EP&L and the Water Utility may not disconnect service to the customer:
(A) Upon the customer’s failure to pay for:
(1) Merchandise or appliances purchased from EP&L or the Water Utility;
(2) The service rendered at a different metering point, residence, or location if the bill has remained unpaid for less than 45 days;
(3) Services to a previous occupant of the premises to be served, unless the utility has good reason to believe the customer is attempting to defraud the utility by using another name; or
(4) A different form or class of utility service.
(B) If a residential customer shows cause for his or her inability to pay the full amount due (financial hardship shall constitute cause) and the residential customer:
(1) Pays a reasonable portion of the bill ($10.00 or one-tenth of the bill, whichever is less, unless the residential customer agrees to a greater portion);
(2) Enters into a written agreement prepared by the utility and signed by the residential customer and by a representative of the utility containing the following terms:
(a) Customer agrees to pay the remainder of the outstanding bill within three months;
(b) Customer agrees to pay all undisputed future bills for service as they become due; and
(c) Customer agrees to pay a one-time late payment charge in the amount of 10% of the first $3.00 and 3% of any amount over $3.00 at the time the agreement is signed by the residential customer; and
(3) Has not breached any similar agreement with the utility made pursuant to this rule within the past 12 months.
(C) If a residential customer is unable to pay a bill that is unusually large due to prior incorrect readings of the meter, incorrect application of the rate schedule, incorrect connection or functioning of the meter, prior estimates where no actual reading was taken for over two months, stopped or slow meter, or any human or mechanical error of the utility, and the residential customer:
(1) Pays a reasonable portion of the bill, not to exceed an amount equal to the customer’s average bill for the six bills immediately preceding the bill in question;
(2) Enters into a written agreement prepared by the utility and signed by the residential customer and by a representative of the utility containing the following terms:
(a) Customer agrees to pay the remainder at a reasonable rate;
(b) Customer agrees to pay all undisputed future bills for service as they become due; and
(c) Utility may not add to the outstanding bill any late fee.
(D) Except under the conditions set forth in § 54.03 (Disconnection at Customer’s Request) and § 54.05 (Disconnection Without Request and Without Prior Notice), EP&L and the Water Utility shall not disconnect service unless it is done between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing local time.
(E) EP&L and the Water Utility may not disconnect service for nonpayment on any day on which the utility office is closed to the public or after 12:00 p.m. (noon) of the day immediately preceding any day on which the utility office is not open to the public.
(Ord. 2014-4, passed 3-24-14)