Chapter PSC 185

PSC 185.30(4)(a) (a) Except under exceptional circumstances, a utility shall approve or deny an application for service no later than 10 calendar days after receipt of the information required under this section. An unexpectedly high volume of requests for service shall not constitute exceptional circumstances.

PSC 185.30(4)(b) (b) A utility shall notify the applicant in writing within 5 days of its denial. A utility may notify an applicant verbally before written notification is sent. An application shall be considered denied when a service refusal has been finalized and no immediate conditions that could change that refusal remain. The notification shall include all of the following:

PSC 185.30(4)(b)1. 1. An explanation of why service is being refused.

PSC 185.30(4)(b)2. 2. The applicant’s right to ask commission staff to review the refusal.

PSC 185.30(4)(b)3. 3. The commission’s address, telephone number and web site.

PSC 185.30 Note Note: For example, if a utility has told a customer that it would supply service if the customer makes a payment, enters a deferred payment agreement or provides additional identity or residency information under sub. (3), the refusal is still conditional and has not been finalized.

PSC 185.30(4)(c) (c) If a third party applies for service, a utility shall send written notification of the application to the most recent previous address of the person responsible for payment and the address for which service has been requested.

PSC 185.30(4)(d) (d) If an applicant indicates that a third party is responsible for payment, a utility shall send written notification of the approval or denial of an application to both the third party and the applicant within 5 days of the application’s approval or denial, although a utility may notify the third party and applicant before written confirmation is sent. If service is refused, the written notification shall include the information in par. (b) 1. to 3.

PSC 185.30 History History: CR 13-048: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

PSC 185.305 PSC 185.305 Application for nonresidential service.

PSC 185.305(1) (1) For purposes of this section, “written” or “in writing” means legibly printed on paper or, with the intended recipient’s permission, legibly printed in an electronic form that the recipient can electronically store and retrieve for future reference.

PSC 185.305(2) (2) 

PSC 185.305(2)(a) (a) If a utility requires an application, a user of water service shall apply for service in a form specified by the utility.

PSC 185.305(2)(b) (b) A utility may require a verbal or written application for nonresidential service. The utility shall establish a written policy for when a written application is required. A utility may accept an application for service from a person other than the user or potential user of service

PSC 185.305(2)(c) (c) The utility may only require that an applicant provide the following information in an application:

PSC 185.305(2)(c)1. 1. Legal name of the user of service and the person responsible for bill payment, if different than the user.

PSC 185.305(2)(c)2. 2. Telephone number of the user of service and the person responsible for bill payment, if different than the user.

PSC 185.305(2)(c)3. 3. Address where service is to be provided.

PSC 185.305(2)(c)4. 4. Mailing address if different from service address.

PSC 185.305(2)(c)5. 5. Date requested for service to begin.

PSC 185.305(2)(c)6. 6. The most recent previous address of the person responsible for bill payment.

PSC 185.305(2)(c)7. 7. Credit information under par. (e).

PSC 185.305(2)(c)8. 8. Initial identification data under par. (f).

PSC 185.305(2)(d) (d) A utility may request information other than that listed in par. (c), but before requesting it the utility shall inform the applicant that providing that information is optional.

PSC 185.305(2)(e) (e) A utility may request reasonable credit information from a nonresidential applicant as part of its application for service. A utility shall establish a written policy about when it will request credit information and what credit information it will request.

PSC 185.305(2)(f) (f) A utility shall accept any of the following items as adequate initial identification data, although it may accept other forms of identification:

PSC 185.305(2)(f)1. 1. Federal employer identification number or proof that it has been applied for but not yet granted.

PSC 185.305(2)(f)2. 2. Wisconsin department of financial institutions identification number.

PSC 185.305(2)(f)3. 3. Wisconsin seller’s permit identification number.

PSC 185.305(2)(g) (g) A utility may refuse or disconnect service for failure to provide any information specified in pars. (c) 1. to 7. or (f).

PSC 185.305 Note Note: See sub. (3) (a) about what can be required if an applicant refuses to provide the initial identification data under par. (c) 8.

PSC 185.305(3) (3) Identity verification.

PSC 185.305(3)(a) (a) A utility may require verification of the initial identification data of an applicant for nonresidential service under any of the following circumstances:

PSC 185.305(3)(a)1. 1. An applicant refuses to provide the information under sub. (2) (c), (e), or (f).

