Ariz. Admin. Code § 14-2-503

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 25, June 21, 2024

Section R14-2-503 - 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, if different than service address.

d. Address and telephone number where service was provided previously.

e. Date applicant will be ready for service.

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

g. Class of service to be provided.

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

2. A 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 shall not require a deposit from a new applicant for residential service if the applicant is able to meet any of the following requirements:

a. The applicant has had continuous telephone service of a comparable nature with the utility at another service location within the past two years and was not delinquent in payment more than once during the last 12 consecutive months or disconnected for nonpayment.

b. The applicant can produce a letter regarding credit or verification from a telephone utility where service of a comparable nature was last received which states:

i. Applicant had a timely payment history at time of service discontinuation.

ii. Applicant has no outstanding liability from prior service.

c. In lieu of a deposit, a new applicant may provide a Letter of Guarantee from an existing customer with service who is acceptable to the utility or a surety bond as security for the utility. The utility shall review and release an existing customer as a guarantor for the new applicant after 12 consecutive months if no obligations are delinquent and has maintained a timely payment history.

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. Deposits shall be interest bearing; the interest rate and method of calculation shall be filed with and approved by the Commission in a tariff proceeding.

4. Each utility shall file a deposit refund policy with the Commission, subject to Commission review and approval during a tariff proceeding. However, each utility's refund policy shall include provisions for residential deposits and accrued interest to be refunded after 12 months of service if the customer has not been delinquent in the payment of utility bills or applied to the closing bill upon discontinuance of service.

5. A utility may require a residential customer to establish a deposit if the customer becomes delinquent in the payment of two or more bills within a 12-consecutive-month period or has been disconnected for service during the last 12 months.

6. 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 that customer's estimated average monthly bill or the average monthly bill for the customer class for that customer which ever is greater.

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

7. 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.

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 similar utility services and the applicant is unwilling to make acceptable 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 when the customer has failed to meet the credit criteria for waiver of deposit requirements.

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

5. Failure of the customer to furnish such funds, suitable facilities, 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. Each 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.

3. For the purpose of this rule, service establishments are where the customer's and utility's facilities are ready and acceptable.

E. Temporary service

1. Applicants for temporary service may be required to pay the utility, in advance of service establishment, the funds provided under the terms of a construction agreement or the 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. If at any time 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 construction agreement or tariff shall apply.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R14-2-503

Adopted effective March 2, 1982 (Supp. 82-2). Amended to correct subsection numbering (Supp. 99-4).