Section R. 460.3409 - Protection of electric utility- or cooperative-owned equipment on customer's premisesRule 409.
(1) The customer shall use reasonable diligence to protect electric utility-or cooperative-owned equipment on the customer's premises and to prevent tampering or interference with the equipment. The electric utility or cooperative may shut off service pursuant to applicable rules of the commission if the metering or wiring on the customer's premises is unsafe, or has been tampered with or altered in any manner that allows unmetered or improperly metered energy to be used.(2) If an electric utility or cooperative shuts off service for unauthorized use of service, then both of the following provisions apply: (a) The electric utility or cooperative may bill the customer for the unmetered energy used and any damages that have been caused to electric utility- or cooperative-owned equipment.(b) The electric utility or cooperative is not required to restore service until the customer does all of the following: (i) Makes reasonable arrangements for payment of the charges in subdivision (a) of this subrule.(ii) Agrees to pay the approved reconnection charges.(iii) Agrees to make provisions and pay charges for relocating electric utility- or cooperative-owned equipment or making other reasonable changes that may be requested by the electric utility or cooperative to provide better protection for its equipment.(iv) Provides the electric utility or cooperative with reasonable assurance of the customer's compliance with the electric utility's or cooperative's approved standard rules and regulations.(3) Failure to comply with the terms of an agreement to restore service after service has been shut off pursuant to subrule (1) of this rule is cause to shut off service pursuant to the rules of the electric utility or cooperative and the commission.(4) If service is shut off pursuant to subrule (3) of this rule and the electric utility or cooperative must incur extraordinary expenses to prevent the unauthorized restoration of service, the electric utility or cooperative may bill the customer for the expenses, in addition to all other charges that may apply under this rule, and may require that the expenses and other charges be paid before restoring service. A reasonable effort must be made to notify the customer at the time of shutoff that additional charges may apply if an attempt is made to restore service that has been shut off.(5) The customer of record who benefits from the unauthorized use is responsible for payment to the electric utility or cooperative for the energy consumed.(6) The electric utility or cooperative may bill the customer for the reasonable actual cost of the tampering investigation.Mich. Admin. Code R. 460.3409
1983 AACS; 1996 AACS; 2019 AACS; 2023 MR 7, Eff. 4/10/2023