Chapter PSC 134

PSC 134.13(5)(g) (g) At the end of a budget year, if an underbilled or overbilled balance exists in the account, the balance shall be handled as follows:

PSC 134.13(5)(g)1. 1. A customer’s debit balance will be paid in full or, at the customer’s option, on a deferred basis.

PSC 134.13(5)(g)2. 2. A customer’s credit balance shall be applied, at the customer’s option, against the customer’s account credited in monthly installments to the customer’s account over the course of the next budget year, or refunded to the customer.

PSC 134.13(6) (6) An occupant shall apply for utility service. An occupant who uses utility service but does not apply for it may be billed an estimated or actual amount at a later date for service used prior to the time of application. The utility must have reasonable grounds to establish responsibility for the backbilling. Failure to pay charges resulting from this backbilling may result in disconnection of service. The utility shall inform the occupant of the right to dispute the billing through the dispute procedures set forth in s. PSC 134.064.

PSC 134.13(8) (8) 

PSC 134.13(8)(a) (a) Where rental residential dwelling utility service is in the tenant’s name, and the tenant vacates the residential dwelling unit, continued utility service for such dwelling unit may be placed in the name of the owner or property manager.

PSC 134.13(8)(b) (b) The utility shall provide the owner or property manager with written notice of its intent to transfer billing responsibility. Such notice shall provide the owner or property manager with 5 days to notify the utility of:

PSC 134.13(8)(b)1. 1. The name of the customer who should be placed in service, such service date not to be later than 5 days from the notice mailing date; or

PSC 134.13(8)(b)2. 2. That utility service to the premises should be terminated and affirms to the utility that such termination will not endanger human health or life or cause damage to property during the period of disconnection.

PSC 134.13(9) (9) 

PSC 134.13(9)(a) (a) A utility shall pay interest on customer overpayments not refunded to the customer within 60 days of receipt by the utility if the net amount refunded exceeds $20 per refund and the overpayment was made to the utility due to:

PSC 134.13(9)(a)1. 1. Meters registering fast as defined in s. PSC 134.14.

PSC 134.13(9)(a)2. 2. Use of an incorrect meter constant or multiplier.

PSC 134.13(9)(a)3. 3. Incorrect service or rate classification, provided the information furnished by the customer to the utility was not deficient, or the customer did not choose the rate as provided in sub. (4).

PSC 134.13(9)(a)4. 4. Billing based on a switched meter condition where the customer was billed on the incorrect meter.

PSC 134.13(9)(a)5. 5. Misapplication of rates.

PSC 134.13(9)(b) (b) A utility is not required to pay interest to customers for overpayments made for:

PSC 134.13(9)(b)1. 1. Financing of service extensions or other equipment.

PSC 134.13(9)(b)2. 2. Budget payment plans.

PSC 134.13(9)(b)3. 3. Estimated bills, if the utility made a reasonable effort to obtain access to the customer’s meter, but was unable to gain access. Reasonable effort to gain access means that the utility notified the customer after three consecutive estimated readings that the utility will read the meter at other than standard business hours at the customer’s request.

PSC 134.13(9)(b)4. 4. Receipt of lump sum payment made from an outside source as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or other like programs.

PSC 134.13(9)(c) (c) The rate of interest to be paid shall be calculated in the same manner as provided for in s. PSC 134.061 (9) (b). Interest shall be paid from the date when the customer overpayment was made until the date when the overpayment is refunded. Interest shall be calculated on the net amount overpaid in each calendar year.

PSC 134.13(9)(d) (d) Nothing in these rules shall prevent the commission or its staff from requiring the payment of interest on amounts returned to customers in those instances where the commission or its staff finds that such payment is necessary for a fair and equitable resolution of an individual complaint.

PSC 134.13 History History: 1-2-56; r. and recr. Register. February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; am. (6), Register, January, 1965, No. 109, eff. 2-1-65; r. and recr. (1), Register, August, 1976, No. 248, eff. 9-1-76; am. Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; am. (1) and (5), Register, October, 1980, No. 298, eff. 11-1-80; am. (6), Register, November, 1980, No. 299, eff. 12-1-80; renum. (1) (d) to be (1) (f) and am. (intro)., cr. (1) (d), (e) and (g) and am. (6) (f), Register, September, 1981, No. 309, eff. 10-1-81; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; correction in (9) (c) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1997, No. 501; CR 06-046: am. (1) (a) (intro.), renum. (1) (a) 1. to 15. and (b) to (j) to be (1) (b) 1. to 15. and (c) to (k), cr. (1) (a) 1. to 7. and (b) (intro.) Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07; CR 13-048: r. (7) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

PSC 134.14 PSC 134.14 Adjustment of bills.

PSC 134.14(1) (1) Whenever a meter is found to have a weighted average error of more than 2% fast as tested in the manner specified in s. PSC 134.28, a recalculation of bills for service shall be made for the period of inaccuracy assuming an inaccuracy equal to the weighted average error. Weighted average error refers to 80% of the open rate plus 20% of the check rate. The recalculation shall be made on the basis that the service meter should be 100% accurate.

