Or. Admin. Code § 860-021-0407

Current through Register Vol. 64, No. 1, January 1, 2025

Section 860-021-0407 - [Effective until 5/18/2025] Severe Weather Moratorium on Involuntary Disconnection of Residential and Small Commercial Electric or Gas Utility Service for Nonpayment

(1) Except as set forth in section (11) of this rule, an energy utility must put into effect a moratorium on the disconnection of residential service for nonpayment from November through March during the 24 hours preceding and on any day a temperature of less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit is forecasted by the applicable weather reporting service or a winter storm warning indicating weather conditions pose a threat to life or property is issued by the applicable weather reporting service.

(2) Except as set forth in section (11) of this rule, an electric utility must implement a date-based moratorium prohibiting the disconnection of service from the effective date of this rule through March 31 for households with a customer who:

(a) Is enrolled in the utility's income-qualified bill discount program; or

(b) Is a medical certificate holder under OAR 860-021-0410.

(3) An electric utility must put into effect a moratorium on the disconnection of residential service for nonpayment on any day a local Heat Advisory is issued by the applicable weather reporting service.

(4) An energy utility must put into effect a moratorium on the disconnection of residential and small commercial service for nonpayment when the Air Quality Index is at or above 100 as issued on the website AirNow.gov or a similar air quality reporting service that may be designated by the utility.

(5) Any moratorium activated as a result of section (1), (3), or (4) of this rule must remain in effect at least through the start of the next business day.

(6) For purposes of sections (1) and (3) of this rule, an energy utility must base the need for a moratorium on data available from the National Weather Service or another weather reporting service that may be designated by the utility.

(7) An energy utility need only apply a moratorium to the geographic area that meets the conditions in sections (1), (3) and (4) of this rule.

(8) The energy utility must obtain the required forecast data no later than 8:00 a.m. each business day.

(9) Each energy utility must notify the Commission's Consumer Services Section which weather reporting service and air quality service it will utilize in each geographic area served by the utility in complying with the requirements of this rule; and the energy utility must notify the Commission's Consumer Services Section upon choosing a different weather reporting service.

(10) Upon request from a customer who has been disconnected for nonpayment within the previous 72 hours of a severe weather or air quality condition outlined in sections (1), (3), and (4) of this rule, an energy utility must make best efforts to reconnect service. The energy utility may apply reconnection fees authorized in OAR 860-021-0330 to any reconnection.

(11) Sections (1) and (2) of this rule do not apply if an energy utility offers a Commission-approved winter protection program.

Or. Admin. Code § 860-021-0407

PUC 4-2017, f. & cert. ef. 5/30/2017; PUC 10-2022, amend filed 09/30/2022, effective 9/30/2022; PUC 9-2024, temporary amend filed 12/18/2024, effective 12/18/2024 through 5/18/2025

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, ORS 756.040, ORS 756.060 & ORS 757.035

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 757.035, ORS 757.230 & ORS 757.695