Section R. 460.123 - Payment of billRule 23.
(1) A utility shall permit each customer a period of not less than 21 days from the date the bill was sent to pay in full, unless the customer and the utility agree on a different due date. A utility shall not withdraw funds from a customers account before the due date in cases where a customer uses an automatic bill payment plan unless the customer agrees to a different period.(2) Except as otherwise provided in subrule (3) of this rule, a utility shall not attempt to recover from a customer any outstanding bills or other charges due upon the account of any other person, unless that customer has entered into a lawful guarantee under R 460.112, or another lawful agreement to pay those bills and charges.(3) To avoid shut off of residential service pursuant to R 460.137(2)(b), when an occupant has lived with a residential customer within the last 3 years, currently resides with the customer, and the customer has a delinquent account that remains unpaid, is not in dispute, and accrued during shared residency, both are equally responsible for the unpaid bill. The utility shall advise the customer and occupant of the process by which the customer may refute this claim unless that customer has entered into a guarantee under R 460.112, or another agreement to pay those bills and charges.(4) The customer has the right to pay any delinquent account at any time prior to the shut off of service date to preserve uninterrupted service. After proper notice of shut off under R 460.139 and R 460.140 has been provided, it shall be the customer's responsibility to contact the utility and arrange payment before disconnection.(5) The utility may authorize an agent to accept payments on behalf of the utility. The authorized agent shall accept payment and provide payment verification, without request, that may be used by the customer to verify payment with the utility. The payment verification shall clearly state all of the following: (a) That the payment may not be credited to the customer's account for up to 2 business days.(b) Any charges or fees for use of the authorized agent services.(c) That to avoid shutoff, the customer must contact the utility with verification of payment made to an authorized agent.(6) The authorized agent shall remit payments to the utility every other business day, at a minimum, and the company shall credit those payments to customer accounts within 1 business day of receiving them from the payment agent. Authorized agent locations shall be clearly marked as "Authorized Agent for [Company]." The utility shall provide information on bills every 6 months that warns customers not to use unauthorized payment centers.(7) Except in situations of unauthorized use of utility service, a combination utility company, when requested, shall permit eligible low-income customers to do any of the following: (a) Designate how partial payments shall be applied to their account.(b) Choose to retain either the electric service or natural gas service if faced with a shutoff, provided that the customer allows the utility to have access to the non-chosen service for shutoff.(c) Protect the retained service from shut off during the heating season, provided that payments for current usage are made on the retained service and the customer is in good standing with the utility on any payment plan for which the customer qualifies.(8) Whenever an eligible low-income customer of a combination utility company receives a disconnect notice, the notice shall clearly show the customer has both of the following options: (a) An extended payment plan for both gas and electric service.(b) An extended payment plan to retain either gas or electric service as chosen by the customer.Mich. Admin. Code R. 460.123
2007 AACS; 2017 MR 22, Eff. 12/11/2017