PSC 134.063(5)(5) A delinquent amount covered by a deferred payment agreement shall not be subject to a late payment charge if the customer meets the payment schedule required by the agreement.

PSC 134.063(6)(6) A special payment agreement entered into by the customer and the utility through the utility’s early identification program shall be given the force and effect of a deferred payment agreement for purposes of late payment charges.

PSC 134.063(7)(7) If a utility customer has not fulfilled the terms of a deferred payment agreement, and there has not been a significant change in the customer’s ability to pay since the agreement was negotiated, the utility may disconnect utility service pursuant to disconnection of service rules, ss. PSC 134.062 and 134.0624, and shall not be required to negotiate a subsequent deferred payment agreement prior to disconnection.

PSC 134.063(8)(8) Payments made by a customer in compliance with a deferred payment agreement shall first be considered made in payment of the previous account balance with any remainder credited to the current bill.

PSC 134.063(9)(9) If a deferred payment agreement cannot be reached because the customer’s offer is unacceptable to the utility, the utility shall inform the customer in writing why the customer’s offer was not acceptable.

PSC 134.063 HistoryHistory: Emerg. cr. eff. 1-21-75; cr. Register, January, 1975, No. 229, eff. 2-1-75; am., Register, March, 1979, No. 279, eff. 4-1-79; r. and recr. Register, October, 1989, No. 406, eff. 11-1-89.

PSC 134.064(1)(1) Whenever the customer disputes the utility’s request for a deposit or other guarantee, or advises the utility’s designated office that all or any part of any billing as rendered is in dispute, or that any matter related to the disconnection or refusal of service is in dispute, the utility shall:

PSC 134.064(1)(a)(a) Investigate the dispute promptly and completely.

PSC 134.064(1)(b)(b) Advise the customer of the results of the investigation.

PSC 134.064(1)(c)(c) Attempt to resolve the dispute.

PSC 134.064(1)(d)(d) Provide the opportunity for the residential customer to enter into a deferred payment agreement under s. PSC 134.064 when applicable in order to resolve the dispute.

PSC 134.064(2)(2) After the customer has pursued the available remedies with the utility, he or she may request that the public service commission staff informally review the disputed issue and recommend terms of settlement.

PSC 134.064(3)(a)(a) A customer’s request for informal review may be made in any reasonable manner such as by written notice or telephoned request directed to the public service commission. By telephone or written request the public service commission staff may request the utility to investigate the dispute.

PSC 134.064(3)(b)(b) A utility shall respond to public service commission staff’s request for an investigation in a prompt manner. Based on information provided by the utility and the customer, public service commission staff shall make an informal determination for settlement of the dispute and communicate that determination to both by telephone or mail. Either party to the dispute may request and receive the public service commission staff determination, and the basis for it, in writing. Commission staff shall inform any customer disputing an informal determination of the right to pursue a formal review. Staff shall inform the customer that a request for formal review shall include any information or arguments that the customer believes the commission should consider.

PSC 134.064(3)(c)(c) There shall be at least 7 days between the date the public service commission staff telephones or mails written notice of terms of settlement after informal review and any subsequent disconnection.

PSC 134.064(4)(a)(a) After informal review, any party to the dispute may make a written request for a formal review by the commission itself. To avoid disconnection pending a formal review, the customer must request a formal review by the commission, in writing, within 7 days of the issue of the informal determination. All other requests for formal review shall be made within 30 days of the date the commission staff telephones or mails written notice of terms of settlement after informal review. If written confirmation of the staff telephone notice is requested and mailed, the 30 day period begins from the date of that mailing.

PSC 134.064(4)(b)(b) Within 7 days of receiving a request for formal review in a dispute involving a pending disconnection of service, the commission shall make a determination whether to grant the request for formal review. The commission shall base its determination on the request for formal review and commission staff’s informal complaint file. Within 35 days from the time that all other requests for formal review are made, staff shall provide the commission with a memorandum based on the information it has received from the utility and the customer. A copy of the commission staff memorandum shall be provided to the parties 15 days prior to consideration by the commission. Either party to the complaint may file a response to the commission staff’s memorandum. These comments shall be filed with the commission 2 working days prior to the date scheduled for consideration by the commission. The commission shall inform both parties of its decision.

PSC 134.064(5)(5) Either party to the complaint may request that the commission reconsider its formal determination under this section. Such requests shall comply with s. 227.49, Stats., and must be received by the commission within 20 days of mailing of the commission’s determination. A request for reconsideration shall include any additional information or arguments that the party believes were not considered in the original complaint. The commission may review and reaffirm its original decision, issue a new decision, or decide to hold hearing on the matter for the gathering of additional information.

PSC 134.064(6)(a)(a) If the commission decides to conduct formal hearing under sub. (5) on the dispute, the commission may condition the terms of its granting a formal hearing. Failure to meet these conditions before hearing shall constitute waiver of the dispute by the customer.