Okla. Admin. Code § 165:65-11-15

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 165:65-11-15 - Delays to disconnection of residential service

(a)Limitations on disconnection. After notice and hearing, the Commission may issue an order that may include limitations on disconnection of residential utility service.

(b)Temporary ban on disconnections. The Commission shall have the authority to order a temporary ban on any or all disconnections during periods of extremely severe weather or when circumstances exist such that disconnection could create a situation dangerous to the life or health of consumers or to property.

(c)Severe weather.

(1) If the NWS issues a local forecast predicting the temperature will drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for any time period during the following twenty-four (24) hours, the utility shall suspend its disconnection of service if the water service is used for heating purposes. The utility must obtain the most recent local forecast for the customer's location from the NWS reports between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the day that the customer's shut-off is scheduled. If the NWS issues an updated forecast on the day of disconnection, then such updated forecast shall be used in place of the earlier obtained forecast.

(2) If the NWS issues a local forecast predicting the temperature will be 101 degrees Fahrenheit heat index or higher on the day of disconnection, or if the actual heat index is 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the utility shall suspend its disconnection of service activity if the service is used for cooling purposes. The utility must obtain the most recent local forecast for the customer's location from the NWS reports between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the day that the customer's shut-off is scheduled. If the NWS issues an updated forecast on the day of disconnection, then such updated forecast shall be used in place of the earlier obtained forecast.

(3) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a utility from establishing a higher temperature threshold for residential heating purposes below which it will not discontinue utility service or from establishing a lower temperature threshold for residential cooling purposes above which it will not discontinue utility service. The utility may continue to disconnect utility service for unauthorized use of the utility's measuring equipment or tampering with pipes, meters, or any other utility equipment or obtaining service without contract.

(d)Financial assistance delay. When a residential consumer has applied for and is awaiting financial assistance, including social security income, from a federal, state, or local social service agency, and the utility has initiated written notice of disconnection, it shall delay disconnection of service for a period of at least twenty (20) calendar days from the date when such notice was either delivered or mailed to the premises where service is rendered, provided:

(1) The reason for disconnection is for nonpayment of the utility bill.

(2) The consumer has notified the utility that the consumer has applied for and is awaiting financial assistance.

(3) Verification from the involved agency must be provided in a form as prescribed by the utility upon its request.

(4) If the expected financial assistance is less than the amount owed for services, the utility may require the consumer to enter into a deferred payment agreement as prescribed in (e) of this Section.

(5) Under no condition is the utility required to furnish service to the consumer unless there is reasonable expectation of payment for such service except where other rules of this Commission apply.

(e)Deferred payment agreement. The utility shall be required to offer a deferred payment agreement before disconnecting service for any bill or account balance in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) when a residential consumer is unable to pay an account in full. The utility shall not disconnect service for nonpayment of a bill if the consumer enters into a deferred payment agreement with the utility. If the terms of the deferred payment agreement are agreed to orally, the utility may send confirmation of such agreement by mail or by electronic notification to consumers who make an affirmative election to receive electronic notification of such information. A deferred payment agreement may be entered into by the consumer up to, but not including, the day of disconnection. Except where payment assistance for the total amount of the bill is pending, the utility may require a reasonable partial payment in accordance with paragraph one (1) of this subsection, at the time the deferred payment agreement is made.

(1) Deferred payment agreement means a just and reasonable agreement offered by the utility and agreed to by the consumer which provides for the payment of all future bills during the period of agreement by the due date and the payment of the balance of any outstanding bills in reasonable installments based upon:

(A) Consideration of the consumer's gross income less employer deductions.

(B) Size of the delinquent account.

(C) Consumer's ability to pay.

(D) Consumer's payment history with the utility.

(E) Length of time and reasons why the debt has not been paid.

(F) Other extraordinary expenses of the consumer.

(G) Loss of income through unemployment or illness.

(H) Any other relevant factors concerning the circumstances of the consumer.

(2) The payments under such an agreement need not be equal in amount.

(3) The consumer shall initiate a renegotiation prior to breach of the deferred payment agreement. The deferred payment agreement shall be renegotiated if financial circumstances, such as loss of income through unemployment or illness, or any other relevant factors concerning the circumstances of the consumer, change during the payment period.

(4) If a consumer fails to comply with the terms of the deferred payment agreement, the consumer will be subject to disconnection without further notice, so long as the disconnection date on the first and second notice has not been passed. If the disconnection date has passed, the utility shall provide at least twenty-four (24) hours notice of disconnection to the consumer.

(5) Under no condition is the utility required to furnish service to the consumer unless there is a reasonable expectation of payment for such service except where other rules of this Commission apply.

(f)False information. If a consumer provides false or misleading information to the utility in order to avail the consumer of the provisions applicable to the financial assistance delay, deferred payment agreement, life threatening situation, or Commission notification procedure for elderly and/or consumers with disabilities, the false information shall be grounds for disconnection of service by the utility. The utility may disconnect service upon the utility providing notice to the customer in accordance with OAC 165:65-11-13(a).

(g)Consumer liability. Reconnection or continuance of service under this Section shall not in any way relieve the consumer of the consumer's liability incurred for utility service.

Okla. Admin. Code § 165:65-11-15

Added at 12 Ok Reg 2167, eff 7-1-95; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2380, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2322, eff 7-15-03

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/12/2014

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 36, Issue 21, July 15, 2019, eff. 7/25/2019