PSC 134.14(2) (2) If the period of inaccuracy cannot be determined, it shall be assumed that the full amount of inaccuracy existed during the last half of the period since the previous test was made on the meter; however, the period of accuracy shall not exceed one-half the required test period.

PSC 134.14 Note Note: If the meter test period is 15 years and the meter had been in service for 16 years, the period of accuracy shall be 7½ years, and the period of inaccuracy shall be 8½ years.

PSC 134.14(3) (3) If the average gas bill of a customer does not exceed $10 per month over the refund period the monthly consumption of which the refund is calculated may be averaged.

PSC 134.14(4) (4) If the recalculated bills indicate that more than $1 is due an existing customer or $2 is due a person no longer a customer of the utility, the full amount of the calculated difference between the amount paid and the recalculated amount shall be refunded to the customer. The refund to an existing customer shall be a credit to the customer’s current bill. If the amount of the credit is greater than the current bill, the amount in excess of the current bill shall, at the discretion of the customer, be made in cash or as credit on future bills. If a refund is due a person no longer a customer of the utility, a notice shall be mailed to the last known address, and the utility shall upon request made within 3 months thereafter refund the amount due.

PSC 134.14(5) (5) 

PSC 134.14(5)(a) (a) Whenever a meter with a rated capacity of 400 cubic feet per hour (CFH) or more is found to have a weighted average error of more than 2% slow, the utility shall bill the customer for the amount the test indicates has been undercharged for the period of inaccuracy, which period shall not exceed the last 2 years the meter was in service unless otherwise ordered by the commission after investigation. No back billing for an inaccurate meter will be sanctioned for the following:

PSC 134.14(5)(a)1. 1. The customer has called to the company’s attention his or her doubts as to the meter’s accuracy and the company has failed within a reasonable time to check it.

PSC 134.14(5)(a)2. 2. The rated capacity of the meter is 399 cubic feet per hour (CFH) or less.

PSC 134.14(5)(a)3. 3. The amount of the backbill is less than $50.

PSC 134.14(5)(b) (b) Backbilling shall be required for any size meter for any of the following circumstances.

PSC 134.14(5)(b)1. 1. The meter did not register.

PSC 134.14(5)(b)2. 2. An incorrect correction factor or meter constant was applied.

PSC 134.14(5)(b)3. 3. The meter or service were tampered with.

PSC 134.14(5)(b)4. 4. An incorrect index or gear ratio was applied.

PSC 134.14(5)(b)5. 5. Meters were switched between customers.

PSC 134.14(5)(b)6. 6. Rates were misapplied.

PSC 134.14(6) (6) A classified record shall be kept of the number and amount of refunds and charges made because of inaccurate meters, misapplication of rates, and erroneous billing. A summary of the record for the previous calendar year shall be submitted to the commission by April 1 of each year.

PSC 134.14 History History: Cr. Register, 1-2-56; r. and recr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; am. (1), (2) and (4), renum. (5) to be (5) (a) and am., cr. (5) (b), Register, November, 1989, No. 407, eff. 12-1-89.

PSC 134.15 PSC 134.15 Employees authorized to enter customers’ premises. The utility shall keep a record of employees authorized pursuant to s. 196.171, Stats., to enter customers’ premises.

PSC 134.15 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59.

PSC 134.16 PSC 134.16 Maps and diagrams. Each utility shall have maps, records, diagrams, and drawings showing the location of its property, in sufficient detail so that the adequacy of service to existing customers may be checked and facilities located.

PSC 134.16 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59.

PSC 134.17 PSC 134.17 Complaints. Each utility shall investigate and keep a record of complaints received by it from its customers in regard to safety, service, or rates, and the operation of its system. The record shall show the name and address of the complainant, the date and nature of the complaint, and its disposition and the date thereof. A summary of this record for the previous calendar year shall be sent to the commission by April 1 of each year. Each utility also shall document all contacts and actions relative to deferred payment arrangements and disputes.

PSC 134.17 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; am. Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79.

PSC 134.18 PSC 134.18 Record of interruption of service.

PSC 134.18(1) (1) Each utility shall keep a record of all interruptions to service affecting an entire distribution system of any urban area or an important division of a community. The record shall show the date and time of interruption, the cause, the approximate number of customers affected, and the date and time of restoring service.

PSC 134.18(2) (2) Each utility shall keep a record of all failures and notifications of difficulty with transmitted gas supply affecting each gate station. The record shall show the date and time of failure or notification, the date and time of resumption of normal supply, the operation of standby equipment including amount of gas produced, the number of customers whose service was interrupted and the maximum and minimum gas supply pressure during the period of difficulty.

PSC 134.18(3) (3) A summary of records required by subs. (1) and (2) shall be sent to the public service commission by April 1 of each year.