PSC 185.305(3)(a)2. 2. The utility finds, with reasonable certainty, that the information provided under sub. (2) (c), (e) or (f) is falsified.

PSC 185.305(3)(b) (b) A utility shall establish a written policy for when it will require verification of identity under this subsection.

PSC 185.305(3)(c) (c) A utility shall accept any of the following items as adequate verification of identity, although it may accept other forms of verification:

PSC 185.305(3)(c)1. 1. State or federal income tax returns.

PSC 185.305(3)(c)2. 2. Internal Revenue Service letter assigning federal employer identification number.

PSC 185.305(3)(c)3. 3. Wisconsin seller’s permit or department of revenue letter assigning a Wisconsin seller’s permit identification number.

PSC 185.305(3)(c)4. 4. Business articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, limited liability company articles of organization, or similar organizational documents.

PSC 185.305(3)(d) (d) A utility may refuse or disconnect service if it does not obtain adequate verification of identity.

PSC 185.305(4) (4) Processing applications and providing notice.

PSC 185.305(4)(a) (a) Except under exceptional circumstances, a utility shall approve or deny an application for service no later than 10 calendar days after receipt of the information required under this section. An expected high volume of requests for service shall not constitute exceptional circumstances.

PSC 185.305(4)(b) (b) A utility shall notify the applicant in writing within 5 days of the denial of application. A utility may notify an applicant verbally before written notification is sent. An application shall be considered denied when a service refusal has been finalized and no immediate conditions that could change that refusal remain. The notification shall include all of the following:

PSC 185.305(4)(b)1. 1. An explanation of why service is being refused.

PSC 185.305(4)(b)2. 2. The applicant’s right to ask commission staff to review the refusal.

PSC 185.305(4)(b)3. 3. The commission’s address, telephone number and web site.

PSC 185.305 Note Note: For example, if a utility has told a customer that it would supply service if the customer makes a payment, enters a deferred payment agreement or provides additional identity information under sub. (3), the refusal is still conditional and has not been finalized.

PSC 185.305(4)(c) (c) If a third party applies for service, a utility shall send written notification of the application to the potential user’s mailing address and the address for which service has been requested.

PSC 185.305(4)(d) (d) If an applicant indicates that a third party is responsible for payment, a utility shall send written notification of the approval or denial of an application to both the third party and the applicant within 5 days of the application’s approval or denial, although a utility may notify the third party and applicant before written confirmation is sent. If service is refused, the written notification shall include the information in par. (b) 1. to 3.

PSC 185.305 History History: CR 13-048: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

PSC 185.31 PSC 185.31 Metered service.

PSC 185.31(1) (1) Except where otherwise authorized by the commission, all water sold by a utility shall be on the basis of meter measurement except that the volume of water used for fire protection, street or sewer flushing, construction, or similar purposes where metering is not practicable may be estimated. (See s. PSC 185.15.)

PSC 185.31(2) (2) Wherever practicable, consumption of water within the utility itself, or by administrative units associated with it or with the municipality shall be metered.

PSC 185.31 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.32 PSC 185.32 Meter readings and billing periods. Readings of all meters used for determining charges to customers shall be taken by the utility monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, or for such other period or in such other manner as may be authorized by law. An effort shall be made to read meters on corresponding days of each meter-reading period. The meter-reading date may be advanced or postponed not more than 10 days without adjustment of the billing period. Bills for service shall be rendered within 50 days from the reading of the meter except as may be otherwise specifically authorized by the commission. The utility may permit the customer to supply the meter readings. Meter readings supplied by the customer or third party, acceptable to the utility, shall be considered the actual reading. The utility is obligated, upon request, to obtain a final read from both the base and ROM meters when there is a change of customers. The utility shall make reasonable efforts to read the meters of customers who cannot be available during normal business hours and when there is a change of customer. The utility may make a final read through AMR technology if available.

PSC 185.32 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 2-1-97.

PSC 185.33 PSC 185.33 Billing.

