Section 480-70-396 - Billing(1)Billing period. A company may bill its customers for one, two, or three months of service.(2)Advance billing and payment delinquency dates. The following chart defines the maximum period allowed for advance billing and the date when a bill may be considered delinquent: Billing period | Maximum advance billing period allowed | Delinquency date |
One month's service (monthly) | No advance billing allowed | May not be less than twenty-one days after the date the bill is mailed |
Two months' service | One month advanced billing allowed | May not be until the last day of the second month |
Three months' service | Two months' advance billing allowed | May not be until the last day of the third month |
(3) Bills issued to customers must clearly show the company's name and applicable registered trade name, business address, and toll-free telephone number where a customer may contact the company. Bills must also show: (a) Account information, including: (i) The customer's name, service address, and billing address;(ii) Company customer identification number, if any;(iii) The billing period;(iv) The date the bill was mailed;(v) The date payment is due; and(vi) The date the bill becomes delinquent;(b) Rate information, including:(i) The percentage amount or minimum charge for late payments (may not exceed one percent of the unpaid balance or one dollar, whichever is greater);(ii) All rates or charges billed to the customer, shown as separate line items on the bill (for example: Service and size of container; yardwaste service and size of container; recycling service and recycling commodity adjustment);(iii) Other tariffed services (for example: Drive-in charges, carry-out charges, and occasional extras); and(iv) The percentage rate and dollar amount of any government tax or fee imposed on the company and passed on directly to customers;(c) Other information as may be directed by the commission.(4) With the consent of the customer, a company may provide regular billings in electronic form if the bill meets all the requirements of this rule. The company must maintain a record of the customer's consent, and the customer may change from electronic to printed billing upon request.(5) If a customer initiates or terminates solid waste service within a month, monthly rates and charges must be prorated based on the number of pick-ups actually provided.(6) The commission may allow consolidated billing for regulated and nonregulated activities. (a) A consolidated billing must: (i) Disclose nonregulated activity as a separate line item; and(ii) Include a telephone number where the customer may contact the company providing the nonregulated activity.(b) If a customer makes partial payment, a company must apply the payment to the regulated solid waste charges first.(c) A company may not discontinue solid waste service if the customer does not pay for nonregulated services, but has paid in full for regulated solid waste service.Wash. Admin. Code § 480-70-396
Statutory Authority: RCW 81.04.160 and 80.01.040. 04-22-040 (General Order No. R-515, Docket No. TG-041349), § 480-70-396, filed 10/27/04, effective 11/27/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 81.04.160, 81.77.030 and 80.01.040. 01-08-012 (Docket No. TG-990161, General Order No. R-479), § 480-70-396, filed 3/23/01, effective 4/23/01.