PSC 134.062(8)(b)1.1. The date of the notice.
PSC 134.062(8)(b)2.2. The proposed date of disconnection.
PSC 134.062(8)(b)3.3. That, if feasible, the occupants may apply to the utility to accept responsibility for future bills and avoid disconnection of service. Refusal or acceptance of the application for service is subject to those conditions set out in this chapter.
PSC 134.062(8)(b)4.4. That if disconnection of service will aggravate an existing medical or protective services emergency, the occupant should contact the utility immediately.
PSC 134.062(8)(c)(c) Disconnection notice for reasons enumerated in sub. (1) shall be given upon a form approved by the commission, and shall contain the following information:
PSC 134.062(8)(c)1.1. The name and address of the customer and the address of the service, if different.
PSC 134.062(8)(c)2.2. A statement of the reasons for the proposed disconnection of service and that disconnection will occur if the account is not paid, or if arrangement is not made to pay the account under deferred payment agreement, or if other suitable arrangements are not made, or if equipment changes are not made. If disconnection of service is to be made for default on a deferred payment agreement, the notice shall include an explanation of the acts of the customer which are considered to constitute default.
PSC 134.062(8)(c)3.3. A statement that the customer should communicate immediately upon receipt of the notice with the utility’s designated office, listing a telephone number, if he or she disputes the notice of delinquent account, if he or she wishes to negotiate a deferred payment agreement as an alternative to disconnection, if any resident is seriously ill, or if there are other circumstances, as the presence of infants or young children in the household, the presence of aged or handicapped residents in the household, the presence of residents who use life support systems or equipment or residents who have developmental or intellectual disabilities.
PSC 134.062(8)(c)4.4. A statement that residential utility service will be continued during serious illness or protective services emergency if the occupant submits a statement or notice pursuant to sub. (11).
PSC 134.062(8)(c)5.5. A statement that the customer may appeal to the public service commission staff in the event that the grounds for the proposed disconnection or the amount of any bill remains in dispute after the customer has pursued the available remedies with the utility.
PSC 134.062(9)(9)
PSC 134.062(9)(a)(a) The utility shall make a reasonable effort to have a personal or telephone contact with the residential customer prior to disconnection. If a contact is made, the utility shall review the reasons for the pending disconnection of service, and explain what actions must be taken to avoid disconnection.
PSC 134.062(9)(b)(b) If the account is being billed in the name of “occupant,”“resident” or other like term, the utility shall also contact other utilities serving the premises and attempt to obtain the name of a responsible adult member residing at the service address.
PSC 134.062(9)(c)(c) The utility shall keep a record of these contacts and contact attempts.
PSC 134.062(10)(10)
PSC 134.062(10)(a)(a) When a residential customer, either directly or through the public service commission, disputes a disconnection notice under s. PSC 134.064, 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 134.062(10)(b)(b) If a disputed issue cannot be resolved pursuant to s. PSC 134.064 (1), the utility shall inform the customer of the right to appeal to the public service commission.
PSC 134.062(11)(11)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 134.062(11)(a)(a) A utility shall postpone the disconnection of service, or reconnect the service if disconnected, for 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. The postponement may be extended by renewal of the statement or notice. During this 21 days 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. Further postponements may be granted if there is evidence of reasonable communication between the utility and occupant in attempting to make arrangements for payment.
PSC 134.062(11)(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 134.062(11)(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 134.062(12)(12)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 134.064, and proper service personnel are readily available to restore service 24 hours per day.
PSC 134.062(13)(13)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 134.061, or a voucher agreement.
PSC 134.062 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, January, 1975, No. 229, eff. 2-1-75; am. (1) (a) and (5) (a), Register, December, 1975, No. 240, eff. 1-1-76; am. (2) (intro.), Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; emerg. cr. (2) (g), eff. 1-26-80; cr. (2) (f), Register, January, 1980, No. 289, eff. 2-1-80; cr. (2) (e), Register, February, 1980, No. 290, eff. 3-1-80; cr. (2) (g), Register, July, 1980, No. 295, eff. 8-1-80; emerg. cr. (10), eff. 12-17-81; cr. (2) (h), Register, September, 1982, No. 321, eff. 10-1-82; cr. (10), Register, September, 1983, No. 333, eff. 10-1-83; am. (8) (a), Register, June, 1986, No. 366, eff. 7-1-86; r. (9) (b), Register, May, 1987, No. 377, eff. 6-1-87; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89; correction in (1) (g) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1997, No. 501; CR 13-048: am. (1) (k), r. (1) (L), (2) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; 2019 Wis. Act 1: am. (8) (c) 3. Register May 2019 No. 761, eff. 6-1-19; correction in (1) (g) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2023 No. 807.
PSC 134.0622PSC 134.0622Disconnections, commercial and farm accounts.
PSC 134.0622(1)(1)Commercial or farm accounts which involve residential dwellings shall be subject to s. PSC 134.0624.
PSC 134.0622(2)(2)Commercial or farm utility service may be disconnected or refused for any of the following reasons:
PSC 134.0622(2)(a)(a) Failure to pay a delinquent account.
PSC 134.0622(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.