Ariz. Admin. Code § 14-2-508

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R14-2-508 - Billing and Collection

A. Frequency. Each utility shall bill monthly for services rendered.

B. Minimum bill information. Each utility shall provide the following minimum information on customer bills:

1. Monthly charge for basic exchange service including delineation of the following:

a. Total charge for customer requested services and/or equipment.

b. Installation costs or other service fees, where applicable.

c. Reconnect fee, where applicable.

2. Toll charges broken down to include the following details by toll call:

a. Date of call

b. Time of call

c. Location called

d. Phone number called

e. Duration of call

f. Indication of any rate class applied.

3. Miscellaneous charges and credits shall be shown separately.

4. Any taxes included in the customer's billing.

5. Total amount due and due date.

6. Past due amount.

7. Utility telephone number.

8. Customer's name.

9. Service account number.

C. Billing terms: Each utility shall file a tariff which incorporates the following billing procedures:

1. The billing date shall be printed on the bill and the date rendered shall be the mailing date.

2. Bills for telephone services may be considered delinquent 15 days after the date the bill is rendered.

3. Delinquent accounts for which payment has not been received may be terminated 22 days after the date the bill is rendered.

4. All payments shall be made at or mailed to the office of the utility or to the utility's duly authorized representative.

D. Applicable tariffs, prepayment, failure to receive, commencement date, taxes

1. Each customer shall be billed under the applicable tariff.

2. Each utility shall make provisions for advance payment for utility services.

3. Failure to receive bills or notices which have been properly placed in the United States mail shall not prevent such bills from becoming delinquent nor relieve the customer of his obligations therein.

4. Charges for service commence when the service is installed and connection made, whether used or not.

5. In addition to the collection of regular rates, each utility may collect from the customer a proportionate share of any privilege, sales or use tax, or other imposition based on the gross revenues received by the utility.

E. Insufficient funds (NSF) checks

1. A utility shall be allowed to recover a fee, as approved by the Commission in a tariff proceeding, for each instance where a customer tenders payment for utility service with an insufficient funds check.

2. When the utility is notified by the customer's bank that there are insufficient funds to cover the check tendered for utility service, the utility may require the customer to make payment in cash, by money order, certified check, or other means which guarantee the customer's payment to the utility.

3. A customer who tenders an insufficient check shall in no way be relieved of the obligation to render payment to the utility under the original terms of the bill nor defer the utility's provision for termination of service for nonpayment of bills.

F. Deferred payment plan

1. Each utility may, prior to termination, offer to qualifying residential customers a deferred payment plan for the customer to retire unpaid bills for utility service.

2. Each deferred payment agreement entered into by the utility and the customer due to the customer's inability to pay an outstanding bill in full shall provide that service will not be discontinued if:

a. Customer agrees to pay a reasonable amount of the outstanding bill at the time the parties enter into the deferred payment agreement.

b. Customer agrees to pay all future bills for utility service in accordance with the billing and collection tariffs of the utility.

c. Customer agrees to pay a reasonable portion of the remaining outstanding balance in installments over a period not to exceed six months.

3. For the purposes of determining a reasonable installment payment schedule under these rules, the utility and the customer shall give consideration to the following conditions:

a. Size of the delinquent account

b. Customer's ability to pay

c. Customer's payment history

d. Length of time that the debt has been outstanding

e. Circumstances which resulted in the debt being outstanding

f. Any other relevant factors related to the circumstances of the customer.

4. Any customer who desires to enter into a deferred payment agreement shall establish such agreement prior to the utility's scheduled termination date for nonpayment of bills; customer failure to execute a deferred payment agreement prior to the scheduled termination date shall not prevent the utility from discontinuing service for nonpayment.

5. Deferred payment agreements may be in writing and may be signed by the customer and an authorized utility representative.

6. A deferred payment agreement may include a finance charge as approved by the Commission in a tariff proceeding.

7. If a customer has not fulfilled the terms of a deferred payment agreement, the utility shall have the right to disconnect service pursuant to the utility's termination of service rules and, under such circumstances, it shall not be required to offer subsequent negotiation of a deferred payment agreement prior to disconnection.

G. Late payment penalty

1. Each utility may include in its tariffs a late payment penalty which may be applied to delinquent bills.

2. The amount of the late payment penalty shall be indicated upon the customer's bill when rendered by the utility.

3. In the absence of an approved tariff, the amount of the late payment penalty shall not exceed 1-1/2% of the delinquent bill.

H. Change of responsibility or occupancy

1. Not less than three working days advance notice must be given in person, in writing, or by telephone at the utility's office to discontinue service, to change occupancy or to change account responsibility.

2. The customer in whose name service is being rendered shall be responsible for all utility services provided and/or consumed up to the scheduled date of service discontinuation.

3. Existing business service may be continued for a new subscriber only if the former subscriber consents and an agreement acceptable to the utility is made to pay all outstanding charges against the service.

4. Change of responsibility on a residence account shall occur only in those cases where both parties previously shared telephone service.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R14-2-508

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