Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Upon payment or proof of payment of the
delinquent amount as stated on the disconnection notice, or of an amount
sufficient to cure the default on an extended payment plan or the percentage of
income payment plan plus (PIPP plus)
and applicable reconnection charge, the utility
company shall reconnect service that has been disconnected for nonpayment
pursuant to the following provisions:
(1) For
customers disconnected from service for ten business days or less, the utility
company may assess a reconnection charge and shall reconnect service by the
close of the following regular utility company working day. Pursuant to rule
4901:1-18-05
of the Administrative Code, the amount sufficient to cure the default for
customers on extended payment plans shall include all amounts that would have
been due and owing under the terms of the applicable extended payment plan,
absent default, on the date that service is reconnected. Under paragraph
(D)(2)(b) of rule
4901:1-18-12
of the Administrative Code, the amount sufficient to cure the default for PIPP
customers includes all amounts that would have been due for any missed PIPP
plus payments, but not more than the arrearage balance.
(2) For customers disconnected from service
for more than ten business days, the utility company may treat the customers as
new customers and connect service consistent with the timeframes in rules
4901:1-10-09,
4901:1-13-05
and paragraph (C) of rule
4901:1-17-04
of the Administrative Code. In addition, the utility company may assess the
customer a reconnection charge in accordance with approved tariffs. Pursuant to
paragraph (D)(2)(b) of rule
4901:1-18-12
of the Administrative Code, PIPP plus customers shall be required to pay any
missed PIPP plus payments but not more than the arrearage balance. PIPP plus
customers shall not be required to pay a deposit pursuant to rule
4901:1-18-15
of the Administrative Code.
(B) If service is disconnected for nonpayment
for no more than ten business days, to guarantee the reconnection of service
the same day on which payment is rendered:
(1)
The customer must provide proof of payment, as required in paragraph (A)(1) of
this rule to the utility company no later than twelve-thirty p.m.
(2) If the customer requests that
reconnection occur after normal business hours, and such service is offered by
the utility company, the utility company may require the customer to pay or
agree to pay the utility company's approved tariff charges for after-hours
reconnection. The utility company may collect this fee prior to reconnection or
with the customer's next monthly billing.
(C) The utility company shall not assess a
reconnection charge unless the utility company has actually disconnected the
service. The utility company may, however, assess a collection charge if the
collection charge is part of the utility company's approved tariff. A
collection charge shall not be assessed more than once per billing
cycle.
(D) If the utility company
accepts a guarantor in order to reestablish service, it shall follow all of the
requirements of paragraph (A)(5) of rule
4901:1-17-03
of the Administrative Code.
(E)
This provision addresses cases of tampering and unauthorized reconnection of
services.
(1) When a utility company has
disconnected a meter in connection with alleged tampering, or unauthorized
reconnection of a gas, or electric meter, conduit, or attachment of a utility,
there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person in possession or
control of the meter, conduit, or attachment at the time the tampering or
reconnection occurred is the party obligated to pay for the service rendered
through the meter, conduit, or attachment.
(2) If the responsible party does not contest
the disconnection under the circumstances stated in this paragraph or paragraph
(E)(3) of rule
4901:1-18-03
of the Administrative Code the company need not restore service until the party
has completed each of the following:
(a)
Given satisfactory assurance that the fraudulent or tampering act has been
discontinued.
(b) Paid to the
utility company an amount estimated by the company to be reasonable
compensation for unauthorized usage obtained and not paid for at the time of
disconnection.
(c) Paid for any
damage to property of the utility company including any cost to repair the
damage.
(d) Paid all other fees and
charges authorized by tariff resulting from the fraudulent act or
tampering.
(3) The
provisions of paragraph (E)(2) of this rule do not apply in situations where
the responsible party, as determined by paragraph (E)(1) of this rule, is
either a tenant or consumer who no longer resides at the premises or a property
owner who has taken possession of the property after the tampering or
unauthorized reconnection occurred.
(4) In the event the responsible party was a
tenant who no longer resides at the premises where the tampering took place,
the utility company may deny service to that party in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph (E)(2) of this rule.
