between November 1 and March 31.
(d) "In dispute" means that a matter is the subject of an unresolved disagreement, claim, or complaint against a utility by a customer, or the customer's authorized agent.
(e) "Informal complaint" means a matter that requires follow-up action or investigation by the utility or the commission to resolve the matter without a customer hearing or formal hearing.
(f) "Inquiry" means a question regarding a utility matter that is asked by the customer and answered by the utility or the commission.
(g) "Large nonresidential customer" means a nonresidential customer with usage of 300 Mcf or more of natural gas per year or 30,000 kWh or more of electric usage per year, including schools and centrally metered apartment buildings.
(h) "Late payment charge" means a finance, service, carrying, or penalty charge that is assessed by a utility because a bill or portion of a bill is delinquent.
(i) "Medical emergency" means an existing medical condition of the customer or a member of the customer's household, as defined and certified by a physician or public health official on a commission-approved medical certification form, that will be aggravated by the lack of utility service.
(j) "Meter" means a utility-owned device that measures the quantity of natural gas used by a customer, including a device that measures the heat content of natural gas or a utility-owned device that measures and registers the amount of electrical power used.
(k) "Meter creep" means a continuous apparent accumulation of energy in a meter with voltage applied and the load terminals open circuited.
(l) "Meter error" means a failure to accurately measure and record all of the natural gas or electrical quantities used that are required by the applicable rate or rates.
(m) "New customer" means a customer that has not received the utility's service within the previous 6 years.
(n) "Occupant" means an individual or entity, other than the customer of record, occupying a premises.
(o) "Peak season" means the period during which a utility experiences its maximum demand for electric or natural gas service.
(p) "Positive identification information" means a consistently used appropriate identification including, but not limited to, either of the following:
(q) "Power supply cost recovery" means the adjustment in rates to recognize the cost of purchased power and fuel for electric generation.
(r) "Prepaid service" means a commission-authorized plan that entitles a utility to receive payments for service to a customer's premises in advance of the customer's actual usage of the service.
(s) "Previous customer" means a customer that has received the utility's service within the previous 6 years but is not currently receiving service.
(t) "Primary purpose" means the collection, use, or disclosure of information that a utility collects or a customer supplies when an authorized business need exists or as an emergency response requires in order to do any of the following:
