Section Puc 1203.07 - Payment Arrangements(a) With the exception stated in (b) below, when a residential customer is unable to pay the total arrearage due, the utility shall continue to provide service to the customer if the customer agrees to a payment arrangement wherein the customer shall: (1) Pay a reasonable portion of the arrearage as agreed to by the customer and the utility;(2) Pay the balance of the arrearage in reasonable installments as agreed to by the customer and the utility; and(3) Pay the current bill and all future bills by the due date printed on the bill.(b) When a residential customer is unable to pay the total arrearage due and the utility has been notified that a medical emergency exists pursuant to Puc 1205, the utility shall continue to provide service to the customer if the customer agrees to a payment arrangement wherein additional flexibility is built into the payment arrangement, including but not limited to negotiating a flat monthly payment, for application to both the arrearage and the customer's current and future bills.(c) In deciding upon the reasonableness of a payment arrangement, the customer and the utility shall consider the: (1) Size of the arrearage;(2) Estimated size of the customer's future monthly bills;(3) Customer's payment history;(4) Amount of time that the arrearage has been outstanding;(5) Reasons why the arrearage is outstanding and whether those reasons will or will not continue during the course of payment; and(6) Customer's ability to pay.(d) For an arrearage resulting from a non-registering meter, inaccurate meter, meter reading error, or a reconciliation between estimated billings and actual usage, the payment arrangement shall extend for a minimum period of time equal to the period of time for which the error is being re-billed.(e) For billing adjustments due to specific meter inaccuracies, Puc 305.05, Puc 505.06, and Puc 605.05 shall apply.(f) The utility may require payment at shorter than monthly intervals if the payment arrangements are made in lieu of disconnection or upon reconnection without a deposit.(g) The utility shall confirm all payment arrangements in writing and issue a copy to the customer by mail or by hand within 5 business days of the date the arrangement is made.(h) Written confirmation, pursuant to (g) above, shall include a statement that:(1) Failure to comply with the payment arrangement can result in disconnection;(2) The customer can contact the commission's consumer division if the customer disagrees with the confirmation; and(3) Provides the toll-free telephone number for the commission's consumer division.(i) The purpose of written confirmation as required by (g) above shall be to assure the customer of an opportunity to review and verify the terms of the payment arrangement.(j) The utility shall not disconnect any customer for failure to comply with a payment arrangement which has not been timely confirmed in writing and received by the customer. For purposes of this section, receipt by the customer of a mailed confirmation shall be presumed 3 calendar days subsequent to mailing, or the actual date of delivery when known.(k) Written notice of disconnection resulting from failure to comply with a payment arrangement is required if delivery of any previous disconnection notice occurred more than 45 days prior to the proposed date of disconnection.(l) Notice required pursuant to (k) above shall be provided by U.S. Mail with a postmarked date no less than 14 calendar days prior to the proposed date of disconnection.(m) Unless otherwise required by (k) above, the utility may disconnect without additional notice any customer for failure to comply with a properly confirmed payment arrangement, except as limited by Puc 1204 and Puc 1205.(n) A customer may make payments pursuant to a properly confirmed payment arrangement to an authorized agent of the utility.(o) At the conclusion of every payment arrangement negotiation, the utility representative shall advise the customer that the customer may contact a member of the commission's consumer division for review of the reasonableness of the arrangement offered by the utility and provide the toll-free number for the commission's consumer division.(p) After reviewing the information provided pursuant to (c) above, the commission's consumer division shall waive the requirement of Puc 1203.07(a)(1), Puc 1203.07(a)(3), or both, where necessary given the customer's financial circumstances, the amount due, and the customer's payment history with the utility.N.H. Admin. Code § Puc 1203.07
#6245, eff 5-14-96; ss by #8075, INTERIM, eff 4-29-04, EXPIRES: 10-26-04; ss by #8192, eff 10-22-04; ss by #9990, eff 9-16-11
Amended by Volume XL Number 19, Filed May 7, 2020, Proposed by #13031, Effective 6/9/2020, Expires 6/9/2030.