PSC 134.18(4) (4) Each interruption of service which affects more than 100 customers shall be reported by mail, telephone, or telegraph to the commission within 48 hours following the discovery of the interruption.

PSC 134.18(5) (5) Any interruption of a principal gas supply shall be immediately reported to the commission by telephone or telegraph by the utility or utilities affected.

PSC 134.18 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59.

PSC 134.19 PSC 134.19 Meter records and reports.

PSC 134.19(1) (1) Meter test records.

PSC 134.19(1)(a) (a) A utility shall keep a record of a meter test whenever a meter is tested. The meter test record shall include all of the following:

PSC 134.19(1)(a)1. 1. Information identifying the meter.

PSC 134.19(1)(a)2. 2. The reason for making the test.

PSC 134.19(1)(a)3. 3. The reading of the meter before it was removed from service.

PSC 134.19(1)(a)4. 4. All the data that was taken at the time of the test.

PSC 134.19(1)(a)5. 5. The results of the test measurement.

PSC 134.19(1)(b) (b) The meter test record must be sufficiently complete to permit convenient checking of the methods and calculations that have been employed.

PSC 134.19(1)(c) (c) Meter test records and meter history records may be kept as separate records or one record.

PSC 134.19 Note Note: Meter test records need not be separately retained from meter history records provided that the meter test records are incorporated into the meter history records.”

PSC 134.19(2) (2) Meter history records.

PSC 134.19(2)(a) (a) A utility shall keep a meter history record showing all of the following:

PSC 134.19(2)(a)1. 1. The date the meter was purchased.

PSC 134.19(2)(a)2. 2. The meter’s size.

PSC 134.19(2)(a)3. 3. Information identifying the meter.

PSC 134.19(2)(a)4. 4. The meter’s various places of installation, with dates of installation and removal.

PSC 134.19(2)(a)5. 5. The dates and results of all tests.

PSC 134.19(2)(a)6. 6. The dates and details of all repairs by the utility, or notations of the date and that the meter was returned to the manufacturer for repair.

PSC 134.19(2)(b) (b) The record shall be arranged in such a way that the record for any meter can be readily located.

PSC 134.19(2)(c) (c) Meter test records and meter history records may be kept as separate records or one record.

PSC 134.19(3) (3) Meter accuracy summaries. All utilities shall keep an “as found” high and light load test summary of all meters tested after being in service. This summary shall be made on a calendar year basis and forwarded to this commission by April 1 of the following year. This summary shall be divided according to the length of time since the last test, and meters found within each of the following per cent accuracy classifications:

PSC 134.19(3)(a) (a) Over 115; 110.1-115; 105.1-110; 103.1-105; 102.1-103; 101.1-102; 100.1-101; 100; 99-99.9; 98-98.9; 97-97.9; 95-96.9; 90-94.9; 85-89.9; under 85; passing gas does not register; does not pass gas; not tested; grand total average % error of fast meters; average % error of slow meters; total average error; number tested, number in service.

PSC 134.19 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; CR 13-033: r. and recr. (1), (2), cr. (3) (title) Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15.

PSC 134.20 PSC 134.20 Preservation of records. A utility shall preserve the following records in a readable format and keep them available for inspection by the commission for the periods indicated. The list is not a complete list of all types of utility records.

PSC 134.20 Note Note: See Federal Power Commission Orders 54 and 156 for preservation of records. Public Service Commission’s Classification of Accounts, and s. 18.01, Stats.

PSC 134.20 Note Note: * Note that if meter test records are being used as meter history records under PSC 134.19 (1) (c), the meter test records must be preserved for the time period required for meter history records.

PSC 134.20 Note Note: See also “Investigation to Consider Proposed Changes to Records Retention Requirements for Electric, Gas and Water Utilities” adopted by the commission in docket 5-US-114, December 12, 2006, as amended March 19, 2009, for a more comprehensive listing of retention periods of specific records.

PSC 134.20 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1959, No. 38, eff. 3-1-59; CR 13-033: am. Register July 2015 No. 715, eff. 8-1-15.

PSC 134.21 PSC 134.21 Heating values and specific gravity.

PSC 134.21(1) (1) Each utility which is furnishing gas service shall have on file with this commission for each municipality served the heating value, specific gravity, and composition of each type of gas regularly supplied and also for the gas which may be used for standby purposes and the range of values for peak shaving. The heating value filed shall be the total heating value with the indication whether it is on a wet or dry basis. (See definitions in s. PSC 134.02.)

PSC 134.21(2) (2) All gases whether the regular gas supply, a mixture of gases or a substitute gas used for peak shaving purposes shall operate properly in normal gas utilization equipment. Where used for emergency or standby, the gas shall operate reasonably well in such equipment. (The customer requiring gas of a particular chemical composition shall make such arrangements as may be required to protect against damage by reason of change in composition.)