PSC 185.33(1) (1) For each bill provided by the utility, the customer’s receipt shall show for each meter the following information:

PSC 185.33(1)(a) (a) The billing address, and service address, if different from the billing address;

PSC 185.33(1)(b) (b) The customer’s account number;

PSC 185.33(1)(c) (c) The present and last preceding meter readings;

PSC 185.33(1)(d) (d) The present and last preceding meter reading dates;

PSC 185.33(1)(e) (e) The number of units consumed;

PSC 185.33(1)(f) (f) The rate schedule under which the bill is calculated including the itemized calculations of the rate schedule component including, but not limited to, such items as customer charge, volume blocks, demand charges, minimum bills, and all other billing factors necessary for the customer to check the calculation of the bill. In lieu of including the rate schedule on the bill the utility may, whenever a rate change becomes effective and at least once a year, supply each customer with the schedule of rates at which the bills are computed and any other rates that might be applicable;

PSC 185.33(1)(g) (g) Clear itemization of the amount of the bill for the present billing period and any unpaid balance from previous billing periods including any late payment charges;

PSC 185.33(1)(h) (h) Clear itemization of other utility charges and credits.

PSC 185.33(1m) (1m) A public utility that calculates its volume charges in units of cubic feet shall include customer usage in both cubic feet and gallons on the customer bill or provide a formula for converting usage in cubic feet to gallons on the customer bill. In lieu of providing the information on the customer bill, a public utility may provide the information in a document provided to each customer under sub. (1) (f).

PSC 185.33(3) (3) Estimated bills shall be distinctly marked as such.

PSC 185.33(4) (4) Any partial payments received should be applied to the customer’s account in the following order:

PSC 185.33(4)(a) (a) Current utility service;

PSC 185.33(4)(b) (b) Current deferred payment agreement;

PSC 185.33(4)(c) (c) Utility service arrears;

PSC 185.33(4)(d) (d) Miscellaneous utility charges;

PSC 185.33(4)(e) (e) Nonutility charges (e.g., charges for municipal fees or licenses, contracted sewer billing services, or penalties levied under municipal ordinances).

PSC 185.33(5) (5) Where the billings also include charges for other utility services, including sewer service billed on a volumetric basis, payment for current service or arrears should be applied on a prorata basis.

PSC 185.33(6) (6) Upon customer request, or at the discretion of the utility, partial payments may be allocated differently than set forth above provided that such allocation does not result in a disconnection of service or the imposition of a late payment penalty which would not have occurred under the allocation methodology set forth above.

PSC 185.33(7) (7) Costs or fees incurred by and awarded to the utility by a court of law, for pursuing bill collection through other agencies, such as small claims courts, or extraordinary collection charges as allowed and specified in the utility’s tariffs filed with the commission, may be included on the utility service bill. Such tariffs shall be established on the basis of rate case proceedings or generic proceedings to establish the reasonableness of such charges.

PSC 185.33(8) (8) The commission may authorize the utility to make late payment charges to any portion of customer’s utility service bill that is not paid in full based on the order of payment application as provided in sub. (4), within 20 days following issuance of the bill. The late payment charge may be either a one-time charge as provided in sub. (9) or a monthly charge as provided in sub. (10). The utility shall receive approval from the commission of the method it desires to use and shall not change methods without commission approval.

PSC 185.33(9) (9) If the utility is authorized to make a one-time late payment charge, such charge shall comply with the following requirements:

PSC 185.33(9)(a) (a) The bill shall clearly indicate the amount of the late payment charge and the date after which the late payment charge shall be applied;

PSC 185.33(9)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (h), late payment charges shall be applied no sooner than 20 days after the date of issuance of the bill;

PSC 185.33(9)(c) (c) The amount of the late payment charge shall be 3% of the unpaid bill, except a minimum charge of $0.50 shall apply. The utility need not calculate a late payment charge on unpaid amounts of less than $20.00, if allowed by utility tariff;

PSC 185.33(9)(d) (d) Late payment charges shall be applied to all customer classes and rate classifications;

PSC 185.33(9)(e) (e) Unless otherwise authorized by the commission the utility shall not waive any properly applied late payment charges;

PSC 185.33(9)(f) (f) A late payment charge shall be applied only once to any given amount outstanding;

PSC 185.33(9)(g) (g) If a customer disputes a bill for utility service and does not pay the disputed bill in full within 20 days following issuance of the bill, the late payment charge shall be applied only to that portion of the disputed bill later found to be correct and payable to the utility;

PSC 185.33(9)(h) (h) Bills issued for utility service previously unbilled because of meter diversion or tampering with the proper metering of the account may include a late payment charge when issued.