Section 1220-04-13-.13 - CUSTOMER BILLING(1) The Authority shall approve the rates that are included in the tariff submitted by the public wastewater utility before customers are charged for wastewater services. All bills for wastewater service shall state how the charge is calculated. The bill/statement shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of the public wastewater utility's main office. A bill based upon water usage shall include applicable language as found in Rule 1220-4-3-.16.(2) Bills shall be rendered at regular intervals as described in the public wastewater utility's approved tariff. Public wastewater utilities shall not send a customer two successive estimated bills, except due to extenuating circumstances.(3) No public wastewater utility shall charge, demand, collect or receive any greater, less, or different compensation for provision of wastewater service or for any service connected therewith, than those rates and charges approved by the Authority and in effect at the time of service. Each customer within a given classification (i.e., residential, commercial, or industrial) shall be charged the same approved rate, including tap fees, as every other customer within that classification, unless reasonable justification is shown for the use of a different rate (e.g., high strength effluent), and a contract or tariff setting the different rate has been filed and approved by the Authority.(4) Where a public wastewater utility finds that through no fault of the customer the customer's wastewater service is interrupted and remains out of service in excess of twenty four (24) hours after the customer has notified the public wastewater utility of the interruption, the public wastewater utility shall refund to that customer the pro-rata portion of the month's charges for the period of days during which the service was not provided. The public wastewater utility may refund the amount owed as a credit toward the customer's subsequent bill for service. This paragraph applies only to public wastewater utilities having service tariffs that provide for charges on a non-metered rate.(5) Bills which are incorrect due to meter or billing errors shall be adjusted as found in Rule 1220-4-3-.18.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1220-04-13-.13
Public necessity rule filed December 29, 2005; effective through June 12, 2006. Original rule filed March 29, 2006; effective June 12, 2006.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 65-2-102 and 65-4-104.