Section 113.0303. Reconnection of service.

 

(1)  

(a) By June 1 of each year, or at a date designated by order of the commission, each electric utility in Wisconsin serving more than 40,000 customers shall submit a fall reconnection plan for review and approval by commission order. The plan shall provide reasonable means, including a timetable for personal contacts, that will be used to assure that all premises to which service was disconnected within the past 12 months and remains disconnected for nonpayment shall be contacted prior to October 25, or at a date set by commission order, to inform them of available payment options such as budget billing or deferred payment agreements. The utility shall include in its plan, procedures for negotiating for payment with households that contain persons who are elderly, infants, young children, seriously ill, or mentally or physically disabled.

(b) Prior to October 15 of each year, or at a date designated by order of the commission, a utility shall attempt by letter, telephone, or personal visit to contact all households at premises to which service was disconnected within the past 12 months and remains disconnected for nonpayment and inform them of available payment options such as budget billing or deferred payment agreement. If a letter or telephone call does not result in a response from an adult member of the household by October 15, or at a date designated by order of the commission, a subsequent personal visit shall be made no later than October 25, or at a date designated by order of the commission. For any household remaining disconnected after this date, the utility shall continue its efforts to have a personal contact with the household and determine its situation. The utility shall make a personal contact attempt after the date of disconnection and before November 1 for any household disconnected between October 15 and October 31. If, during any of the contacts made to carry out this section, the utility or its representative observes a danger to human health or life due to the disconnection, the utility shall immediately restore service. A record shall be made of all contacts and attempted contacts made to comply with this section.

(2)  By November 15th of each year, a utility shall file a report with the commission stating the number of dwellings assumed to be occupied where service remains disconnected as of November 1 or later and the reason that service has not been reconnected. Weekly, or on other dates if designated by order of the commission, a utility shall file reports with the commission listing the number of assumed to be occupied dwellings where service remains disconnected and the reason that service has not been reconnected to each dwelling.

(3)  A utility shall cooperate with law enforcement and social service agencies in instances involving protective services emergencies. The utility shall refer to the appropriate social service agency any situation it identifies in its reconnection efforts where it appears that intervention by a social service agency is appropriate. Local law enforcement and social service agencies may use the commission's dispute resolution process on behalf of a household without service because of nonpayment.

(4)  A pplicability.

(a) This section applies to dwellings where service has been disconnected for nonpayment of a utility service during the last 12 months and applies to utility service which provides the primary heat source, or affects the primary heat source to dwelling units. If a utility is unsure of whether utility service to a given premises affects its heat source, the utility must comply with the requirements of this section unless and until it can document that the discontinuation of utility service to that premises would not affect its heat source.

(b) Utilities with less than 40,000 customers may be required to submit a plan as described in sub. (1) (a) for approval by commission order and to meet the requirements of sub. (1) (a) .

Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535 , eff. 8-1-00.