(A) Upon notice to the employee designated by the utility of any request for a conference by a domestic subscriber, the employee shall:
(1) Notify the domestic subscriber, in writing, of the time, place and date scheduled for the conference; and
(2) Hold a conference within 14 days of the receipt of the domestic subscriber’s request. Such conference shall be informal and shall not be governed by the state’s Rules of Evidence. If the employer determines at the conference that the domestic subscriber did not receive proper notice or was denied any other right afforded under Neb. RS 70-1605 to 70-1615, when applicable, the employer shall recess and continue the conference at such time as the subscriber has been afforded his or her rights. Failure of a domestic subscriber to attend a scheduled conference shall relieve the utility of any further action prior to the discontinuance of service. If a domestic subscriber contacts the utility prior to the scheduled conference and demonstrates that failure to attend is for a legitimate reason, the utility shall make reasonable effort to reschedule the conference.
(B) The employee of the utility shall, based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing, affirm, reverse or modify any decision by the utility involving a disputed bill which results in threatened termination of utility service. The employee shall allow termination of utility service only as a measure of last resort and after the utility has exhausted all other remedies less drastic than termination. Any customer may appeal that decision to the Village Board by filing a written request with the Village Clerk within five days of mailing the decision of the utility employee. The appeal shall be conducted in accordance with Neb. RS 70-1614 et seq.
(Ord. 596, passed 8-11-2014)