Ariz. Admin. Code § 14-2-403

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 24, June 14, 2024

Section R14-2-403 - Establishment of Service

A. Information from new applicants

1. A utility may obtain the following minimum information from each new applicant for service:

a. Name or names of applicant(s).

b. Service address or location and telephone number

c. Billing address/telephone number, if different than service address.

d. Address where service was provided previously.

e. Date applicant will be ready for service.

f. Indication of whether premises have been supplied with utility service previously.

g. Purpose for which service is to be used.

h. Indication of whether applicant is owner or tenant of or agent for the premises.

2. Each utility may require a new applicant for service to appear at the utility's designated place of business to produce proof of identity and sign the utility's application form.

3. Where service is requested by two or more individuals the utility shall have the right to collect the full amount owed to the utility from any one of the applicants.

B. Deposits

1. A utility may require a deposit from any new applicant for service.

2. The utility shall issue a nonnegotiable receipt to the applicant for the deposit. The inability of the customer to produce such a receipt shall in no way impair his right to receive a refund of the deposit which is reflected on the utility's records.

3. Interest on deposits shall be calculated annually at an interest rate filed by the utility and approved by the Commission in a tariff proceeding. In the absence of such, the interest rate shall be 6%.

4. Interest shall be credited to the customer's bill annually.

5. Residential deposits shall be refunded within 30 days after:

a. 12 consecutive months of service without being delinquent in the payment of utility bills provided the utility may reestablish the deposit if the customer becomes delinquent in the payment of bills two or more times within a 12-consecutive-month period.

b. Upon discontinuance of service when the customer has paid all outstanding amounts due the utility.

6. A separate deposit may be required for each meter installed.

7. The amount of a deposit required by the utility shall be determined according to the following terms:

a. Residential customer deposits shall not exceed two times the average residential class bill as evidenced by the utility's most recent annual report filed with the Commission.

b. Nonresidential customer deposits shall not exceed 2 1/2 times that customer's estimated maximum monthly bill.

c. The utility may review the customer's usage after service has been connected and adjust the deposit amount based upon the customer's actual usage.

8. Upon discontinuance of service, the deposit may be applied by the utility toward settlement of the customer's bill.

C. Grounds for refusal of service. A utility may refuse to establish service if any of the following conditions exist:

1. The applicant has an outstanding amount due for the same class of utility service with the utility and the applicant is unwilling to make arrangements with the utility for payment.

2. A condition exists which in the utility's judgment is unsafe or hazardous to the applicant, the general population, or the utility's personnel or facilities.

3. Refusal by the applicant to provide the utility with a deposit.

4. Customer is known to be in violation of the utility's tariffs filed with the Commission or of the Commission's rules and regulations.

5. Failure of the customer to furnish such funds, service, equipment, and/or rights-of-way necessary to serve the customer and which have been specified by the utility as a condition for providing service.

6. Applicant falsifies his or her identity for the purpose of obtaining service.

D. Service establishments, re-establishments or reconnection charge

1. A utility may make a charge as approved by the Commission for the establishment, reestablishment, or reconnection of utility services.

2. Should service be established during a period other than regular working hours at the customer's request, the customer may be required to pay an after-hour charge for the service connection. Where the utility scheduling will not permit service establishment on the same day requested, the customer can elect to pay the after-hour charge for establishment that day.

3. For the purpose of this rule, service establishments are where the customer's facilities are ready and acceptable to the utility and the utility needs only to install a meter, read a meter, or turn the service on.

E. Temporary service

1. Applicants for temporary service may be required to pay the utility, in advance of service establishment, the estimated cost of installing and removing the facilities necessary for furnishing the desired service.

2. Where the duration of service is to be less than one month, the applicant may also be required to advance a sum of money equal to the estimated bill for service.

3. Where the duration of service is to exceed one month, the applicant may also be required to meet the deposit requirements of the utility.

4. If at any time during the term of the agreement for service the character of a temporary customer's operations changes so that in the opinion of the utility the customer is classified as permanent, the terms of the utility's main extension rules shall apply.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R14-2-403

Adopted effective March 2, 1982 (Supp. 82-2). Amended subsections (B) and (D) effective September 28, 1982 (Supp. 82-5). Amended to correct subsection numbering (Supp. 99-4).