Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
(1) A water utility must refuse to provide
service if:
(a) The applicant's facilities do
not comply with the codes, rules, or regulations of the appropriate governing
authorities or the best practices governing safe and adequate water service, or
with the reasonable rules and regulations of the water utility;
(b) The water utility does not have adequate
facilities, resources, or capacity to provide the requested service without
impairing service to other customers; or
(c) The water utility is prohibited by law
from providing the service.
(2) If a water utility refuses to provide
service under section (1) of this rule, the water utility must provide the
applicant with written notice of the refusal within seven calendar days of the
request for service. The notice must:
(a)
Provide the information required by OAR 860-036-1100(2);
(b) Explain the specific reasons for refusing
water service;
(c) Inform the
applicant of the right to request details upon which the water utility's
decision was based; and
(d) Inform
the applicant of the right to dispute the refusal by contacting the Consumer
Services Section at the contact information provided in OAR
860-001-0020(2).
(3)
Except as provided in section (4) of this rule, a water utility may refuse to
provide service if:
(a) The applicant has
amounts owing under a tariff or statement of rates; or
(b) The applicant for residential service has
a roommate with amounts owing under a tariff or statement of rates, and the
applicant lived with the roommate at the time the amounts owing were
incurred.
(4) If the
applicant for residential service was a former residential customer with
amounts owing and was involuntarily disconnected for non-payment and applies
for service within 20 calendar days of the disconnection, the water utility
must provide service upon receipt of one-half of the amount owed with the
remainder due within 30 calendar days.
(a) If
the former customer fails to pay the remaining amounts within 30 calendar days,
the utility may disconnect service after issuing a 7-calendar day disconnection
notice in accordance with OAR 860-036-1510(4).
(b) If service is disconnected, the utility
may refuse to restore service until it receives full payment of all amounts
owing, including reconnection charges allowed under OAR 860-036-1580.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 183, 756, 757
Stats. Implemented: ORS
756.040,
757.035,
757.225
