PSC 134.13(1)(g)(g) 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 public service 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 134.13(1)(h)(h) The commission may authorize the utility to make late payment charges to a customer’s utility service bill that is not paid in full within 20 days following issuance of the bill and for utility service that has been obtained by diversion around or tampering with the proper metering of the account. The late payment charge may be either a one-time charge as provided in par. (i) or a monthly charge as provided in par. (j). The utility shall receive approval from the commission of the method it desires to use and shall not change methods without commission approval.

PSC 134.13(1)(i)(i) If the utility is authorized to make a one-time late payment charge, such charge shall comply with the following requirements:

PSC 134.13(1)(i)1.1. 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 134.13(1)(i)2.2. Except as provided in subd. 8., late payment charges shall be applied no sooner than 20 days after the date of issuance of the bill.

PSC 134.13(1)(i)7.7. If a customer disputes a bill for utility service or portion thereof 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 134.13(1)(i)8.8. 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.

PSC 134.13(1)(j)(j) If the utility is authorized to make monthly late payment charges, such charges shall comply with the following requirements:

PSC 134.13(1)(j)1.1. The amount of the charge shall be no more than one and one-half per cent per month and shall be filed and approved by the commission before it can be applied.

PSC 134.13(1)(j)2.2. The late payment charge shall be applied to the total unpaid balance for utility service, including unpaid late payment charges.

PSC 134.13(1)(j)3.3. Except as provided in subd. 9., the late payment charge shall be applied no sooner than 20 days after the date of issuance of the bill.

PSC 134.13(1)(j)5.5. If a customer disputes a bill for utility service or portion thereof 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 134.13(1)(j)7.7. No additional late payment charge may be applied to a delinquent account for utility service after the date on which the delinquent account was written off by the utility as uncollectable.

PSC 134.13(1)(j)8.8. If a utility changes the type of late payment charge or initiates a late payment charge, the new charge shall apply only to utility service provided after the effective date of the change or initiation.

PSC 134.13(1)(j)9.9. Bills issued for utility service that was previously unbilled because of meter diversion or tampering with the proper metering of the account may include a late payment charge when issued. The late payment charge may be applied from the estimated date that the diversion or tampering began.

PSC 134.13(1)(k)(k) A customer who receives a lump sum payment from an outside source to be used to pay his or her utility service bill may, at the utility’s option, apply the payment to the customer’s account in equal monthly installments.

PSC 134.13(2)(a)(a) If the billing period is longer or shorter than allowed by s. PSC 134.12, the bill shall be prorated on a daily basis unless other provision is made in the utility’s filed rules.

PSC 134.13(2)(b)(b) If the utility is unable to gain access to read a standard residential meter at the end of each billing period, the utility shall, upon customer request, provide meter reading forms which allow the customer to send a card reading in time for billing. If actual readings cannot be obtained, the utility shall also leave a meter reading form at the premises for the customer to complete and return to the utility in time for bill preparation or leave a form at the premises explaining the estimation and how to avoid future estimations. This form shall be used when billing systems do not have sufficient time to allow the customer to return the card reading prior to billing.

PSC 134.13(2)(c)(c) If no form is left on the premises, or if the form is not returned in time to be processed in the billing cycle, a minimum or estimated bill may be rendered. In cases of emergency the utility may render minimum or estimated bills without reading meters or supplying meter reading forms to customers. Only in unusual cases or when approval is obtained from the customer may more than three consecutive estimated bills be rendered.

PSC 134.13(2)(d)(d) If meter reading is not scheduled on a monthly basis, the utility shall supply customers with meter-reading forms for the periods when the meter is not scheduled to be read by the utility. Customers may not be required to provide these meter readings. If the customer informs the utility he or she does not desire to supply a reading, or if the form is not returned in time for the billing operation, a minimum or estimated bill may be rendered.