PSC 113.0301(12)(a)(a) When a residential customer, either directly or through the public service commission, disputes a disconnection notice under s. PSC 113.0407, the utility shall investigate any disputed issue and shall attempt to resolve that issue by negotiation. During this investigation and negotiation, utility service shall not be disconnected over this matter.
PSC 113.0301(12)(b)(b) If a disputed issue cannot be resolved pursuant to s. PSC 113.0407 (1), the utility shall inform the customer of the right to appeal to the public service commission.
PSC 113.0301(13)(13)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, other than for reasons of safety or danger, a utility may not disconnect or refuse to reconnect service to a residential premises if disconnection or refusal of reconnection of service will aggravate an existing medical or protective services emergency for the occupant, if the occupant complies with the procedures of par. (a):
PSC 113.0301(13)(a)(a) A utility shall postpone the disconnection of service, or reconnect the service if disconnected, for up to 21 days to enable the occupant to arrange for payment, if the occupant produces a licensed Wisconsin physician’s statement or notice from a public health, social services or law enforcement official which identifies the medical or protective services emergency and specifies the period of time during which disconnection will aggravate the circumstances. During this extension of service, the utility and occupant shall work together to develop resources and make reasonable payment arrangements in order to continue the service on a permanent basis. The postponement may be extended by renewal of the statement or notice if there is evidence of reasonable communication between the utility and occupant in attempting to make arrangements for payment.
PSC 113.0301(13)(b)(b) During the period service is continued under the provisions of this subsection, the customer shall be responsible for the cost of residential utility service. But no action to disconnect that service shall be taken until expiration of the period of continued service. Any customers who are in this continued service category shall be admitted into appropriate and special payment plan programs the utility may offer.
PSC 113.0301(13)(c)(c) If there is a dispute concerning an existing medical or protective services emergency, either party may request informal review by the public service commission staff. Pending a decision after informal review, residential utility service shall be continued provided that the occupant has submitted the statement or notice described in par. (a).
PSC 113.0301(14)(14)Residential service shall not be disconnected on a day, or on a day immediately preceding a day, when the business offices of the utility are not available to the public for the purpose of transacting all business matters unless the utility provides personnel who are readily available to the customer 24 hours per day to evaluate, negotiate or otherwise consider the customer’s objections to the disconnection as provided under s. PSC 113.0407 and proper service personnel are readily available to restore service 24 hours per day.
PSC 113.0301(15)(15)Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, residential utility service may not be refused because of a delinquent account if the customer or applicant provides as a condition of future service a deposit or guarantee as governed by s. PSC 113.0402, or a voucher agreement. If the guarantor has agreed to be responsible for payment of all future bills, the customer shall be notified of the billing arrangement and of the ability to reject the proposed arrangement.
PSC 113.0301(16)(16)The utility may not disconnect services in affected counties when a heat advisory, heat warning, or heat emergency issued by the national weather service is in effect. A utility shall make reasonable attempts to reconnect service to an occupied dwelling that has been disconnected when an occupant states that there is a potential threat to health or life that results from the combination of the heat and loss of service. The utility may require that an occupant produce a licensed physician’s statement or notice from a public health, social services, or law enforcement official which identifies the medical emergency for the occupant. Upon expiration of the heat advisory, heat warning, or heat emergency, the utility may disconnect service to a property that was reconnected during this period without further notice if an appropriate payment arrangement has not been established.
PSC 113.0301(17)(17)If the utility becomes aware that there are extenuating circumstances, such as infirmities of aging, developmental, mental or physical disabilities, the use of life support systems, or like infirmities incurred at any age, or the frailties associated with being very young, the utility shall take these circumstances into consideration prior to disconnecting service.
PSC 113.0301 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, July, 2000, No. 535, eff. 8-1-00; CR 06-046: am. (10) (c) 4. Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07; correction in (1m) (g) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2013 No. 688; CR 13-048: am. (1m) (i), r. (1m) (j), (3) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.
PSC 113.0302PSC 113.0302Disconnections, commercial and farm accounts.
PSC 113.0302(1)(1)Commercial or farm accounts which involve occupied dwellings shall be subject to s. PSC 113.0304.
PSC 113.0302(2)(2)Commercial or farm utility service may be disconnected or refused for any of the following reasons:
PSC 113.0302(2)(a)(a) Failure to pay a delinquent account.
PSC 113.0302(2)(b)(b) Violation of the utility’s rules pertaining to the use of service in a manner which interferes with the service of others or to the operation of non-standard equipment, if the customer has first been notified and provided with reasonable opportunity to remedy the situation.
PSC 113.0302(2)(c)(c) Failure to comply with a deposit, guarantee arrangement, or installment payment agreement, as specified in s. PSC 113.0403.
PSC 113.0302(2)(d)(d) Refusal or failure to permit authorized utility personnel to read the meter at least once every 6 months in order to determine actual usage. The 6-month period begins with the date of the last meter reading.
PSC 113.0302(2)(e)(e) Failure to comply with Wisconsin statute, commission rule or commission order pertaining to conservation or availability of service.
PSC 113.0302(2)(f)(f) Failure to pay costs or fees incurred by and awarded to the utility by a court of law, for pursuit of collection of bills, or failure to pay extraordinary collection charges as allowed and specified in the utility’s tariffs filed with the public service commission.
PSC 113.0302(2)(g)(g) Failure to comply with applicable requirements of this section, or of the utility’s rules, or with s. 196.16, Stats., or if the customer proposes to use a device that is not designed to reasonably minimize interference with communication and signal services.
PSC 113.0302(2)(h)(h) Refusal or failure to provide authorized utility personnel access to utility equipment.
PSC 113.0302(3)(3)A utility is not required to furnish commercial or farm service under conditions requiring operation in parallel with generating equipment connected to the customer’s system if such operation is hazardous or may interfere with its own operations or service to other customers or with service furnished by others. The utility may specify requirements as to connection and operation as a condition of rendering service under such circumstances.
PSC 113.0302(4)(4)A public utility may disconnect commercial or farm utility service, without notice, where a dangerous condition exists for as long as the condition exists.
PSC 113.0302(5)(5)A public utility may disconnect commercial or farm utility service, without notice, where it has reasonable evidence that utility service is being obtained by potentially unsafe devices or potentially unsafe methods that stop or interfere with the proper metering of the utility service.
PSC 113.0302(6)(6)A public utility may disconnect commercial or farm utility service, without notice, where service has been reconnected without the utility’s authorization.
PSC 113.0302(7)(7)
PSC 113.0302(7)(a)(a) Account arrears incurred by an owner or property manager for rental residential dwelling units or responsibility for non-compliance with energy conservation requirements as set out in ch. PSC 136 may be transferred, without regard to class of service, to the home or office account of the owner or property manager.
PSC 113.0302(7)(b)(b) The utility shall send written notice of the planned transfer of the account arrears or responsibility for non-compliance with energy conservation requirements to the owner or property manager prior to making the transfer.