Section 185.88. Frozen laterals.

 

(1)  Thawing of a customer's lateral shall be at the utility's expense if:

(a) The freeze-up is a direct result of a utility disconnect and the disconnection occurs during a time when conditions are such that freeze-up could reasonably be expected to occur or;

(b) The customer's portion of lateral is electrically conductive and:

1. It is the first thaw for the customer at the location and;

2. The utility has not provided the customer with seasonal notice of the corrective actions to be taken for a known condition.

(2)  Lateral thawing shall be at the customer's expense if:

(a) The customer's lateral is not electrically conductive and the freeze-up is not a direct result of a utility disconnect as set forth in sub. (1) (a) or;

(b) The customer neglected to provide or maintain proper insulation or protection for the lateral according to standard accepted practice, or specific utility instructions on, for example, the required depth of burial needed to prevent freezing, or;

(c) The utility advises the customer of the corrective measures to be taken and the customer does not follow the utility's advice. (See s. PSC 185.35 (7) for bill adjustment where a utility requests a customer to let water flow to prevent freezing), or;

(d) If the utility disconnects for a dangerous condition.

Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493 , eff. 2-1-97; CR 01-033 : renum. from PSC 185.89 Register October 2001 No. 550 , eff. 11-1-01; republished to reinsert inadvertently deleted (2) (c) Register March 2014 No. 699 .