Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 860 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Division 21 - UTILITY REGULATION
Section 860-021-0335 - Refusal of Utility Service

(1) Except as provided in section (2) of this rule and OAR 860-021-0330, an energy utility may refuse to provide service to a customer or applicant until the utility receives full payment of any overdue amount of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to an Oregon prior account.

(2) Except for a residential customer or applicant who was disconnected for theft of service, an energy utility shall provide service to a residential customer or applicant upon receiving payment equal to at least one-half of any overdue amount of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to a prior account, except deposits which must be paid in full, provided the customer or applicant has made reasonable partial payment on the account during the time service has been discontinued. An energy utility may not require a deposit to be paid by a low-income residential customer. The customer shall pay the balance of the amount owed to the energy utility within two subsequent billing cycles of the date service is initiated. Upon failure to pay, the energy utility may disconnect service after providing a five-day notice to the customer. The notice shall contain the information set forth in OAR 860-021-0405(2)(a), (b), (c), (d)(A) and (D) and shall be served as required by 860-021-0405(5). If a customer or applicant whose service was terminated applies for service within 20 days of the termination, the provisions of this rule apply.

(3) If electric or gas service is disconnected for a residential customer's failure to comply with the payment terms in section (2) of this rule, the utility may refuse to restore service until the utility receives full payment of any overdue obligation of an Oregon tariffed or price-listed charge and any other like obligation related to a prior account, including any reconnection fee, late payment fee, and past due bill.

(4) Refusal of service by a large telecommunications utility:

(5) An energy or large telecommunications utility may refuse to provide service until the utility receives payment when all the following circumstances exist:

(6) Any energy or large telecommunications utility shall refuse to provide service if a customer or applicant has not complied with state and city codes and regulations governing service and with the utility's rules and regulations.

(7) An energy or large telecommunications utility shall reject an application for service or materially change service to a customer or applicant if, in the best judgment of the utility, the utility lacks adequate facilities to render the service applied for or if the desired service is likely to unfavorably affect service to other customers.

(8) An energy or large telecommunications utility shall refuse to serve a customer or applicant, if, in the best judgment of the utility, the facilities of the customer or applicant cannot provide safe and satisfactory service.

(9) When an energy or large telecommunications utility refuses to provide service, the utility shall notify the customer or applicant of the reasons for refusal and of the Commission's complaint process.