Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 810 - Public Utilities Commission
Chapter 10 - Consumer Protection
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 1 - Rules and Regulations Governing the Termination of Residential Electric, Gas and Water Service (810-RICR-10-00-1)
Section 810-RICR-10-00-1.9 - Residential Payment Plans
Universal Citation: 810 RI Code of Rules 10 00 1.9
Current through September 18, 2024
A. Availability of Residential Payment Plans
1. Each gas and
electric public utility shall make available to its residential customers for
utility service provided at the customer's primary residence a payment plan which
averages estimated utility costs over a ten-month or twelve-month period to
eliminate, insofar as it is practicable, seasonal fluctuations in utility
bills.
2. In the event a rate change
approved by the Public Utilities Commission becomes effective while a residential
customer is enrolled in and in compliance with a payment plan, the effect of the
rate change shall be included ratably over the remainder of the payment plan
period. Included with the first adjusted bill, the utility shall provide notice
to the customer explaining the reason for the change and showing a calculation of
how the utility arrived at the new monthly payment.
3. At the end of the ten-month or twelve-month
period, if a residential customer chooses to renew a payment plan, any credit or
balance due on the customer's account shall be rolled ratably into the monthly
payments due by the customer in the customer's next payment plan. If a
residential customer chooses to maintain an account with the public utility but
chooses not to re-enroll at the conclusion of a ten-month or twelve-month payment
plan, the customer will have the option of having any balance due be collected
over a period of up to six months with a minimum payment of $25 per month. Any
credit balance will be applied toward current usage until exhausted.
4. The public utility shall inform all
residential customers of the availability of such a payment plan at least twice
annually, once in October and once, two months prior to the end of the utility
termination moratorium period by means of a written statement which describes the
payment plan and shall inform each customer who receives a termination notice in
accord with §
1.5 of this Part of the
availability of such a payment plan.
5. The requirements of this §
1.9 of this
Part shall not be mandatory with regard to seasonal customers, transient
customers or to unpaid balances incurred by a residential customer at that
customer's secondary or seasonal residence.
B. Definitions
The following terms are defined for purposes of § 1.9 of this Part:
1. "Estimated prospective
annual utility cost" means a reasonable estimate of the household's cost of
service over the next twelve months. A reasonable estimate shall be based on:
a. The household's usage over the past twelve
months in the same dwelling where they now reside.
(1) If a twelve-month history as stated in
§
1.9(B)(1)(a) of this Part is not possible, a projection based on the
household's past use at the same dwelling where they now reside during at least
one month between December and March and at least one month between April and
October, or
b. If estimates
based on §§
1.9(B)(1)(a) and 1.9(B)(1)(a)(1) of this Part are not possible, projections which take into account the usage of
the prior occupant of the dwelling, the number of the customer's household
members, the number of major appliances in the customer's home, the extent to
which household members are at home and the use the household intends to make of
the utility service.
c. Customers can
dispute the estimated prospective annual utility cost by requesting a review by
the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and can renegotiate their payment
plan terms at any time based on a revised estimate of prospective annual utility
costs. If the customer disputes the estimated prospective annual utility cost,
the public utility shall upon request prepare a written statement which details
the factors it considered in determining the estimate.
2. "Termination of utility service, service is
terminated" means:
a. Disconnection or physical
shutoff of utility service; or
b. A
visit to a customer's residence in which an employee of a utility makes personal
contact with the customer or with a responsible adult found within said
residence, and in which the employee is unable to gain admission for purposes of
disconnection of service. In order for such a visit to qualify as a termination
for purposes of §
1.9 of this Part, the utility
must file with the Division an affidavit of one of its employees in the form
approved by the Division (see §
1.21(C) of
this Part (Form III) appended hereto) that states under oath that such a visit
occurred but that access was denied. The affidavit must indicate that the
employee identified himself or herself and indicated he or she was there to
terminate service or, if the adult did not speak the same language as the utility
employee, that the adult was provided with a multi-language utility service
termination card.
3.
"Income schedule" means the frequency with which income is received by the
customer. This includes, but is not limited to, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly,
monthly, or seasonal income.
C. Effect of Residential Payment Plans
While enrolled in a residential payment plan a residential customer's utility service may not be terminated unless the residential customer violates a rule of the public utility on file with the Public Utilities Commission or the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, disconnection is necessary for reasons of health, safety, or state or national emergencies, or termination is ordered by the Public Utilities Commission.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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